The first crews flew out of RAF Brize Norton today to take part in a major training exercise in the Gulf.

More than 120 personnel from the airbase - six crews and four Puma helicopters - will join 20,000 British troops in Oman on exercise SAIF SAREEA 2.

Among the crews leaving today are pilots, navigators, crewmen, and support staff, who flew from RAF Benson to RAF Brize Norton on Wednesday for briefings and preparations.

They will fly out on an RAF Tristar, and the helicopters will be airlifted by C-17 transport planes.

Flt Lieut Olly Olsen

RAF Benson spokesman Flt Lt Sally Barber said the combined Anglo-Omani desert exercise, involving warships, armoured vehicles, combat, and support aircraft, had been a little overshadowed by the recent deployment of troops by NATO in Macedonia.

She said the exercise amounted to the largest peacetime deployment of British armed forces since the mid-1980s.

It is the follow-up to an earlier, pre-Gulf War desert exercise, SAIF SAREEA 1, held in Oman in 1986.

Oman borders Saudi Arabia and lies south-west of Iraq.

Flt Lt Barber said the aim of the exercise would be to demonstrate key elements of the Joint Rapid Reaction Force concept by assembling and sustaining a large force overseas. The role of helicopters from RAF Benson's 33 Squadron would be to provide medical and casualty evacuation for the entire exercise.

Flt Lt Olly Olsen, 33, who has been based at Benson for three years, said: "We're pretty much first in, and last out.

"For most of us, it's a new experience, although we do have a few desert-experienced people who were involved in SAIF SAREEA 1, in 1986. We are all looking forward to putting into practice what we have learnt over the last few years."

RAF Benson has a simulator to replicate the sand and dust conditions of desert flying.

Its crews recently took part in Desert Spear, a training exercise in Colerne, near Bath. Every two years, training is carried out in hot countries, such as Egypt.

Flt Lt Olsen said safety was paramount during the Omani exercise.

He added: "The military is a dangerous business and there are always risks.

"We know casualties will happen. Our duty of care is to look after them, and keep them to a minimum."

In Oman, personnel will provide 24-hour cover for the exercise, and will be on 30 minutes' notice to move in daylight, and one hour stand-by at night.

Flt Lt Barber added: "Oman generously hosts regular exercises, and both our armed forces benefit from training together in this way."

The RAF Benson personnel will be in Oman for the duration of the exercise - until mid-November.