Super F, you said
you guys from the forces aren't going to like hearing this, but having watched a couple of the videos, i think that a couple of AS350s with longlines and good lifting pilots would have kept up, or maybe beaten the chinook.
and then defend yourself by saying you have never owned a squirrel but state
Any utility pilot worth his pay would have the bag placed in a couple of seconds, so they would be doing at least 2 trips to one of the RAF, maybe more.
and
as i am pretty sure that they weren't going to get me to come all the way from NZ to do the job
That's not conjecture, just bigging yourself up and if the above isn't meant to be a direct criticism of the RAF and their aid to the community it certainly sounds like it both from the content and tone of your posts.
I did read what you wrote but perhaps you didn't proof read it before you hit send.
Did you see the night photo or other videos where the weather was poor before you assert the weather must be good because there were shadows FFS?