CHINOOKS from RAF Benson at RAF Coningsby | Low Approach, Practice Diversion and Refuel
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Chinooks from RAF Benson head
Chinooks from RAF Benson head for RAF Coningsby. From a 'Practice Diversion' (PD), Low Approaches and for other training reasons, the Chinooks are a frequent visitor at Ted's home station.
RAF Benson in South Oxfordshire is a support helicopter main operating base working within the Joint Helicopter Command.
RAF Benson is home to two front-line Puma HC2 helicopter squadrons and one Operational Conversion Unit, flying a mix of Puma HC2 and Chinook HC4 helicopters. It is also home to the Operational Evaluation Unit of the Joint Helicopter Command.
RAF Benson is also home to the civilian National Police Air Service and the Thames Valley Air Ambulance which operate 24 hours a day.
In March 1992 RAF Benson began its association with helicopters as first No. 60 Squadron flying Wessex HC2 helicopters, and then in 1997 No. 33 Squadron flying Puma HC1 helicopters took up residence. This was followed by the Merlin Helicopters of No. 28 (Army Cooperation) Squadron in July 2001 and of No. 78 Squadron in January 2008 creating the home of the Merlin Force.
In November 2009, the Puma Force was united when the Pumas of No. 230 Squadron were rehomed from Northern Ireland to RAF Benson. As a result of Support Helicopter rationalisation across Defence, the RAF’s Merlin helicopters transferred to the Royal Navy. First to disband in September 2014 was No. 78 Squadron, transferring its Merlins to No. 846 Naval Air Squadron who remained at RAF Benson until March 2015 when it moved to Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton.
In July 2015, 28 Squadron transferred its Merlins to No. 845 Naval Air Squadron who moved shortly thereafter to RNAS Yeovilton. No. 28 Squadron, however, did not disband and instead stood up as the joint Operational Conversion Unit for Puma and Chinook helicopters in October 2015, remaining at RAF Benson. Joint Helicopter Support Squadron, a tri-Service Joint Helicopter Command unit tasked with providing ground support to the Support Helicopter Force, arrived in 2016.
In May 2020, No. 22 Squadron re-formed at RAF Benson, providing operational evaluation, trials and testing of equipment and tactical training for the crews of all helicopter types flown by the Joint Helicopter Command.
The Chinook is an extremely capable and highly versatile support helicopter. Take it to a jungle, whack it in the desert or base it on a ship, arm it for battle space or use it for search and rescue, this iconic helicopter has a diverse range of capabilities. It has a triple-hook load system, internal cargo winch and large reservers of power, the aircraft can lift a wide variety of complex freight and vehicles, plus it can carry 55 troops or up to 10 tonnes of mixed cargo.
Armament: two 7.62mm M134 Miniguns and one 7.62mm M60D machine gun
In addition to its traditional war fighting roles, the Chinook's lifting capabilities is held at readiness under the MACA commitment to respond to emergencies in the UK; in recent years these have included resupplying snowbound farmers in Northern Ireland and moving tons of aggregate to help reconstruct flood defences damaged by winter storms. In August 2019, a Chinook was instrumental in securing a dam on the Toddbrook Reservoir after it became structurally unsound following heavy rain.
The current operational Chinook fleet comprised of Mk 4, Mk5 Mk6 and MkA aircraft, fitted with digital glass cockpits to a command standard. The Mk 6 was acquired as a UK-sepcific variant of the CH-47F and also introduced a Digital Automatic Flight Control System (DAFCS, pronounced 'daffics'), greatly enhancing handling and safety, particularly when operating in recirculating dust or snow conditions.
The HC.Kk 5 results from the upgrade of the extended-range or 'fat tank' aircraft, which carries double the fuel load of a standard Chinook. The earlier Mk 4 Chinooks are being further upgraded to Mk 6A standard with the addition of DAFCS.
For more info and links:
RAF Benson
https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisati...
Chinook
https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircraft/chinook/
Callsigns: Vortex
Fun Fact: The nickname for the Chinook is a Wokka. I think that's right?
#chinook #rafbenson #rafconingsby #wokka
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Purchase Official Ted Coningsby merchandise:
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RAF Benson in South Oxfordshire is a support helicopter main operating base working within the Joint Helicopter Command.
RAF Benson is home to two front-line Puma HC2 helicopter squadrons and one Operational Conversion Unit, flying a mix of Puma HC2 and Chinook HC4 helicopters. It is also home to the Operational Evaluation Unit of the Joint Helicopter Command.
RAF Benson is also home to the civilian National Police Air Service and the Thames Valley Air Ambulance which operate 24 hours a day.
In March 1992 RAF Benson began its association with helicopters as first No. 60 Squadron flying Wessex HC2 helicopters, and then in 1997 No. 33 Squadron flying Puma HC1 helicopters took up residence. This was followed by the Merlin Helicopters of No. 28 (Army Cooperation) Squadron in July 2001 and of No. 78 Squadron in January 2008 creating the home of the Merlin Force.
In November 2009, the Puma Force was united when the Pumas of No. 230 Squadron were rehomed from Northern Ireland to RAF Benson. As a result of Support Helicopter rationalisation across Defence, the RAF’s Merlin helicopters transferred to the Royal Navy. First to disband in September 2014 was No. 78 Squadron, transferring its Merlins to No. 846 Naval Air Squadron who remained at RAF Benson until March 2015 when it moved to Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton.
In July 2015, 28 Squadron transferred its Merlins to No. 845 Naval Air Squadron who moved shortly thereafter to RNAS Yeovilton. No. 28 Squadron, however, did not disband and instead stood up as the joint Operational Conversion Unit for Puma and Chinook helicopters in October 2015, remaining at RAF Benson. Joint Helicopter Support Squadron, a tri-Service Joint Helicopter Command unit tasked with providing ground support to the Support Helicopter Force, arrived in 2016.
In May 2020, No. 22 Squadron re-formed at RAF Benson, providing operational evaluation, trials and testing of equipment and tactical training for the crews of all helicopter types flown by the Joint Helicopter Command.
The Chinook is an extremely capable and highly versatile support helicopter. Take it to a jungle, whack it in the desert or base it on a ship, arm it for battle space or use it for search and rescue, this iconic helicopter has a diverse range of capabilities. It has a triple-hook load system, internal cargo winch and large reservers of power, the aircraft can lift a wide variety of complex freight and vehicles, plus it can carry 55 troops or up to 10 tonnes of mixed cargo.
Armament: two 7.62mm M134 Miniguns and one 7.62mm M60D machine gun
In addition to its traditional war fighting roles, the Chinook's lifting capabilities is held at readiness under the MACA commitment to respond to emergencies in the UK; in recent years these have included resupplying snowbound farmers in Northern Ireland and moving tons of aggregate to help reconstruct flood defences damaged by winter storms. In August 2019, a Chinook was instrumental in securing a dam on the Toddbrook Reservoir after it became structurally unsound following heavy rain.
The current operational Chinook fleet comprised of Mk 4, Mk5 Mk6 and MkA aircraft, fitted with digital glass cockpits to a command standard. The Mk 6 was acquired as a UK-sepcific variant of the CH-47F and also introduced a Digital Automatic Flight Control System (DAFCS, pronounced 'daffics'), greatly enhancing handling and safety, particularly when operating in recirculating dust or snow conditions.
The HC.Kk 5 results from the upgrade of the extended-range or 'fat tank' aircraft, which carries double the fuel load of a standard Chinook. The earlier Mk 4 Chinooks are being further upgraded to Mk 6A standard with the addition of DAFCS.
For more info and links:
RAF Benson
https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisati...
Chinook
https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircraft/chinook/
Callsigns: Vortex
Fun Fact: The nickname for the Chinook is a Wokka. I think that's right?
#chinook #rafbenson #rafconingsby #wokka
Ted Coningsby Merchandise
TED CONINGSBY SQUADRON patches are now available. Superbly made by SQUADRON PRINTS, who supply genuine RAF patches, this is exciting times for everyone who has been supporting Ted throughout his journey. You can order your patch at www.tedconingsby.co.uk
Connect with Ted Coningsby:
Purchase Official Ted Coningsby merchandise:
www.tedconingsby.co.uk
Insta
Instagram: ted_coningsby
Facebook: tedconingsbyuk
www.tedconingsby.co.uk
Join as a member to our Ted Coningsby channel to get access to perks:
@tedconingsby
2 سال پیش
در تاریخ 1401/02/05 منتشر شده
است.
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