Bristol Belvedere research
 

Hi,

I'm gathering material for a book on the history of the Bristol 192 Belvedere twin rotor helicopter.

Over the past few weeks I've been browsing through the forum and have made contact with some members of the forum regarding the Belvedere, but thought I'd post a general plea for information.

I plan to have a detailed account of the development work carried out by the Type 173 and the subsequent designs for the RN/RCN/RAF. The bulk of the book will de centred on the service life of the helicopter and will be an almost day-to-day account. As only 26 were produced I should be able to produce a potted history of each airframe. The last part will include detailed walk around type photos of the preserved Belvedere in the UK.

While most of the info will come from official documents held at the National Archives, I want to include first hand accounts from those that flew and maintained these helicopters. I would also like to include some accounts from the troops on the ground who were transported into and out off the their area of operations in Aden and Borneo.

I've had a number of books published and they mostly deal with RAF biplanes of the 30's, although I did do a detailed history of the Mosquito Mk XVIII Tsetse. This will be my first modern aircraft.

If anyone can help in any way I would be grateful. You can either post here, send a PM or email me. My email address is [email protected]

Kind regards,

Alex Crawford

Alex - I presume you have been in contact with Sox Hosegood, the former Chief Test Pilot of Bristol Helicopters and of course the 173? A few weeks ago I was told that Sox is still with us - and with it - age 93.

If you haven't contacted him and need to then I suggest you PM PPRuNer the_tartan terror or contact him through his test pilot website. It has a word in the website address which PPRuNe in its wisdom stars out (ie******) if I try to reproduce it here but it is the first result in Google if you search "test pilots tartan terror." He has photos etc from Sox so must know how to contact him.

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. I will try and get in touch with Sox Hosegood and the tartan terror.

Alex

Alex, these any good to you ?

3 x ORIGINAL VINTAGE PHOTOS - R.A.F. WESTLAND BELVEDERE | eBay

Hi cyflyer,

Thanks for the heads up. I'll add it to my watch list. You can't have too many Belvedere photos.

Alex

So, did you get them Alex ?

Yes, a last minute bid.

Nice. Glad I could help.

Yes thanks, it was good of you to let me know.

You're most welcome. And, I should add, the best of luck with your book. I understand the joys of finding something new for a book, and research, as I have been on a similar path concerning aviation related photos on Cyprus for many years. If ever I come across any Belvedere related photos I shall let you know. Wonderful place that National Archives isn't it ? I can rarely make straight through the main entrance without stopping and browsing the lovely souvenir/bookshop. Good luck.

Hi,

It's just been confirmed that my Belvedere book will be published by Air Britain.

My thanks to those that have helped with stories/photos. I'm still on the lookout for more first hand accounts so if anyone can help, I'd be grateful.

Alex

One of my UAS QFIs in the early 1970s had flown the Belvedere in Borneo and Malaya.

It was known to him and his colleagues as 'Mixmaster bilong suicide'....:hmm:

Quote
It was known to him and his colleagues as 'Mixmaster bilong suicide'.

Any rotory-wing job is thought of in much those terms by us aeroplane men.:O

Interesting. A very comprehensive history of all the Bristol tandem rotors is currently being written by Elfan ap Rees,the aviation author and editor of Helicopter International. He worked for the company in the early 60s and holds all the flight test records and service reports on the Belvedere as well as many pictures etc. Maybe you should both get together?