RAF Chinook spotted in sky over city
THERE was a buzz of excitement among Midland air enthusiasts after an RAF Chinook helicopter was spotted in the skies over Coventry and Solihull.
Air spotters from far and wide rushed to grab cameras to capture images of the huge tandem-rotored military helicopter on Monday (February 22).
Social media was awash with pictures of the Chinook, with sightings in Binley Woods and Solihull among other locations, including Birmingham.
The RAF has revealed why the Chinook was in the vicinity after we contacted it for an update.
An RAF spokesman said: “It was a Chinook from 18 Squadron at RAF Odiham that was in the Birmingham area yesterday.
“They were conducting essential training for the crew, which will sometimes include flying in unfamiliar areas to enhance their skills.”
Its presence in the Midlands was confirmed by RAF Odiham too.
A spokesman said: “This was an 18(B) Squadron Chinook from RAF Odiham that was conducting essential routine training in the Birmingham and Solihull area on Monday 22 February. “
RAF Odiham is a Royal Air Force station in Hampshire and is the home of the Royal Air Force’s heavy lift helicopter, the Chinook.
Chinook sightings on training
missions are not uncommon in the Midlands, with one spotted over Nuneaton and Bedworth just over a week ago.
Some of the clearest images of the Chinook were captured by Yvonne Lewis close to Birmingham Airport.
Although referred to as a Chinook, the aircraft’s full title is the Boeing CH-47 Chinook.
The twin-engined, tandem rotor, heavy-lift helicopter was developed by American rotorcraft company Vertol and manufactured by Boeing
Vertol- later known as Boeing Rotorcraft Systems.
A mainstay of the US military the Chinook is used widely around the world.
The armed services in more than 19 countries use them, including Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Japan, Italy, Greece, Spain, South Korea, Australia and the United Arab Emirates.
They have been flying since 1962 and cost around $35m.