Junior's Air Assault Phase II Practice Test

Hook capacity varies by aircraft and by where the load attaches. The UH-60A and UH-60L are lighter, single-hook configurations with external-load limits on the order of eight to nine thousand pounds, so their capacities are much lower than heavy-lift helicopters. The CH-47 Chinook, with three hooks, has different ratings for the fore and center hooks. The center hook carries the heaviest loads because the load path goes along the helicopter’s centerline into the strongest structural area, distributing the force more effectively and reducing adverse moments on the airframe. The fore hook, while still strong, has a lower rating than the center hook. So, among these configurations, the center hook on the CH-47D offers the highest capacity.