RAF Odiham
RAF Odiham is situated in Hampshire, 7 miles to the East of Basingstoke and is home to the RAF's fleet of Chinook helicopters. The airfield remains a busy place with the familiar thumping rhythm of the Chinooks being heard both day and night. Sharing the field with the Chinooks is a Squadron of Westland Lynx AH.9A flown by the Army Air Corps, which have replaced the AH.7 variant previously flown.
The Squadrons currently based at the airfield are -
Joint Helicopter Command (JHC)
As a recommendation that came from the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) was formed to consolidate the helicopters of the RAF, Army Air Corps and Royal Navy under a single command structure. The JHC came into being on 5th October 1999 and Odiham's Squadrons fall within its remit to provide assistance to the Command as the need arises, either through training or where conflict dictates.
Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing
The Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing (JSFAV) was formed in April 2001 to bring together No 7 Squadron and No 657 Army Air Corps (AAC), with the intention of coordinating the provision of rotary wing support for the UK's Special Forces. No 658 Squadron AAC also belongs to the Wing but their helicopters are based at Stirling Lines Credenhill in Herefordshire, although their aircraft can often be seen at Odiham.
Army Air Corps
There is also a detachment of Chinooks deployed to 1310 Flight which is based in the Falkland Islands.
The airfield has around 2000 personnel stationed there and the squadrons operate in support of NATO and UK interests worldwide. No 18 Squadron additionally operates a training flight to convert pilots and aircrew onto the Chinook.
Odiham is an awkward place to get views but with a little effort, it is possible to see the Chinooks at work and to get some interesting photographs.
The Squadrons currently based at the airfield are -
Joint Helicopter Command (JHC)
As a recommendation that came from the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) was formed to consolidate the helicopters of the RAF, Army Air Corps and Royal Navy under a single command structure. The JHC came into being on 5th October 1999 and Odiham's Squadrons fall within its remit to provide assistance to the Command as the need arises, either through training or where conflict dictates.
- No 18 - Chinook HC.4/HC.4A/HC.5
- No 27 - Chinook HC.4/HC.4A/HC.5
Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing
The Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing (JSFAV) was formed in April 2001 to bring together No 7 Squadron and No 657 Army Air Corps (AAC), with the intention of coordinating the provision of rotary wing support for the UK's Special Forces. No 658 Squadron AAC also belongs to the Wing but their helicopters are based at Stirling Lines Credenhill in Herefordshire, although their aircraft can often be seen at Odiham.
- No 7 - Chinook HC.4/HC.6
Army Air Corps
- No 657 Squadron - Lynx AH.9A (Decommissioned January 2018)
There is also a detachment of Chinooks deployed to 1310 Flight which is based in the Falkland Islands.
The airfield has around 2000 personnel stationed there and the squadrons operate in support of NATO and UK interests worldwide. No 18 Squadron additionally operates a training flight to convert pilots and aircrew onto the Chinook.
Odiham is an awkward place to get views but with a little effort, it is possible to see the Chinooks at work and to get some interesting photographs.
Page Index - Aircraft Within This Gallery - Boeing CH-47 HC.3R Chinook - ZH904 - Boeing CH-47 HC.2 Chinook - ZA707 (AO) - Boeing CH-47 HC.2 Chinook - ZD574 (BD) - Aerospatiale SA365N2 Dauphin II - G-LCPL
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