I will own up to HP15 in 1980. There were 10 of us on the course and I think 5 are still flying rotary. The course members included Nick N and Paul Q who will be well known to those in Aberdeen.
We were trained on the venerable Bell 47 G2. Limited power almost all of the time.
Martin Forde was my instructor. He was 'exacting' to say the least. I can see and appreciate where he was coming from - now.
In those days we lived in The Ivy House up on the A25. It was run by Mrs B and her son. At breakfast time her Siamese cats would walk all over the kitchen surfaces and she would cook the bacon etc with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth.
Les Craven was in charge of the G/school and we were there when Taf Walker started. One member of our course was brilliant at whistling at the exact pitch of the feedback noise on Taf's hearing aid - Chris!
Taf had a Daf 'rubber band' car which didn't enjoy having the ratios changed on the move. TC guilty that time.
Ah the memories - and now 25 years ago!!