Thrilling Chinook to display at Wings & Wheels

Chinook at Wings and Wheels

A familiar sight over the skies of Dunsfold Aerodrome, the Chinook will be displaying at Wings & Wheels on Saturday 26th August.

For the 2017 Display Season Squadron Leader Matt Holloway and the team have created a new display formation sequence consisting of 17 different manoeuvres including, the opening Run in to Crowd Centre for Nose Over with Turn Away, Pedal Turn, ‘Roller Coaster’ (Nose Over followed by Nose Over), 360 degree Wingover at Crowd Centre, 180 degree Nose Down Quickstop, Taxi Sideways for Crewman Wave, 540 degree ‘Gorni’ Corkscrew, 315 degree Spiral Descent to break from Crowd
Before they finish with the Over the Shoulder Departure.

It’s a thrilling display which not only shows how skilful the pilots are, but the versatility and manoeuvrability of the Chinook helicopter used for trooping, resupply and battlefield Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC) and for carrying internal and/or underslung loads.

Jamie McAllister, Event Director comments: “We can never see enough of the Chinook and its impressive display. The skill the pilots use to command the large helicopter has to be seen to be believed and we are thrilled to be welcoming the popular team back to Wings & Wheels.”
The RAF Chinook Display Team is drawn from front line pilots who still have important primary roles to fulfil. Whilst the team are rehearsing the display, the Display Manager is busy putting together the team’s promotional material, organising the year’s air show visits, engaging with the media and among many other tasks readying the transport arrangements that allow a team of around 10 people to arrive at all our air shows ahead of the display aircraft. All these tasks must be done alongside the crew members’ regular jobs and secondary duties.

Visitors to Wings & Wheels can also enjoy other air displays including the Eurofighter Typhoon, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (two Spitfires and Lancaster), Chinook (Saturday only), Apache Display Team with pyrotechnics, Tigers Parachute Team, The Blades and much, much more.

The ‘Wings’ of the event would not be complete without a close-up inspection of all the weekend’s visiting aircraft including the Royal Navy Wildcat, RAF Puma, Apache, Dunsfold’s resident Sea Hawk, and Hunter as well as the infamous Boeing 747, the Brooklands VC10 and Aces High DC3, all open for tours.

Supercars and classic and vintage icons put on an awe-inspiring display of power and speed on the Top Gear track in a 2 hour auto spectacular. The ‘Wheels’ of the show includes displays from McLaren 12C, Lamborghini Aventador Roadster and Huracan, Pagani Zonda, Ferrari California T, Aston Martin Rapide, Dodge Monaco, TVR Tasmin 280i, Ducati Multistrada 1200s, Ferrari F355 Berlinetta, Ford GT40 and Lotus Elise.

Visit the Wheels Zone with a bigger and better crowd line parade and interactive displays from car and motorbike clubs. The Stunt Zone will be exploding into 2017 with four wheeled hair-raising performances from Mission Motorsport and the popular Monster Truck arena returns offering demonstrations and passenger rides.

The Military Zone & Parade is interactive and explosive bringing re-enactors, a living history zone, and our popular military vehicle parade. The Zone has over 80 military vehicles, re-enactment groups, as well as the history of Dunsfold Aerodrome and Army, Navy and RAF recruitment stands for everyone’s enjoyment.

Sid’s Zone is an action packed free area for the little ones. From 10:00 until 16:00 the kids can join in with colouring competitions, arts and crafts, paper plane challenges, face painting and the popular Sid’s Trail which encourages the whole family to search the arena for questions and answers to win a goody bag. Meet and greets with show mascot Siddeley and the display pilots are not to be missed.

The excitement and anticipation doesn’t stop at the main displays as the 32-acre public arena is bursting with a huge variety of interactive attractions containing all you need for a great family day out. The show arena boasts, kit-plane demonstrations, military outlets and displays, static aircraft, fairground and over 80 retail outlets selling a wide variety of products and gifts. Shopping in the arena includes a craft marquee full of craft gifts and tempting tea time treats to take home as well as a *New* Vintage Market with hair and make-up, clothes and collectables.

As the last plane touches down the party starts across the arena with musical evening entertainment from Champagne at the Blitz, a 1940s songbird trio armed with smooth harmonies, seamed nylons and lots and LOTS of red lippy!

Taking the hassle out of your day the show includes added extras to make your experience even more enjoyable; over 25 fixed-price catering outlets, two bars, hospitality facilities, free on-site parking, public camping, lost children point, disabled access, informative show commentary, opportunities to meet the pilots, official show merchandise and grandstand seating.

The 13th annual Wings & Wheels will be held over the August Bank holiday weekend; Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th August 2017, at Dunsfold Park near Guildford, Surrey, and is open to spectators from 09:00 until 21:00.

Advanced rate tickets from £22 for adults or £50 for a family. Single child tickets (for children aged 5 – 15) will be £7. Children under 5 go free. Hospitality packages start from £155 per person, weekend passes, grandstand tickets and camping are also available. For more information visit www.wingsandwheels.net or to book standard tickets call 08712 305 572.

Wings & Wheels is promoted by Dunsfold Park Limited and in 2017 will be assisting the fundraising efforts of Brooklands Museum Trust and Help for Heroes.

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