Sky Cranes of Europe: Dutch Chinooks in Precision Lift Training

Описание: Sling load training with Dutch Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters during Exercise Falcon Autumn 2018. Falcon Autumn is the Netherlands’ large-scale annual joint exercise, bringing together land, air, and special operations forces in complex, high-tempo scenarios. Between September 17th and October 13th, the Armed Forces of the Netherlands trained alongside allied nations, strengthening interoperability, rapid deployment capability, and multinational coordination under realistic field conditions.

During the exercise, Dutch Chinook crews executed precision sling load operations—transporting vehicles, artillery, engineering equipment, and supply pallets beneath the aircraft using external cargo hooks. These demanding drills tested pilot skill, crew coordination, and ground team communication in variable weather and tactical environments.

The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engine, tandem-rotor heavy-lift helicopter originally developed by Vertol and later produced by Boeing. Designed for maximum lift and battlefield versatility, the CH-47 remains one of the most capable heavy transport helicopters in the Western world. Its name, “Chinook,” honors the Native American Chinook people of the Pacific Northwest.