wearing sticer "75 jaar 298 sq" t/s Arrival to support the firebrigade at the wildfire of Deurnsche Peel

GRZLY41 dropping in for fuel during a fire fighting mission at a nearby city, where a recycling company was on fire.

The Chinook carrying a truck-load during the open days of the Air Force.

In 2009, this Dutch Chinook was deployed to Bardufoss for exercise Cold Blaze. The helicopter was equipped with skis to prevent it sinking into the snow during snow-landings and is ready for take-off for a new training mission. In the background, another Dutch Chinook and a few Dutch Cougars can be seen.

White-out conditions nearby a landing Dutch Chinook during a Snow Blaze exercise in Norway. The H-47 out of Rygge air base and flew to nearby forest areas for white-out condition training. The downforce nearby the Chinook is overpowering and enclosing typhoon force. Pilots and loadmasters train this to get used to less sight landings. As snow landings are a little less dangerous then landings in the sand, the next step in training is the Hot Blaze exercise, in which brown-out conditions are trained. Visibility in sand dust is near to none as remains for a longer period in the air.

Ski-equipped D-664 ready for take-off, while Dutch military hold eachother tight and covering at the same time some luggage to prevent it will blow away. This D-664 flew once as 147006 with the Royal Canadian Air Force and was one of six former RCAF Chinooks that was purchased by the Netherlands.

Snow Blaze exercise of the Royal Netherlands Air Force in Norway. The Chinooks operated out of Rygge air base and went into nearby remote areas for training in white out conditions. Here ski-equipped D-664 is landing in the forest, clearly visible is the rising snow cloud in front of the helicopter that eventually blinds the pilots. This D-664 flew once as 147006 with the Royal Canadian Air Force and was one of six former RCAF Chinooks that was purchased by the Netherlands.

Two Dutch Chinooks inside a Rygge hangar during exercise Snow Blaze 2012.

75 years of 298Sq badge in tail 1945-2020

Celebrating 75 years of 298 squadron in 2020

Those huge 100 meter+ windmills just make the Chinook like a toy

Hilarious: This Dutch Chinook had a bird strike over Afghanistan. That caused a clear visible dent in the black radome. The little damaged and robust built Chinook could continue its flight. Later during my deployment to Kandahar, I told this story to an F-16 pilot on QRA duty. With a complete astonished but spontaneous look he said: "Huh, how's that possible?? Birds can only hit the rear of a Chinook in flight!!". On the picture, the concerning H-47 is seen over one of the few lakes in Kandahar province. Chinooks stole my heart during the deployment. So versatile and such a dangerous mission!

Spectacular departure from RIAT 2019 of a Dutch CH-47D Chinook.

Operated by 298 Squadron, based at Gilze-Rijen.

CH-47 Foxtrot, the latest version of the mighty Chinook. This helicopter was ordered by the Dutch government in 2007. The Foxtrot was delivered to homebase Gilze Rijen in 2013 after it made its first flight in December 2010. It carries Foreign Military Sales (FMS) serial 07-08890.