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1st Mar 2010, 16:48

#1248 (permalink)

Dave Ed

Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: Cyprus

Age: 65

Posts: 297

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Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Hiller 12E Recovery.

Thanks to Larry Coram for this anecdote.

From a picture provided by Don Strange's wife we can date the pictures to March 1964.

Hiller 12E, 5N-AGC, piloted by Ken Smith forced landed in secondary growth just short of mature trees due to an engine failure caused by a con rod big end cap bolt failure which was prevalent on the Lycoming V0540 at that time. The area had to be cleared of dense bush to enable the Widgeon to land.

Larry with his team dismantling the Hiller into manageable pieces to enable transport by the Widgeon to Warri Airstrip. Back of photo: "LHC in his smart hat, I recall it was bloody hot! Vitus and Raffles are in the picture."

Widgeon 5N-ABV with the Hiller tailcone securely strapped in the cabin and ready for lift out.

The Twin Pioneer (Bristows) 5N-ABQ had transported a replacement engine and other parts to Warri where the Hiller was reassembled and flown back to Port Harcourt by Ken Smith with Larry Coram as passenger.

Job well done. Ded.

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