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Rust CH47 Chinook Guide

// Event · Loot drop · Mid Tier

By Frozen · checked in-game on the live patch · Updated 3 July 2026

Twin-rotor cargo helicopter that flies in, drops a Locked Crate at a random monument, and flies out. The crate has a 15-minute hack timer protected by no scientists — it is yours if you can hold the spawn.

Fast facts

Type	Loot delivery event (~2 hour cycle)
Behaviour	Flies to random monument, drops crate, leaves
Crate hack timer	15 minutes (after CH47 lands)
Defenders	None — pure player-vs-player contest
Crate spawn locations	Random monument: Airfield, Trainyard, Power Plant, Water Treatment, Launch Site, etc.
Loot pool	Same as Cargo Ship Locked Crate — top-tier weapons + components

The CH47 Chinook is Rust predictable loot delivery — a heavy twin-rotor helicopter that spawns roughly every 2 hours, flies to a random monument, drops a Locked Crate with a 15-minute hack timer, then leaves. There are no scientists protecting the crate; the only defenders are other players who heard the same announcement you did. Hold the position for 15 minutes and the loot is yours.

Loot & rewards

The crate loot pool is identical to the Cargo Ship Locked Crate: top-tier weapons (M249, L96, MGL, HMLMG, AK47, LR300), high-tier components, military-grade ammo, and rare blueprint fragments. It is one of the most concentrated loot rolls in Rust.

Unlike Cargo, there are NO scientist defenders — meaning every other player on the server who heard the announcement is racing toward the same point.

Tracking the CH47

When the CH47 spawns, a server-wide chat announcement fires. The chopper itself is visible on your map as a moving icon. You can predict the drop location by watching its flight path:

Airfield, Trainyard, Power Plant, Water Treatment, Launch Site — most common drop locations.
Outpost / Bandit Camp — never drops here (safe zones).
Random fields — rare but possible.

Most experienced players triangulate the destination from the CH47 heading + speed and arrive at the monument before the drop.

Holding the hack

Once the crate drops, the 15-minute hack timer starts. You have to hold the spawn position against incoming players. Strategy:

Hold high ground. Most monuments have rooftops or balconies near the typical drop zones — control these.
Bring a sniper. An L96 or Bolt Action for picking off approachers from 100m+ range.
Carry a backup rifle. AK47 or LR300 for close-range fighting once attackers reach the crate.
Eat a Bear Pie + Pure Max Health Tea before the timer ends — you will likely get rushed in the final 60 seconds.

Common mistakes

Not pre-positioning. If you arrive at the monument as the crate drops, you have lost 30 seconds to incoming players.
Looting too early. The crate stays sealed until 0:00. Trying to push the crate while the timer is running just exposes you.
Forgetting the radiation. Some monuments (Launch Site, Military Tunnels) have heavy rad — bring Hazmat or Anti-Rad Tea.
Engaging without backup. If 4 players show up, you cannot realistically hold solo. Better to retreat and ambush whoever wins.

Frequently asked questions

How often does CH47 spawn?

~2 hours between events. Servers can adjust the spawn frequency.

How long is the locked crate hack timer?

15 minutes. The timer starts when the CH47 lands, not when it spawns.

Where does the CH47 drop the crate?

Random monument — Airfield, Trainyard, Power Plant, Water Treatment, Launch Site are common. Never at Outpost or Bandit Camp.

What is in the locked crate?

Top-tier weapons (M249, L96, MGL, HMLMG, AK47, LR300), components, blueprints, military ammo. Same pool as Cargo Ship locked crate.

Can you blow up the CH47?

Yes — it is destroyable but tanky. Almost never worth the rocket cost vs just looting the crate.

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