* Frank Piasecki and his Piasecki Helicopter company were pioneers of military helicopter technology, building a series of tandem-rotor helicopters, most notably the "H-21 Flying Banana" and the "HUP Retriever". Piasecki left Piasecki Helicopter in 1955 to found a new company that would also carry the Piasecki name, and the original firm refashioned itself as "Vertol (Vertical Take-Off & Landing)". Vertol was bought out by Boeing in 1960, to become first "Boeing Vertol" and later simply "Boeing Helicopters".
Whatever the name, the company would only build two successful products, the "CH-46 Sea Knight" and the "CH-47 Chinook", but they would both be sold in quantity, with the Chinook becoming one of the world's most recognizable large helicopters. This document provides a history and description of the Sea Knight and the Chinook.
