Bristol Belvedere line lift

[nomorehelosforme]

Earlier this week Historic England released thousands of pictures covering the years from John Laing Construction who where once one of the largest construction companies in the UK .

One project was the rebuilding of Coventry Cathedral that was destroyed in WW11. I found this news report that has some nostalgic pictures and reports of the project including how the RAF and John Laing worked together for the helicopter lift of the new spire into position.

Not sure if this has been posted before but thought it might be of interest.


https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/gallery/the-construction-of-coventry-cathedral-17554694


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1181x1227/0_js202961941_e5d2b1fb11c7789942a64a7697c7f80e3e7c32f4.jpg


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/938x1227/0_js202961937_404ec2db6b47b08d89eaeb3fd2795ab344e3406f.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1188x1227/0_js202961930_643fea752b2adaa8a94317a9dde9e38dcd7efcff.jpg

[heli1]

I recall watching the rehearsal for this on the airfield at Weston super Mare with John Dowling as the pilot. It all went pretty well,dropping the "spire" into a measured hole in a wooden block atop some scaffolding. The engineer at Westland who did all the calculations etc went on to work for BEA Helicopters at Gatwick as I recall and transferred his skills to S-61N external load contacts. Can't recall his name ??

[Democritus]

The other pilot on the lift was Ron Salt, later Chief Pilot of Ferranti Helicopters.

Pathe News coverage....https://www.britishpathe.com/video/coventry-spire-by-copter

Coventry Cathedral spire co-pilot returns to view handiwork 50 years on... (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-17865700)

[Fareastdriver]

Apparently when the No. 66 Sqn's Belvederes were lined up to be scrapped in March 1969 the Maintenance Unit at Seleter brought out their war reserve example.

It had the same serial number as one of the squadron's.