Corporate MD Explorer?

[Bladecrack]

Anyone know of any corporate Explorers in the UK? If so I would like to hear opinions, if not, I would still like to hear from any Explorer pilots on good and bad points for a possible corporate 902.

Many thanks..

[Bravo73]

Stobarts used to have a N reg Explorer.

It spent a considerable amount of downtime being fixed. Hence the nickname the 'Exploder'.

It has been replaced by a 109S.

[Bladecrack]

Bravo73,

Was that a green N reg one? i think I saw it at Carlisle once.

BC

[Bravo73]

Not sure of the colour but if it was up at Carlisle, it would've been the Stobarts one.


Edited to add: I stand corrected. :O From the posts below, it would appear as if the green Explorer is more likely to be the one from Redhill (en-route to Scotland, I guess).

[Heliboater]

The green one is based in the Lake district or at Redhill, I think there is also a black Explorer at Gamston. The Stobart machine now resides at shoreham

Heliboater

[VeeAny]

There is a green one at Redhill which spends a lot of time in Scotland, nothing to do with Stobarts (now anyway, don't know its history).

I'll ask the pilot next time I see him if he has any comment to make.

Last time I saw him, he seemed happy with the aircraft.

Sat in one once, vis was good (compared to a 109) is as much as I know.

GS

[cptjim]

Here is the info on the green one from Redhill, G-SIVR http://www.aeroboek.nl/900/00102.HTM

...and the Stobart Explorer http://www.aeroboek.nl/900/00010.HTM which was also used in James Bond:Die Another Day :8

Also, try calling Eastern Atlantic helicopters in Shoreham, they have plenty of knowledge on the Explorer. http://www.easternatlantic.co.uk/

....anyway, I'm off to finish my cheese and chutney sarnies and note down some more tail numbers!! :8 :}

[quichemech]

The people to talk to about Explorers is PAS, they are the biggest provider of maintenance for them in the UK, the Stobarts machine and the Green machine are or have been maintained by them at some point.

[Chopper Doc Junior]

Brian Kennedy who owns the Sales Sharks rugby club has one. It must be based in the North west somewhere. I believe PAS look after it.

[SASless]

The Stobart machine seemed to be a good choice for an Executive machine. It is smooth, very well equipped, fun to fly, and was reported as being very dependable. Added to how nice everyone was....proves they have a good operation.

[Bravo73]

<snip> and was reported as being very dependable.

Huh? We must've heard very different reports, Sassy. The impression that I got (from both WS and AT) was that the Explorer was forever going tech and when it was, it was on the ground for a relatively long time due to the MD supply issues.

Hence one of the reasons for changing to Agusta.