Chinook helicopters from18 (B) Squadron practising desert operations during Exercise Vortex Warrior.18 (B) Sqn are based at Royal Air Force Odiham, Hampshire The exercise is being conducted at US Naval Air Facility, El Centro, in Southern California. The purpose of the intense training programme is to exploit similarities in climate and desert conditions between California and Afghanistan in order to prepare the Squadron pilots, aircrew, ground crew, and support personnel for imminent deployed operations. *Organization: RAF *Object Name: ODI-OFFICIAL-20140416-201-144 *Category: MOD *Supplemental Categories: Equipment, Aircraft, Helicopters, Chinook, Operations, Exercises *Keywords: RAF, Chinook, El Centro, California, 18 Sqn, Vortex Warrior, Afghanistan, US Navy, MAOT, Landing Zone, JHSS, Royal Air Force, Equipment, Helicopter, Desert, Exercise *Country: UK