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Hands-on with BDUK's Chinook Mk4 upgrade
Defence Photography were recently given the opportunity to receive an overview and photograph Boeing Defence UK's (BDUK) Mk4 upgrade to the RAF Chinook. The UK MoD (DE&S) are currently leading two major programmes for the RAF Chinook fleet - a £280m upgrade programme to the cockpits of the existing aircraft (Project JULIUS Mk4s) and the procurement of new aircraft (the Mk6). The aim of Project JULIUS is to deliver enhanced capability, improved safety and ensure sustainability. The DE&S Chinook PTL are achieving this aim with some aircraft already on Operations in Afghanistan.
The Prime Contractor is BDUK working in close partnership with Vector Aerospace, GE Aviation, Thales UK and QinetiQ. The Mk4 has a fully system integrated cockpit display consisting of four multifunction displays, two stand-by flight displays and two air data computers. To increase the systems capability of the Mk4 Chinook even further, a third crew seat has been added. In his upbeat briefing David Pitchforth, Managing Director BDUK, and his stakeholders on this programme, were clearly proud of what has been achieved integrating the technology and delivering the capability. From what we heard talking to the crews and experienced ourselves during a short flight, BDUK can be justified in their optimism.
