Skies over Peterborough and Wittering will be busy with RAF’s biggest aircraft

The skies over Peterborough will be busy next week as some of the RAF’s biggest transport aircraft take part in a major training exercise at RAF Wittering.
Swift Pirate Excersise at RAF Wittering  - 1 air mobility wing conducting loading and unloading movements with a C-17 for excersise Swift Pirate.Swift Pirate Excersise at RAF Wittering  - 1 air mobility wing conducting loading and unloading movements with a C-17 for excersise Swift Pirate.
Swift Pirate Excersise at RAF Wittering - 1 air mobility wing conducting loading and unloading movements with a C-17 for excersise Swift Pirate.

Royal Air Force Wittering will be the base for a number transport aircraft and Chinook helicopters taking part in Exercise Swift Pirate.

The exercise will begin at the Cambridgshire base on Sunday May 19 and will continue until the Friday May 24.

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During this period RAF Wittering is expected to be visited by C17, A400M and C130 aircraft during daylight hours.

Chinook helicopters will be visiting RAF Wittering  for Exercise Swift Pirate.Chinook helicopters will be visiting RAF Wittering  for Exercise Swift Pirate.
Chinook helicopters will be visiting RAF Wittering for Exercise Swift Pirate.

In addition, from Tuesday May 21 to Thursday May 23 a Chinook helicopter crew will be flying at and around RAF Wittering.

As helicopters and transport aircraft produce different kinds of noise from the station’s normal flying activity, Royal Air Force Wittering is ‘reaching out’ to its neighbours and the nearby equestrian establishments to inform them of a change to the usual pattern of flying activity.

Wing Commander Nick Maxey is Officer Commanding Operations Wing and is responsible for the safe running of Wittering’s airfield and airspace.

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He said: “We have a wonderful airfield here with wide taxiways and a long runway, so it’s absolutely right that we make as much use of it as we can. It’s a real asset to Defence.”

Wing Commander Maxey added: “Keeping our neighbours informed is the right thing to do. We cannot always give notice because military operations often demand an immediate response, but it’s always good to talk when circumstances allow.”

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