Choppers preparing for war over Welshpool

The Welshpool area was rattling from the sound of Chinook helicopters flying over at night earlier this week, and it has been confirmed that it was part of a four-week training programme to ensure our pilots are the best in the world. 

The enormous choppers are among the aircraft being used to train pilots at the helicopter training school in RAF Shawbury, home to the No. 1 Flying Training School.

The School, 25 miles away, operates a state-of-the-art fleet of helicopters that ensure that the trainees from the armed forces receive the best instruction in the world.

A base spokesperson said: “An essential element of this training is to fly at night so the aircrew can operate in any environment.

“The helicopters are configured so that crews can fly using Night Vision Devices like those they use on operations in hostile environments and when supporting emergencies at home such as the Whaley Bridge Dam collapse and more recently on COVID-19 support duties.”

This next phase of night flying started on Monday and will run for four weeks, but this may have to be extended if weather conditions prevent completion of the training syllabus. 

Crews will operate throughout Low Flying Area 9 (LFA 9) which stretches from Wrexham across to Stoke on Trent in Staffordshire, it then drops down to Bridgnorth and across back to the Welshpool area.

“Residents may hear, but not necessarily see, our helicopters when flying at night as they train for front-line duties at home and overseas,” the spokesperson said.