I was at the NCO Academy on Ft. Eustis today, and I saw a display on an aircraft nicknamed "Easy Money". I don't know if you guys have heard of it or not, but it is the only surviving aircraft of 4 ACH-47A built by Boeing during the 60's known as "Guns-a-go-go". there is a lot of information here also at gunsagogo.org. I just thought I might share this with you all, I'd never heard of it.

quote:

Originally posted by poppelt:
I was at the NCO Academy on Ft. Eustis today, and I saw a display on an aircraft nicknamed "Easy Money". I don't know if you guys have heard of it or not, but it is the only surviving aircraft of 4 ACH-47A built by Boeing during the 60's known as "Guns-a-go-go". there is a lot of information here also at gunsagogo.org. I just thought I might share this with you all, I'd never heard of it.

Yup. There were four examples of CH-47 Gunships converted. They stripped out all non-essential stuff like cargo hooks and put in guns and rockets on small stub-wings on the fuel tanks.

The VC and NVA feared these flying pillboxes so much that they took special care in shooting them down at every opportunity. Of the 4, one was destroyed, one was damaged while assisting another downed ACH-47, and "Guns A-Go-Go" is the only surviving example.

They also messed with putting 4 blades on each head and attaching wings to the top of the fuselage. It seems that system was too complicated and was scrapped.

I think they need to bring back the ACH-47 Gunship! Make it a rotary-wing version of the C-47 "Puff the Magic Dragon" gunships.

Matt
SPC, AV
US Army
OCS Selectee
Class 303-10

the contraption described in the second half of your post... is that what's sitting on the grass next to the air museum at Rucker? Haven't read up on it, but the wings look functional. they've got flaps and all.

quote:

Originally posted by Mr_Motivated:
the contraption described in the second half of your post... is that what's sitting on the grass next to the air museum at Rucker? Haven't read up on it, but the wings look functional. they've got flaps and all.

I took a few pics of that beast while I was visiting during 4th of July weekend. It was just an amazing sight...

Mr. Motivated, your avatar looks like Gerard Butler.

Not big on the pop culture, I see!

It is gerard butler, from 300, added to the famous che guevara stencil.

You visited on the 4th, as in this year? How did I miss that. I'm gonna surveil you from the treeline.

I keep coming back to this thread because 'easy money' was my nickname at my old unit. I can't wait to cross paths with them as an aviator... they are going to sh#t their pants. oh man.

The contraption with the wings and the four-bladed rotors is the Boeing-Vertol 347.

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