Estonian working dogs take to the skies in RAF Chinooks
RAF Chinooks in Estonia have taken working dogs from the country to the skies in some flying familiarisation training.
The dogs, from Estonia’s military and civilian forces, explored the Chinook before experiencing a short flight to make sure they were comfortable with both the noise and movement.
Dogs and their handlers practised rapid embarkation and disembarkation drills, with the experience new for many of the handlers as well as the dogs.
According to the RAF, the canines displayed exceptional discipline and enthusiasm, appearing to enjoy the ride.
Flight Lieutenant Elsie Rennie, one of the RAF officers on board the flight, said sharing the Chinook with the dogs was a "unique experience".
"I was surprised to see how well they behaved in the new environment - it really showed how trusting the dogs are of their handlers."
The training in a new environment is important in case the dogs need to be transported quickly by helicopter - making them more likely to respond well in a real-life scenario.
Wing Commander Tom Carter, Commanding Officer of the Chinook deployment, said part of the mission in Estonia was to "familiarise local Estonian forces with the aircraft" and how it is used.
"This was a great opportunity to work with civilian and military dog handling teams and improve our ability to work together," he said.
The 13 dogs and 15 handlers were from Estonia Rescue EOD, Estonian Prison Service, Estonian Military Police, Estonian Police and Border Guard K9 unit and the Northern Prefecture dog handlers and service dogs.
The Chinooks were in Estonia as part of the bilateral agreement between the Defence Ministers of Estonia and the UK.
More usual taskings for the Chinooks has been transporting Estonian and NATO troops and carrying large military loads, both internally and underslung.
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