Chinooks ready to fly after eight-year delay

Two Chinooks which have been sat on the ground for the last eight years are finally ready to take off.

Back in 1995, the government bought eight Chinooks but nobody has been able to use them because they didn’t meet airworthiness regulations, however, the good people at Boeing have worked their magic and they are now ready fly.

Defence secretary Bob Ainsworth said he was happy that the choppers can finally be used and hoped to have the rest of them in the air by the end of the year.

"I am delighted that the first Mk3s are now joining the Chinook fleet. They will provide an uplift in capability to support coalition efforts in Afghanistan, where Chinooks fly under very challenging conditions, proving their worth daily on operation," he added.

The Ministry of Defence recently announced a further 22 Chinooks have been bought, with the first one expected top be ready by 2013.

Posted by Simon Williams