In February 2018, Newark Air Museum made history by becoming the first Accredited Independent museum in the UK to acquire and display a Royal Air Force (RAF) registered Chinook helicopter, following the arrival of BV Chinook HC.1, ZA717 from RAF Cranwell.
Since the helicopter’s arrival, museum staff and volunteers have dedicated themselves to sourcing missing airframe panels and structures from various disposal sources, including the original manufacturer. Unfortunately, these efforts have not been successful. As a result, the museum’s resourceful volunteers have taken on the task of fabricating the missing and damaged parts for the nose section and side sponsons as part of the Chinook’s rebuild project.
The majority of the damage being repaired dates back to a non-fatal flying incident on July 25, 1989, when ZA717 was written off at RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands. After being transported back to the UK, the helicopter was used at RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire, to train Aircrew Loadmasters in slinging techniques and load securing methods. A detailed report of the accident can be found HERE.
The ongoing repair and restoration work will soon become more visible as the museum plans to reposition the Chinook and a nearby Puma XW208 helicopter to make both aircraft more accessible to visitors. This move aligns with the museum’s long-term goal of using ZA717 as an interactive educational space for visiting groups of school children, Scouts, Cubs, Beavers, and Air Training Corps (ATC) cadets. For more information and to support the museum, visit www.newarkairmuseum.org
