The twin turbine tandem-rotor CH-46 Sea Knight is a medium-lift transport helicopter. It can accommodate 17 troops or 15 litters and two attendants with a range of 265 nm. Crew size is 3-5 people.
The Sea Knight won a US Marine Corps design competition for a medium assault transport helicopter in 1961 and made its first flight in August 1962. It replaced the Sikorsky UH-34D Seahorse. The first Sea Knight was delivered in 1964 and then began military service in the Vietnam War a year later, carrying troops and cargo to and from Navy ships in the China Sea.
By 1968, the Sea Knight had flown 75,000 hours on 180,000 missions, including 8,700 missions rescuing wounded Marines, and had carried 500,000 troops.
The passenger version, the Model 107-II, entered service with New York Airways in July 1962. Then, between 1964 and 1990, Boeing Vertol delivered over 600 Sea Knights. During the 1980s and 90s, Boeing also developed modification kits and upgrades to modernize the Sea Knights. More information about the Sea Knight is available from Boeing.
The Sea Knight on display at the Museum was the last CH-46 delivered to the US Marine Corps from Boeing Vertol’s Plant 2 near Philadelphia International Airport. Bureau Number 157667 was assigned to the following Marine Helicopter Squadrons during its service life, based on records from the National Naval Aviation Museum and the aircraft’s logbook:
HMT-204, HMM-162, HMM-263, HMM-266, HMM-268, HMM-364 and HMMT-164
The aircraft participated in the following events, by squadron and date:
| Squadron | Year(s) | Event |
|---|---|---|
| HMM-266 | 1991 | Operation Desert Storm (Kuwait/Iraq) |
| HMM-266 | 1994 | Operations Continue Hope and Quick Draw (Somalia) |
| HMM-266 | 1994 | Operations Provide Promise and Deny Flight (Kuwait, Iraq) |
| HMM-266 | 1994 | Operation Support Democracy (Haiti) |
| HMM-263 | 1995 | Operation Provide Promise and Operation Deny Flight (Kuwait/Southern Iraq) |
| HMM-263 | 1997 | Operation Joint Guard (Boznia/Herzegovania) |
| HMM-263 | 1997 | Operation Southern Watch (Kuwait/Iraq) |
| HMM-263 | 2002 – 2003 | Operation Iraqi Freedom – Initial Invasion |
| HMM-263 | 2004 | Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| HMM-364 | 2005 – 2006 | Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| HMM-364 | 2009 – 2010 | Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| HMM-268 | 2009 | Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| Aircraft Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
| Rotor Diameter | 50 ft |
| Fuselage Length | 44 ft 7 in |
| Maximum Speed | 165 mph |
| Cruise Speed | 155 mph |
| Empty Weight | 11,585 lbs |
| Gross Weight | 24,300 lbs |
| Engine | T58-GE-16 turboshaft (1870 shp each) |
| Acquisition Source | National Naval Aviation Museum Loan |
This aircraft is available for “adoption” in the Museum’s Adopt-a-Copter program.
The Sea Knights were removed from combat service by 2015 and replaced by the V-22 Osprey.