Pilot flying Boeing CH-47 Chinook decides performing a wheelie going forwards isn't enough so goes backwards too to top it off
Published on Aug 27, 2026 at 12:06 AM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Aug 27, 2026 at 12:06 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
This pilot decided doing a wheelie in a Boeing CH-47 Chinook wasn’t enough of a flex, so decided to do it backwards too.
Footage of this pilot showing off his skills at the Farnborough Airshow has made its way onto the internet.
This particular Chinook belongs to the British Royal Air Force.
A lot of impressive moves are demonstrated, but the final one is the true cherry on top.
We’ve seen a lot of impressive stunts at the Farnborough Airshow
If you want gravity-defying stunts, Farnborough Airshow in the UK is the place to be.
We’ve seen backflips from a Airbus A400M and steep turns from an Airbus A380.
It’s been enough to make your knees buckle and your stomach flip, but let’s face it – you loved every second of it.
And perhaps no plane has been put through its paces quite like the Boeing CH-47 Chinook.
Technically, the Chinook is a helicopter, but if we’re being honest, it doesn’t look much like a conventional helicopter.
At any rate, it’s been wowing us with stunts for quite a while now.
You might recall the time a pilot performed a remarkable handbrake turn while at an airshow, leaving online admirers speechless.
And then there was this breath-taking display at the Dunsfold Wings and Wheels event in 2018, where a pilot nailed a wheelie.
It’s doubly impressive when you consider how bulky these things are.
This pilot really took the Boeing CH-47 Chinook to the next level
The RAF Chinook Role Demo Team were on-hand to demonstrate the performance of the Boeing CH-47 Chinook.
This team had a lot of tricks up their sleeve, so to speak – high-G turns, speed pitch angles, and rapid pedal turns.
But the real flex came towards the end, when the Chinook did a wheelie down the track, with a crew-member positioned out the side and the Union Jack emblazoned proudly.
That alone would be impressive enough, but the team took it one step further and did a reverse wheelie.
Talk about kicking things up a notch.
Timeline of the Boeing CH-47 Chinook
1956 – 1960: The US Army issued a requirement for a heavy-lift tactical transport helicopter.
1961: The prototype, designated the YHC-16, made its first successful hovering flight.
1962: The first CH-47A Chinook enters in the US Army.
1965: First deployed into service, becoming essential for supplies and troop movements in the Vietnam War.
1982: The US Army introduces the CH-47D, featuring upgraded T55-L-712 engines, composite rotor blades, redesigned cockpit systems, and a triple cargo-hook system capable of lifting heavy external loads.
1990s: Specialized variants like the MH-47D and MH-47E are developed.
2006: The modern CH-47F variant makes its operational debut, featuring powerful Honeywell T55-GA-714A engines, and a digital Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) flight deck.
2020s – present: Planned operational service has been extended into the 2060s, meaning this is set to become one of the few military aircraft in history to serve for 100 years.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
