RAF Chinook helicopters have been conducting intensive maritime and amphibious coaching in western Scotland, with a number of plane from RAF Odiham working out of Oban Airport over the previous a number of days, the airport confirmed on social media.
Oban Airport described it as “a busy few days for the Chinook drive,” including that crews had been “coaching laborious in maritime and amphibious operations — important expertise for missions around the globe.” The coaching kinds a part of ongoing efforts to reinforce the Royal Air Power’s heavy-lift and expeditionary air mobility capabilities, significantly in help of joint operations with the Royal Navy and British Military.
Oban Airport mentioned it was “superb to host this sort of train,” highlighting the worth of regional services for supporting Defence coaching and readiness. The coaching is known to have included take-off and touchdown drills, load-handling, and coordination with floor items simulating amphibious operations.
The Boeing Chinook is the UK’s major heavy-lift helicopter. Derived from the U.S. Military’s CH-47 Chinook, the RAF fleet is the most important outdoors the US and has been in service for the reason that early Eighties. Based mostly primarily at RAF Odiham in England, the Chinook offers logistical and transport help throughout the British armed forces. As of 2025, the RAF operates 54 Chinooks, with the kind anticipated to stay in service into the 2040s.
The helicopter has performed a significant position in quite a few British army operations, starting with the Falklands Warfare in 1982. It supported missions in Northern Eire, the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan, in addition to humanitarian efforts such because the supply of meals and provides to Kurdish refugees after the 1991 Gulf Warfare.
In March 2024, the Ministry of Defence confirmed plans to amass 14 new Chinook Block II Prolonged Vary helicopters for £1.4 billion. Designated Chinook HC7, these plane will substitute the RAF’s oldest fashions and have double the operational vary. They’re anticipated to reinforce the UK’s particular operations functionality whereas extending the longevity of the Chinook’s position inside the RAF’s air mobility fleet.