One of the loudest and most popular aircraft to take part in Wales Airshow will be part of the 2022 event, organisers have confirmed. The RAF Chinook Display Team will be flying through over the skies of Swansea Bay on both July 2 and July 3 meaning fans of the aerial spectacular can look forward to hearing its distinctive 'blade slap' once again.
The Chinook is described as an extremely capable and highly versatile support helicopter that can be operated from land bases or seaborne vessels into a range of diverse environments from the Arctic to the desert or jungle. The aircraft may be heavily armed and is fitted with a suite of self-defence equipment allowing it to operate across highly-contested battlespace. Chinooks are primarily used for trooping, resupply, and battlefield casualty evacuation but the crews are trained to accomplish these tasks under threat from both ground- and air-based enemies.
With its triple-hook external load system, internal cargo winch, roller conveyor fit and large reserves of power the aircraft can lift a wide variety of complex underslung or internal freight including vehicles. It can carry up to 55 troops or up to approximately 10 tonnes of mixed cargo A Chinook crew traditionally comprises two pilots and two crewmen supplemented by specialists dependent upon mission requirements. You can sign up to the latest newsletters featuring news from the Swansea area by clicking here.
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Discussing the logistics behind the show the Royal Air Force says on its website: "The RAF Chinook Display Team is drawn from front-line aircrew who still have important primary roles to fulfil. Whilst the team are busy rehearsing the display the display managers are busy planning for air show appearances, putting together the team's promotional material, engaging with the media and readying the transport arrangements that allow a team of around 10 engineers to arrive at shows ahead of the display aircraft. All of these tasks must be completed alongside the crew members' routine tasks and secondary duties.
"Before a weekend of display flying the team must attend a met brief, detailing the day's weather, plus a display brief outlining the exact procedures for the day. Once this is done the captain will conduct a final sortie brief and sign for the aircraft which has been prepared by skilled engineers. The team will drive to the aircraft, conduct a walk-round to ensure that everything appears to be in order, and then start the engines and load the avionic systems. This small section of the day can take hours depending on the nature of the show."
Also announced so far for the Wales Airshow is the star attraction the Red Arrows. Their trademark Diamond Nine shape and combination of close formations and precision flying have made them a massive hit at the event since its inception. Based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire the Red Arrows had flown almost 5,000 displays by the beginning of 2021, the team's 57th season. Read more about that by clicking here.
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will see three Second World War aircraft in the air more than 70 years after their finest hours. The Avro Lancaster, just one of only two airworthy Lancaster bombers in the world, will delight as it flies in formation with the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane over the huge crowds lining the bay. Inaugurated on July 11, 1957, at Biggin Hill the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight aims to maintain the planes that defended Britain in the Second World War in an airworthy condition in order to commemorate those who have fallen in the service of our country. You can read more about that by clicking here. And Team Raven will wow the crowd with a series of incredible "aerial acrobatics". The five-man team is led by Simon 'Sid' Shirley who recently acquired an RV8 after switching from his previous RV4 aircraft.
