Originally Posted by
ericferret
Gazelle was just into army service when I joined my first squadron in 1975, goes into retirement 5 months after me.
Both of us having spent a lifetime in aviation.
I suspect they have worn better than I have.
Wonder what their final life expectancy will be, there are over 40 ex military Gazelles on the civil register.
Probably longer than mine.
Looking at G-INFO it reveals that one of our squadron Gazelles from 1975 is still flying G-CGJX, XW892.
Also still flying G-CIEY XW851. This was a demonstration and trials squadron aircraft.
This aircraft sticks in my mind as we found a serious defect with the cyclic flying controls in 1976 while on a major inspection.
This was probably the true cause of the fatal accident to XW850 in 1973 which was attributed to jack stall.