Honeywell T55 Engines: Fueling Germany’s Inaugural Chinook Helicopter Fleet

Honeywell is set to provide 105 T55-GA-714A engines to facilitate Germany’s acquisition of new CH-47F aircraft, marking the nation’s inaugural fleet of Chinook helicopters. This transaction aligns with Honeywell’s commitment to the significant megatrend shaping the future of aviation.

“The German army’s choice of the CH-47F Chinook helicopter highlights the outstanding reputation not only of the CH-47F but also of the T55 engines that have powered this helicopter since the 1960s,” stated Dave Marinick, president of Engines and Power Systems at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “Chinooks have demonstrated their versatility as one of the most adaptable aircraft in military history, undertaking various missions that encompass troop transport, search and rescue, as well as special operations, among others. We are grateful to supply the T55 engines that will bolster Germany’s expanding military and heavy-lift prowess.”

Honeywell’s T55 engine stands out globally in powering heavy-lift helicopters. To date, over 1,000 CH-47 helicopters equipped with T55s are actively operated by military and civil aviation agencies worldwide. Honeywell’s cutting-edge T55-GA-714A engine variant generates nearly 5,000-shaft horsepower, enabling Chinook aircraft to reach speeds of up to 170 knots even in challenging operational environments.

Honeywell initially supplied the T55 engine to the U.S. Army back in 1961, providing 2,200 shaft horsepower for the CH-47A helicopter. Since then, the engine’s output has surged, more than doubling to a 5,000-shaft horsepower class engine, accumulating an impressive 12 million hours of service on the Boeing CH-47 and MH-47 Chinook helicopters.

The procurement and distribution of the T55 engines for the German military are coordinated through the office of U.S. Army Foreign Military Sales.