Probably a good place to note that the first Chinook ever to land at Odiham did so 50 years ago this year, 1968. It was an early US Army Mk1 machine and of course created much interest. All the station Wheels were given a ride in it, much to the chagrin of us cogs and split pins who were left on the ground. The Flying Officers' Union had its revenge, however, because when the aircraft landed all the Wheels came out red-eyed and runny nosed; the hydraulic mist in the cabin had done for them all! To this day I haven't flown in a Chinook but I do have two Belvedere air tests in my logbook which I suspect many Chinook types would envy.
