What were the Chinooks called in Australia?

Short answer

"Chooks." In Australia, the Chinook's first export customer in 1973, the helicopters earned that nickname, Australian slang for chicken. They were CH-47Cs modified at the request of the Royal Australian Air Force, designated Model 414 by the manufacturer.

Published: October 23, 2026 · Updated: October 23, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

What were the Chinooks called in Australia?

Boeing CH-47 Chinook 13Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK (CC BY), vía commons

The first foreign customer

Australia was the Chinook's first export customer, in 1973. Its version, designated Model 414, was a CH-47C with specific modifications requested by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). In the country, the helicopters soon earned an affectionate nickname: "Chooks," Australian slang for chicken. Canada was the second export customer, in 1974. It bought eight CH-47Cs, delivered from that year under the designation CH-147C, and later received upgraded CH-47Fs, designated CH-147F in Canada, between 2013 and 2014.

From the RAAF to the Army

After various ups and downs, the fleet was upgraded to CH-47D standard and transferred to the Australian Army, which inherited the aircraft from the RAAF. In March 2010 Australia ordered seven CH-47Fs to replace its six CH-47Ds between 2014 and 2017, and it currently operates ten CH-47Fs. The Chinook has thus been, in Australia, a transport shared by two services: first the Air Force and later the Army.

In combat and in aid

Australian Chinooks took part, alongside those of other nations, in the war in Afghanistan, together with British, Italian, Dutch, Spanish and Canadian aircraft. Despite the age of the design, the Chinook remained in high demand there thanks to its proven versatility and its ability to operate in such demanding environments. Earlier, in Vietnam, US Army CH-47s had supported the 1st Australian Task Force whenever needed. Today the manufacturer lists Australia among the countries flying the H-47 Chinook, a club that includes the US Army and 20 international operators (as of October 2026).