The return of several Spanish military helicopters from Iraq on a Ukrainian plane

This week, the deployment of several of the helicopters that the Spanish Army had in Iraq has ended.

The loading of two Spanish CH-47F Chinook helicopters on a Ukrainian Antonov An-124
The delivery operation of a CH-47F Chinook helicopter to Spain with an American C-17

The General Staff of the Defense (EMAD) has announced today the withdrawal of the three helicopters of the Army Air Forces (FAMET) stationed at Al Asad Air Base. These helicopters, of the CH-47F Chinook model, have been operated by the so-called Task Force Toro or ISPUHEL XX, in the NATO mission to support Iraq against ISIS terrorists.

As you may recall, in April these CH-47Fs relieved the AS-532 Cougars of the FAMET deployed in Iraq. The CH-47Fs were shipped to Iraq using an Antonov An-124 Ruslan, a huge transport aircraft operated by the Ukrainian company Antonov Airlines. Above these lines you can see the video published by the Army on April 13 showing the transfer of these helicopters in the aforementioned aircraft.

This Wednesday, EMAD published these four photos of the boarding of one of the CH-47Fs, the HT.17-29A ET-429 (from the V Transport Helicopter Battalion, BHELTRA V), on an An-124. According to information published by Plane Finder, the Ukrainian aircraft, the An-124 UR-82072 (one of seven aircraft of this type operated by Antonov Airlines), arrived in Madrid this afternoon.

Just as was done during its deployment, we see that the rotors of the CH-47F and the pylons that support them were removed in order to load this helicopter onto the An-124. Here we see the helicopter with its cockpit protected by a black cover, as well as its two engines, being introduced into the cargo hold of the An-124 through its front access (the aircraft also has a cargo access in its tail).

The CH-47F is the largest military helicopter in Spain. Its fuselage measures 16 metres long and 3.78 metres wide. The cargo hold of the An-124 measures 36.5 metres long, 6.4 metres wide and 4.4 metres high.

The CH-47F already on board the An-124. Above we can see the Chinook's engines protected by covers. Below, to the left of the helicopter's rear ramp, we can see the CH-47F's countermeasures launchers, also protected by covers. An operation of this type is always something spectacular.

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Photos: Estado Mayor de la Defensa.