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Wigan: Great to see OBP and BRU going through their respective changes! I used to see an IRN-BRU 206 running around Aus .. now I know where she came from!
De Havilland: I'm sure you are right. There used to be another chap Surrey-way who used to potter about in a 206, somebody Gardner .. I think! Seem to remember him taking delivery of a new Bell 206 on shorts, orange in colour. Basic from the factory - not a single option added!
I recall being somewhat surprised to see Bell still turning out new 206's with the original back-breaking seats. I asked a Bell rep about this and made reference to the relative comfort of the Ecureuil (Squirrel) seats. I seem to remember him referring to them as 'unnecessary' or similar.
The Bell guys I met in the early 80's were quite blasé about the Squirrel .. a short-lived attitude I am sure!
Westland Wessex Mk 60 G-ATCA over Ford's Dagenham plant on 9th July 1970 en-route to Belgium, yes Belgium, flying the one millionth Ford Cortina car where its new owner awaited its arrival with keys in hand. At the time Ford decided to conduct this 'special export' TCA was registered to 'Westland Charters' who had clearly leased the craft to Bristows who went on to buy her in March of '71.
Vauxhall decides to do something similar on 17th July 2006 (albeit on a far shorter journey) over Tower Bridge en-route Billingsgate Market with their Corsa debut.
(Operator: Helicopter Services Ltd, Wycome Air Park)
A Skytech Mi26 doing 'its thing' with a Volvo truck.
S.