Boeing YHC-1B Chinook helicopter 59-04984.

Afghanistan Ops.
CH-47 News (CHN).
Final Descents.
Guestbook.
Home Page.
Humor.
Internal Cargo.
Iraqi Ops.
Links of Interest.
Maintenance.
Operations.
Patches.
Photographs.
Photo Contest.
Pinnacles.
Posters.
Publications.
Nose Art.
Screen Savers.
Search this site.
Sitemap and Info.
Sling Loads.
SOF Messages.
Standards/Training.
Tail Number History.
Tandem Notes.
Technical Reports.
Unusual Loads.
Videos.
Webcam.
What's New?

Terms of Use.
Menu

59-04984

(59-4982)

As of today, this airframe is 61.2 years old.

Boeing YHC-1B Chinook helicopter 59-04984.

This undated photograph shows 59-04984 in flight at an unknown location.

   59-04984 (originally 59-4984), Boeing build number B-003, was a prototype YHC-1B helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 17 January 1964. The administrative strike date was 1 March 1970. Aircraft hours are unknown.

   59-04984 was bailed to Vertol for flight development testing after manufacture.

   In July 1962, the Department of Defense redesignated all U.S. military aircraft to a new system. All YHC-1B helicopters became YCH-47A.

   YCH-47A 59-04984 became the test bed for the production of B model Chinooks in 1967. The first flight as a B model test bed was completed on 9 September 1966. As a test bed, this aircraft incorporated the use of Lycoming T55-L-7C engines rated at 2,850 shaft horsepower.

   At some point, 59-04984 was assigned to Fort Eustis, Virginia, where it was utilized as a training device in the 67U maintenance course.

   59-04984 is one of two surviving prototypes. The other is 59-04986.

   As of 28 Feb 2006, the last known location of 59-04984 was at Fort Eustis, Virginia, being prepared for restoration as a museum exhibit.

   Aircraft status: Undergoing preservation.

YHC-1B Chinook helicopter 59-04984 and the first mechanic class, September 1962.

This September 1962 photograph shows 59-04984 and the first mechanics class held at the Boeing factory at Ridley Park, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Standing in the back row is: Mr Robert L. Elzer, third man from the left. Kneeling in the front row: Mr. Leonard O'Boyle, fourth man from the left.

The following are photographs taken of 59-04984 as it sits in the Transportation Museum at Fort Eustis, Virginia, July 2011.

A plaque at the Transportation Museum at Fort Eustis, Virginia.

A plaque at the museum. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

YCH-1B / CH-47A Chinook helicopter 59-4984 sitting in the Transportation Museum at Fort Eustis, Virginia, July 2011.

Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

The folks at the museum are doing a great job of preserving the airframe given the constraints on funding. The paint is pretty close. However, the tail number shown is slightly incorrect. There is an extra 9 in there. The real tail number is 59-4984. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

What's left of the old DC pod on the left forward side of the airframe. The two transformer-rectifiers remain as well as the battery relay. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

A good repair job putting the aft pylon back together. It is a bit more blunted now than the original. However, 59-4984 was the test bed for the B model and it incorporated the blunted aft pylon to give the Chinook a more stable flight characteristic. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.