Looking for a particular Lama photograph

[Saint Jack]

I hope someone out there can help me, I'm looking for a copy of the famous photograph that shows a Lama flying along with another Lama attched to the hook by a short line. I'm trying to extol the the capabilities of this remarkable helicopter to a company and I believe this particular picture is, quite literally, worth a thousand words.

[Ian Corrigible]

He ain't heavy...



I/C

[Granny]

Actually-they are not both Lama's,- the lower aircraft is an Alouette II

[ericferret]

Somewhere there must be pictures of a Lama lifting a Lama as Dollar Lama G-BCPA pulled
G-AZNI out of Clatteringshaws forest after it crashed there circa 1979.

[Saint Jack]

Many thanks Ian. Yes, that's the one although I didn't realize that the load was actually an Alouett II as correctly pointed out by Granny ('Granny' - I'd love to know how that name was chosen). For those who may not be familiar with these helicopters, the Alouette II has a two-blade tail-rotor while the Lama has a three-blade tail-rotor (just discernable in the picture). Of course there are many other differences but this is perhaps the most visible.

As ericferret hinted at, any more similar photos out there? Thanks again guys.

[John Eacott]

Originally Posted by Saint Jack

'Granny' - I'd love to know how that name was chosen

He's always been known as Granny: I thought that was his real name for many years

The other giveaway for AL2/Llama recognition is the engine

[jp4toulon]

And the battery: in the nose on a LAMA and RH Side below the engine on Al II

[BoeingMEL]

Nice to see Dollar getting a mention..

...many happy times at CVT c.88-90.. there seemed to be a retirement party there almost every fortnight! Happy Days bm

[mtoroshanga]

I suspect that the lower one is a 318C with an Astazou engine.

Is that the one that flew over the support vehicle on the road and put a blade through the roof of the cab?

[Ian Corrigible]

Yes, the load was an SA318C. Here's another view.

(Original image lost & deleted)

I/C

[P.GLT]

Best recognition way

The blades number of the anti torque rotor is most sure way : AL II : 2 blades, AL III : 3 blades,
Lama has the dynamic assembly of an AL III ....

[jp4toulon]

Not so easy to recognize in flight, is'n it?
And yes it's a SA318, with an Astazou engine
The lama is registered in F-W..., that means it was at Aerospatiale ( Eurocopter now)

[mtoroshanga]

You can tell by the dampers onto the front cross-tube on the Lama but only on the rear cross-tube on the 318C.

[spinwing]

Mmm ...


... that means it was at Aerospatiale ( Eurocopter now) ....

or was it Sud Aviation ??? .....

[mtoroshanga]

Sud Aviation

[jp4toulon]

Sud Aviation became Aerospatiale in 1970
First flight of prototype: 17 mars 1969
Airworth certificate: 30 september 1970
Name "LAMA" given July 1971

So my opinion is that picture was under Aerospatiale !

Good Week End