Hi Nigel, Yes ,what you describe was typical of Ritchie. Did he tell you about the time he got a parachute wrapped around the tail rotor of the Aloutte 3 over the airfield at Woomera at 7000 feet? The t/r shaft sheared but he did a really good run on landing on the runway with some damage to the rear fuselage when a blade hit it. When flying together, without pax, I have been known to slowly turn off the hydraulics and watch him lean further and further to the left trying to keep the collective up with that weak arm. Once twigged he would laugh and call me a bloody fool! I am afraid we lost touch with Vi. Thanks for all the info. Sorry we did not get to fly together at WRA but it was obvious that it was running down. It`s -5 degrees outside. Wish I was back at WRA. Bob.