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Old 7th Sep 2011, 21:19
  #823 (permalink)  
Savoia
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Milano, Italia
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The Venerable Bead!

Planemike, grazie! Shortly after posting the image it did occur to me that the location may well have been BEAS' home base so thanks for the confirmation.

G-BBET debuted on page 25 and was the sister-ship to another Bell-built 206, G-BBEU:


Bell 206B JetRanger II G-BBET at Biggin Hill n 17th May 1974 (Photo: Jonathan Walton)

Advertising seems to have been the order of the day for BBET not only with some sort of placard in the rear passenger window but, when enlarged, the tailboom reveals wording indicating the craft's owner as 'Madrey Properties'. From Madrey she was bought back by her original owners, Ben Turner and from Ripley she was sold to Italy in the Christmas of '74.

A venerable 'BEAD' indeed!


Westland prototype WG-13 Lynx G-BEAD at Farnborough on 10th September 1976 (Photo: Steve Fitzgerald)

This prototype first flew on 21st March 1971 and was seen here re-engined with P&W PT6Bs as opposed to the originally installed Rolls-Royce Gems.
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