Back on the circuit

A solo Chinook display returned to the UK air show circuit in 2004 after an absence of twelve years. It is flown from RAF Odiham in Hampshire by volunteers from the Chinook squadrons there, Nos 7, 18 and 27, who keep up their operational flying alongside display training; the squadrons take the duty in turn. For years the display was known for steep climbs and dives such as the “Rollercoaster”, and in 2021 the aircraft carried artwork marking 40 years of the Chinook in RAF service.

From display to role demonstration

By 2024 the team had become the Демонстрационная группа Chinook. Rather than pure aerobatics, the display shows what the helicopter does on operations: air manoeuvre, logistic resupply and casualty evacuation. In 2026 it worked with Army air assault partners to deliver a 105mm light gun that then fired blank rounds. The aircraft is a Chinook HC6A, the most numerous mark in the RAF fleet.

The 2026 crew

The 2026 crew comes from No 18 Squadron, captained by Flight Lieutenant Matt Wehrle, with two co-pilots and three crewmen, supervised by Squadron Leader Matt Bridge and managed by Flight Lieutenant Seán Ahearne. As in other years, the crew fits display practice around its normal operational training. The 2025 role demonstration appeared at the RAF Cosford Air Show, IWM Duxford and the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford.