Old police helicopters never die

[STANDTO]

Well, the TT races are well in swing.

Was quite taken aback yesterday when I was over by police headquarters, and into sight comes G-BOOV, Merseyside police's venerable Squirrel F1.

It is now resplendent in dark blue paint, and operating (this week at least) in the casevac role for racing. (presumably with Aeromega)

By the way, did anyone ever buy Lancashire's ????

[oldgit]

If the Lancs police 355 was G-LCON it was seen a couple of weeks ago in the 'Premiair' hangar at Blackbushe devoid of most of its dynamic parts where it is allegedly being upgraded to an IFR Corporate machine!? But Why we have to ask ourselves??

[maxy101]

Tax payers got fed up with massive rises in their council taxes?

[STANDTO]

it was indeed G-LCON. When they upgraded to a 135 it went on the market, but generated little interest. It was a relatively low hours N2, so it will do someone well.

Happy memories................. :ok:

[MightyGem]

Maxy, I don't quite understand your post as they were both replaced
by EC 135s

LCON is an "N" so has much better helipad performance than the "F"s,
and I believe they got it for a reasonable price with not too many
hours.

STANDTO, BOOV is an F2. Picky, I know, but... :ok:

[ppheli]

LCON is now at Thruxton for painting with Edmondsons, and will emerge as VONE for Von Essen Aviation. Once PremiAir have finished with it, it will go back to Thruxton to be based as the replacement for the sadly-departed XCEL (which crashed fatally a few miles north of the field early Dec 2003)

[Hedski]

G-BOOV can normally be seen resident at Arena, Redhill. They do mostly filming and are meant to be providing a machine for the TT. They're in the credits at the end of most TT round-up programmes each evening.
As far as I'm aware Excel are providing two Twin Squirrels for the TT on medevac duties. They may have borrowed it but would be surprised as they have plenty of their own.

But it just ain't the same anymore on the IOM without Jeffries, Hissy and of course King Joey!
The king is dead, long live the king! :ok:

[Pat Malone]

That's not old. This is old.
The very first helicopter operated by the Los Angeles Police Department is still flying, in England.
It's a Hiller 12C. I don't remember the exact date, but it started work in the early 1950s.
When I flew it a couple of years ago it was owned by Warren Chmura at Lands End, but he subsequently sold it - I don't know to whom.
It would be nice to see it restored to LAPD livery.

[Gaseous]

I now own an Enstrom F28 used by the met in the mid 1970s until singles were banned over cities.


It's still going strong.


http://www.helicopterservice.com.au/photos/Vert%20Ref/1976G-BDKD%20(Small).jpg

http://www.helicopterservice.com.au/photos/Vert%20Ref/G-BDKD%20(Small).jpg

(I can't get the images to appear here but the links show then and now)




Links fixed.
Heliport

[STANDTO]

Mightygem, many apologies. You should know! How is the new bird in comparison? A few less rattles I should think. :D

So who are Excel? What has happened to Aeromega? I am stationed at the wrong end of the Island these days to keep up to speed.

The dave Jeffries memorial lap was quite remarkable. Not quite as remarkable as John McGuinness breaking his lap record though!

As one hero passes, another emerges.

Not many helo visitors to the Grand Island at Ramsey this year