US Special Operations Command gets upgraded Chinook helicopter - Business Insider

I would not be surprised if its avionics will allow it to fly itself. Death waits in the dark.

Excellent addition!

The 160th always gets the coolest toys. Up until the end of my first deployment (2009) we were wrenching on the D Model. Even during my second deployment (2011) we worked on more Ds than Fs, as we were partnered with a couple of ARNG units. We even shared a hangar with the Aussies, who only had 2 D Models. They rolled one of them, and we didn't see their mechanics for a few weeks. But they have miniguns on their Ds, and were allowed "nose art" on their fuel tanks. I got a couple of great pics of their artwork. Aussie Chinook crews and mechanics were some of the best people to work with. Their females were a welcome sight too!

When I arrived in Korea, the 2 CAB took delivery of 12 brand new (less than 50 hours) CH-47F Chinooks. It was awesome-- you could still smell the fresh paint. Maintenance got silly when we were doing 100, 200, and 400 hour inspections on birds with less than 100 hours.

It's sad that the Army has cut their purchases of "regular" F Models in favor of the new "Future Lift" aircraft. Although I would go back Active Duty to work on the new birds...