Turning up the heat on RAF Chinooks deployed on desert training in California

Burning sand, scorching heat, and dusty winds – these are the elements 27 Squadron is conquering head-on at Exercise Vortex Warrior in El Centro, California.

The focal point of the exercise is rigorous Desert Environmental Training, aimed at preparing aircrew, engineers, and enablers for the unique challenges posed by hot and dusty environments.

For the RAF Chinooks and their crew, the Naval Air Facility in El Centro provides the perfect setting for a crash course in surviving and thriving in the most arid of terrains.

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The Exercise Vortex Warrior focuses on acclimatisation for the crew, to a type of heat that is unimaginable in the UK, while putting the aircraft at the edge of its operating envelope.

The dusty conditions can cause detritus to be ingested into all parts of the aircraft, causing extra work for the engineers and less-than-ideal conditions for the aircrew.

As the squadron braves the heat and dust, the logistical challenges of the extended supply chain present an additional challenge.

However, the deployed personnel are well supported by their counterparts back home and can get the supplies and equipment replacements that they need quickly, despite the distance.

27 Squadron is based at RAF Odiham, home of the UK Chinook Force which is located a staggering 5,408 miles away. 

While primarily simulating the conditions of desert regions, this training has a broad spectrum of applications, ensuring the squadron's readiness for deployment to similar locales worldwide.

The specialist skills include Low Ambient Light Operations (LALO), Mountain Flying, Gunnery and (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE), which, given the climate and location, are significantly easier to achieve in El Centro than they would be in the UK.