Within Chinooks
Could Twenty Three Chinooks Move Quietly?
A formation of more than twenty heavy-lift helicopters would imply crews, fuel, coordination and paperwork that are difficult to hide.
On this page
- What a large Chinook formation would require
- Fuel, crews and airspace traces
- Why logistics sharpen the evidence problem
Page outline Jump by section
Introduction
One of the most striking elements of the Cash–Landrum incident is not the reported UFO itself but the claim that it was accompanied by roughly twenty-three tandem-rotor helicopters, later described as CH-47 Chinooks. If that number were even approximately correct, the sighting would imply something far larger than a handful of aircraft responding to an emergency. It would suggest a substantial aviation operation involving dozens of aircrew, significant fuel consumption, airspace coordination, maintenance support and a paper trail. That logistical reality is why the helicopter claim became both one of the strongest and weakest parts of the case: strongest because it points toward identifiable military assets, and weakest because moving that many heavy-lift helicopters without leaving evidence is extraordinarily difficult. [Wikipedia]WikipediaCash–Landrum incidentApril 3, 2026 — Cash and Landrum counted 23 helicopters, and later identified some of them as tandem-rotor Boeing CH-47 Chinooks used by…
What a Large Chinook Formation Would Require
The witnesses’ reported count of twenty-three helicopters has often been treated as a simple visual detail. Operationally, however, it is a major claim.
The CH-47 Chinook is not a small observation helicopter. It is a large twin-engine heavy-lift aircraft designed for transporting troops, equipment and cargo. Modern versions carry more than 1,000 gallons of fuel, can weigh over 50,000 pounds at maximum gross weight, and require specialised maintenance and support. [Boeing]boeing.comH-47 ChinookCH-47F Chinook Block II Specifications; Static Forward, 7 feet, 6 inches (2.3 meters); Fuel Capacity. 1,080 gallons (…
Even using conservative assumptions, twenty-three Chinooks would represent:
- Twenty-three separate aircraft.
- At least sixty-nine flight crew members if each aircraft carried the minimum three-person crew of pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer.
- Ground personnel responsible for fuelling, maintenance and mission preparation.
- Command and control arrangements for formation flying and deconfliction with other air traffic. [Honeywell Aerospace]aerospace.honeywell.comThe helicopter flies with a minimum crew of three – pilot, copilot and flight engineer…Read more…
A formation of that size would be unusual even in military training. Large helicopter exercises occur, but they are organised events rather than spontaneous movements. The larger the formation, the more difficult it becomes to conceal or explain away through administrative oversight.
This does not prove the witnesses were wrong. It does mean that a reported count of twenty-three Chinooks carries consequences that go far beyond identifying a helicopter type.
Fuel, Crews and Airspace Traces
The logistical burden becomes clearer when fuel consumption is considered.
Published operational figures for the CH-47 place fuel burn roughly in the range of 340–400 gallons per hour, depending on model and mission profile. [Billings Flying Service+2Billings Flying Service]billingsflyingservice.comBillings Flying ServiceCH-47 Chinook ExpertsFuel Burn. 340 GPH. (1,290 LPH). Cruise Speed. 140 KNOTS. (260 KPH). We have optimized the CH…
At those rates:
- A single Chinook flying for one hour may consume roughly 340–400 gallons of fuel.
- Twenty-three aircraft flying for one hour would collectively consume approximately 7,800–9,200 gallons.
- Longer operations would multiply those requirements rapidly. [Billings Flying Service+2Wildfire Today]billingsflyingservice.comBillings Flying ServiceCH-47 Chinook ExpertsFuel Burn. 340 GPH. (1,290 LPH). Cruise Speed. 140 KNOTS. (260 KPH). We have optimized the CH…
Fuel alone does not make a secret operation impossible. Militaries routinely support large aviation activities. The issue is that fuel, maintenance and crew scheduling create records. Aircraft must be serviced, crews assigned, mission plans issued and airfields prepared.
The Cash–Landrum case became the subject of official inquiries and later litigation partly because the witnesses believed military aircraft were involved. Yet no publicly verified flight records, unit histories, radar data or maintenance documentation have emerged showing a formation of anything close to twenty-three Chinooks operating in the relevant area that night. Government agencies consistently denied knowledge of such an operation. [Wikipedia]WikipediaCash–Landrum incidentApril 3, 2026 — Cash and Landrum counted 23 helicopters, and later identified some of them as tandem-rotor Boeing CH-47 Chinooks used by…
This absence of corroborating records does not settle the matter. Records can be incomplete, classified or lost. Nevertheless, the larger the claimed formation becomes, the more surprising the lack of independent documentation appears.
Why Logistics Sharpen the Evidence Problem
The logistics question matters because it changes how the helicopter testimony is evaluated.
If witnesses reported seeing two or three helicopters, estimation errors, memory distortions or incomplete records might account for many discrepancies. Human observers frequently misjudge aircraft numbers at night, especially during stressful events involving bright lights, unusual visual references and moving objects.
A reported count of twenty-three aircraft creates a different evidential threshold. The claim is no longer merely that helicopters were present. It is that an aviation operation of considerable scale occurred over East Texas without producing the supporting traces normally associated with such activity.
That tension has produced two broad interpretations.
The first accepts the count as roughly accurate. Under this view, the absence of records becomes evidence that something unusual occurred and that military involvement has not been fully disclosed.
The second argues that the count itself may be the weakest element. Witnesses under intense stress could have overestimated the number of aircraft, counted the same helicopters multiple times as they manoeuvred, or reconstructed numbers after the event. In this interpretation, the lack of supporting operational evidence reflects an inflated estimate rather than a hidden deployment. [Wikipedia]WikipediaCash–Landrum incidentApril 3, 2026 — Cash and Landrum counted 23 helicopters, and later identified some of them as tandem-rotor Boeing CH-47 Chinooks used by…
Importantly, these explanations are not equivalent. One requires a large, undocumented military aviation operation. The other requires ordinary limitations in human observation during an extraordinary event. The logistics burden imposed by twenty-three Chinooks is one reason investigators and critics alike focus so heavily on the number.
Could Twenty-Three Chinooks Move Quietly?
The practical answer is that they would be difficult to move quietly in any operational sense.
Chinooks are among the largest and loudest helicopters in regular service. Their tandem rotors, heavy-lift mission profile and substantial support requirements make them conspicuous aircraft. A group numbering in the twenties would represent a significant aviation presence rather than a subtle one. [Wikipedia]WikipediaOpen source on wikipedia.org.
For the Cash–Landrum incident, this creates a reality check. The witnesses consistently reported numerous helicopters and later associated them with Chinooks. That testimony remains one of the case’s most memorable features. Yet the very scale of the claim raises the evidential bar. A formation of more than twenty heavy-lift helicopters would ordinarily leave operational footprints—records, witnesses, radar traces, unit recollections or documentation—that investigators have never conclusively produced. [Wikipedia]WikipediaCash–Landrum incidentApril 3, 2026 — Cash and Landrum counted 23 helicopters, and later identified some of them as tandem-rotor Boeing CH-47 Chinooks used by…
As a result, the reported twenty-three Chinooks function less as confirmation of military involvement than as a test of the case’s credibility. The larger and more operationally demanding the helicopter formation becomes, the more important independent corroboration becomes—and the more significant its absence appears. [Wikipedia]WikipediaCash–Landrum incidentApril 3, 2026 — Cash and Landrum counted 23 helicopters, and later identified some of them as tandem-rotor Boeing CH-47 Chinooks used by…
Amazon book picks
Further Reading
Books and field guides related to Could Twenty Three Chinooks Move Quietly?. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.
The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects
Provides historical context for evaluating major UFO cases and evidence claims such as the Cash–Landrum incident.
UFOs
Focuses on credible witnesses, military involvement, and evidentiary standards relevant to claims involving large helicopter formations.
Chickenhawk
Offers practical insight into helicopter operations, logistics, crews, maintenance demands, and flight realities.
The Cash-Landrum UFO Incident
Directly examines the Cash–Landrum event, including witness testimony and the reported Chinook helicopters.
eBay marketplace picks
Marketplace Samples
Example marketplace items related to this page. Use the search link to explore similar finds on eBay.
Endnotes
-
Source: Wikipedia
Title: Cash–Landrum incident
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cash%E2%80%93Landrum_incidentSource snippet
April 3, 2026 — Cash and Landrum counted 23 helicopters, and later identified some of them as tandem-rotor Boeing CH-47 Chinooks used by...
Published: April 3, 2026
-
Source: boeing.com
Link: https://www.boeing.com/defense/military-rotorcraft/h-47-chinookSource snippet
H-47 ChinookCH-47F Chinook Block II Specifications; Static Forward, 7 feet, 6 inches (2.3 meters); Fuel Capacity. 1,080 gallons (...
-
Source: Wikipedia
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_CH-47_Chinook -
Source: aerospace.honeywell.com
Link: https://aerospace.honeywell.com/us/en/about-us/blogs/33-things-you-probably-do-not-know-about-chinook-ch47Source snippet
The helicopter flies with a minimum crew of three – pilot, copilot and flight engineer...Read more...
-
Source: youtube.com
Title: Cash-Landrum UFO Encounter or Something Scarier?
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_3CfT4I9nkSource snippet
The Cash - Landrum UFO Encounter | Dark Mysteries...
-
Source: youtube.com
Title: The Cash
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6sV0LIy7GISource snippet
LANDRUM INCIDENT | MOST CREDIBLE UFO CASE IN HISTORY...
-
Source: billingsflyingservice.com
Link: https://billingsflyingservice.com/ch-47/Source snippet
Billings Flying ServiceCH-47 Chinook ExpertsFuel Burn. 340 GPH. (1,290 LPH). Cruise Speed. 140 KNOTS. (260 KPH). We have optimized the CH...
-
Source: billingsflyingservice.com
Link: https://billingsflyingservice.com/ultimate-heavy-lift-helicopter/Source snippet
Billings Flying Service10 Reasons Why The CH-47 Chinook is The Ultimate...25 Jun 2021 — The CH-47 burns 340 gallons per hour of fuel wit...
-
Source: wildfiretoday.com
Title: video of 3000 gallon drop from ch 47 chinook
Link: https://wildfiretoday.com/video-of-3000-gallon-drop-from-ch-47-chinook/Source snippet
Burn rate is between approximately 358 and 400 gallons per hour depending on the source. 400 gallons of fuel at...Read more...
-
Source: blueskyrotor.com
Title: Boeing, Chinook, CH-47 C
Link: https://www.blueskyrotor.com/performance/datasheet/Boeing/Chinook-CH_47-CSource snippet
0 kt. Fuel consumption @ eco cruise speed @SL: 0 kg/h. 0 lbs/h. Fuel consumption @ min consumption speed @ SL: 0 kg/h. 0...Read more...
-
Source: consumptioncalculator.io
Link: https://www.consumptioncalculator.io/fuel/Boeing_helicopter_fuel_consumption_calculator.phpSource snippet
Boeing Helicopter Fuel Consumption CalculatorCH-47 Chinook – 1200 liters/hour, MH-6 Little Bird – 210 liters/hour, Boeing...
-
Source: waypointleasing.com
Title: boeing ch 47 chinook
Link: https://www.waypointleasing.com/boeing-ch-47-chinook/Source snippet
The Boeing CH-47 Chinook7 Jul 2023 — It can lift a payload of up to approximately 21,000 pounds (9,525 kg) internally or 26,000 pounds (1...
-
Source: honeywellaerospace.com
Link: https://www.honeywellaerospace.com/us/en/about-us/blogs/33-things-you-probably-do-not-know-about-chinook-ch47Source snippet
duction engine or as an upgrade for the T55-714A engine...
Additional References
-
Source: sbcfire.com
Link: https://sbcfire.com/project/ch-47-chinook/Source snippet
CH-47 "Chinook"Military Helicopter. Spécifications. Cruise Speed: 137 mph Gallon Capacity: 2,000/bucket. Manufacturer: Boeing Company/ Ve...
-
Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/Boeing/posts/more-power-more-rangethe-us-army-has-received-its-fifth-and-sixth-production-ch-/1181173840703882/Source snippet
The Boeing CompanyThis is a Boeing CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopter. This... fuel per hour, ensuring it delivers unmatched performanc...
-
Source: medium.com
Link: https://medium.com/chameleon/the-cash-landrum-ufo-sighting-936bb5641f26 -
Source: spreaker.com
Link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-cash-landrum-incident-the-ufo-case-that-took-the-u-s-government-to-court–71677042Source snippet
The Cash-Landrum Incident: The UFO Case That Took...28 Apr 2026 — On December 29, 1980, [Betty Cash]({{ 'betty-cash/' | relative_url }}), [Vickie Landrum]({{ 'vickie-landrum/' | relative_url }}), a...
Published: December 29, 1980
-
Source: youtube.com
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsezDfM_dMsSource snippet
CH-47 Chinook: A Deep Dive into Its Design, History and...The Chinook is one of the most battleproven aircraft in history. In this video...
-
Source: jimharold.com
Title: the cash landrum incident a case for critical review micah hanks reports
Link: https://jimharold.com/the-cash-landrum-incident-a-case-for-critical-review-micah-hanks-reports/Source snippet
The Cash-Landrum Incident: A Case For Critical Review?7 Oct 2015 — At this time, the witnesses claim a group of helicopters (possibly Chi...
-
Source: chinook-helicopter.com
Title: Chinook Helicopter Pegasus Standardization and Training
Link: https://www.chinook-helicopter.com/standards/standards.htmlSource snippet
Pegasus Standardization and Training - Chinook helicopterA typical mission profile would include a gross weight of 45,000 pounds (20,411...
-
Source: facebook.com
Title: They saw a UFO… and hours later, their bodies showed
Link: https://www.facebook.com/tassilosieben/posts/they-saw-a-ufo-and-hours-later-their-bodies-showed-signs-of-[radiationSource snippet
counted 23 helicopters... From Peter Gersten, Attorney, 1-3-99 Betty Cash and Vicki Landrum were interviewed in 1981 at Bergstrom Air Fo...
-
Source: aviationsolutions.co
Link: https://aviationsolutions.co/helicopter-fuel-cost-per-hour/Source snippet
in fuel; Mil Mi-26: Burns about 1,100 gallons per hour, costing...Read more...
-
Source: science.howstuffworks.com
Link: https://science.howstuffworks.com/space/aliens-ufos/[cash-landrum-ufo-incidentSource snippet
Cash-Landrum UFO IncidentOn December 29, 1980, Betty Cash, Vickie Landrum and Colby Landrum saw 23 unidentified helicopters surrounding a...
Published: December 29, 1980
Topic Tree