All language subtitles for air.warriors.s03e02.chinook.internal.720p.web.h264-underbelly[eztv]

Narrator: POWER.

STRENGTH.

PRECISION.

THE CH-47 CHINOOK
IS A BOX FULL OF SURPRISES.

Man: THE CHINOOK
IS THE FASTEST HELICOPTER

IN THE U.S. MILITARY INVENTORY.

Narrator:
IT LOOKS LIKE A LUMBERING GIANT,

BUT THIS HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
CAN MOVE LIKE A BUTTERFLY.

Man: YOU CAN DO THINGS IN A 47

THAT YOU CAN'T DO
WITH ANY OTHER AIRCRAFT.

Narrator:
AND IT CAN STING LIKE A BEE.

[GUNFIRE]

OVER FIVE DECADES,
IT'S TAKEN A BEATING.

Man: THEY WERE GETTING SHOT DOWN
FAIRLY FREQUENTLY.

Narrator: AND MADE
MORE COMEBACKS THAN ROCKY.

Man: IN THE INSIDE

IT WAS AN ALTOGETHER
DIFFERENT HELICOPTER.

Narrator:
BUT ITS BIGGEST CHALLENGE

IS YET TO COME.

2010.

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN.

AMERICA HAS BEEN AT WAR
WITH AL QAEDA AND THE TALIBAN

FOR EIGHT LONG, BLOODY YEARS.

[GUNFIRE]

IN DECEMBER,
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

ANNOUNCES A MAJOR TURNING POINT
FOR U.S. FORCES.

President Obama:
OUR COALITION WILL SET A GOAL

FOR AFGHAN FORCES TO BE IN
THE LEAD FOR COMBAT OPERATIONS

ACROSS THE COUNTRY NEXT YEAR.

Narrator: COALITION TROOPS

VOW TO LEAVE THE REGION
FREE OF TALIBAN CONTROL.

[GUNFIRE]

Brian Lutz: WE'D BEEN
IN AFGHANISTAN TO THAT POINT

ABOUT NINE YEARS,

AND THE TALIBAN WAS
KIND OF REASSERTING ITSELF

ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

Narrator: BRIAN LUTZ
WAS A HELICOPTER PILOT

AND A U.S. ARMY CAPTAIN

IN THE PAKTIKA PROVINCE
FOR ONE YEAR.

Lutz: THE GOAL WAS
TO STABILIZE THE REGION,

SUPPORT
THE AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY,

AND ESTABLISH RULE OF LAW
THROUGHOUT THE AREA.

Narrator: TO SUCCEED,
THE ARMY MUST OPERATE DAILY

IN AFGHANISTAN'S
RUGGED MOUNTAINS.

IT'S A MISSION
THAT DEMANDS AIR SUPPORT

FROM A ONE-OF-A-KIND HELICOPTER,

THE CH-47 CHINOOK.

IT'S WHAT THE ARMY SENDS

WHEN THE IT NEEDS POWER AND
PAYLOAD IN A SINGLE PACKAGE.

THE CHINOOK'S TANDEM ROTORS

MAKE IT ONE OF THE MOST
RECOGNIZABLE AIRCRAFT

ON THE PLANET.

Guy Clouse:
WE'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF

THE CH-47F CHINOOK HELICOPTER.

THAT'S THE ARMY'S WORKHORSE
FOR HEAVY LIFT

AND MASS TRANSPORT
ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

Narrator:
THE CHINOOK'S DUAL ROTORS

MAKE IT POWERFUL ENOUGH
TO FERRY TROOPS AND HEAVY LOADS

TO HIGH ALTITUDES,

AND FAST ENOUGH TO GET OUT
OF TROUBLE IN A HURRY.

Clouse: THE CHINOOK HELICOPTER

HAS TWO 60-FOOT-DIAMETER
ROTOR SYSTEMS,

SO THEY'RE COMPLETELY EQUAL.

AND THEY BOTH CAN BE MANIPULATED

TO MANEUVER THE HELICOPTER
IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

Narrator: THROW TWO HONEYWELL
TURBOSHAFT ENGINES INTO THE MIX,

AND YOU HAVE AN AIRCRAFT

THAT CAN CARRY
UP TO 28,000 POUNDS.

THE CHINOOK'S MOTTO:

"YOU CALL, WE HAUL."

Clouse:
WE HAVE TWO OF THESE ENGINES

GENERATING
OVER 5,000 HORSEPOWER APIECE.

THESE ARE
THE MOST POWERFUL ENGINES

ON ANY U.S. MILITARY HELICOPTER.

Narrator: THAT KIND OF POWER

IS EXACTLY WHAT ARMY AIRBORNE
OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN NEED.

Clouse: POWER IS EVERYTHING
WHEN IT COMES TO ALTITUDE

BECAUSE THE AIR GETS THINNER,

IT TAKES MORE POWER TO KEEP
THE HELICOPTER IN THE AIR.

BECAUSE OF THE POWER
THAT IT HAS,

IT CAN WITHSTAND THAT THIN AIR

BETTER THAN
ANY OTHER HELICOPTER.

Narrator:
A FULLY LOADED CHINOOK

CAN EASILY CRUISE
UP TO 8,000 FEET,

BUT THE ALTITUDES IN AFGHANISTAN
EXCEED 10,000.

IN PAKTIKA PROVINCE,

THE CHINOOK'S ENGINES
MUST BE PUSHED TO THEIR LIMIT,

AND MAYBE BEYOND.

FOR U.S. SOLDIERS,

AFGHANISTAN'S PAKTIKA PROVINCE
IS ESPECIALLY TOUGH.

Lutz: THE TAGLINE MY BATTALION
COMMANDER USED CONSISTENTLY WAS,

"THERE ARE NO ROUTINE MISSIONS
IN PAKTIKA PROVINCE."

Narrator: THAT'S BECAUSE
PAKTIKA PROVINCE

LIES ALONG
THE 1,600-MILE DURAND LINE,

ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS
BORDERS IN THE WORLD.

TO STOP THE TALIBAN
FROM GAINING GROUND,

U.S. TROOPS MUST PATROL
THE ENTIRE LENGTH.

Lutz: OUR GUYS WERE MOVING OUT
INTO THE MOUNTAINS

TO TRY AND CATCH
FOREIGN FIGHTERS,

FIND SOME OF THEIR SUPPLY,
LIKE ARMS AND ARMAMENT,

BEFORE IT GOT DISTRIBUTED OUT
TO LOCAL TALIBAN FIGHTERS.

Narrator: GROUND TROOPS
SPEND WEEKS IN THE MOUNTAINS

TRYING TO CONTROL THE TERRITORY.

WHEN THEY NEED A RESUPPLY,
THEY TURN TO ONE AIRCRAFT:

THE CH-47 CHINOOK.

SHARANA AIR BASE,
AFGHANISTAN.

CAPTAIN BRIAN LUTZ AND HIS CREW

READY THEIR CH-47
FOR A ROUTINE MISSION.

AN URGENT REQUEST
COMES ACROSS THE RADIO.

Lutz: WE GOT A CALL
LETTING US KNOW

THAT THERE WAS A UNIT

THAT HAD BEEN IN AND OUT
OF CONTACT THROUGHOUT THE DAY

THAT NEEDED
AN EMERGENCY RESUPPLY.

Narrator: 30 MILES TO THE SOUTH,

A PLATOON OF INFANTRY SOLDIERS
WAGES BATTLE WITH THE ENEMY

ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN RIDGE
8,000 FEET HIGH.

[GUNFIRE]

AND THEY'RE ALMOST OUT OF AMMO.

Lutz: IF THEY DON'T HAVE
SUFFICIENT AMMUNITION

TO ENGAGE THE ENEMY,

THE LAST COUPLE DAYS
THAT THEY SPENT OUT THERE

CHASING AFTER THESE GUYS
ARE GOING TO BE FOR NOTHING.

Narrator: LUTZ AND HIS CREW

QUICKLY LOAD THEIR CHINOOK WITH
CARGO THEY CALL "SPEEDBALLS."

Lutz: SPEEDBALLS IS A FANCY TERM

FOR A BODY BAG FULL OF
WATER, AMMO, AND FOOD.

IT'S KIND OF MACABRE
BECAUSE IT'S A BODY BAG,

BUT IT'S SOMETHING WHERE YOU CAN
ZIP IT UP, IT'S WATERPROOF,

AND YOU CAN TOSS IT OUT
OF THE BACK OF AN AIRCRAFT

RELATIVELY QUICKLY.

Narrator:
OUT OF ALL THE SUPPLIES

THE CHINOOK WILL DELIVER,

THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER
MAY OUTRANK THAT OF AMMO.

Lutz:
WATER'S ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL,

YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY
WITH ALL THE GEAR

THAT THEY'RE CARRYING
AT ALTITUDE.

YOU KNOW, WITHOUT
SOMETHING LIKE THAT,

I MEAN, THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY NOT
GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE.

Narrator: LOCKED AND LOADED,

THE CHINOOK LIFTS OFF

AND HEADS NORTH
TOWARDS THE FIREFIGHT.

EVERY MINUTE COUNTS
FOR THE MEN ON THE GROUND.

[GUNFIRE]

Lutz: THEY'D BE
MOVING THROUGH THE AREA,

AND SOMEONE WOULD START
SHOOTING AT THEM,

AND THEN AS SOON
AS THEY'D START TO ENGAGE,

WHOEVER IT WAS
WOULD KIND OF SCATTER.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, RANDOMLY
THEY'D JUST START GETTING HIT

FROM ANOTHER SPOT.

SO THEY CONSISTENTLY
WERE TAKING CONTACT.

Narrator: LUTZ AND HIS CREW
FLY INTO DANGEROUS TERRITORY.

BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

THE CHINOOK'S SIZE MAKES IT
A VERY TEMPTING TARGET.

ITS TWO BIG ROTORS
COME WITH A HEAVY PRICE.

THEY LEAVE THE CH-47
EXPOSED AND VULNERABLE.

A LUCKY POT SHOT
CAN EASILY BRING IT DOWN.

Lutz: YOU CAN'T PUT ARMOR
ON ROTOR BLADES.

IT JUST DOESN'T WORK.

YOU'VE GOT SOME BASIC
ARMOR PLATING IN THE AIRCRAFT

UNDER SOME OF THE CREW STATIONS,

BUT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.

Narrator: THE CHINOOK'S
SPEED AND STRENGTH

MAKE IT THE GO-TO BIRD FOR
THE MOST DANGEROUS OPERATIONS.

BUT AS A RESULT,

SOME OF THE LARGEST LOSSES
OF LIFE IN AFGHANISTAN

HAVE BEEN IN CHINOOKS.

AROUND A HUNDRED
U.S. LIVES LOST.

AS MANY AS 30 AT A TIME.

THE TEN-MINUTE FLIGHT
TO THE COMBAT ZONE IS TENSE.

Lutz: THERE'S A LOT OF MOUNTAINS

THAT KIND OF FUNNEL
INTO THIS LARGER VALLEY,

AND THERE'S A BUNCH
OF THESE, UH, SPURS

THAT KIND OF SHOOT OFF OF THAT

AND THAT ARE
VERY STEEP RIDGELINES.

SO THERE'S NOWHERE REALLY THAT
YOU COULD PUT A FULL AIRCRAFT

AND BE ABLE TO JUST LAND IT
AND SET IT DOWN.

Narrator: LUTZ LOOKS DOWN
AT A MOUNTAIN RIDGE

THAT DROPS SHARPLY ON EACH SIDE.

THE SUMMIT IS LESS
THAN FIVE FEET WIDE.

Lutz: CHINOOK'S A BIG AIRCRAFT.

FIRST THOUGHT WAS, UH, YEAH,

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE
TO LAND THERE,

UM, NOT EVEN PUT
THE REAR TWO WHEELS DOWN.

Narrator: BUT TURNING BACK
IS NOT AN OPTION.

AMERICAN TROOPS
ARE COUNTING ON THE SUPPLIES.

Lutz: THE FLIGHT ENGINEER
IMMEDIATELY PIPED UP WITH,

"I THINK WE CAN JUST PUT THE
RAMP ON THE TOP OF THE RIDGELINE

AND WE CAN OFFLOAD FROM THERE."

Narrator:
IT'S A DARING SOLUTION.

TO MAKE IT WORK, LUTZ MUST
MAINTAIN A STEADY HOVER...

JUST A HUNDRED FEET
ABOVE THE NARROW RIDGE.

THIS IS CALLED
A PINNACLE LANDING.

IT CALLS FOR NERVES OF STEEL.

Lutz: THE AIRCRAFT
AND THE ENVIRONMENT

ARE KIND OF INHERENTLY
A LITTLE BIT UNSTABLE.

UP IN THE MOUNTAINS LIKE THAT

THERE'S A LOT OF, LIKE,
WIND CURRENTS.

SO, IF YOU CATCH
A PARTICULARLY STRONG GUST

AND THOSE ROTOR BLADES
ARE MOVING PRETTY FAST,

SO IF THEY CLIP SOMETHING,

IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO
BRING THE AIRCRAFT DOWN.

Narrator: LUTZ HAS TO CONDUCT
THIS PINNACLE LANDING

IN THE MIDDLE
OF TALIBAN TERRITORY.

AND THE ENEMY IS ON TO HIM.

[GUNFIRE]

ONE WRONG MOVE,

AND THIS RESUPPLY MISSION
WILL TURN TRAGIC.

[GUNFIRE]

CAPTAIN BRIAN LUTZ'S
CH-47 CHINOOK

HOVERS PRECARIOUSLY
ABOVE A RIDGELINE

IN THE MOUNTAINS OF AFGHANISTAN.

DIRECTLY BELOW,

AN ENTIRE PLATOON
IN DESPERATE NEED OF SUPPLIES.

Lutz: I WAS TRYING TO STAY

AS LIGHT ON THE CONTROLS
AS POSSIBLE

SO THAT I DIDN'T MAKE
ANY SUDDEN OR DRASTIC MOVEMENTS

WHILE WE WERE, YOU KNOW,

TRYING TO SET THE RAMP
RIGHT ON THIS NARROW RIDGELINE.

Narrator: LUTZ FIXES HIS EYES
FIRMLY ON HIS DISPLAYS

AND EXECUTES
A TEXTBOOK STATIC HOVER.

THE GUNNER KEEPS WATCH
FOR ENEMY FIRE.

Lutz: THAT'S PROBABLY
THE MOST DANGEROUS PORTION

OF THE MISSION.

YOU'RE TRYING TO MAINTAIN
YOUR POSITION,

AND YOU'RE MOST VULNERABLE

AS YOU'RE JUST KIND OF
SITTING THERE HOVERING.

Narrator:
THE RAMP TOUCHES DOWN.

THE CHINOOK'S CREW
QUICKLY UNLOADS.

LESS THAN A MINUTE LATER,
THE CHINOOK TAKES OFF.

IT LEAVES 1,000 POUNDS
OF AMMUNITION AND SUPPLIES

IN AMERICAN HANDS.

Lutz: GIVEN THE NATURE
OF THE RESUPPLY

AND THE FACT THAT
IT WAS AT ALTITUDE

WHERE YOU MAY HAVE
VERY LIMITED SPACE TO DROP OFF,

THE CHINOOK WAS 100%
THE BEST AIRCRAFT FOR THE JOB.

Narrator: IN AFGHANISTAN,

CHINOOKS HOIST THEIR MAXIMUM
GROSS WEIGHT OF 26,000 POUNDS

AT ALTITUDES
OF OVER 16,000 FEET,

LIFTING MORE AT GREATER HEIGHTS

THAN ANY OTHER AIRCRAFT
IN THE ARMY'S INVENTORY.

Lutz: THE CHINOOK IS KIND OF
THE BELLE OF THE BALL

FOR A LOT OF STUFF
IN AFGHANISTAN

BECAUSE WE CAN TAKE
A LOT OF WEIGHT, UH,

REGARDLESS OF THE ALTITUDE.

Narrator:
BEFORE THE CHINOOK,

GETTING CARGO TO THE FRONT LINES
WAS A CHALLENGE...

ONE THAT HIT HOME MORE THAN EVER
IN THE KOREAN WAR.

[ARTILLERY FIRE]

1953.

[GUNFIRE]

AMERICAN-LED U.N. FORCES
ARE CAUGHT IN A STALEMATE

WITH CHINESE-BACKED
NORTH KOREAN COMMUNISTS.

Roger Connor:
FOR MOST OF THE CONFLICT,
THE FRONTLINE WAS STATIC.

Narrator: ROGER CONNOR
IS THE ROTARY WING CURATOR

AT THE NATIONAL
AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM.

Connor: THE U.S. DEPENDED

ESSENTIALLY ON HAVING
MORE AMMUNITION

THAN THE ENEMY
HAD TROOPS TO ABSORB IT.

Narrator: BOTH SIDES
FACE THE TOUGH TASK

OF KEEPING TROOPS
ON THE FRONTLINES SUPPLIED.

Connor: THERE WAS VERY LITTLE
EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE,

SO THE ROAD NETWORK
WAS ALMOST NONEXISTENT,

NO RAIL LINES.

SO, TO MOVE ANY SORT
OF HEAVY SUPPLIES OR EQUIPMENT

REQUIRED A NEW WAY
OF TRANSPORTATION.

Narrator: U.S. COMMANDERS
SCRAMBLE FOR IDEAS

AND REALIZE
THERE'S ONE THING THEY HAVE

THAT THE NORTH KOREANS DON'T:

HELICOPTERS.

Connor:
THE HELICOPTER HAD EMERGED

AS A VIABLE MILITARY TOOL
AT THE END OF WORLD WAR II.

IT WAS STILL A VERY
IMMATURE TECHNOLOGY.

THE FIRST REALLY PRACTICAL
TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS

DIDN'T COME OUT
UNTIL THE KOREAN WAR.

Narrator: THE BELL H-13...

THE SIKORSKY H-19...

IN KOREA'S RUGGED LANDSCAPE,
HELICOPTERS SHINE.

TROOP TRANSPORT.

RESUPPLY.

MEDEVAC.

EVEN SURVEILLANCE.

POSSIBILITIES
FOR THE NEW TECHNOLOGY

SEEM ENDLESS.

Connor: KOREA TURNED OUT
TO BE VERY IMPORTANT

FOR SHAPING THE FUTURE USE
OF HELICOPTERS.

HELICOPTERS WERE SO ESSENTIAL

THAT IT CAUSED
COMMANDERS TO REALIZE

THAT THIS WAS A TOOL THAT COULD
NO LONGER BE OVERLOOKED.

Narrator: AFTER KOREA,

THE ARMY WANTS TO MAKE
ITS HELICOPTERS EVEN BETTER.

BUT PRESIDENT EISENHOWER

AND HIS SECRETARY OF STATE
JOHN FOSTER DULLES

HAVE A DIFFERENT PLAN.

Connor:
WHEN PRESIDENT EISENHOWER

ENTERED OFFICE IN 1953,

HIS ADVISORS,

ESPECIALLY HIS SECRETARY
OF STATE, JOHN FOSTER DULLES,

ENCOURAGED HIM
TO USE THE NUCLEAR WEAPONS,

ESPECIALLY
THE NEW HYDROGEN BOMB,

AS A DETERRENT.

Narrator: DULLES BELIEVES
FIXED-WING BOMBERS

WILL GIVE AMERICA
THE ADVANTAGE IN THE ATOMIC AGE.

HE HAS LITTLE TIME OR MONEY FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT OF HELICOPTERS.

Connor: NUCLEAR BOMBERS
TOOK AWAY THE ARMY'S EMPHASIS

ON CONVENTIONAL GROUND FORCES.

SO, ARMY GROUND COMMANDERS
BECAME VERY ANXIOUS

ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD JUSTIFY
THEIR PLACE IN FUTURE CONFLICTS.

Narrator: TOP BRASS

QUICKLY COME UP
WITH A CREATIVE SOLUTION.

IN 1954,
ARMY MAJOR GENERAL JAMES GAVIN

PUBLISHES AN ARTICLE
IN "HARPER'S MAGAZINE."

ITS TITLE: "CAVALRY,
AND I DON'T MEAN HORSES."

IT INTRODUCES
A NEW ARMY DOCTRINE:

AIR MOBILITY.

GAVIN ARGUES

THAT HELICOPTERS CAN TRANSPORT
MORE THAN JUST TROOPS.

THEY CAN TRANSPORT
TACTICAL ATOMIC WEAPONS

AROUND THE BATTLEFIELD.

Connor: THE ARMY
HAD QUICKLY REALIZED

THAT IF THEY WANTED TO JUSTIFY
THEIR PLACE AT THE TABLE,

THEY HAD TO ADAPT
TO THIS NEW POLICY

IN THE EISENHOWER
ADMINISTRATION.

Narrator: AIR MOBILITY

MAY MAKE HELICOPTERS RELEVANT
IN THE ATOMIC AGE.

BUT FOR THE CONCEPT TO WORK,
THEY NEED AN UPGRADE.

Connor: UNFORTUNATELY,
THE EXISTING HELICOPTER FLEET

WAS NOT CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING

THE ARMY'S NEW ORIENTATION
TO ATOMIC WEAPONS.

IT NEEDED ONES THAT COULD
LIFT HEAVIER LOADS.

SO, THEY NEEDED
TO DESIGN HELICOPTERS

THAT WERE CAPABLE OF MEETING
THOSE REQUIREMENTS.

Narrator: ARMY ENGINEERS
GET DOWN TO WORK.

DESIGNING THE RIGHT HELICOPTER
WON'T BE EASY.

Connor: THE BIGGEST
TECHNICAL PROBLEM

OF HELICOPTERS IN THE 1950s

WAS THEIR ENGINES.

MOST OF THE FIRST GENERATION
MILITARY HELICOPTERS

WERE USING ESSENTIALLY SURPLUS
WORLD WAR II PISTON ENGINES.

Narrator: ENGINEERS EXPERIMENT
WITH A NEW TECHNOLOGY.

IT'S CALLED
THE JET TURBINE ENGINE.

Connor: THE TURBINE ENGINES WERE
ABLE TO PUT OUT A LOT MORE POWER

THAN THEIR PREDECESSORS.

THEY WERE MORE ECONOMICAL
TO OPERATE,

THEY TOOK UP A LOT LESS SPACE

SO THAT IT WAS A LOT MORE
EFFICIENT FOR CARRYING CARGO.

Narrator: THE ARMY BELIEVES
A TURBINE-POWERED HELICOPTER

COULD BE THE ANSWER
TO ITS TRANSPORT PROBLEMS.

WHAT'S MORE,
WHAT IF THEY COMBINED IT

WITH A DESIGN TRIED AND TESTED
SINCE THE MID '40s:

THE TANDEM ROTOR.

NEARLY ALL HELICOPTERS REQUIRE
AT LEAST TWO ROTORS TO FLY.

CONVENTIONAL CHOPPERS

USE A TOP-MOUNTED ROTOR
TO GENERATE LIFT.

AS THE TOP ROTOR TURNS,

IT CREATES THE ROTATIONAL FORCE
CALLED TORQUE.

TORQUE CAUSES THE CHOPPER'S BODY
TO SPIN AWAY FROM THE ROTOR.

TO COUNTER THIS TWISTING MOTION,

A TAIL ROTOR.

IT SPINS IN THE OPPOSITE
DIRECTION OF THE MAIN ROTOR,

PROVIDING A COUNTER FORCE

THAT KEEPS THE HELICOPTER
STABLE AS IT FLIES.

TANDEM-ROTOR HELICOPTERS

HAVE TWO EQUALLY-SIZED ROTORS
MOUNTED ON TOP.

THESE ROTORS SPIN
IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS,

NEUTRALIZING
THE PROBLEM OF TORQUE.

NO POWER IS WASTED

IN KEEPING THE HELICOPTER
POINTED LEFT OR RIGHT.

ALL THE POWER GOES
INTO VERTICAL LIFT.

TANDEM-ROTOR CHOPPERS ARE
INHERENTLY BIGGER AND STRONGER.

COMBINE THAT
WITH A TURBINE ENGINE,

AND THE ARMY BELIEVES
IT WILL HAVE A WINNER.

Connor: THE ARMY WANTED
ITS NEW TRANSPORT HELICOPTER

TO BE ABLE TO CARRY
AT LEAST A FULL PLATOON

OF FULLY EQUIPPED SOLDIERS,

SO THIS MEANT
A TANDEM-ROTOR HELICOPTER.

BY ADDING TURBINE ENGINES TO IT,

IT MADE IT ALL THAT
MUCH MORE CAPABLE.

Narrator:
1957, WASHINGTON, D.C.

THE ARMY STAKES ITS FUTURE

ON GETTING
A STATE-OF-THE-ART HELICOPTER.

IT LOOKS TO
THE VERTOL CORPORATION FOR HELP.

VERTOL TRIES TO ANTICIPATE
ARMY NEEDS FAR INTO THE FUTURE.

IT PROPOSES
ITS NEWLY DESIGNED MODEL 107.

IT'S GOT THR WHEELS,

A POWERFUL
TURBE-POWERED TWIN-ENGINE,

AND TWO ROTORS.

Connor: THE ARMY LOOKED
AT THE MODEL 107

AND FOUND THAT THIS AIRCRAFT
WAS QUITE CAPABLE,

BUT THEY ALSO REALIZED
IT WAS A LITTLE BIT TOO SMALL.

Narrator: VERTOL GOES BACK
TO THE DRAWING BOARD.

21 MONTHS LATER, THEY RETURN
WITH A LARGER, STRONGER CHOPPER.

Connor: FORTUNATELY,

VERTOL WAS ABLE TO MEET
THAT REQUIREMENT VERY QUICKLY,

AND THE ARMY ULTIMATELY GOT
WHAT THEY WANTED,

AND THAT'S WHAT WE NOW HAVE
AS THE CHINOOK.

Narrator:
1961, PHILADELPHIA.

THE ARMY ROLLS OUT ITS LATEST
SOLUTION TO AIR MOBILITY:

THE CH-47 CHINOOK.

THE CHINOOK IS MASSIVE:

52 FEET LONG
AND 23,400 POUNDS, EMPTY.

BUT DON'T BE FOOLED.

ITS ABILITY TO DANCE IN THE AIR
DEFIES ITS BULK.

Clouse: THE CHINOOK
IS THE FASTEST HELICOPTER

IN THE U.S. MILITARY INVENTORY.

IT'S ALSO VERY MANEUVERABLE,

AND THAT IS DUE TO
ITS TANDEM-ROTOR DESIGN.

THE TANDEM ROTOR
ALLOWS US TO DIRECT THAT

IN WHATEVER MODE
WE'D LIKE TO DO,

WHETHER IT'S THE POWER TO HOVER,
THE SPEED, OR MANEUVERABILITY.

Narrator: ONE OF THE THINGS
THE ARMY LIKES BEST:

A REAR-LOADING RAMP.

Dani Taylor: THE CH-47
IS A REAR-LOADING AIRCRAFT

AND THAT'S A BIG ADVANTAGE TO US

BECAUSE WE CAN ON-LOAD
PERSONNEL, PACKS, CARGO,

AND INTERNALLY
EVEN LOAD A HUMVEE

FASTER THAN A BLACKHAWK
CAN LOAD THEIR FIVE PERSONNEL.

Narrator: THE CHINOOK CAN EVEN
LOAD AND UNLOAD IN THE WATER.

Connor: ONE OF THE INTERESTING
FEATURES OF THE CHINOOK

IS THAT IT'S SEMI-AMPHIBIOUS.

THIS MEANS THAT FOR SPECIAL
OPERATIONS, FOR INSTANCE,

THEY CAN ACTUALLY PARK
THE BACK END OF THE HELICOPTER

IN THE WATER,
LOWER THE RAMP,

AND ACTUALLY HAVE
A SPECIAL OPERATIONS TEAM

DRIVE THE BOAT INTO THE AIRCRAFT

WHILE IT'S SITTING THERE
IN THE WATER, AND TAKE OFF.

Narrator: INSIDE ITS CARGO HOLD,

THE CHINOOK HAS 228 SQUARE FEET
FOR EQUIPMENT AND SOLDIERS.

THAT'S MORE THAN ANY OTHER
U.S. ARMY HELICOPTER TO DATE.

Taylor: OUR CABIN AREA
IS OVER 30 FEET LONG.

WE CAN LOAD OVER 15,000 POUNDS.

IF WE NEED MORE SPACE,
WE CAN LEVEL OUT THE RAMP

AND ADD MORE CARGO THERE,

AND WE CAN FLY
WITH THE RAMP LEVEL.

Narrator: THE CHINOOK IS BIG...

POWERFUL...

VERSATILE.

BUT PROOF OF ITS WORTH
ONLY COMES IN BATTLE.

1965, VIETNAM.

COMMUNIST-LED INSURGENTS
FROM THE NORTH

PUMMEL THE U.S.-BACKED SOUTH
TO THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE.

PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON VOWS TO
CRUSH COMMUNISM IN ITS TRACKS.

President Johnson: I HAVE
TODAY ORDERED TO VIETNAM

THE AIR MOBILE DIVISION,

AND CERTAIN OTHER FORCES WHICH
WILL RAISE OUR FIGHTING STRENGTH

FROM 75,000 TO 125,000 MEN

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

Narrator: IN JUST FOUR MONTHS,

THE U.S. COMBAT FORCE GROWS TO
35 TIMES ITS ORIGINAL STRENGTH.

BUT MORE BOOTS ON THE GROUND
DOESN'T MEAN CERTAIN VICTORY.

GETTING TROOPS
INTO THE COUNTRY IS EASY.

MOVING THEM AROUND FAST ENOUGH
TO SUSTAIN AN OFFENSE...

NOW, THAT'S TOUGH.

John Sims: VIETNAM
WAS DIFFICULT TO TRAVEL,

EITHER BY FOOT OR BY VEHICLE.

Narrator: CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER
JOHN SIMS WAS A CHINOOK PILOT

FOR MORE THAN 27 YEARS.

Sims: THE ROADS WERE VERY POOR.

UH, THE NORTHERN PART
OF THE COUNTRY

WAS FAIRLY MOUNTAINOUS,

THE SOUTHERN PART
WAS VERY SWAMPY.

IT... IT WAS AT SEA LEVEL.

THE ROAD SYSTEM WAS VERY BAD.

Narrator: IN SEPTEMBER,

MILITARY PLANNERS
RECEIVE A HELPING HAND:

THE CH-47 CHINOOK

ON ITS FIRST COMBAT DEPLOYMENT.

THE CHINOOK QUICKLY BECOMES
KNOWN AS A U.S. ARMY WORKHORSE.

THE ONLY PROBLEM
WITH GAINING A REPUTATION:

THE ENEMY NOTICES.

[GUNFIRE]

Sims: FROM THE TIME THE CHINOOKS
ENTERED THE WAR IN VIETNAM,

THEY WERE GETTING SHOT DOWN
FAIRLY FREQUENTLY.

Connor: THE CHINOOK
WAS A FAIRLY EASY TARGET.

BECAUSE IT WAS A FAIRLY
LARGE AIRCRAFT,

IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER
IN TIGHT SPACES,

SO IT WAS FAIRLY EASY TO HIT
WITH A ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADE

OR HEAVY MACHINE-GUN FIRE.

Narrator: THE CHINOOK
HAS JUST ONE GUNNER.

THAT ISN'T ENOUGH TO DEFEND
ITSELF FROM ENEMY FIRE.

Connor: THE CHINOOK WAS MOST
VULNERABLE FROM BEHIND,

GIVEN THAT'S WHERE
ITS ENGINE NACELLES WERE,

AND OF COURSE A LOT
OF ITS TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

WAS BACK THERE.

OF COURSE,

THAT'S ALSO WHERE YOU'RE
UNLOADING YOUR TROOPS AS WELL,

THROUGH THAT REAR RAMP.

UM, SO, THAT WAS THE ABSOLUTE
WORST PLACE YOU COULD TAKE FIRE.

Narrator: THE ENEMY
DESTROYS 62 CHINOOKS.

WITH EACH ONE, THE ARMY'S
REPUTATION TAKES A HIT.

Connor: HAVING THE CHINOOK
PERFORM WELL

WAS ESSENTIAL TO THE ARMY'S
JUSTIFYING ITS PLACE

IN THIS MODERN FORCE STRUCTURE.

Narrator:
THE ARMY HAS TO FIGURE OUT

HOW TO KEEP THE CHINOOKS
FROM GETTING SHOT DOWN.

ITS ENTIRE
AIR MOBILITY STRATEGY,

AND SOLDIERS' LIVES,

ARE AT STAKE.

1966, VIETNAM.

THE CHINOOK PROVES ITSELF
AS A VITAL SUPPLY HELICOPTER,

BUT IT'S TOO EASILY SHOT DOWN.

THE ANSWER:

GIVE SOME OF THE BIRDS
ADDITIONAL FIREPOWER.

THE ARMY MODIFIES FOUR CH-47s
TO CREATE THE ACH-47 CHINOOK.

THE "A" STANDS FOR "ARMED."

OFFICIALLY, IT'S KNOWN AS
THE ATTACK CARGO HELICOPTER.

UNOFFICIALLY, "GUNS A GO-GO."

[GUNFIRE]

Ralph Holloway:
THE ARMED CHINOOK

REALLY LOOKED JUST LIKE
A REGULAR CHINOOK

ON THE OUTSIDE.

Narrator: RETIRED MAJOR
RALPH "DOC" HOLLOWAY

SERVED THREE TOURS IN VIETNAM.

Holloway: FROM THE INSIDE,

IT WAS AN ALTOGETHER
DIFFERENT HELICOPTER.

ALL OF OUR SPACE WAS TAKEN UP
WITH AMMUNITION AND GUNNERS.

Narrator: THE ACH-47 HAS FIVE
.50-CALIBER MACHINE GUNS,

TWO 20-MILLIMETER CANNONS.

IT CARRIES 38 ROCKETS
AND A GRENADE LAUNCHER

IN ITS SNOUT.

IT'S MORE THAN JUST
A HEAVY LIFTER.

NOW THE CHINOOK
IS A FLYING TANK.

Holloway: OUR MISSION WAS TO
PROVIDE ARMED HELICOPTER SUPPORT

FOR GROUND UNITS IN VIETNAM.

WHEN WE TOOK OFF,

WE HAD 5,000 POUNDS
OF AMMUNITION ON BOARD.

IT WAS QUITE A MACHINE.
[LAUGHS]

Narrator:
THERE'S NO TIME TO TEST-FLY

THIS MODIFIED WAR MACHINE.

IT WILL HAVE TO BE
TRIAL BY COMBAT.

FEBRUARY 1967.

AN KHE, VIETNAM.

HOLLOWAY AND ANOTHER GO-GO CREW
HEAD OUT ON AN URGENT MISSION.

Holloway: THIS TEAM
UP IN THE MOUNTAINS

NORTH OF THE BONG SON
WAS UNDER ATTACK.

THEY NEEDED FIRE SUPPORT.

IT WAS A RUNNING FIGHT
OF 4 AGAINST 150 VIET CONG

AND, UH,
TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE ODDS.

Narrator:
TWO CHINOOKS RACE NORTH.

FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER,

THEY LOOK DOWN AT A GUNFIGHT
IN THE JUNGLE.

HOLLOWAY KNOWS
HE NEEDS TO MAKE A RESCUE,

AND FAST.

Holloway: THESE GUYS WERE
TAKING AN AWFUL LOT OF FIRE.

WE REALIZED THAT THEY WERE

EITHER GOING TO BE
KILLED OR CAPTURED,

OR WE WERE GOING
TO GET THEM OUT.

THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY TO GO.

Narrator: GETTING
CLOSE ENOUGH FOR A RESCUE

IS A DICEY PROPOSITION.

VIET CONG QUICKLY HONE IN
ON THE BIG NEW TARGET.

Holloway: WHEN WE GOT THERE
AND GOT CLOSE TO THE TEAM,

WE STARTED PICKING UP
A HEAVY LEVEL OF GROUND FIRE.

WE KNEW THAT WE HAD
AN IFFY SITUATION AT BEST.

Narrator:
THE CHINOOKS PICK A SPOT

JUST OUTSIDE THE RANGE OF FIRE.

HOLLOWAY RADIOS DOWN
TO THE SOLDIERS

TO TELL THEM THE PLAN.

ONE CHOPPER SWOOPS IN
TO PICK UP THE TROOPS.

HOLLOWAY HOLDS A HOVER

TO SHOW THE VIETCONG
JUST WHAT THE GO-GO BIRD CAN DO.

Holloway:
SO, OUR TASK WAS TO PROVIDE

THE SUFFICIENT SUPPRESSIVE FIRE

TO ALLOW THE TROOPS
TO BREAK CONTACT AND MOVE AWAY.

Narrator: HOLLOWAY WAITS
FOR HIS WINGMAN TO DROP.

[WHIRRING]

AND THEN, IT'S GO TIME.

Holloway: WHEN THE WINGMAN
LANDED ON THE TOP OF THE HILL,

I GAVE THE COMMAND TO OPEN FIRE,

AND THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED
OUR CURTAIN OF STEEL.

[GUNFIRE]

WE DIDN'T HOLD BACK ANYTHING,

WE FIRED EVERYTHING WE HAD...

[GUNFIRE]

AND AS FAST AS WE COULD FIRE.

EACH ONE OF THE GUNS WAS FIRING
250 ROUNDS A MINUTE.

THE 40-MILLIMETER WAS FIRING
200 ROUNDS A MINUTE,

AND IT'S AN EXPLODING ROUND.

I'M SURE THAT THEY THOUGHT

THAT THE WHOLE WORLD
HAD OPENED UP ON THEM.

Narrator:
THE FOUR U.S. SOLDIERS

SCRAMBLE INTO
THE WAITING CHOPPER.

THE CHINOOKS QUICKLY PULL UP
AND RACE TO SAFETY.

Holloway:
WE GOT BACK IN FORMATION

AND FLEW OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS
AND BACK TO THE LZ

AND UNLOADED THE TROOPS.

IT'S A VERY SATISFYING FEELING.

IT'S A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT.

ANYTIME YOU CAN SAVE AMERICANS,
YOU'VE DONE ALRIGHT.

Narrator:
THE MODIFIED TRANSPORT CHOPPER

PROVES ITS POWER
AS A FIGHTING MACHINE.

EVEN THOUGH
THERE ARE ONLY FOUR,

WORD SPREADS.

Holloway: THE STANDARD CHINOOK
STARTED RECEIVING LESS FIRE

SIMPLY BECAUSE THE VIET CONG

WERE NOT ABLE
TO DETERMINE EASILY

WHETHER THE HELICOPTER
THEY WERE SHOOTING AT

WAS REALLY
AN ARMED CHINOOK OR NOT.

Narrator:
BY THE END OF THE WAR,

THE CHINOOK IS A GIVEN,

PROVING THAT AIR MOBILITY
IS HERE TO STAY.

TWO YEARS LATER,
THE ARMY ENDS ACH-47 OPERATIONS.

BUT THE GO-GO BIRD'S LEGACY
LIVES ON.

Holloway: OUR USE OF
THE ARMED CHINOOK IN VIETNAM

GAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY

TO THE NEED FOR THE ARMY
TO DEVELOP HELICOPTERS

THAT COULD HANDLE
LARGER CALIBER WEAPONS.

Narrator:
AS GOOD AS THE CHOPPER IS,

THE ARMY WANTS IT TO DO MORE.

Sims: EVEN DURING VIETNAM,

THEY REALIZED

THAT THEY WANTED TO INCREASE

THE CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: IN 1976,

THE ARMY DELIVERS
ALMOST 500 CHINOOKS

TO BOEING'S PRODUCTION FACILITY
IN PENNSYLVANIA.

ENGINEERS STRIP THEM DOWN
TO THE AIRFRAME

AND REBUILD THEM FROM SCRATCH.

THE REVAMPED CHOPPER
HAS FIBERGLASS ROTOR BLADES,

IMPROVED AVIONICS,

UPGRADED HYDRAULICS,

AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY,
EVEN MORE POWERFUL ENGINES.

VIETNAM-ERA CHINOOKS HAVE
A PAYLOAD OF 10,000 POUNDS.

ENGINEERS CLAIM
THE UPGRADED MODEL

CAN LIFT ALMOST
THREE TIMES THAT MUCH.

BEFORE THE NEW MODELS DEPLOY,

THE ARMY TESTS THEM
TO THE BREAKING POINT.

HOW WELL WILL THIS NEW AIRFRAME
HOLD UP IN COMBAT?

1995.

BOSNIA.

AFTER THREE AND A HALF
BLOODY YEARS,

THE BOSNIAN WAR FINALLY ENDS.

BUT THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED
ETHNIC TERRITORIES

LEAVE THE WAR-TORN COUNTRY
ON EDGE.

Christiane Amanpour:
IN A FEW DAYS,

60,000 U.S.
AND OTHER N.A.T.O. TROOPS

WILL START ROLLING IN
TO ENFORCE THIS PEACE.

Narrator: AMERICAN TROOPS PLAN
TO ENTER THROUGH CROATIA.

THEY ARE FORCED TO CROSS
THE BORDERING SAVA RIVER.

Kenneth Brookins:
AT THE TIME,

THERE WAS NO BRIDGE THAT
ACTUALLY LED INTO BOSNIA,

SO THE MILITARY DECIDED TO
BUILD A BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER.

Narrator:
SERGEANT KENNETH BROOKINS
WAS A FLIGHT ENGINEER

WITH THE 159th REGIMENT
IN BOSNIA.

Brookins: IT WAS IMPERATIVE

TO GET THIS BRIDGE COMPLETED
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Narrator: BUT HOURS
BEFORE CONSTRUCTION BEGINS,

IT'S THE RIVER
THAT MAKES THE FIRST ATTACK.

Brookins: OVERNIGHT,
THE RIVER OVERFLOWED ITS BANKS

AND ACTUALLY
WIPED OUT THE BASE CAMP

THAT THE ENGINEERS HAD SET UP.

Narrator: THE AMERICAN CAMP
IS COMPLETELY UNDERWATER.

NOW THE ARMY CAN'T DO ITS JOB.

Brookins: THE ENGINEERING GROUP
WAS IN A TOTAL PANIC.

YOU COULD SEE VEHICLES, LIKE
2.5-TON TRUCKS, HALF-SUBMERGED,

BUT YOU CAN'T MOVE THEM

BECAUSE THE GROUND,
AT THAT POINT, IS TOO SOFT.

Narrator: THE ARMY HAS JUST
THREE DAYS TO BUILD THE BRIDGE

AND JOIN THE REST OF
N.A.T.O. FORCES IN BOSNIA.

WITH ITS CAMP SWEPT DOWNRIVER,

GENERALS HAVE TO COME UP
WITH ANOTHER PLAN.

Brookins: THEY REALIZED
THAT WHEELED VEHICLES

WOULDN'T BE THE OPTION

TO ACTUALLY GET THE BRIDGE
SECTIONS IN THE WATER,

SO THEY BROUGHT IN CHINOOKS.

Narrator: THE CHINOOK HAS
MORE THAN ONE WAY TO HAUL.

WHATEVER'S TOO BIG
TO FIT INSIDE ITS CARGO

GETS HOOKED
TO THE OUTSIDE OF ITS BODY.

PALLETS,
SHIPPING CONTAINERS,

HUMVEES.

THE CHINOOK CAN EVEN HAUL
A 7,000-POUND HOWITZER

AT MORE THAN 100 MILES PER HOUR.

IT'S CALLED SLING LOADING.

Taylor:
THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURE

FOR THE CHINOOK TO DO
EXTERNAL SLING LOADS

HAS GOT TO BE OUR THREE HOOKS.

WE HAVE A FORWARD AND AFT HOOK

THAT, TANDEM, CAN HOLD
UP TO 25,000 POUNDS,

AND OUR CENTER HOOK
JUST BY ITSELF,

WITH A SINGLE POINT LOAD,

CAN HOLD 26,000 POUNDS.

Narrator: COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
PILOT AND FLIGHT ENGINEER

IS CRITICAL WHEN ATTEMPTING
TO SLING LOAD.

Taylor:
DURING A SLING LOAD OPERATION

THE PILOT HAS NO WAY OF KNOWING
WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN BELOW HIM,

BECAUSE HE CAN'T SEE IT.

HE'S BASICALLY FLYING BLIND.

HE TRUSTS US
AS HIS FLIGHT ENGINEERS

TO BE ABLE TO TELL HIM
WHAT'S GOING ON.

Narrator:
FLIGHT ENGINEERS GUIDE THE PILOT

BY LOOKING THROUGH A HOLE
IN THE CHINOOK'S FLOOR.

ITS NICKNAME: THE HELL HOLE.

Taylor: IN HERE
IS WHERE WE ACCOMPLISH

ALL OF OUR CARGO HOOK DUTIES.

EVERYTHING WE DO
TO HOOK UP THE LOAD

WILL BE DONE FROM THIS POSITION.

NORMALLY WE LAY DOWN
BY THE CENTER HOLE,

ABOUT ALL THE WAY OUT
TO OUR HIPS,

SO WE CAN GET
THE BEST VIEW POSSIBLE.

Narrator: THE PILOT LOWERS
THE CHOPPER OVER THE LOAD.

THE FLIGHT ENGINEER
CALLS OUT COMMANDS

TO HELP GAUGE HIS POSITION.

GROUND CREWS WORK
TO HOOK UP THE CARGO.

TO KEEP CREWS SAFE,
THE PICKUP MUST BE PERFECT.

Taylor: THE MOST CRITICAL POINT
OF DOING A SLING LOAD

IS WHEN YOU'RE HOOKING IT UP.

IF WE'RE NOT HAVING
GOOD CREW COORDINATION

AND COMMUNICATING
WITH OUR PILOTS,

IT COULD POTENTIALLY
BE CATASTROPHIC.

[WHIRRING]

Narrator:
KAPOSUJLAK AIR BASE, HUNGARY.

BROOKINS AND HIS CREW
TAKE OFF FOR BOSNIA.

40 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF,
THE CHINOOKS REACH THE RIVER.

NEARLY A HUNDRED BRIDGE PIECES
WAIT FOR THEM.

Brookins: THE SETUP WAS

LITERALLY WE WERE GOING TO
PICK UP THE BRIDGE

FROM THESE PICKUP ZONES

AND FLY THEM TO THE DROP POINT
IN THE RIVER.

Narrator: BROOKINS AND HIS CREW

APPROACH THEIR
FIRST BRIDGE PIECE.

FIVE FEET BELOW,

GROUND CREWS SCRAMBLE TO HOOK
THE CHINOOK TO ITS LOAD.

THE SOLDIERS WORK ONLY FEET
FROM THE CHINOOK'S BLADES.

ANY WRONG COMMAND TO THE PILOT
COULD BE FATAL.

AS THE CHINOOK HOVERS
ABOVE THE BRIDGE PIECE,

BROOKINS NOTICES A PROBLEM.

Brookins: BECAUSE THERE WAS
SO MUCH ICE SATURATION

ON TOP OF THE BRIDGE SECTIONS,

JUST FROM THE NORMAL
ROTOR WASH WE GENERATE

WE WERE BLOWING PEOPLE OFF THE
TOP OF THESE BRIDGE SECTIONS.

AFTER SEEING A COUPLE
HOOKUP PERSONNEL FALL,

WE REALIZED
WE COULDN'T CONTINUE THAT.

Narrator:
THE CHINOOK'S TWIN ROTORS

CREATE MORE DOWNWASH
THAN ANY OTHER CHOPPER.

IT'S THE EQUIVALENT
OF STANDING IN THE WAY

OF A FORCE-FOUR HURRICANE.

THE GROUND CREW MUST SCATTER.

THE MISSION IS IN JEOPARDY.

IN BOSNIA,

GROUND CREWS MUST ATTACH
PIECES OF AN ICY BRIDGE

TO A POWERFUL CHINOOK.

BUT THE CHOPPER'S POWERFUL
DOWNWASH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE.

Brookins: WE KIND OF BASICALLY
TOLD THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND

TO JUST SET THE SLINGS UP
ON TOP OF THE LOAD,

WE WOULD PICK THEM UP,

BECAUSE IT WAS SO DANGEROUS
DUE TO ALL THE ICE.

Narrator:
SERGEANT BROOKINS AND HIS CREW

COME UP WITH A NEW PLAN:

HOOK UP THE BRIDGE SPAN
FROM INSIDE THE CHINOOK.

Brookins: WE HAVE A POLE
INSIDE THE AIRCRAFT

WE CALL A SHEPHERD'S HOOK

THAT THE CREW MEMBER IN THE BACK
OF THE AIRCRAFT WOULD REACH DOWN

AND JUST SIMPLY GRAB THE CLEVIS

AND HOIST IT UP
TO THE AIRCRAFT THEMSELVES.

Narrator:
IT TAKES JUST MINUTES

FOR THE FLIGHT ENGINEER TO DO
WHAT GROUND CREWS COULDN'T.

NOW IT'S TIME TO PUT
THE CHINOOK'S UPGRADED ENGINES

TO THE TEST.

Brookins: THE WORST THING THAT
COULD HAPPEN IS ENGINE FAILURE.

WORSE YET, DUAL ENGINE FAILURE.

IT'S EVEN WORSE WHEN YOU'RE
CONNECTED TO AN OBJECT.

AS THE FLIGHT ENGINEER,

YOU'RE CONSTANTLY INSPECTING
THE LOAD AS YOU'RE COMING UP.

YOU'RE ALSO MONITORING THE HOOK
THAT YOU'RE CONNECTED TO

BECAUSE IF IT'S NOT ON CORRECTLY
OR IF IT'S TWISTED,

IT WILL COMPLICATE THINGS.

Narrator: THE CHINOOKS
MUST NOW HAND OFF THE BRIDGE

TO BOATS WAITING IN THE RIVER.

ADDING DANGER,

THEY MUST FLY THEIR LOAD
LOW OVER THE TREE LINE.

MINUTES LATER, THE CHINOOK
HOVERS ABOVE THE RIVER.

BROOKINS GIVES THE PILOT
THE CUE TO DROP

AND WATCHES
THE 12,000-POUND BRIDGE SPAN

DROP INTO THE ICY WATERS.

THAT'S ONE SPAN DOWN.

BUT IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING.

THERE'S ALMOST
100 MORE PIECES TO GO.

Brookins: IT WAS ALL DAY.

I REMEMBER FROM
7 SOMETHING IN THE MORNING

TO IT GETTING DARK,

WHICH IT GOT DARK
AROUND 4:00, 4:30,

SO THAT ENTIRE DAY
WAS SPENT AT THAT SITE.

Narrator: IT TAKES HOURS,

BUT THE CHINOOKS ARE ABLE
TO BRAVE THE WEATHER

AND GET THE JOB DONE.

Brookins: WE DIDN'T
THINK OF IT IN NUMBERS,

WE DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION
TO NUMBERS.

WE JUST CONTINUED UNTIL
THERE WAS NO MORE SECTIONS LEFT.

IT WAS JUST A NONSTOP EVENT.

Narrator: IT'S THE NEXT MORNING

BEFORE THE BRIDGE
IS FULLY CONSTRUCTED.

THANKS TO THE CHINOOK'S
POWERFUL LIFT,

THE BRIDGE BECOMES A FLOATING
PASSAGEWAY FOR TANKS, ARTILLERY,

AND NEARLY
20,000 AMERICAN TROOPS.

Brookins:
DUE TO THE ENGINE UPGRADES,

THE CHINOOK WAS FLAWLESS

IN THE EFFORTS NEEDED
FOR THIS CAMPAIGN.

THERE'S NO OTHER AIRCRAFT
IN THE MILITARY INVENTORY

THAT COULD HAVE DONE
SUCH AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

Narrator: IT'S THIS SAME POWER

THAT ALLOWS THE CHINOOK
TO SWOOP IN

AND HELP WITH DISASTER RELIEF
ON THE HOME FRONT.

AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA IN 2005,

IT'S THE CHINOOK THAT
SCOOPS UP WATER FOR FIRES...

AND THE CHINOOK
THAT FLIES IN SAND BAGS

TO REPAIR DAMAGED LEVEES...

ARGUABLY THE AIRCRAFT'S
PROUDEST MOMENT.

THESE EVENTS PROVE
AN UPGRADED CHINOOK,

WITH THE RIGHT CREW,

IS A WEIGHTLIFTING CHAMPION.

BUT CRITICS COMPLAIN THAT
THE ARMY IS TOO SLOW TO KEEP UP

WITH THE LATEST ADVANCEMENTS
IN COCKPIT TECHNOLOGY.

A FULLY UPGRADED
CHINOOK SHOULD HAVE MORE POWER

AND BE ABLE TO FLY BLIND.

2009.

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM
STEAMROLLS INTO ITS SIXTH YEAR.

[CHANTING]

A MONTH INTO OFFICE,

AMERICA'S NEW LEADER
CALLS FOR CHANGE.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

SETS A HARD DEADLINE
FOR TROOP WITHDRAWAL.

President Obama:
BY AUGUST 31, 2010,

OUR COMBAT MISSION
IN IRAQ WILL END.

Narrator: BUT TROOPS STILL FACE
ALL THE DANGERS OF WAR.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST THREATS
TO LIFE AND LIMB:

IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES.

IEDs ARE CHEAP,

EASY TO MAKE,

AND LETHAL.

THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR AROUND
HALF OF ALL THE U.S. CASUALTIES

IN AFGHANISTAN.

THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP SOLDIERS
SAFE FROM IEDs

IS TO KEEP BOOTS AND TIRES
OFF THE GROUND.

THAT'S WHERE THE CH-47 COMES IN.

Brandon Tipton:
IT'S A LOT HARDER
TO IED A HELICOPTER

THAN IT IS A VEHICLE.

THE MORE YOU FLY A CHINOOK,

THE LESS CONVOYS YOU HAVE
TO HAVE ON THE GROUND.

Narrator:
CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 4
BRANDON TIPTON

FLEW THE CHINOOK ON THREE
DEPLOYMENTS IN IRAQI FREEDOM.

Tipton: YOU CAN DO SO MANY
DIFFERENT THINGS IN A 47

THAT YOU CAN'T DO
WITH ANY OTHER AIRCRAFT.

WE FLEW AT LEAST
FOUR AIRCRAFT A NIGHT

EVERY NIGHT FOR A YEAR.

Narrator: THE CHINOOK DOESN'T
HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IEDs,

BUT FLYING IN IRAQ
HAS ITS OWN SPECIAL HAZARDS.

Tipton: THERE'S NOT
ANY CITIES OUT THERE,

SO IT IS JUST FLAT BROWN DIRT.

AND AT NIGHT,
YOU CAN'T SEE THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN THE GROUND AND THE SKY.

IT'S ALL THE SAME COLOR.

Narrator: IT'S A LANDSCAPE

THAT LEADS TO THE MOST
DANGEROUS SITUATION

ANY PILOT ANYWHERE CAN FACE:

SPATIAL DISORIENTATION.

Tipton: SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
IS THE INABILITY OF A PILOT

TO FEEL OR TELL WHERE THEY ARE

IN RELATION
TO THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH.

IT BECOMES MUCH WORSE WHEN
YOU'RE FLYING IN A DUST CLOUD

AND REDUCED VISIBILITY.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT WAS HAPPENING

THE NIGHT WE WENT OUT
AND DID OUR MISSION.

Narrator:
SPEICHER AIR FORCE BASE, IRAQ.

TIPTON AND ANOTHER CHINOOK
TOUCH DOWN WITH THEIR CARGO.

IT TAKES LESS THAN AN HOUR
TO UNLOAD THE SUPPLIES.

THEN IT'S TIME TO FLY BACK
TO HOME BASE AT TAJI.

BEFORE THEY HEAD HOME,
TIPTON CHECKS IN ON THE WEATHER.

Tipton: THEY SAID,
HEY, JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW,

THE WIND IS PICKING UP HERE.

SO, WE ROGERED AND SAID, OK,

WE'RE JUST FINISHED
DROPPING OFF THE STUFF HERE,

AND WE'RE HEADED HOME.

Narrator: THE CHOPPERS
TAKE OFF IN PAIRED FORMATION.

ABOUT 20 MINUTES
INTO THE FLIGHT,

TIPTON NOTICES SOMETHING WRONG.

Tipton: OUT OF THE CORNER
OF MY EYES,

AS I'M WATCHING THE AIRCRAFT
IN FRONT OF ME,

I CAN SEE MY PILOT
WHO'S FLYING WITH ME

JUST KIND OF DO THIS,

WHICH DENOTES TO ME THAT SHE'S
GETTING SPATIALLY DISORIENTED.

Narrator: TIPTON QUICKLY CHECKS
IN WITH THE REST OF HIS TEAM.

Tipton: I CALLED OVER OUR
INTERNAL COMM SYSTEM AND SAID,

HEY, CAN YOU GUYS
SEE THE GROUND RIGHT NOW?

AND THE "OH, CRAP" MOMENT

WAS WHEN I GOT THE CONFIRMATION

FROM MY CREW MEMBERS
AND THE OTHER AIRCRAFT

THAT NOBODY COULD SEE
THE GROUND ANYMORE.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS
WE'D FLOWN INTO A DUST CLOUD,

WHICH WE DID NOT EXPECT.

IT'S NOT A SMALL DUST CLOUD.

IT'S A DUST CLOUD

THAT'S 50 MILES WIDE
AND MAYBE A HUNDRED MILES DEEP

OF JUST DIRT IN THE AIR.

[WHIRRING]

I WOULD SAY OUR VISIBILITY
DROPPED FROM A FIVE MILE,

I CAN SEE EVERYWHERE I'M GOING,

DOWN TO AN EIGHTH
OF A MILE OR LESS.

YOU CAN SEE THE WINDOWS,

AND THAT'S ABOUT
AS FAR AS YOU CAN SEE.

Narrator: THERE'S NO WAY
THE TWO CHINOOKS

CAN FLY AROUND
THE CYCLONE OF SAND,

OR EVEN SEE
CLEARLY ENOUGH TO LAND.

THEY ARE TRAPPED IN MID-AIR...

BURNING UP FUEL...

AND NO WAY OUT.

IN IRAQ,

CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 4
BRANDON TIPTON

FLIES OVER ENEMY TERRITORY,

IN A SANDSTORM,

AT NIGHT.

IT'S A RECIPE FOR DISASTER,

UNLESS HE COMES UP
WITH A SOLUTION...

FAST.

Tipton:
FOR THE FIRST FEW SECONDS,

IT'S, IT'S SHEER TERROR,

AND I SAID, OK, WE'RE GOING
TO USE THE FLIGHT DIRECTOR

TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: THE FLIGHT DIRECTOR

IS PART OF THE CHINOOK'S
BRAND-NEW AVIONICS.

Tipton: THE FLIGHT DIRECTOR
IS REALLY JUST A COMPUTER

THAT TAKES READINGS

FROM EVERYTHING
THAT'S GOING ON THROUGH SENSORS

AND CAN MANIPULATE
THE FLIGHT CONTROLS

WITHOUT YOU HAVING TO DO IT.

Narrator:
IT'S AN ELECTRONIC SYSTEM

CRITICS SAY HAS BEEN
TOO LONG IN COMING,

AND TIPTON HAS NEVER
USED IT BEFORE IN COMBAT.

Tipton: PILOTS INHERENTLY
ARE CONTROL FREAKS.

AND GIVING UP THE CONTROL
OF THE AIRCRAFT TO A COMPUTER

IS ONE OF THE LAST THINGS
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO DO.

WE OBVIOUSLY ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT
THERE BEING SOMETHING WRONG.

WITH ANY COMPUTER,
GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT.

SO, IF YOU'RE NOT PUTTING
THE RIGHT STUFF IN,

IT CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.

Narrator: BUT IN THIS CASE,

TRUSTING THE NEW AVIONICS SYSTEM
IS TIPTON'S ONLY OPTION.

Tipton: WE ENTERED THE DESIRED
ALTITUDE AND THE AIR SPEED

AND THEN TURNED
THE FLIGHT DIRECTOR ON

AND LET THE AIRCRAFT TAKE
CONTROL OF WHERE WE WERE GOING.

Narrator: WITHIN SECONDS,

TIPTON'S CHINOOK
IS UNDER THE COMPUTER'S CONTROL.

[RADIO CHATTER]

IT PERFORMS FLAWLESSLY.

Tipton: I KIND OF LOOKED OVER
AT THE PILOT I WAS FLYING WITH,

AND WE BOTH JUST DID THE...
[INHALES, EXHALES] DEEP BREATH

AND SAID, OK, WELL, THIS THING
WORKS LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO.

IT'S JUST A HUGE RELIEF.

Narrator: 45 MINUTES LATER,

THE CHINOOKS
TOUCH DOWN BACK AT TAJI.

WITHOUT THE NEW COMPUTER,

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
A DIFFERENT STORY.

Tipton:
HAVING THE FLIGHT DIRECTOR

IN THE AIRCRAFT THAT NIGHT

MADE MY LIFE AS AN AIR MISSION
COMMANDER A LOT EASIER

BECAUSE I KNEW
I COULD RELY ON THAT THING

TO BRING EVERYBODY HOME.

Narrator:
THE FLIGHT DIRECTOR COMPUTER

ONLY BECAME PART OF THE STANDARD
U.S. ARMY CHINOOK IN 2007.

BUT SINCE THEN,
IN AFGHANISTAN ALONE,

ACCIDENTS DUE TO
SPATIAL DISORIENTATION

HAVE GONE DOWN 800%.

Sims: THE DESIGN
OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM

THAT WE SEE IN OUR NEWEST
VERSION OF THE CHINOOK

WILL ALLOW THE AIRCRAFT TO, UH,

TO HOVER HANDS OFF,

EVEN THOUGH THE CREW

CAN'T EVEN SEE
OUTSIDE THE COCKPIT,

AND TO SAFELY LAND THE AIRCRAFT
UNDER THOSE EXTREME CONDITIONS.

Narrator: THE U.S. ARMY
HAS SPENT TENS OF MILLIONS

UPGRADING THE CHINOOK
OVER ITS LIFETIME.

STRONGER AIRFRAMES,

ADVANCED DIGITAL COCKPITS,

FLARE DISPENSERS
TO DISTRACT ENEMY RADAR.

Tipton: THE AIRCRAFT
IS ONLY GETTING BETTER

WITH IMPROVEMENTS.

I THINK THE CHINOOK
IS GOING TO BE AROUND

FOR A LONG TIME TO COME.

Narrator: THE CHINOOK'S
GREATEST CHALLENGE NOW:

CAN IT SET A NEW RECORD?

IT JUST MAY BECOME THE LONGEST
SERVING AIRCRAFT EVER.

Connor: FIFTY YEARS ON,

THERE'S STILL NO REPLACEMENT
FOR THE CHINOOK IN THE PIPELINE.

THIS MAY BE THE FIRST AIRCRAFT

THAT SEES A CENTURY IN SERVICE.

Sims: THAT'S A TESTAMENT
TO THE ABILITY THE CHINOOK HAS

TO CONTINUE TO ADAPT
TO ITS ENVIRONMENT

AND TO THE MISSION
THAT IT HAS TO DO.

Narrator: OTHER COUNTRIES
ARE ALSO SOLD ON THE CHINOOK.

BOEING SHIPS CHINOOKS TO
19 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.

MEDICAL EVACUATION,

DISASTER RELIEF,

SEARCH AND RESCUE,

AIRCRAFT RECOVERY,

FIRE FIGHTING.

THE CHINOOK'S RESUME
GROWS WITH EACH YEAR.

Holloway: YOU CAN ARM IT,

YOU CAN FLY IT AT NIGHT,

IT WILL CLIMB HIGH MOUNTAINS,

IT WILL FLOAT,

IT WILL REFUEL IN FLIGHT,

IT WILL DO ANYTHING.

Narrator: ICONIC,

VERSATILE,

POWERFUL.

THE CH-47 CHINOOK
HELPED DEFINE ARMY AVIATION.

Holloway: THE CHINOOK
HAS GIVEN THE ARMY

A LIFTING CAPABILITY
THAT WAS DESPERATELY NEEDED.

Narrator:
MORE THAN 1,200 CHOPPERS

HAVE ROLLED DOWN
THE PRODUCTION LINE.

ALMOST ALL OF THEM
ARE STILL IN SERVICE.

Connor: THE CHINOOK HAS CHANGED
VERY LITTLE COSMETICALLY

OVER ITS LIFESPAN.

IT'S CERTAINLY NOT
THE MOST GLAMOROUS HELICOPTER

IN THE INVENTORY,

BUT IT IS THE ONE AIRCRAFT

THAT YOU KNOW IS GOING
TO GET THE GOODS THERE

WHEN YOU NEED THEM.

Narrator: THE UNITED STATES ARMY

PLANS TO USE THE CHINOOK
INTO 2040 AND BEYOND.

Connor: EVERY TIME
THE TERMINATION DATE

FOR CHINOOK PRODUCTION COMES UP,

UH, IT SEEMS TO STRETCH OUT
A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.

Narrator: THE CHINOOK.

BORN FROM A PERCEIVED NEED
TO CARRY NUCLEAR WEAPONS,

TRANSFORMED IN VIETNAM
FROM AN AIRBORNE TRUCK

TO A TACTICAL WEAPON,

AND ADAPTED TO BE
THE TIP OF THE SPEAR

IN AFGHANISTAN.

IT LIFTS THE HEAVIEST OF LOADS.

FLIES FASTER THAN ANY CHOPPER
IN THE U.S. ARMY,

AND HELPED MAKE THE ARMY'S
AIR MOBILITY DOCTRINE STICK.

Holloway: THE CHINOOK
IS STILL GOING STRONG TODAY,

AND WITH NO END IN SIGHT.

IT WILL BE HERE FOREVER.