Ferranti Helicopters
Thread Starter
G-BCTE
We continue to search for images and information relating to the Ferranti fleet but are especially keen to discover details relating G-BCTE the Bo105CB which served with Ferranti between April 1975 and April 1976.
BCTE was perhaps best known (among Ferranti-ites) for her appearance on the cover of the second Ferranti brochure where she was pictured over the Alps.
Because her tenure with Ferranti was so short-lived it has been challenging to collect material so .. if there's anyone out there who recalls this craft .. please do let us know.
MBB Bo105CB D-HDCH being displayed at Farnborough 1974 (Photo: Dave Grimsdale)
D-HDCH above the Alps and which image was used on the cover of Ferranti's second company brochure
MBB Bo105CB: 1974 D-HDCH MBB Germany > 1974 G-BCTE Helicopter Marketing UK > 1975 Ferranti Helicopters UK > 1976 PH-NZH KLM Helicopters Holland
BCTE was the second craft to fly in the Ferranti fleet with red and white livery - the first being the Agusta-Bell 206 G-BAKT.
BCTE was perhaps best known (among Ferranti-ites) for her appearance on the cover of the second Ferranti brochure where she was pictured over the Alps.
Because her tenure with Ferranti was so short-lived it has been challenging to collect material so .. if there's anyone out there who recalls this craft .. please do let us know.
MBB Bo105CB D-HDCH being displayed at Farnborough 1974 (Photo: Dave Grimsdale)
D-HDCH above the Alps and which image was used on the cover of Ferranti's second company brochure
MBB Bo105CB: 1974 D-HDCH MBB Germany > 1974 G-BCTE Helicopter Marketing UK > 1975 Ferranti Helicopters UK > 1976 PH-NZH KLM Helicopters Holland
BCTE was the second craft to fly in the Ferranti fleet with red and white livery - the first being the Agusta-Bell 206 G-BAKT.
Thread Starter
Brantly B-2B G-ASEW belonging to Sebastian de Ferranti as seen at his hangar facility at Kerfield House in Knutsford, Cheshire in 1964
The trolley was mechanised (unique at the time) and could be remotely operated from the aircraft.
Sebastian in his Brantly
ASEW's panel
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Alvaro de Ferranti Denis's Grandson
would love to hear your news about him whilst flying, the castlebar incident and anything you'd like to share. thank you very much, Alvaro
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Denis
i remember that Beach well even though i was very young. i remember my dad walking down the beach proudly whilst my mother used to be in horror as we all wondered around naked LOL
Thread Starter
Benvenuto Alvaro!
There are a number of people who have contributed to this thread who have had dealings with your grandfather and which includes Nigel Osborn and Uncle Ian both of whom flew for him in times past.
We also had a visit by Anthony Tuson (Ant T), son of Mike Tuson, who similarly flew for Denis. TRC did some work on your grandfather's JetRanger at his hunting lodge in Scotland at one point and there are doubtless others who have yet to contribute.
There are a number of people who have contributed to this thread who have had dealings with your grandfather and which includes Nigel Osborn and Uncle Ian both of whom flew for him in times past.
We also had a visit by Anthony Tuson (Ant T), son of Mike Tuson, who similarly flew for Denis. TRC did some work on your grandfather's JetRanger at his hunting lodge in Scotland at one point and there are doubtless others who have yet to contribute.
Hi Savoia
You comment that one of the 500's was ex military.
Not impossible but more likely both were purchased in that configuration and had no military service..
Hughes sold the 500 in three versions all civil certified.
369HS Hughes standard? (five seats
369HE Hughes executive (posh trim, five seats)
369HM Hughes military (right hand drive, mil trim four seats only)
Both of the 500's have HM suffixes.
You comment that one of the 500's was ex military.
Not impossible but more likely both were purchased in that configuration and had no military service..
Hughes sold the 500 in three versions all civil certified.
369HS Hughes standard? (five seats
369HE Hughes executive (posh trim, five seats)
369HM Hughes military (right hand drive, mil trim four seats only)
Both of the 500's have HM suffixes.
Last edited by ericferret; 16th Sep 2012 at 08:48.
My dad visited this weekend and we were looking at his old photos of his time as Denis's pilot. Here is one of EI-AVN, and Denis in one of his many classic cars - this one is a Mors Dogcart from the very early 1900s. The photo was taken at Baston, Lincolnshire
Last edited by Ant T; 5th Oct 2012 at 09:59.
Here are a few more - EI-ATY at the Scottish estate (Meoble).
This was the first helicopter I ever flew in, with Dad, and I thought it seemed a fun way to earn a living.
12 years later I was doing it for a living, and another 27 years on, I still am, and it still is !!
This was an unscheduled engine repair in the "hangar" at Meoble after an oil line started leaking
This was Dad bringing the results of the days stalking back to the house.
Might find a few more to post in a day or two
This was the first helicopter I ever flew in, with Dad, and I thought it seemed a fun way to earn a living.
12 years later I was doing it for a living, and another 27 years on, I still am, and it still is !!
This was an unscheduled engine repair in the "hangar" at Meoble after an oil line started leaking
This was Dad bringing the results of the days stalking back to the house.
Might find a few more to post in a day or two
Thread Starter
Bravo Antonio! 
These are superb and a wonderful compliment to the only other images we have of Denis' 500's from Shane on page 4.
Just to place the period, are we talking about late 70's early 80's here?
Our thanks to your Dad too!
ps: I've had 'leaky' oil lines on 500's in the past although these were all rectified by adjustments (or even replacement) of the line itself. But .. I've heard they do things a little differently in Scotland!
pps: Presumably this was the hangar where TRC swapped out the fuel tank for Denis' 206?
These are superb and a wonderful compliment to the only other images we have of Denis' 500's from Shane on page 4.
Just to place the period, are we talking about late 70's early 80's here?
Our thanks to your Dad too!
ps: I've had 'leaky' oil lines on 500's in the past although these were all rectified by adjustments (or even replacement) of the line itself. But .. I've heard they do things a little differently in Scotland!
pps: Presumably this was the hangar where TRC swapped out the fuel tank for Denis' 206?
Thanks for posting those photos of the two Irish-registered Hughes 500s. It is interesting to see that EI-ATY was a "soft-belly" 500. It was No.36 off the production line so I guess the belly hook didn't become a feature until later in production. The last photo looks like it could have been taken in New Zealand, not Scotland.
Was Dennis de Ferranti operating both 500Ms at the same time?
500 Fan.
Was Dennis de Ferranti operating both 500Ms at the same time?
500 Fan.
Last edited by 500 Fan; 4th Oct 2012 at 13:48.
The photos I am posting are all from around '74-'76. At the time Denis was operating the two 500 s (EI-ATY and EI-AVN) and one 206.
My dad's caption to this pic says Paris - 1975 (sorry for the poor picture but it was the only one he showed me of the 206)
But by the colour scheme, compared to photos earlier in the thread, this looks like EI-ASW. In post #68 Sav says that was in use by Denis only during 1968. I will have to check with Dad ! (Edit - Just spoke to Dad, he checked his logbook and the 206 he flew was definitely EI-AWA, so this must be an old photo of ASW that he had been given by someone. It is at Issy-le-moulineuax though.
By the way, for those interested, a good section of Dad's book ("A Mild Form of Insanity - by Mike Tuson", still available online....
) is about his time flying for Denis.
Another one of slinging at Meoble - putting up a TV mast
And one of the landing pad at Massbrook, Co.Mayo. There were two hangars there, the pads motored in and out of the hangars, which I seem to remember were carpeted and central heated (but I may be wrong). I do remember the engineer definitely had a good stereo system in there though.
This was an uninhabited island near Arisaig where they used to go for picnics. Not sure what the plan was if it didn't start when it was time to leave.....
My dad's caption to this pic says Paris - 1975 (sorry for the poor picture but it was the only one he showed me of the 206)
But by the colour scheme, compared to photos earlier in the thread, this looks like EI-ASW. In post #68 Sav says that was in use by Denis only during 1968. I will have to check with Dad ! (Edit - Just spoke to Dad, he checked his logbook and the 206 he flew was definitely EI-AWA, so this must be an old photo of ASW that he had been given by someone. It is at Issy-le-moulineuax though.
By the way, for those interested, a good section of Dad's book ("A Mild Form of Insanity - by Mike Tuson", still available online....
) is about his time flying for Denis.Another one of slinging at Meoble - putting up a TV mast
And one of the landing pad at Massbrook, Co.Mayo. There were two hangars there, the pads motored in and out of the hangars, which I seem to remember were carpeted and central heated (but I may be wrong). I do remember the engineer definitely had a good stereo system in there though.
This was an uninhabited island near Arisaig where they used to go for picnics. Not sure what the plan was if it didn't start when it was time to leave.....
Last edited by Ant T; 5th Oct 2012 at 08:39. Reason: New information
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Great photos Ant !
When did EI-AVN loose her low skids? And why, does anyone know?
And when did EI-ATY gain her red panels? They werent red when she was imported by Trans World Helicopters.
Perhaps it was when she was repainted after her rebuild following her incident hooking her skids on a phone line and nosing over on the Scottish estate in 1971.
And when did EI-ATY gain her red panels? They werent red when she was imported by Trans World Helicopters.
Perhaps it was when she was repainted after her rebuild following her incident hooking her skids on a phone line and nosing over on the Scottish estate in 1971.
Last edited by Shane101; 16th Oct 2012 at 21:32.
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Presumably this was the hangar where TRC swapped out the fuel tank for Denis' 206?
Last edited by TRC; 17th Oct 2012 at 14:35.
Thread Starter
Shane: These are a wonderful compliment to 'Antonio's' contribution. It is great to see these memory-provoking photos finally coming out of the woodwork so to speak. Bravo!
500 Fan: If you're reading this then I thought I should mention (which I may have done before .. sorry getting old) that it was you who taught me to look out for the rear passenger skylights on the 500 in order to determine if the craft was a military model. Using this piece of detection one surmises that 'ATY' was the ex-Mil model but .. I could be wrong because I've heard it suggested that both of Denis' 500's were military variants! On a side note; did you notice that even when 'AVN' was placed on high skids she had neither rear skid-mounted nor belly steps, making entrance to the rear seats, well .. interesting!
TRC: We shall look forward to those. Yes, upon reflection .. I 'post-scriptively' use the term 'hangar' somewhat loosely, lol!
I think Christian did a better job (in more recent years) on his take of a remote-Scottish-helicopter-home:
The Isle of Eilean Righ off the West Coast of Scotland
The Isle's hangar
MD900 G-SIVR belonging to the Isle's owner, Christian Siva-Jothy
ps: In the hangar shot you will see a line of fluorescent-tube lighting switched on .. totally unnecessary (during daylight hours) if you have transparent roof-panel sections installed (they work a treat). In fact I haven't seen a modern hangar anywhere without them!
500 Fan: If you're reading this then I thought I should mention (which I may have done before .. sorry getting old) that it was you who taught me to look out for the rear passenger skylights on the 500 in order to determine if the craft was a military model. Using this piece of detection one surmises that 'ATY' was the ex-Mil model but .. I could be wrong because I've heard it suggested that both of Denis' 500's were military variants! On a side note; did you notice that even when 'AVN' was placed on high skids she had neither rear skid-mounted nor belly steps, making entrance to the rear seats, well .. interesting!
TRC: We shall look forward to those. Yes, upon reflection .. I 'post-scriptively' use the term 'hangar' somewhat loosely, lol!
I think Christian did a better job (in more recent years) on his take of a remote-Scottish-helicopter-home:
The Isle of Eilean Righ off the West Coast of Scotland
The Isle's hangar
MD900 G-SIVR belonging to the Isle's owner, Christian Siva-Jothy
ps: In the hangar shot you will see a line of fluorescent-tube lighting switched on .. totally unnecessary (during daylight hours) if you have transparent roof-panel sections installed (they work a treat). In fact I haven't seen a modern hangar anywhere without them!
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ASW or AWA
The middle car in the background of the paris photo is a Renault 5
They came out in 1972 (so its unlikely to be ASW in that photo)
So its most likely AWA was repainted in all gold and carried the same scheme as ASW prior to that.
They came out in 1972 (so its unlikely to be ASW in that photo)
So its most likely AWA was repainted in all gold and carried the same scheme as ASW prior to that.
Last edited by Shane101; 22nd Oct 2012 at 10:59.
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Nice to see Issy the way it used to be - a very big grass field with a few hangars and not the very busy pad it is today, surrounded by tall buildings and a huge shopping mall. Remember going there with my Dad in the mid 70's and being shown around a Helicopjet. Happy days.
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Just been reading throught this fascinating thread and a memory I can contribute - OT as it involved fixed wing but relevant as one of the de Ferranti's was flying it - was a trip I had from Manchester Barton in EI-ARN, a Wren 460 which was a modified STOL version of the Cessna 182. I was young at the time but remember the CAA didn't like the Wren so it was registered in Ireland. I also remember the thing climbed like a homesick angel!