My buddy, Jim Gustafson, was a crew member on "Co$t of Living." Jim was called home May 1967 for his mother's funeral. While in Montana, the entire 8 man crew of "Co$t of Living" were killed when the big bird went down. Gus always said he mother's death saved his life. He joined his folks November 1, 2001. Sure miss that big Norwegian.
Aiden Maguire, 04.03.2013 20:14
The first ACH-47, "Stump Jumper", was destroyed while taking off for a fire support mission. It crashed into an unarmed CH-47, and both were damaged so badly they were scrapped. Co$t of Living was destroyed when the retention pin on the right 20mm cannon snapped. The cannon fired up into the forward rotor, and the helicopter crashed, killing the eight-man crew. Birth Control received serious hits during the battle of Hue and was forced to set down in a rice field. The crew of Easy Money risked themselves and their helicopter to save the crew of the downed chopper. Easy Money was then removed from service and was recently discovered and restored.
luiz c poland, e-mail, 30.09.2011 03:28
this is ideal for crime combat in rio de janeiro .Must send one for experience here .
Ian, e-mail, 13.09.2011 01:35
Cindy, does it help if they are qualified to fly a Chinook too?
bob, e-mail, 28.02.2011 07:43
the one at huntsville is the only one left one the 20 mm cannon mount failed and it shot it self down one was lost in a mortar or rocket attack and one was destoyed in a taxing accident with rotor contact to the best of my knowledge
Ray Gaster, e-mail, 01.03.2010 02:25
The Armed Chinook was known a "Guns A-go-go". Unfortunately, they were A models and were limited in the load they could carry and tended to be cumbersome and slow. They would enter a dive and start firing their ordanance and would slow to 50-60knots from the recoil of the weapons. This would make them vunerable to ground fire. They would be slow to pull out. Google the 1st Air Cav and check out the 228th Aviation Battalion. You should find some pics of actual a/c use in Vietnam. They had a short life span.
Chinnokdesign, e-mail, 19.01.2008 21:30
Does anyone know where I can find, or has, information on the design team at Boeing Vertol?
Sgt.KAR98, 11.10.2007 03:21
This chopper is awesome!My favorite ocidental one. A real pity that it isn´t used anymore (the ACH version)
Frank DeFelice, e-mail, 07.10.2007 06:19
Yep; I built the four of them and later, as fate would have it, I was with Boeing in Viet Nam on a field assignment and stationed with the 1st Air Cav at An Khe, when three of the Gunships arrived in August of 1966 (Very few people knew of their existence and were surprised). I suggest Mr. Rivera write to Boeing Helicopters in Philadelphia about the Award to see if they can help. The Armed Chinooks were the B-17s of their day but their cost was too high (back then a std Chinook cost around a million dollars whereas the Armed Hook ran around 4 million; when I left Boeing in 1988, "D" models were going for around 13 million!
Daniel Rivera, e-mail, 03.08.2007 05:17
Hello, I was an original gunner/crew member on Birth Control. In the year 1966 while field testing the A/ACH-47A IN VIETNAM the crew earned the Boeing/Vertol Rescue Award. I have recently lost or misplaced it. The award means a great deal to me. If possible, please replace it. thanking you in advance, Fondly, Daniel J. Rivera
Jeff Clifford, e-mail, 08.06.2007 20:59
One of these, "Easy Money" has been restored and is on display at PEO Aviation on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, alabama
