first flew on 27 May 1970 and was evaluated for a few years. In 1973, the Army contracted with Boeing to design a "Heavy Lift Helicopter" (HLH), designated XCH-62A. It appeared to be a scaled-up CH-47 without a conventional body, in a configuration similar to the S-64 Skycrane (CH-54 Tarhe), but the project was canceled in 1975. The program was restarted for test flights in the 1980s and was again not funded by Congress. The scaled-up model of the HLH was scrapped in late 2005 at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Operators Australian Army Royal Canadian Air Force Republic of China Army National Fire Agency Egyptian Air Force Hellenic Army Indian Air Force Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management Islamic Republic of Iran Army Italian Army Japan Air Self-Defense Force operates 15 CH-47Js as of March 2022. Japan Ground Self-Defense Force operates 47 CH-47J/JAs as of March 2022. Republic of Korea Army Libyan Air Force Royal Moroccan Air Force Royal Netherlands Air Force Royal Saudi Land Forces Republic of Singapore Air Force Spanish Army Airmobile Force Turkish Army United Arab Emirates Air Force Royal Air Force United States Army Army National Guard United States Army Reserve Former operators Argentina Argentine Air Force Argentine Army Australia Royal Australian Air Force (later transferred to the Australian Army) South Vietnam Republic of Vietnam Air Force Thailand Royal Thai Army United Kingdom British Airways Helicopters United States NASA Vietnam Vietnam People's Air Force Accidents On 4 May 1966 , a CH-47A crashed near Di Linh, Lâm Đồng Province killing all 20 onboard. On 26 December 1967, a CH-47A carrying 33 military passengers and crew crashed in a landing descent at Phu Cat AFB, Binh Dinh Province, South Vietnam killing 8 of those on board. On 6 May 1969 a CH-47 carrying 83 people crashed southwest of Phước Vĩnh Base Camp, South Vietnam, killing 40 of those on board. On 18 August 1971, CH-47A, airframe , was operated by the 4th Aviation Company, 15th Aviation Group. The helicopter was transporting 33 soldiers of the Heavy Mortar Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 56th Field Artillery Brigade from battalion headquarters in Ludwigsburg to Grafenwöhr for live fire training exercises. Fatigue failure of the rear rotor blade led to its separation causing structural damage resulting in the crash and explosion that killed all 37 on board, including four crew members. A memorial plaque that was placed near the crash