The RAF has issued a stern warning after a person recently got “dangerously close” to a Chinook helicopter while trying to retrieve a personal item that had become dislodged by downwash. RAF Odiham is an Air Force station just south of the village of Odiham in Hampshire and is home to the RAF’s heavy helicopter, the Chinook. It took to its Twitter page — followed by 17,000 people — earlier today to distribute an “Important Security Announcement” across three tweets on the social media platform.
The Hampshire-based RAF station revealed that a person got too close to an aircraft while trying to retrieve a personal item that had become detached by “downwash”.
This is the change in direction of the air deflected by the aerodynamic action of a helicopter rotor blade in motion during part of the process of producing lift for the Chinook.
RAF Odiham warned that such situations could affect “operational training objectives” as crews might think twice before taking off if those nearby are at risk of being hit by “downstream debris”.
It advised people to be careful when observing aircraft and to keep a safe distance from the landing zone.
The RAF station tweeted: “Being in close proximity to Chinooks operating in confined spaces puts you and the crew at increased risk of incidents related to the downwash.
“Recently, a person got dangerously close to an airplane while trying to retrieve a personal item that had become dislodged by downwash.
“These situations can hamper our operational training goals because crews are hesitant to take off if bystanders are at risk from downstream debris.
“Please be safe when observing our aircraft and always keep a safe distance from the landing zone.”
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Built by Boeing, the Chinook is a large tandem rotor helicopter operated by the RAF since it first entered service in March 1980.
This fleet – 72 of which have been built with another 16 in the pipeline – is the largest outside the US and has been used in the Falklands War, the Balkans, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Providing heavy load support and transport throughout all branches of the British Armed Forces, the Chinook measures a massive 100 feet overall in length, can travel at speeds of 183 mph and has a main rotational area of 5,655 square feet.
It can carry between three and four crew members (pilot, copilot, one or two air loadmasters, depending on the role of the aircraft) and has a capacity of 55 soldiers and equipment. The massive helicopter is expected to remain in RAF service until the 2040s.
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RAF Odiham’s mission is to “conduct and maintain Chinook and Special Forces aviation operations worldwide, in support of UK defense missions and duties”.
The RAF describes the station as a “front-line helicopter base operating within the Joint Helicopter Command”.
It is primarily responsible for “providing rapid mobility worldwide for the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force in support of defense missions and duties”.
RAF Odiham is home to the UK Chinook Force and operates three Chinook squadrons and one Army Air Corps (AAC) Lynx squadron.