Four U.S. Army Chinook helicopters made an eye-catching appearance at Liverpool John Lennon Airport over the weekend, stopping overnight before continuing their journey to Ireland.
The four Boeing CH-47 Chinooks arrived at the Liverpool airport on Sunday afternoon, 6 September, attracting plenty of attention as the distinctive twin-rotor military helicopters flew into the city.
Flight tracking records show the formation, operating under the callsigns GRIT 41 to GRIT 44, travelled to Liverpool via Duxford, with GRIT 41 recorded arriving at Liverpool John Lennon Airport at around 3.47pm on Sunday.
The helicopters remained at the airport overnight before taking off again on Monday, 7 September, continuing west across the Irish Sea.
The aircraft were subsequently spotted flying over Dublin, where they crossed the Irish coast near Dún Laoghaire before travelling towards the Irish Air Corps base at Baldonnel in south County Dublin.
Why were the U.S. Army Chinooks in Liverpool?
The movement comes as preparations step up ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Ireland, which is due to take place on 12 and 13 September.
Irish media reports that the four Chinooks are understood to be supporting the major security and logistical operation surrounding the presidential visit.
Military aircraft tracking reports indicate the helicopters had travelled from U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach in Germany, stopping in Rotterdam and Duxford before arriving in Liverpool for their overnight stay.
President Trump is expected to arrive in Dublin on Saturday, 12 September, where his visit will include meetings with Irish President Catherine Connolly and Taoiseach Micheál Martin before he travels to his golf resort at Doonbeg in County Clare for the Irish Open.
A significant security operation is being put in place for the visit, with a number of U.S. military aircraft and equipment already arriving in Ireland.
What is a CH-47 Chinook?
The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is one of the most recognisable military helicopters in the world thanks to its distinctive tandem rotor design.
The U.S. Army describes the CH-47F as its heavy-lift cargo helicopter, capable of transporting troops, equipment and supplies as well as supporting a range of combat and non-combat operations.
The aircraft can carry dozens of troops and is regularly used for heavy-lift operations, disaster relief, equipment transport and other military missions.
The unexpected arrival of four of the helicopters in Liverpool certainly caught people’s attention, with the aircraft providing an unusual sight at Liverpool John Lennon Airport before continuing their journey across the Irish Sea.
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