Req. Info: VNAF CH-47 equipment

Hello SpotterXY,

I was very surprised when I saw the VNAF CH-47A cartoon that I did on your post, thank you for interested in my cartoon and the subject of VNAF CH-47.

Please let me take this opportunity to have some input about VNAF CH-47 flare dispensers...

In late 1972 SA-7 Grail shoulder fired surface to air missile provided to Vietnamese Communist from Soviet Union  became a major threat to allies aircrafts espcially to slow flying helicopters in South VietNam.  . The flare dispensers that you see in the pictures were designed to counter this threat . In the posted cartoon, I  depicted a scene of the Easter offensive in 1972 where the VNAF CH-47 pilots asking the crew to  peel their eyes to look for the tell tale white smoke trails so the flares could be dispensed in time to prevent the missles from homing in the CH-47  big engines heat signature. 

Cheers

Flying Tiger 516FS

They are early flare launchers.  They shoot the flares down to keep them out of the rotors.  The flares were/are used to defeat heat-seaking missiles, like the SA-7 (Soviet version of the US Stinger). 

They look like early flare dispensers, that's where the flare launchers are now and the chaff dispensers are forward of the engines.

Would be nice if you could do that. I think the AN/ALE-47 mentioned in the TM is to new but the general infos about flare launhers in there lead in this direction. Thanks!

Don't have much experience with Chinooks.  There is an ARNG Chinook unit about 85 miles from my home and the wife and I are over that way often.  I will show the pictures to some of the folks over there that I know.  In the meantime, check out the Integrated Publishing web site-specifically www.tpub.com/content/chinookmanuals/TM-55-1520-240-23-10/css/Tm-55-1520-23-10_634.htm and the next several pages.  Your pictures sure look like whats in this pub.