Eric: A fairly straightforward challenge in that it is pretty much common knowledge that there remains only one airworthy Sycamore .. the well-known 'X-Ray Bravo' located just north of Italy.
'XB' was owned by Peter Schmid (a vineyard owner) of Altenrhein in Switzerland from 1988 to 2010 when she was bought by
The Flying Bulls where she now lives in 'Hangar 8' of the 'Bulls' museum on Wilhelm-Spazier-Straße at W.A. Mozart Airport in Salzburg, Austria.
The example is a type 171 Sycamore Mk 52G sn: 13457 and was manufactured in 1957. Having had a short leave of absence from flying she is currently undergoing a programme of restoration to bring her back to airworthiness; a project being overseen by Flying Bulls Senior Technician Gerhard Moik and worked upon by Flying Bulls Helicopter Technician Roman Gitterle.
I very much hope to visit 'XB' as she nears readiness for her post-restoration test flight and to attend her first public display.
Bristol Type 171B Sycamore HR52 HB-RXB at Salzburg's WA Mozart Airport in Austria on 26th January 2012 (Photo: Rainer Bexten)
Bristol Type 171B Sycamore HR52 HB-RXB at Zurich Airport in Switzerland on 10th September 2004 (Photo: Balazs Pinter)