Gazelle bases in U.K.
Slight thread drift.
If I remember correctly, there was a Gazelle parked in a hangar at Odiham around 1990, that was seized as part of a drug bust.
Did it ever get co-opted into the Forces' inventory?
If I remember correctly, there was a Gazelle parked in a hangar at Odiham around 1990, that was seized as part of a drug bust.
Did it ever get co-opted into the Forces' inventory?
Long Kesh, Ballykelly,Sydenham.
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...DENHAM&f=false
Seems to be a lot of information of bases and units in this book.
Interesting statistics 700,000 hours flown by Army Aviation in Northern Ireland in 37 years, with 37,000 in 1973.
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...DENHAM&f=false
Seems to be a lot of information of bases and units in this book.
Interesting statistics 700,000 hours flown by Army Aviation in Northern Ireland in 37 years, with 37,000 in 1973.
Last edited by ericferret; 7th Feb 2017 at 19:04.
2 HT3s were brought up to a similar standard to the HCC4
On the same note, AAC ones were based in Hong Kong
50 years....... I heard yesterday that there is the potential to fully 'glass cockpit' the BATUS gazelles - surely with the role out there, it is time to call it a day and get a more useful ac? However, maybe even more radical, considering the requirements, have a common fleet of the same ac supporting BATUS/84/Brunei/Kenya etc, just a thought!
50 years....... I heard yesterday that there is the potential to fully 'glass cockpit' the BATUS gazelles - surely with the role out there, it is time to call it a day and get a more useful ac? However, maybe even more radical, considering the requirements, have a common fleet of the same ac supporting BATUS/84/Brunei/Kenya etc, just a thought!
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660 Sqn at Sek Kong was initially issues with Gazelles in 1975-1976, but these were returned to the UK and replaced by Scouts. Maybe the Gazelle was found to be unsuitable in the Far East?.
32 Sqn had (at one point) 4 Gazelle HCC.4s.
There were a pair of Gazelle AH.1s with 8 Flt at Credenhill in the late 90s.
32 Sqn had (at one point) 4 Gazelle HCC.4s.
There were a pair of Gazelle AH.1s with 8 Flt at Credenhill in the late 90s.
However, maybe even more radical, considering the requirements, have a common fleet of the same ac supporting BATUS/84/Brunei/Kenya etc, just a thought!
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Slight thread drift, but associated content . .
I attended an 'Open Day' at Sek Kong sometime in my second double-tour in HK in the period 1969-1975 and took this photograph. My daughters posing beside an army helicopter - I know nothing about 'modern aircraft' recognition so can't say which type this was.
I attended an 'Open Day' at Sek Kong sometime in my second double-tour in HK in the period 1969-1975 and took this photograph. My daughters posing beside an army helicopter - I know nothing about 'modern aircraft' recognition so can't say which type this was.
Thaihawk
660 was in Germany in 1975/76 at Soest. Tours in NI (Long Kesh) with the Scout in 75 and the Gazelle in 76. The Gazelle did not go in 75 as reliability was bad largely due to lack of spares and maintenance experience.
History[edit]
The squadron's numerical designation was first used by No. 660 Squadron RAF, a Royal Air Force squadron which served from 31 July 1943 until 31 May 1946 operating from bases in England, France and Germany. Its duties and squadron number were transferred to the AAC upon the corps' formation on 1 September 1957.[1][2][3] No. 660 Sqn was subsequently re-formed in October 1969 adopting the designation of No. 660 Aviation Squadron AAC. Based at Topcliffe and equipped with Westland (Agusta-Bell) Sioux AH.1 and Westland Scout AH.1s, it formed part of 2 Regiment Army Air Corps (2 Regt. AAC).[3][4]
The squadron moved to Salamanca Barracks, at Soest-Bad Sassendorf Airfield in 1971, becoming part of 4 Regiment Army Air Corps (4 Regt AAC) the following year. In January 1973, it was renamed 660 Squadron AAC and in May 1974, while a Salamanca Barracks, it was the first unit to receive the Westland Gazelle AH.1 for operational service in May 1974. A Scout Flight was later swapped with No. 654 Squadron AAC in October 1977, making it an entirely Gazelle squadron. The squadron was then assigned to 3 Regiment Army Air Corps (3 Regt. AAC).[3][5]
On 1 April 1978, the squadron was re-designated as No. 663 Squadron AAC (663 Sqn), and its personnel and equipment were transferred to the new squadron which was based at Salamanca Barracks.[3][4][5] [6] Later that same year, No. 660 Squadron was re-formed at Sek Kong in Hong Kong equipped with the Scout AH.1.
660 was in Germany in 1975/76 at Soest. Tours in NI (Long Kesh) with the Scout in 75 and the Gazelle in 76. The Gazelle did not go in 75 as reliability was bad largely due to lack of spares and maintenance experience.
History[edit]
The squadron's numerical designation was first used by No. 660 Squadron RAF, a Royal Air Force squadron which served from 31 July 1943 until 31 May 1946 operating from bases in England, France and Germany. Its duties and squadron number were transferred to the AAC upon the corps' formation on 1 September 1957.[1][2][3] No. 660 Sqn was subsequently re-formed in October 1969 adopting the designation of No. 660 Aviation Squadron AAC. Based at Topcliffe and equipped with Westland (Agusta-Bell) Sioux AH.1 and Westland Scout AH.1s, it formed part of 2 Regiment Army Air Corps (2 Regt. AAC).[3][4]
The squadron moved to Salamanca Barracks, at Soest-Bad Sassendorf Airfield in 1971, becoming part of 4 Regiment Army Air Corps (4 Regt AAC) the following year. In January 1973, it was renamed 660 Squadron AAC and in May 1974, while a Salamanca Barracks, it was the first unit to receive the Westland Gazelle AH.1 for operational service in May 1974. A Scout Flight was later swapped with No. 654 Squadron AAC in October 1977, making it an entirely Gazelle squadron. The squadron was then assigned to 3 Regiment Army Air Corps (3 Regt. AAC).[3][5]
On 1 April 1978, the squadron was re-designated as No. 663 Squadron AAC (663 Sqn), and its personnel and equipment were transferred to the new squadron which was based at Salamanca Barracks.[3][4][5] [6] Later that same year, No. 660 Squadron was re-formed at Sek Kong in Hong Kong equipped with the Scout AH.1.
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BE, Post #34,
My Aircraft Recognition dates from instruction in that genre at Middleton-St-George in 1956-57. 'Propellers in front - good, propellers on top - what the hell is that!'
My Aircraft Recognition dates from instruction in that genre at Middleton-St-George in 1956-57. 'Propellers in front - good, propellers on top - what the hell is that!'
