Last week, the London Heli-Lanes saw a very special final transit as Chinook ZA714 made her final sortie through the capital’s skies, flown by 18(B) Squadron from RAF Odiham, bringing to a close more than four decades of remarkable service.

First taking to the air on the 20th January 1982, ZA714 served the UK with distinction across the globe. From operations at home, to deployments overseas, including service in support of Operation HERRICK in Afghanistan, she has supported UK Defence wherever she was needed.

For generations of aircrew and engineers, she was more than just an airframe. She carried troops, equipment and reassurance into some of the most demanding environments imaginable. As she flew her final London Heli-Lanes routing, it marked not just the end of a flight, but the closing chapter of an extraordinary story.