RAF Chinook HC6 Formally Unveiled

摘要

UK Defence Secretary Philip Hammond unveiled the first of the RAF's 14 new Chinook HC6s at RAF Odiham, Hampshire, on June 16, marking the variant's formal entry into service. He also announced a new £115m agreement with Boeing Defence UK to maintain the engines of the RAF's increased fleet of 60 Chinooks - replacing five existing support contracts and saving taxpayers more than £20m, according to the MoD. The first three Chinook HC6s now at Odiham are ZK550 (c M7701, ex N701UK), ZK551 (c M7702, ex N702UK) and ZK552 (c M7703, ex N703UK). They were shipped to the UK and arrived by road at Odiham in December 2013, still shrink-wrapped from their transatlantic journey. All 14 of the new helicopters will be delivered before the end of 2015 and are on track to be fully operational with 7 Sqn at Odiham by early 2017.