Bespoke made Chinook Blade Ornament

A bespoke made ‘Chinook 40th anniversary blade’ made from an actual Chinook rotor blade. Money can’t buy one of these as it’s designed and created by the Chinook engineering team at RAF Odiham.

On 22 November 1980, the first Chinook was delivered to the Royal Air Force (RAF). 40 years later, this iconic twin-engined, tandem rotor, heavy-lift helicopter continues to play an unmatched and unique role in defence missions at home and abroad.

Flown by the RAF and tasked by Joint Helicopter Command, the Chinook Force has deployed around the world, including the Falklands, the Balkans, Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan and more recently supporting French forces in Mali with logistics and moving troops.

At home, the Chinook is called upon for humanitarian missions. Chinooks were used in the UK government’s Covid-19 response and to support the efforts to save the town of Whaley Bridge from flooding in 2019.

More than 450 people are employed across the UK to maintain and upgrade the RAF’s fleet of 60 helicopters.

Special thanks to Julian Durbridge for their incredible generosity in donating this item to the Aerobility Armchair Airshow Auction 2022.