Boeing Ch-47 Chinook

Twin Turboprop

The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is the world's most successful heavy-lift tandem-rotor helicopter, in continuous production since 1962 and operated by more than 20 militaries worldwide. Its distinctive twin-rotor configuration eliminates the need for a tail rotor, allowing the entire engine output to generate lift and giving the Chinook unmatched payload capacity in its class — it can carry up to 26,000 pounds of cargo internally or sling-load artillery pieces, vehicles, and even other helicopters. Originally developed during the Vietnam War for troop transport and medevac in hot-and-high conditions, the Chinook proved so versatile that it has served in every major U.S. conflict since, from the jungles of Southeast Asia to the mountains of Afghanistan, where its ability to operate at altitudes exceeding 20,000 feet made it indispensable. The tandem-rotor design provides exceptional stability during hover and external load operations, and the aircraft's rear loading ramp allows rapid onload and offload of troops, vehicles, and supplies. Modern variants like the CH-47F feature digital cockpits, upgraded engines producing over 4,800 shaft horsepower each, and advanced flight control systems, yet the airframe's fundamental design has proven so sound that the U.S. Army plans to keep flying Chinooks into the 2060s. With a cruise speed around 140 knots and a never-exceed speed of approximately 170 knots, the Chinook sacrifices outright speed for lifting power and reliability — it remains the backbone of military heavy-lift helicopter operations across the globe, equally at home delivering humanitarian aid after natural disasters or inserting special operations forces into denied territory.