Sand 'Phrogs': An Interview With A Former USMC CH-46 Pilot

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2. Sand 'Phrogs': An interview with a former USMC CH-46 pilot

The Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight was designed to replace early piston-powered helicopters, using gas turbine engines to increase performance and lifting capacity. Under the Vertol company designation V-107, the first prototype made its initial flight on April 22, 1958.

In June that year, the US Army placed an initial order for 10 YHC-1A test aircraft, but, concerned that the type would be unable to meet its requirement, pursued the larger Vertol Model 114 instead, developing it into the H-47 Chinook. In 1961, the US Marine Corps (USMC) selected the V-107 for service as its new medium-lift assault helicopter, while the US Navy chose it for vertical replenishment (VERTREP).

Initially designated HRB-1 under the US Navy designation system, on September 18, 1962 it became the CH- 46A, under the newly-introduced unified US Department of Defense nomenclature. The ‘A’ model had made its first fli…

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• CH-46 Sea Knight
• US Marine Corps (USMC)
• Operation Desert Storm
• Operation Desert Shield
• Middle East
• Transport Helicopter
• United States (US)
• Interview

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Originally published in Combat Aircraft Journal

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