Eastbourne International Airshow 2017
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
CHINOO<br />
HC4<br />
The RAF Chinook Display<br />
Team, based at RAF Odiham<br />
in Hampshire, aims to<br />
demonstrate the RAF Chinook’s<br />
capabilities to you at this year’s<br />
<strong>Eastbourne</strong> Air Show.<br />
As well as part of the <strong>2017</strong> RAF Chinook<br />
Display Team, the crew are also part of a fully<br />
operational Squadron, where they combine<br />
their daily training demands with practising<br />
their display sequence.<br />
For <strong>2017</strong>, the Display pilot is Flight Lieutenant Andy Smith<br />
with Flight Lieutenant Ed Peverell and Flight Lieutenant<br />
Ryan Stowe as co-pilots.<br />
The RAF operates the largest fleet of Ch-47 Chinook<br />
Support helicopters after the US Army, with<br />
approximately 60 aircraft. Due to its versatility,<br />
durability and presence the Chinook remains<br />
the helicopter of choice for UK forces operating<br />
worldwide and is continually being modified and<br />
upgraded to keep it at the forward edge of the<br />
battlefield. It can be operated in many diverse<br />
environments ranging from cold weather ‘arctic’<br />
conditions to desert warfare operations.<br />
The Chinook is used primarily for trooping and<br />
for carrying internal and/or underslung loads<br />
and can carry up to 55 troops or 10 tonnes<br />
of freight. Secondary roles include search<br />
and rescue and casualty evacuation.<br />
22<br />
EASTBOURNE INTERNATIONAL aIR S HOW <strong>2017</strong>