THE RAF helicopter which crashed into the Mull of Kintyre with the loss of 29 lives was the first of its type to be used in Northern Ireland where it had arrived only two days previously, the accident inquiry heard yesterday.
All 29 people on board 10 members of the RUC Special Branch, nine British army intelligence officers, six MI5 officers and the four man RAF crew were killed in the crash.
The Mark 2 Chinook was so new that Mr John Coles, an RAF man who flew as a passenger on a trip earlier on the day of the crash, noticed the crew carried out their routine checks slowly.
Their day began with a 20 minute trip from Aldergrove to the Ballykinlar RAF base to drop off Mr Coles. He flew as passenger, but as an RAF man he also took part in routine checks on board.
The checks were carried out properly, but slower than they would have been by a crew more familiar with the Mark 2, Mr Coles said.
The inquiry continues today.