Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight

GE90FAN 🇺🇸

21 Mar 2026 · © GE90FAN

Definitely in my top 10 favorite helicopters. Preserved at the Steven Udvar-Hasy Air and Space museum.

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Aircraft

CH-46 Sea Knight H46

United States Marines, HMM-774, \'400\'

153369

Registration

Airline

US Marines

Manufacturer

Boeing Vertol

Achievements

Heli Hero, Rare Bird, Vintage Voyager, Boeing Beginner, Military Maverick

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Location

Washington Dulles International Airport

IAD/KIAD

38.9117, -77.4444

Open map

Washington Dulles International Airport IAD

Airport

Insights

Aviation History

The Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight is a medium-lift tandem-rotor transport helicopter, used extensively by the USMC from the Vietnam War through the 2010s, before being retired.

Fleet Rarity

Retired from active USMC service as of 2015; less than 100 preserved/museum airframes remain worldwide.

Record Flights

Widely used in Vietnam War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and humanitarian missions; not known for long-record flights, but iconic for combat search and rescue and medevac.

Safety & Events

Notable for extensive service in Vietnam and Iraq; has appeared in several high-profile combat and rescue missions.

Future Outlook

Most remaining examples are in museums or used in civilian roles as firefighting helicopters.

Specifications

2 × General Electric T58-GE-16 turboshaft engines

Engine

N/A (rotor diameter: 15.24 m)

Wingspan

16.0 m

Length

1,120 km

Range

270 km/h

Speed

24 troops, or 15 stretchers, or 3,175 kg cargo

Capacity

11,000 kg

MTOW

4.8 m

Height

1,400 shp (1,044 kW) per engine (shaft horsepower)

Thrust

ICAO Chapter 3/4 standard, varies by engine config

Noise