Chinook Display

Day 1 at Cosford complete. Final rehearsal prior to display on Sunday! Excited to show you all what we have in store for this season!

Introducing the team!

Our final member of the team, at the front of the cabin will be Sgt Joshua Lyons.

Josh, originally from Penkridge, Staffordshire, joined the RAF in 2014 as an Aerospace Systems Operator, and was posted to 1 Air Control Centre at RAF Scampton. In 2017, he re-traded to become a Weapons Systems Operator. He completed Rotary Flying Training at RAF Shawbury in 2019, flying the Juno HT1. Following this he completed his Chinook Operational Conversion Unit at 28 (AC) Sqn, RAF Benson, before being posted to RAF Odiham in Dec 2020.

In his 5 years on the Chinook Force, Josh has accumulated over 1200 flying hours on the Chinook, deployed on numerous Operational Deployments, flown on the King’s Coronation Flypast and embarked on HMS Queen Elizabeth. In addition, he has trained on overseas exercises in Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Cyprus, Jordan & the USA.

Outside of work, he enjoys travelling, skiing, and for his sins, is a season ticket holder at Wolverhampton Wanderers. He lives local to RAF Odiham with his French Bulldog, Cody.

Having grown up just 8 miles from , Josh is immensely proud to return to his home air show, on Sunday!

Introducing the team!

We have introduced the pilots, now it’s time to introduce our crewmen! Starting with the star of the show, FS Dave Sims.

Dave was born and raised in Margate, Kent. After completing a degree in Sport & Exercise Science in Liverpool, he joined the RAF in Sep 2014 as a Weapons Systems Operator.

On completion of flying training at RAF Shawbury and RAF Benson, he was posted to his first Operational Squadron in Aug 2017, and has since conducted several overseas exercises and Operational Deployments. Now, he is a Qualified Helicopter Crewman Instructor and Helicopter Dispatch Instructor, and has accumulated over 2000 hours on rotary platforms.

When not in work (and sometimes during 👀), he can be found on the golf course.

Dave will be on the ramp wearing the iconic orange hands, so make sure you give him a wave! 👋

Introducing the team!

Joining Cal in the cockpit this year is our co-pilot, Flt Lt Jacob “CJ” Cameron-Johnson.

CJ, originally from Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire, joined the RAF in 2016 as a Direct Entry Pilot after a short stint as a student on Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron. After Initial Officer Training, followed by Elementary Flying Training on the Grob 120TP Prefect he was streamed rotary and, after completion of Basic and Advanced Rotary Training at RAF Shawbury, was awarded his wings in Dec 2021. He then spent 12 months flying Air Cadets and other Air Experience passengers in the Grob Tutor as part of No5 Air Experience Flight at RAF Wittering, prior to starting the Chinook Operational Conversion Unit on 28 (AC) Squadron. After finishing the OCU in Nov 23, he was posted to RAF Odiham to begin his frontline career.

Having been a part of the Chinook Force for approximately 18 months, CJ has deployed twice overseas in support of Operations, as well as multiple exercises, taking him to the USA, Sweden, Cyprus and Jordan.

A keen F1 fan and amateur golfer, CJ is immensely proud to take the role of Co-Pilot for this seasons Chinook Role Demo Team.

Introducing the team!

The team captain this year is Flt Lt Cal Pearson.

Cal, originally from Middlesborough, joined the RAF in October 2010. After completing Initial Officer Training in 2011, he began holding at various units, including RAF Waddington and RAF High Wycombe, before assuming the role of Typhoon Display Manager on 29 (Reserve) Squadron at RAF Coningsby.

In Jan 2014, Cal moved to RAF Wyton to start his flying career, where he completed Elementary Flying Training on the Grob Tutor. Streamed rotary, he completed Single- and Multi-Engine Rotary Wing Training at RAF Shawbury on the Squirrel and Griffin. He received his wings in 2016.

Upon completion of the Chinook Operational Conversion Unit in Sep 2018, he was posted to the frontline at RAF Odiham. Cal has over 2000 flying hours, with over 1400 on Chinook. He has completed numerous operational deployments and has flown in multiple countries including USA & Cyprus. He is a Qualified Helicopter Instructor on the Squadron.

Cal is married to his wife Abbie, and they have two children together, Alyssia and Oakley. In his spare time, he enjoys football and going to the gym.

Here’s a behind the scenes look at our crewman checking the centre hook to ensure it’s safe to do the heavy lifting of the 105mm Gun prior to our demo at Farnborough earlier today

Big thumbs up 👍 from the Role Demo Crew, look out for them this afternoon as they arrive at RIAT!

The Role Demo goes international! Two exchange officers are joining us during at RIAT and Farnborough.

JP, from Hawkes Bay NZ, joined the RNZAF in 2013. Posted to 3 Sqn RNZAF, he undertook the Helicopter Basic Pilot Course in Aug 16 on the A109. He became a Helicopter Flying Instructor in Nov 19 and achieved over 1000 hours. He held the position of Utility Sect Commander with a focus on managing the task outputs of the A109 fleet whilst instructing until early 2021. JP was posted to the UK in 2021 to serve on 18(B)Sqn. He has been on multiple exercises and ops in Estonia, North Macedonia, and the USA. This exchange has been in existence since 2006 and has seen six Kiwis serve on 18(B)Sqn. He is due to return to NZ this December and will sadly be the final Kiwi to conduct the Chinook exchange. Being part of the 2024 role demo team will be considered the ‘cherry on top’ of an exciting and busy exchange tour. JP has enjoyed the accessibility to international travel whilst in the UK, especially the proximity of European ski fields compared to those in NZ. He has recently become a father to a beautiful baby boy.

Our international Crewman, Adc Fabien, who hails from the north of France near Boulogne-sur-mer, joined the French Air and Space Force in Sep 03 as an engineer. He worked as a mechanic on Alphajet from 2005 at TOURS Air Base. In 2010, he changed roles to flight engineer where he was posted to CAZAUX Air Base and flew the Puma and the Caracal employed as a hoist and FLIR operator and conducted fast roping and abseiling. He also specialised in Search and Rescue, Personal Recovery and Special Ops. During this period, he was posted to French Guyana and Djibouti. He has deployed on operational deployments in Mali and on exercises in the USA, Spain, New Caledonia and Martinique. Fabien has more than 2600 flying hours and was an instructor on his previous types. He started his exchange with the RAF in Aug 22 at RAF Benson where he completed the Chinook conversion, he was posted to 18(B)Sqn in March 23. Fabien enjoys running, cycling and playing squash in his spare time. He is married and is the father of 3 boys. Come say G’day or Bonjour his weekend at RIAT!

Yesterday the team made it to Cosford in preparation of Sundays airshow. We can’t wait to show you the brand new role demonstration tomorrow. Come and visit us at our stand in the RAF Village and meet the crew, engineers, survival equipment technicians, operations staff and members of the Joint Helicopter Support Squadron

Final preparations have been made, the Station Commander has given his approval and we our on our way to Cosford! Can’t wait to bring the this Sunday! Get your big orange hands ready to give us a big wave back

Before we fly up to Cosford this afternoon, meet Sgt ‘Woody’ Woodward and Sgt Mal King who are operating in the cabin on Sunday.
Woody, born and raised in under the bright Blackpool lights, he joined the RAF Apr 2012 as an RAF Regiment Gunner. He later re traded to a WSOp in 2015, flying on the King Air, Squirrel and Griffin. He completed the Chinook OCU in 2018 and was posted to 18 (B) Sqn at RAF Odiham where he still serves today. Woody has deployed on numerous overseas exercises and seen operational service on Op SHADER, Op HERRICK in Afghanistan and Op NEWCOMBE in Mali. Woody is a Survival Instructor and Crewman Trainer and is keen to contribute to the next generation of the Chinook Force.
Away from work Woody is a keen wargamer and board game player. He is a Land Rover enthusiast, who enjoys the outdoors and is often out camping or walking his dog.
Mal was born and raised on the Kwa-Zulu Natal South Coast of South Africa and moved to the United Kingdom in September 2003.
He joined the Army Air Corps in June 2004 initially as Ground Crew but re-traded as a Crewman on the Lynx Mk7 in 2011. He served on numerous Op tours in Afghanistan and Kenya before being posted to Northern Ireland to fly on the Army’s fixed wing platform, Islander and Defender, doing manned airborne surveillance.
In 2019 he had the opportunity to come across to the RAF on the Chinook for a 4-year exchange and officially transferred to the RAF in Jun 2021. After completing the Short Course on the OCU at RAF Benson he was posted to 18(B) Sqn in December 2019. He has completed Op tours in Mali, the Middle East, North Macedonia and Estonia.
Mal is the 18(B) Sqn lead Crew Served Weapons Instructor. He has accumulated over 2000 hours of which 900 are on the Chinook.
Mal lives in Burghfield with his wife and 2 kids. He is a keen squash player and has represented the Army and RAF and currently plays in the Berkshire squash league. He is a self-confessed coffee snob and is often seen washing his cars on the weekend.

Now it’s time to meet two of this years co-pilots, Flt Lt Day and Flt Lt Edwards.

Flt Lt Luke Day, originally from Reading, joined the RAF in April 2013 as a Pilot after being unsuccessful in his original application to join the military as a Dentist. He studied aeronautical engineering at Loughborough University where he started his flying career flying the Grob Tutor as a member of East Midlands University Air Squadron. Following university Luke spent a year in Canada where he worked at a ski resort and was a firefighter at North America’s highest altitude fire station. After finishing his training on the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) in Sep 2018 he was posted to 18(B) Sqn. He has flown on multiple exercises and operations throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the USA whilst gaining 1000 hours flying helicopters. He is currently serving as a deputy flight commander on 18(B) Squadron’s C flight. In his spare time Luke enjoys exploring the outdoors with his rescue dog Conan as well as climbing, rowing, and skiing. Luke will be in the left hand seat at Cosford this coming Sunday.

Also introducing Flt Lt “Dingle” Edwards. Hailing from the picturesque town of Conwy in North Wales, his military journey began when he joined the Royal Air Force in 2011 as an RAF Regiment Officer. Having survived the formidable Junior Regiment Officers Course he was given command of A Flt, 51 Sqn based at RAF Lossiemouth. Deploying with his team on Op Herrick 19, he embraced the challenges various roles such as combat patrols and mentoring partner nations. It was whilst working with the Chinook Medical Emergency Response Teams that he decided rebranch as a pilot, he earned his pilot wings in 2019. Assigned on completion of the OCU to 18(B) Sqn, like Luke, he as also racked up numerous deployments and exercises across the world. You’ll be hearing Dingles dulcet tones over the PA system on Sunday as he fulfils the role as our commentator!