New multi-million pound Chinook training facility opens at RAF Odiham

A new multi million pound Chinook training facility has opened at RAF Odiham - complete with state-of-the-art simulators.

The high tech equipment will replicate real-life operations in the helicopters and will allow crews to learn how to work together when flying on special missions.

Mel Bloor went to have a look around:

RAF Odiham is home of the UK's Chinook force, and it's where a new £53mil training facility was opened, designed to put pilots through their paces.

We've been at one of the two new flight deck simulators, speaking to Andy Towell from Lockheed Martin who built the facility.

The two flight deck devices work with a rear cabin device. They link together and operate with a crew of 4 people using augmented reality so whole crew training can be carried out in great detail.

How does it help crews prepare for different environmental conditions they may face on operation? Andy Towell explains:

From flying in blizzards or under enemy fire, to dealing with power failures and electronic warfare, these simulators insure Chinook crews are ready to deploy on missions all over the world.