Savoia has been trying to get hold of Ken D so you might mention that there's a PPRuNer trying to track him down and, as the thread began, Savoia is searching for photos of TALY/TALI - so, please keep searching.
Knew about tDoW's Citation X. Can you confirm that he has now stopped operating helicopters?
When I flew G-ONOW it was was predominantly black with some white. I have to go and scan a couple of pics.
When I flew it it was still an A with a dicky battery, but the few times I interacted with her she did not fail me, though once a mate and I flew her down to the Chewton Glen for a cup of tea only to find on our return to the aircraft the No.1 engine cowling wouldn't lock anymore so we had to borrow some duct tape from reception in order to get us home.
By then she was a tad tired. Glad to see she appears to be back in the skies.
Location: Italy & Cornwall in equal measure - usually
Posts: 849
Not many people know this.......
...... but Agusta proposed a 'new' S61 in 1980 not long after it became clear that the demand for the S61 was not diminishing even though Sikorsky had ceased production. It was exactly like the Pope's machine on the previous page and I had the pleasure of 'test' flying it on behalf of BCALH. It was going to get the CT7 engine but the model proposed to us was going to have the CT58. Unfortunately the CT7 is a 'front drive ' engine and Alfa Romeo were apparently about to develop a rear drive version for a fixed wing application (can't imagine what??) and AGusta were not prepared to pay the money needed to accelerate the programme. Hence the S61 SILVER as it was to be called, never appeared.
When I flew it the Test Pilot was very keen to show me that it could cruise at 144 kts but when I saw that the Torque was maxed out at 86% (max cont Tq) I figured the gearbox wouldn't last long at that rate abd with the dear old CT58 the fuel consumption would have been horrendous. Still, CT7s, Carson blades, Westland MGB and 6-bladed tail-rotor - could have been a beast.
Interesting trip though. Our evaluation team was collected from Genoa (BCAL had a route to Genoa in those days) in a Learjet and zoomed into Milan before being whisked away to the fabulous Villa D'Este on Lake Como.
Geoff: It would be good to clarify the production run on the Silver. My impression was that a small batch were made including this AS61N1 Silver delivered to the Malaysian Air Force and used to this day to transport their Prime Minister.
M39-01 Agusta AS61-N1 Silver at Ipoh (IPH) Malaysia of the Malaysian Air Force VIP Transport Division.
Lago di Como: Ci, a slender slice of heaven for us on earth to enjoy!
Villa D'Este Lake Como
Villa D'Este Rear Gardens
Approaching Lago di Como
One of the increasing number of helipads being installed at hotels, homes and waterfront allotments around Lago di Como. (AS355N, I-PFDC, of HoverFly).
Il Bugatti Veyron outside GeoffersInConrnwall's Ville D'Este
Cindy Crawford arrives at Lago di Como courtesy of Heli Air Monaco at a pad constructed at one of George Clooney's three lakeside homes. The reason the Dauphin is not square on the pad is because there is an Ecureuil behind it which was used to carry baggage
Sample of the traditional salads and cured meats so prominent in the Lake Como cuisine
Enjoy!
S.
Last edited by Savoia; 7th Aug 2010 at 06:01.
Reason: One image removed (too large)
I've been scouting for evidence of 'Silver production' and there are oblique references to some having been built. If we are wrong then it's likely that those being referred to as the 'Silver' could be from the final production run of Agusta's (under licence) 61's - still researching!
- Dennis K
I've tried hard to find a single image of Barry Sheene's Hughes 500 (but had no success).
The best I can come up with (PPRuNed from another thread) is G-ORRR which I believe is the same aircraft sold (apparently) to a relative of Sheene's!
Am still amazed that G-AYTF (Team Lotus) and G-STEF (Barry Sheene) have no online presence. Surely they must have been at races all over the country for several years!
G-ORRR (previously G-STEF Barry Sheene) and evidently sold to someone close to the Sheene family (most likely sold by Dennis K!)
Apologies for being off-line for a mo. Yes Sav ... the 429 air test was spectacular and I'm very aware of the bum-kicking this site occasionally hands out to both Bell and how the ship is described as a B206 on steroids. I don't want to sound too toffee nosed ... but the 429 as I flew her is one of the best handling machines it has ever been my privilege to fly. And it isn't a jumped up 427 either! And by the way, and contrary to popular opinion, the Bell guys did start with a clean sheet of paper AND ... AND the 429 was the first heli ever to be designed following the MSG-3 system. And it shows in the maintenance cycle (200 hours between checks as a starter and no 50 hr/100' back to 50 hr sequence any more.) And vibration is almost non existent at any speeds. Mind, I'm not a highly experienced twin-engine man. Downside? If I were a paramedic, I'd be mighty careful with the rear clam shell door loading! A good 'bum's eye' view of the T/R is vital. Why don't we just stick to side loading like all the USA HEMS operators? Yes, the 429 will be on the front cover of BLADES along with my report and to do it justice I've done around 4,000 words. PS. I'm not on commission! Item 2. Barry Sheene's G-STEF was sold direct to Don Wood at Bournemouth. I flew it with him in November 2000 for his DA. Don had a massive collection of ex F1 cars in his 'Source' hangar. Don sold the machine on himself. 3. E of R ... Yup I've checked the Tagshaw/Bamberg connection. The company was one of Mr B's. Meantime I'm e-mailing the AWOL & AYTF picture direct to S. 4. Sav ... re the ZZZs. I have another .... G-BBZZ Enstrom, but even in semi retirement, I'm never asleep on the job! 5. Mark T wasn't all bad. At Skyline I was launching us for a dual navex ex Booker and as we left the hangar, I said ... "Mark, got your map?" He shot back like a Roger Federer forehand. "There's people out there who say that's the most dangerous thing I should carry!" Nice reply. I don't think his ZZ was the machine he got into trouble with in SA tho'. 6. Enstrom sales ... why didn't she sell? Well the fact is she did. My boss, Roy Spooner offered me a grand for every one I sold. I did 138 sales from 1973 to 1982. For our school to stay competitive with Robinson, the trick was to operate used machines. A five-year old 28A model was making £25,000 when a new R22 was £80k. One third of the interest, a third of the insurance and ditto on depreciation.
Hope this 'nostalgia' thing isn't too offbeat for other PP readers. For my part ... please keep 'em coming.
So, as always, its a matter of cost! Shame, because the Enstrom is such a pleasant craft to fly compared with what came onto the scene after it! (Don't mind me ... I'm an avowed Robinson hater! )
In my search relating to G-STEF a friend mentioned that STEF had been sold to one of Sheen's family members. Today I've managed to source the name "Jeremy Paxton" - does this ring any bells? See: Helicopter Life
Evidently Paxton re-named STEF to ORRR and then bought a newer model which he named MRRR (below).
G-MRRR MD500E at the Rectory Hotel, Crudwell, 12 May 2010
Also, following your dialogue with Savoia regarding registrations ... is this bird one of your ex's?
Bravo! Perhaps you can confirm whether 'Dennis the Menace' (as Savoia would say) had some involvement with this aircraft.
I'm an Enstrom fan and came within a hair's breadth of buying one about 7 years ago when, at a family meeting, a second home in Marbella won out! My irrepressible daughters are able to get the better of me everytime - but I love 'em!
Have you posted any comments on the Enstrom Corner thread? Enstrom Corner
Happy flying!
EoR
Last edited by Earl of Rochester; 2nd Oct 2010 at 10:43.
Hope I'm not monopolising these helicopter twists & turns, but yes, G-SHAA (first of the 21 SH registrations I used) was mine too as I imported it from Florida in March 1988. She was almost unique in the UK being a 280 Shark but non-turbo. She appeared on the front cover of a now defunct publication called 'Pilots International'. It was sold to the Manchester Helicopter Centre the same year. The only other UK 280 model I know was the second non-turbo I had rebuilt and registered G-SHRK. Formally Barrry Sheene's G-BGMX 280C and now owned by Vanguard Helicopter at Henstridge. I was training in her at Compton Abbas just last year.
In June 1988 I purchased Jeremy Paxton's Enstrom 28C G-BNBS as he was upgrading to Barry's turbine. I registered that one as G-SHDD ... SHBB & SHCC were 206s. SHFF and SHGG two more Enstroms. SHJJ another 206, SHKK & SHLL both Hughes 269s, SHMM & SHNN more Enstroms, SHOO & SHPP back to Hughes 300s, no SHQQ but SHRR was a 206. SHSS, SHUU, SHXX were Enstroms again and SHVV & SHZZ the final 206s in the SH series. SHWW was an Enstrom sold to Dennis Smith, sadly later lost in a Rotorway ... RIP, but I didn't use SHYY. PS. Am I becoming a reggie anorak?
WigginAirways posted a link on the Ferranti Helicopters thread which led to another image of WOSP (below):
B206 JetRanger III G-WOSP (as flown by Paco) being operated by the Hills which were Burnt!
- Dennis K
Far from being boring I think it is interesting to understand how some of the registrations we see have come about. Tracing origins helps to gain a better overall awareness of the industry (me thinks!).
- RotaryWise
For you ...
Westland's Wasp (such as the type RotaryWise is soon to add to his flying collection!)
Err ... seeing as we are now a 'nostalgic' thread how about this piece of Royal Mail history:
The Use of Helicopters with the Royal Mail
"Trials to use helicopters to deliver mail first took place from 7-12 May 1934. They were organised by John S Davis, an Aerophilatelist, and carried out in conjunction with a philatelic festival.
Experiments took place between 1948 and 1950 but did not reach a satisfactory level of regularity (especially at night when most flights would need to occur) and were deemed not to be cost effective!" (WordPress)
Westland-Sikorsky S-51 G-AJOV registered to British European Airways Corporation on 10th October 1947 seen here during mail carring trials for the Royal Mail in Norfolk 1949.
Just stumbled across this forum by accident and spotted this thread with interest. My father is Ken Davies, the former pilot of the Duke of Westminster and one-time pilot of G-TALY. Now retired (but still flying) he was actually employed as a Mechanic and not a Gardener and consequently flew as a private pilot and not as a commercial one. He was originally employed as a mechanic for real. The present Duke's father gave him permission to fly his own light aircraft from a disused airfield on the Eaton Estate and later asked him if he would fly a plane for him if he bought one. The rest is history. I will check with my Dad the next time I see him and get him reading this forum but in the meantime to the best of my recollection the sequence of aircraft (FW & RW) was:- Piper Cherokee Piper Apache Piper Aztec Enstrom Shark Bell Jet Ranger (I seem to recall that there may have been 2 of them one after the other with G-TALY being the first) Twin Squirrel Hawker Siddley HS125 Cessna Citation (again, I think there were 2 of them) and that's about when he retired so I'm not sure what came next! I grew up around the planes and the hangar (where my Dad also kept his own light aircraft of various sorts over the years) so remember them all to varying degrees! I hope that has refreshed/updated a few memories for a few other people!
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