LONDON, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Once a familiar sight over Germany during the Cold War era, Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter has made a nostalgic return to take part in the Berlin Show.
The Chinook, based at RAF Odiham has deployed to take part in the Berlin show as part of the RAF's 100th anniversary celebrations.
Pictures of the visit were released Friday by the Ministry of Defense in London. On the way to Berlin the crew also visited the locations of the former RAF Germany airbases.
Co-Pilot of the Chinook, Flight Lieutenant Andy Donovan said: "We are incredibly proud to be visiting Germany in the 100th year of the Royal Air Force, firstly in association with the show, but also as a good proportion of our service operating Chinooks was spent here between 1981 and 1997 so this gives us an opportunity to reflect on a little bit of history."
Co-Pilot of the Chinook, Flight Lieutenant Andy Donovan said: "We are incredibly proud to be visiting Germany in the 100th year of the Royal Air Force, firstly in association with the show, but also as a good proportion of our service operating Chinooks was spent here between 1981 and 1997 so this gives us an opportunity to reflect on a little bit of history as part of the RAF100 celebrations."
The Chinook visited the former RAF Wildenrath base, once home to eleven RAF squadrons over the years, but now the Wegberg-Wildenrath railway test and validation center.
The Chinook also paid a nostalgic visit to RAF Laarbruch where it was once based.
Later Donovan said: "It dawned on me as we climbed out that we may well be the last crew ever to land an RAF aircraft at Bruggen. A sad thought for a base with so many years of service behind it."
Flight Lieutenant Stuart Kynaston, the pilot said; "It was really good to be able to bring RAF aviation back to some of our former stations, especially returning the Chinook to its former home at RAF Laarbruch.
During the weekend the Chinook Display Team will be performing role demonstrations at the Berlin Show.
The Chinook is regarded as a flying workhorse for the RAF, working in every environment from tropical jungles to the Arctic.
