Helidays at Weston 2007 (Now incl pictures)

[heli1]

Just heard that HeilDays this year on the seafront at Weston-super-Mare is on 26th July through to 29th,with Red Arrows opening the show on the first day so visiting may be limited.However the organisers are hoping for more military than last year ,like in previous years ,and have invited the Army Air Corps and the Irish air Corps among others.
Would be great to see one of the Irish AW139s and a big contiingent of Irish civil machines for the weekend. Don't think there has been anyone from Ireland before ?

[BRASSEMUP]

Sounds great.................. Why don't the Blue Eagles open the show. They are a Helicopter team!

[SilsoeSid]

Why don't the Blue Eagles open the show.
They will be getting ready for Lowestoft!
http://www.deltaweb.co.uk/eagles/images/blueeaglestooltoptext.gif (http://www.deltaweb.co.uk/eagles/index.htm)

[heli1]

That'll be the best part of 200,000 visitors at Weston they'll miss then !

[Razor61]

Only mil that turned up last year was an RAF Puma (Ex Argie example), Griffin and a German Army BO-105. Non of which displayed. (apart from the ground).
It seems the RAF/AAC/RN helicopter display teams would rather go to an airshow which is predominantly fixed wing than go to one of the most famous helicopter meets in the country.

(Comment deleted by Heliport)

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[Soup_Dragon]

195,000 up from 2006 then? You'd better clear the beaches or the Black Cats and Blue Eagles won't play.:)

[md 600 driver]

how much is landing charges this year?

[heli1]

Amazing what a telephoto lens or an odd angle will do.

[paddyboy]

Duck? Always thought they were fresh water aviators.

None of the posted pics show anybody 'ducking' on the beach.

Look again.:*

[Brilliant Stuff]

Good point, well made. :ok:

The comment has now been deleted.

Heliport

[Whirlybird]

26th - 29th July. Red Arrows on the Thursday, lots of helicopters, barbecue on the Saturday. I've never been; does anyone know what it's like?

Also...errr....I'm on the scrounge. I'm supposed to be writing an article about it for one of the mags. I could drive there, but arriving in a helicopter would be much more appropriate - to say nothing of being quicker and more fun! Can anyone offer me a lift? I have to be back on the Sunday, but any of the other days are OK. I live near Ashbourne in Derbyshire, so could get to anywhere around the Midlands or further west en-route to meet up.

[Bravo73]

I reckon that muffin should be your first port of call... ;) (If you haven't tried already, of course!)

[rotorboater]

Its a good experiance if a little bizare to see millions of pounds worth of helicopters on the sea front of a rather run down sea side town.
Always found it to be good fun especially the BBQ on Saturday night - better bring your brollie though;)

[muffin]

I'm working on it!

[Bravo73]

:)


I love it when a plan comes together!

[pommie]

Anyone going to Weston Helidays next week?

It will be interesting to put faces to names and posts...

I've never been to Helidays before, but as I have to return to the UK next week, thought it might be worth a visit.

I see in posts from previous years there is a pilots BBQ one of the nights - is this only for those flying in?

Pommie

[Whirlybird]

muffin and I are going on Saturday.

[muffin]

assuming the weather ever improves!

[heli1]

Yes the BBQ is only for flyers in.Looks like some good military this year so the Italian cheese and German frankfurters mighe be on the menu alongside the Welsh lamb.

[Darren999]

I'm trying!! trying to get a cheap flight...:{

[nrh]

Sun was shining on Friday! :)

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q47/nericha/DSC_0003.jpg

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[nrh]

and on Saturday...

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q47/nericha/DSC_0139.jpg

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[Barshifter]

Some more pictures here

http://forums.airshows.co.uk/cgi-bin/ukarboard/ikonboard.cgi?;act=ST;f=34;t=36064

And here

http://forums.airshows.co.uk/cgi-bin/ukarboard/ikonboard.cgi?;act=ST;f=34;t=36066

[danthechopperlad]

Went on the Saturday (Good if you're a robinson fan :}) A bit of variety, the marshalling of most of the teenagers was diabolical :mad:. Anyway, heres some starter shots of Saturday - i'll keep uploading over the next few days if i can, theres quite a few!!

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z106/emasu/IMG_9893.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z106/emasu/IMG_9876.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z106/emasu/IMG_9823.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z106/emasu/IMG_9898-1.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z106/emasu/IMG_9931.jpg

[JimBall]

Hmm - 8 ground handlers all pushing one R22. Four of them at least pushing the wrong bits. Only the bloke on the tail looks like he might know what he's doing.

You'd think with 8 they could just lift the whole thing up by the skids.

[rotorboater]

They werent pushing it, they were just holding it down after it got blown accross the flight line by a big gust!:)

[helimarshaller]

Danthechopperlad
A bit of variety, the marshalling of most of the teenagers was diabolical Can you expand on your comments?

PM me if you wish.

Helimarshaller

[cdwsm]

Hi all, new to the forum, was pointed here by Davy07

Firstly i want to say nice photos, and, To the photographer that got the belgian crew, i was the one that jumped up next to you when they were by the aircraft, so nice to see you there capturing the atmosphere very well indeed!!

to the person slating the marshallers, get your facts right as none of the marshallers are teenagers!!! i've been helping out for 6 years and they have never had a marshaller who was a teenager in them years!!

this year wasn't the best but still a good helidays none the less!! I will probably upload some of my photos from the beach + when they were over the museum monday morning before they departed for home!!

regards
Chris

[muffin]

They only had to push R22s like that because the ground was very soft and the tyres on the little wheels they had were also soft. hence the clearance betwen the skids and the ground was only about 1/4 inch at best. I only needed to move mine back about 10 feet and it was a real struggle.
Tip for next time guys - get a set of R22BigWheels.com and it makes it a doddle. Thanks to the marshallers - job well done.

[Bravo73]

I only needed to move mine back about 10 feet

muffin,

If it was such a struggle to push it, couldn't you just have flown it into position? :confused:

[muffin]

I landed behind a row of other aircraft and they pushed me forward afterwards to line up with the row. I couldn't start as there was not enough rotor clearance, hence the need for push back.

And I did not know until I saw the pic that I had such a big advert on the back of the Hi Vis jacket that Whirlybird lent me!

[Bravo73]

I knew that there wouldn't be a simple answer...;)

[C4]

Anyone else notice that the first pic on page 3 (bell 47 with 2 chaps in it) looks like they are about to start (helmets on) However the pitot cover is still on the pitot!!:}:}:}

[helidriver]

C4,

I strongly suspect the Bell 47 landed first and then shut down quickly to prevent blade sail; crew then put the Pitot cover on, to prevent unnecessary FOD, then decided to get back in the cab to avoid the down-wash from the mighty Scout! Only my assumption of course, but far more fair to the crew than yours!

h;)

[PPRuNe Radar]

Good to see Allouette N297CJ has not been caught up in the silly grounding order issued by the FAA. Presumably it's always been a civilian machine and has the right paperwork :ok:

[nrh]

C4

Reasons of safety I take it (Army procedure?) - the Sioux landed first and was tied down, a while later when the Scout and Alouette turned up the Sioux crew got in and put their headgear on...

[helimarshaller]

C4:
Anyone else notice that the first pic on page 3 (bell 47 with 2 chaps in it) looks like they are about to start (helmets on) However the pitot cover is still on the pitot
The Alouette had had starting problems at Dunkeswell so while the Engineer, who was flying in the Scout, sorted it out, the Souix flew onto Helidays and waited.
The Alouette & Scout finally arrived about 20-30 minutes later.
Jimball:
Hmm - 8 ground handlers all pushing one R22. Four of them at least pushing the wrong bits. Only the bloke on the tail looks like he might know what he's doing.
The ground was still soft from all the rain that had fallen on Thursday, so the need for 8 people to move the R22 was necessary. The crew were there with us when it was moved and offered no guidance of where to or not to push.
By the way I/m the guy on the tail

With regards to the photos posted so far, they are excellent and I must say Well Done & BZ to all the photographers.

Helimarshaller