First Chinook HC5 for Odiham

THE ROYAL Air Force received its first Chinook HC5 when the helicopter arrived at RAF Odiham, Hampshire from the Gosport Fleetlands facility operated by Vector Aerospace, Boeing’s principal subcontractor in the programme, on March 22. ZH901 is the first of eight HC3 versions to be converted under the £400m upgrade as the RAF works towards a standardised fleet of 60 Chinooks under Project Julius, which addresses both HC2 and HC3 models. The Mk5 Chinook improves the ‘legacy’ Mk3 by including