The RAF Chinook Display Team 2022

Although the Chinook Display Team to most people at RAF Odiham means Display Embargoes, keeping the sandwich man getting around camp and causing a nuisance over the airfield, it is in fact far more wide reaching than that!!!

The Chinook Display team are tasked with representing the RAF Chinook Force across the country at airshows and other events, to highlight the hard work the force does and promote the Chinook to potential investors and future team members.

The role of the Chinook Display Team currently sits with 27 Sqn. Usually the role moves between 18 and 27 Sqn each year to allow the experience to be evenly spread, due to the pandemic over the last couple of years the Team has remained unmoved and 27 Sqn are currently embarking on the first full display season since 2019.

The team is currently led by Flt Lt Matt Smyth ‘Schmitty’ with Flt Lt Paul Huyton and Flt Lt Simon Flynn as the two co-pilots. Sergeants Dan Hine, Dan Gilderson and Scott Morris make up the crewmen element of the team, you’ll recognise them by the oversized hands that they are very protective over! Helping run and organise the Display Team behind the scenes are Flt Lt Andy Donovan, the Display Manager and Flt Lt Matt Coulson the Deputy Manager and ground party manager.

Supervising the team is OC 27, Wg Cdr Paul Butler and Sqn Ldr Sam Bennett. As always working in the background are a small group of dedicated engineers who come away with the Team over weekends and provide the team with a serviceable Mk6a wherever we go. Public Display Authority (PDA) was successfully achieved in April from Comd JHC, essentially granting the team a license to display for the 2022 season.

The Chinook Display Team perform their flying routine throughout the UK and parts of Europe showcasing the Chinook. They also spend time at most airshows conducting PR and helping the RAF recruiting team highlight roles and potential careers for people looking to join the RAF.

The 2022 season sees the team getting ready for a summer season full of airshows and families days.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates of where we will be. The airshows we will be displaying at are:

RIAT 15-17 July Farnborough 20/22 July Blackpool 13-14 August Eastbourone 18-21 August Folkestone 21 Augsust Bournemouth 1-4 September Guernsey 8 September Cervolix 1-2 Oct

If you would like to attend any of these shows and lend a hand to the team conducting PR events and helping represent RAF Odiham to the public please get in touch with your chain of command to volunteer, or alternatively email matt.coulson167@mod.gov.uk