January/February Issue 54 - Flipbook - Page 24
NEWS
NOT YOUR USUAL RECOVERY
On 5th January 2021, a Chinook from
28 Squadron based at RAF Benson
made a precautionary landing in a field
near Wantage following a mechanical
issue. Unfortunately, the aircraft soon
sank into the field, likely due to the
extended period of wet weather that
we’ve been experiencing recently.
Engineers were deployed to the site
to assess the mechanical issue which
was fixed; however, the extremely
soft ground made the recovery of the
Chinook to RAF Benson very difficult.
A tri-Service team of specialists worked
hard to safely extract the aircraft from
the mud. While it was hoped that it
could have simply been dug out and
then flown home, the risk of damage
to the aircraft from this course of
action was assessed as significant
and alternative options were explored,
including potentially lifting it from the
mud with a crane.
Given the muddy conditions and
freezing weather, it was a challenging
operation to free the Chinook,
particularly as they needed to ensure
they didn’t damage the aircraft in doing
so. The Specialist tri-Service teams,
including the Joint Aircraft Recovery
and Transportation Squadron and the
Royal Engineers, assisted the Chinook
experts in devising a solution that would
successfully free the aircraft. After a
number of options were considered it
was agreed that the best option would
be to lift the aircraft onto a platform
using cranes.
The specialist teams worked together
to prepare the ground, including laying
over 250 feet of suitable trackway
for the heavy lifting equipment. Once
the equipment arrived, it was a swift
process to prepare the aircraft to be
moved and it was then lifted by two
cranes onto the waiting platform.
The Chinook was lifted successfully and
the engineers checked the aircraft, and
once it’s safe to do so it will be flown
home to RAF Benson.
RAF Benson were extremely thankful to
the landowners for their understanding
and support during this work,
particularly the kindness shown to their
team guarding the aircraft during some
very cold nights.
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