RAF to get another 16x chinooks

[Agent K]

Given that Benson, I believe houses the simulators, controllers and logistics aspects of the Chinook operations then if as you suggest one of the bases were to close might it not be Benson?

Pure idle speculation however, and given the fact that:

- more Chinooks aren't a Puma replacement and that I believe the army requirement/aspiration is for a medium lift Puma/NH90 type equivalent for the replacment type,
- the need that sent the OCU to Benson in the first place will not have changed,

then maybe things will stay as is?
-

[bizfreeq]

Are RN Wildcat part of JHC?

847NAS are as far as I'm aware

[Helo425]

I believe that there is a re-basing decision soon (this month) that may see the whole support helicopter force relocate to Boscombe with both Benson and Odiham closure. Possibly even move the Apache force in there as well. If this were to happen would Boscombe become a JHC station and as a result would we see Test and Evaluation units move out?

[tm74sqn]

My Mistake - only the Yeovilton Merlins come under JHC - It still means we have to many airfields for service helicopter basing though.

How about the AAC Wildcats based at Yeovilton - presumably these come under JHC, even though the RN ones don't?
Cheers, TM74

[filmman]

The direction of travel is lower spending, fewer types and numbers of aircraft, fewer bases, less people and outsourcing. PFI contracts have not delivered the expected savings, are inflexible and impossible/very expensive to exit early. Some big decisions are difficult to understand. Unfortunately "we" can't always have everything. RAF lucky to get more Chinooks, Navy has the Merlin, so binning the Puma was most likely an acceptable/unavoidable consequence.
Filmman

[Yammer]

If these are MH-47 ( ie high spec for special forces ) then I'd guess they will go to 7 sqd as part of JFSAW based at Odiham - the current 7 sqd cabs could then be passed onto other units replacing older knackered machines.