Have just checked my old log books. I flew G-AVII in January 1975 instrument training with John Nicholls as instructor.
Her sister ship G-AVIG was based at Redhill along with G-AVKG. G-AXKF and G-AWMK ( I also have G-AXVO in my log book for that period but according to the CAA database that was a BAC 1-11 so looks like I was as bad at keeping an accurate logbook then as I am now).
To be given a Jetranger to fly solo around the south of England (including the London heli lanes) with only 40hrs helicopter time on the Hiller 12E and 3 hours on the 206 was a real privilege. The instructors at Redhill, Stan Sollitt, Mike Dean, Lemmy Tanner etc were great guys. To be then sent to Aberdeen and put in the cockpit of an S61 with the likes of Bob Weston and Mike Norris as instructors gave me, and others, the best training any helicopter pilot could wish for.
From the CAA database G-AVII was built in 1967 and as of 31/12/2007 had flown 18871 hrs.
Last edited by HughMartin; 10th Dec 2008 at 21:03.