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Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA)
Underslung Loads (USL) Training
West Everleigh
At least two loacations in the area known as West Everleigh Down (Area 20) are frequently used for underslung load (USL) training. The training consists of troops in pairs attaching a cable to the lowered hook and cable to the load ready for the lift. The helicopter will lift and on some occasions circle around with the load or just hover and drop the load down. The load is then released and the helciopter backs off ready to start the sequence again. This training exercise can last around two hours.
Salisbury Plain Training Area
18(B) Squadron Chinook HC.5 (ZH901) from RAF Odiham assisting 2 (Training) Regiment Army Air Corps with their underslung loads (USL) phase 2 training.
Tuesday May 21, 2019
2 (Training) Regiment Army Air Corps based at AAC Middle Wallop is responsible for groundcrew Phase 2 and 3 training, as well as the Ground Support Commanders Course for officers.
2 (Training) Regiment consists:
676 Squadron is responsible for the administration and welfare of the phase 2 trainees at the Army Aviation Centre.
668 (Training) Squadron is responsible for the groundcrew training that includes re-arming, refuelling and ground manoeuvres of the Apache.
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Left to right: 2 (Training) Regiment have set up a camp and gather in the lift zone as the Chinook arrives from RAF Odiham.
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Left to right: Working in pairs they attach and detach the load.
Salisbury Plain Training Area
Reaching up and attaching the load to the hook
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Salisbury Plain Training Area
The load is attached and ready to lift
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Left to right: The down draft from the Chinook is a challenge to overcome when approaching the load.
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Left to right: Fours pairs of troops each have their turn of working with the Chinook crew.
Salisbury Plain Training Area
Attaching the load just a few feet beneath the hovering Chinook.

Aviation Photography RAF 28 Squadron Aviation Photography RAF 28 Squadron Aviation Photography RAF 28 Squadron
Left to right: Chinook HC.4 (ZA710) using callsign 'Vortex 590' with 28 Squadron, they are doing underslung loads (USL) training on West Everleigh in January 2018.

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Left to right: Bell 212 AH.3 (ZK067 'B') of 7 (Training) Regiment Conversion Flight and Puma HC.2 (XW204 'B') using callsign 'Vortex 331' with Benson Pool (28/33/230 squadron) both USL training in March 2020.

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Left to right: Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ245 '45') using callsign 'AA729' of 670 (Training) Squadron at West Everleigh/Area 20 working with underslung loads in August 2016.