RAF Shawbury: Helicopter night flying training starts

The night flying is an essential part of training to help prepare crews for the front line

Helicopter night flying training has started for the next seven weeks.

RAF Shawbury in Shropshire said the training was essential for RAF, Army and Royal Navy aircrews to progress and prepare for the front line.

It started on Monday night and uses fields around Shropshire as well as training areas in Nesscliffe and Swynnerton, Staffordshire.

Squadron Leader Chris Pepper said night flying is very similar to the day but the goggles can be "disorientating".

The training starts 30 minutes after sunset and can last until 02:30 GMT

"Fundamentally it's not different the actual way you fly the helicopter. Everything just takes a little bit longer.

"With these goggles everything is a different shade of green so you lose a bit of depth perception and there is no peripheral vision so you've got to look around a lot more," Mr Pepper said.

Two types of helicopters will be flying, Juno HT1 and a slightly larger one called Jupiter HT1.

Mr Pepper said crews would be looking out for livestock to make sure animals are not disturbed and would fly away slowly so noise levels are kept down.

Training areas in Nesscliffe and Swynnerton, Staffordshire are also used

Flight Lieutenant Adrian Vine at RAF Shawbury said the first session on Monday went well.

He added that flying commences from 30 minutes after sunset and training can last until the airfield closes at 02:30 GMT.

"However, at this time of year most of the tasking can be completed long before that time," he added.