I brought this up before but now can't find the thread. A helicopter outfit out of Billings bought three CH47D Chinooks. I mentioned they were the only one so far to have them. Others here said lots of folks operate these helicopters. Here's another article saying that the company is bringing these helicopters online and also again saying they will be the first to operate them, with a second company some ways behind getting their flight manual approved. So I say again these are unique birds in civilian hands.

http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/f ... uffercfb40

They are the first to operate the "D" model, former Army aircraft, but others, mainly Columbia Helicopters have operated the BV-234 for a couple of decades or more. I believe, not positive Columbias were bought from Boeing Vertol as 234's not surplus.

I stopped to visit them when I was home this summer. Quite an operation from when I worked for them as a kid in high school.