Gazelle: Flying, operating, buying
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
26 lifting a TU-134
There are no limits
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Shrewsbury, England.
Age: 67
Posts: 505
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't recall the Gazelle being categorised as a heavy lifter but you should look at the Lama which can lift a lot and take it to altitude like no other.
The designation is SA315.
The designation is SA315.
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Essex
Age: 54
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi, I enquired about conversion and hiring one from Excel Charter.
The response was:
"We can carry out training on the Gazelle for type rating but would require 5 hours minimum for 1st Turbine.
The cost is £550 per hour wet and your instructor would be £350 per day and I would allow a minimum of 3 days.
All subject to VAT at the prevailing rate.
As far as hiring an aircraft is concerned our insurance requires a minimum of 500 hours total time, 250 hours turbine and 100 hours make and model"
I am a long way off those hours for rotary
The response was:
"We can carry out training on the Gazelle for type rating but would require 5 hours minimum for 1st Turbine.
The cost is £550 per hour wet and your instructor would be £350 per day and I would allow a minimum of 3 days.
All subject to VAT at the prevailing rate.
As far as hiring an aircraft is concerned our insurance requires a minimum of 500 hours total time, 250 hours turbine and 100 hours make and model"
I am a long way off those hours for rotary
I have some technical questions about the operation of the Gazelle helicopter. I'm wondering if someone can answer them. They are for a technical discussion on the Blue Thunder film.
a) From what I see in YouTube videos, the normal startup of a Gazelle would be to start the turbine, then run up the rotors to full RPM. Is that correct?
b) Can you start a Gazelle with the rotors engaged, like with a Jetranger? This is seen briefly in the film, but I suspect it was pretend for the film.
c) Can you run the turbine with the rotors engaged at an idle RPM setting, or must you keep it at the flight RPM setting?
d) If you can idle the turbine and rotors, does it suffer from the same vibration problems as the C series Dauphin if being idled with the rotors engaged?
e) Did these specific procedures change since 1983 (when the film was made)?
Thanks!
Andrew.
a) From what I see in YouTube videos, the normal startup of a Gazelle would be to start the turbine, then run up the rotors to full RPM. Is that correct?
b) Can you start a Gazelle with the rotors engaged, like with a Jetranger? This is seen briefly in the film, but I suspect it was pretend for the film.
c) Can you run the turbine with the rotors engaged at an idle RPM setting, or must you keep it at the flight RPM setting?
d) If you can idle the turbine and rotors, does it suffer from the same vibration problems as the C series Dauphin if being idled with the rotors engaged?
e) Did these specific procedures change since 1983 (when the film was made)?
Thanks!
Andrew.
There are no limits
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Shrewsbury, England.
Age: 67
Posts: 505
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The gazelle has a centrifugal clutch in the drivetrain that engages and disengages at around 30000 ish RPM
The normal start sequence is to start the engine which 'ground idles' at 25000ish Nc IIRC.
Then advance the throttle smoothly until the clutch bites then advance keeping the torque between 10 and 20%
Once the throttle is fully forward, the aircraft 'flight idles' at around 47000 ish RPM Nc IIRC
If you bring the throttle back to ground idle, the clutch will disengage and the rotors will come to a stop either by using the rotor brake or by friction. The engine will continue to run at 25000 ish
If you have an out of balance clutch or freewheel it tells you right soon.
AFAIK the gazelle has always been run like this.
I am sure some smart aleck will correct the numbers, but its been a few years and several types since I flew that sucker!
The normal start sequence is to start the engine which 'ground idles' at 25000ish Nc IIRC.
Then advance the throttle smoothly until the clutch bites then advance keeping the torque between 10 and 20%
Once the throttle is fully forward, the aircraft 'flight idles' at around 47000 ish RPM Nc IIRC
If you bring the throttle back to ground idle, the clutch will disengage and the rotors will come to a stop either by using the rotor brake or by friction. The engine will continue to run at 25000 ish
If you have an out of balance clutch or freewheel it tells you right soon.
AFAIK the gazelle has always been run like this.
I am sure some smart aleck will correct the numbers, but its been a few years and several types since I flew that sucker!
Thanks, What Limits. That helps explain everything! 
What's the significance of the upturned collar? I have a feeling it has to do with respect or status, or something?
What's the significance of the upturned collar? I have a feeling it has to do with respect or status, or something?
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: uk
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
SA 341G
Gents
Have been flying for many years on fixed wing....looking at getting a Gazelle for my personal use.Would appreciate pro's and con's on this machine......thanks in advance for any info.
Have been flying for many years on fixed wing....looking at getting a Gazelle for my personal use.Would appreciate pro's and con's on this machine......thanks in advance for any info.
DXB, the Gazelle is a superb A/C. It like every other has foibles but in over 3000 hrs the only failures I ever had were a Generator and a couple of Radio snags.
I'd suggest a good handling package with an experienced Gazelle qualified guy before leaping off into the wide blue younder.
I'd suggest a good handling package with an experienced Gazelle qualified guy before leaping off into the wide blue younder.
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: ...in view of the 'Southern Cross' ...
Posts: 1,383
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mmmmm ...
Why not? Didn't the military use them as a basic trainer before the AS350?
Perhaps .... BUT ... the level of supervision of a MIL nooby is generally a lot greater than that of a CIVVY nooby!!!
And a Gazelle will BITE you very quickly if you abuse the 'slippery lil sucker'.
Why not? Didn't the military use them as a basic trainer before the AS350?
Perhaps .... BUT ... the level of supervision of a MIL nooby is generally a lot greater than that of a CIVVY nooby!!!
And a Gazelle will BITE you very quickly if you abuse the 'slippery lil sucker'.
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: uk
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i'd be happier sending a newly qualified pilot off in a gazelle than a R22, the only problem with inexperienced pilot in a gazelle is the speed at which people tend to fly them is faster than their brain. So learn sensibly and initially fly slowly 70-90 kts untill your brain/reactions catch up
Bladecrack,bear in mind that the mil had chopped a lot of potential pilots before the course got anywhere near the 341. Then remember that the potential pilots were paid to be there and were living, breathing helicopters for 8 to 10 hours a day, 5 days a week for the best part of 8 months. Plus some top notch instructors. I was told the gazelle was an easy heli to fly but a very difficult one to fly well, which i managed to prove on loads of occasions thwock is dead right, the whistling sperm will get you into trouble very quickly unless the brain is infront of it
thwock is dead right, the whistling sperm will get you into trouble very quickly unless the brain is infront of it
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,576
Received 426 Likes
on
225 Posts
Plus some top notch instructors.
The Gazelle is a great little machine. Found my ideal job flying as an unofficial trial comms and recce pilot for the deployed Chinooks in Germany, back in the 1980s.
No crewman, flew at 50 to 100' agl everywhere, parked anywhere, scrounged a meal at whatever flight I went to, own boss - bliss!
They were so chuffed they later went and got their own.
Well, it knocked airfield damage repair recce (what I was really supposed to be doing) into a cocked hat!
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Up here, but not for long
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bladecrack,bear in mind that the mil had chopped a lot of potential pilots before the course got anywhere near the 341. Then remember that the potential pilots were paid to be there and were living, breathing helicopters for 8 to 10 hours a day, 5 days a week for the best part of 8 months. Plus some top notch instructors. I was told the gazelle was an easy heli to fly but a very difficult one to fly well, which i managed to prove on loads of occasions thwock is dead right, the whistling sperm will get you into trouble very quickly unless the brain is infront of it
Take care the Gazelle will bite.
Then remember that the potential pilots were paid to be there and were living, breathing helicopters for 8 to 10 hours a day, 5 days a week for the best part of 8 months. Plus some top notch instructors.
