A HEREFORDSHIRE resident woke up to an unusual sight in a neighbouring field this morning (May 7).
Trevor Davis, who lives off the B4214 Tenbury Road near Bromyard, said a grounded Chinook helicopter appeared in a field beside his house.
Mr Davis said: "I went out this morning and never saw anything.
"When I came back home, I asked my wife if the helicopter had just landed, but she said 'no it's been there since 10pm last night'."
The aircraft, immediately recognisable both for their design and the distinctive sound they make in flight, primarily support troop transport, resupply, and casualty evacuation, carrying up to 55 troops or 10 tonnes of cargo, according to the Ministry of Defence.
Mr Davis said he didn't hear anything last night but is aware it landed at 10pm.
"They started the engines at 3am to see if it was any good but they gave up after a while," he said.
"It luckily didn't wake us up and considering how loud they are or noisy its quite amazing."
While the Chinook spotted near Bromyard is likely on a training exercise, the aircraft are used in a wide range of circumstances.
These do include warfare, but the MoD said the heavy lift capability of the Chinook is held at readiness to respond to emergencies in the UK, from resupplying snowbound communities to moving tonnes of aggregate to help reconstruct flood defences damaged by winter storms.
Mr Davis also added that another Chinook was on its way to pick up the pilot and crew.
"I joked with the pilot and crew and said to them, ' Have you been in touch with the AA? '" He said.
The MoD said Chinooks are based at RAF Benson, RAF Odiham, and JHC FS Aldergrove.
They fly with 18 Squadron, 28 Squadron, 27 Squadron, 7 Squadron, and the Chinook Role Demo Team.
We have contacted the Ministry of Defence for further information.
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