The RAF Chinook Display Team, based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, has a primary aim of demonstrating the helicopter’s phenomenal capabilities, as entertainingly as possible. As well as part of the Display Team, the crew is also in a fully operational squadron, from where they combine their daily training demands, with practising their display sequences.
Land Rover’s role is to provide the team with a new Discovery, complete with bespoke Chinook Display Team wrap. The car will provide ground support during off-season activities in 2018 and, then, for the full display schedule in 2019. The ever-capable Discovery will be able to carry seven crew members at a time, thereby supporting both the air and ground teams throughout the partnership term.
Jaguar Land Rover UK Marketing Director, Anthony Bradbury, said: “It’s an absolute privilege for us at Land Rover to be involved with the spectacularly talented crew of the RAF Chinook Display Team. Land Rover and the military have travelled hand-in-hand since the very beginning and our business is still a huge supporter of the UK’s Armed Forces. Since 2014, Jaguar Land Rover has employed more than 850 wounded, injured and sick ex-servicemen and this latest partnership is just another example of how we intend to continue our support.”
The Chinook helicopter and the Land Rover Discovery have more in common than may be thought, as both have been carefully engineered to carry people and heavy equipment. While the Discovery can transport seven crew members in comfort and tow an impressive 3.5-tonnes, the Chinook shades it by carrying up to 55 troops, or up to 10-tonnes of payload.
This is just the latest partnership making full use of the Discovery’s versatility and capabilities. In recent years, it has assisted in ground operations for Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance and helped the Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team navigate tricky terrain to save lives. First introduced in 1989, the Land Rover Discovery is gearing up for its 30th anniversary next year and has already sold more than 1.3 million units around the world.
A spokesperson for The Chinook Display Team said: “We are overjoyed to be working alongside Land Rover, in what has already been a very positive and enjoyable venture. The addition of this vehicle to the team has only happened as a result of the kind support that we have received and will enable a huge amount of flexibility on the display circuit. With a significant ground footprint of engineers and aircrew, not to mention a growing inventory of equipment and products that is taken to public shows, the ability to move flexibly, while flying the flag for the United Kingdom is one that the team values greatly. The wrapping of the vehicle has also been donated kindly by Land Rover and is just another example of the extraordinary support the team has been afforded.”
