Enstrom F280C Shark G-BIBJ at Farnborough on 4th September 1980 (Photo courtesy of Bill Teasdale)
Presumably one of Dennisimo's early Shark demonstrators; 'BJ' was sold to W. Kendrick & Sons of Walsall, West Midlands about six months after having been imported by Spooner. Her last UK registered owner was Christopher Swift of Huntingdon after which she is registered to Startrade GmbH of Siegen, Germany (while remaining on the UK register). She was sold to Australia earlier this year.
Bell 206B G-BBCA belonging to Time Aviation seen at Cranfield on 2nd September 1977 (Photo: Peter Nicholson)
This 1973 'B' model 206 was first delivered to Ben Turner Helicopters of Ripley but, most interestingly for me, appears to have been the second 206 in the Hambros Bank stable after G-AWOM. She was registered to Hambros between 1973-77 after which she went on to serve with Time Aviation, Air Hanson, Helicopter Hire and a host of additional owners concluding with Heliflight of Staverton before being transferred to France in 2009. Interestingly, she managed to maintain the same registration despite her many owners.
S-76A G-OHTL at Farnborough on on 4th September 1980 (Photo courtesy of Bill Teasdale)
Delivered to Hanson's late December 1979/early January 1980 and was probably the UK's first S76. Also visible in this shot (far right) is 'Rainbow' from the Queen's Flight Benson and Martyn Fiddler's control cab (far left). In those days Farnborough's heliport operations were managed by Martyn under the name of Hascombe Aviation. The initial heliport management contracts were held by Ferranti and, if memory serves, my godfather sub-contracted Martyn to carry out this function on their behalf. When Ferranti disbanded Hascombe took over this contract in their own right.
Regarding OHTL, in this image she sports the 'Spirit' badge which I seem to recall had to be removed as a result of a trademark infringement suit which had been filed against Sikorsky for the use of this name.
Some more trivia: OHTL was involved in a ground incident at Brooklands when the chap towing her across the grass strip between the north side pads and the old runway threshold hit a drain cover collapsing the left landing gear and bringing the 76 down on one side of her belly. The incident had only just occurred when my godfather and I arrived in the Towers LongRanger so this must have been 1981/2. Next time we visited a concrete towpath had been installed!
After Hanson's, OHTL seems to have gone around a number of the well known corporate operators including Magec, Lynton and Premiair where, from what I understand, she continues to fly albeit under the registration G-BURS.
G-OHTL flying members of the rock group 'Queen' during their 'Magic' tour