ambidextrous

Hugh Colqhoun, known to his friends as "Huge Balloon" I believe, was a former RA Air OP pilot to the best of my knowledge. He then returned to Middle Wallop as a civilian instructor during the 60's/70's. Unfortunately he was killed whilst flying a Bell 206B Jetranger on a night charter from a private site.

RVDT

206A, Low gear with fairings, C-18 engine. Sweet!

griffothefog

Huge balloon and his "Hiller Killer" homemade wine.... Legend

RIP buddy.

heli1

I guess the Brantly et al pictures at Middle Wallop in 68 were at the Helicopter Championships that year , organised by the HCGB ?

ambidextrous

It is quite possible there was a Helicopter Championship meeting at that time, there was certainly a World Championship held there in 1973.

In the meantime in 1965 there was an Army Air Corps Day when this beast turned-up ..


Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave visiting Middle Wallop for the Army Air Corps Day in 1965

Ambidextrous

Savoia

When the 206 entered the market in 1967 her aesthetics seemed to shine among her peers, the Hughes 500C (with its 'reverse egg fuselage and 'screaming rear-seat' main transmission) and the FH1100 with its blunt nose and 'gangly' skids.

In terms of a small efficient private transport there really was nothing else like it and, as a result (and as we all know) she went on to become one of the most popular helicopters of the 70's.

In November 1966 Bell sent one of their prototypes (there were three) along with their pilot Joe Mashmann here to Milan where the aircraft was demonstrated to various prospective customers .. one of whom was my godfather. Upon returning to the UK my godfather showed Sebastian de Ferranti the publicity material distributed by Bell. Sebastian's response was to tell my godfather that he thought the JetRanger looked "very sexy". My godfather replied, "I'm glad you said that .. because I ordered two!"


Ferranti Helicopters Agusta-Bell 206A JetRanger G-AWJW. This was Ferranti's second JetRanger

The teardrop shaped nodule beneath the baggage compartment (also present on G-AVZG) was the antenna for the Decca DANAC moving map display the read out for which was mounted atop the instrument panel.

Ferranti's first 206 (G-AVSN) was the fourth 206 on the UK register and was the first non-Bristow JetRanger to be delivered to the UK.

I was very glad to see Ambidextrous ' photo of G-AVZG, she looked wonderful .. and to catch Tommy in the process .. fantastico!

I shall keep my fingers crossed that in years to come I may find two more images I am keen to collect, firstly one of Peter Cadbury with G-CHOC and secondly .. one of Jock Cameron with G-AWGU. More hunting to do.

Ambidextrous: I don't know if this craft will ring and bells with you but .. just in case:


Agusta-Bell (but delivered by Westland) 47-G AH1 Sioux XT498 of the Army Air Corps Advanced Rotary Wing Flight as seen at Middle Wallop on 14th June 1968 (Photo: RA Scholefield)

Also .. did you ever happen upon someone called Robert Parry, its just that there's a wee write-up about him which reads:

"Flying training commenced in December 1975. Three months after promising the Gunnery Officer at Portland that it would be 18 months before a possible course. He enjoyed the experience, without exception. Jenks taught him the rudiments of life in a Chipmunk. Chris Tinkler and Hugh Colquhoun did the same for the Sioux and basic rotary. A dispute about a rocking Sioux post an engine off resulted in a flurry of white gloves on white helmets from both sides of the cockpit, which amused those who could see from the sloping ground area. Hugh was always informal in his methods."


Robert Parry

SASless

Ambi.....the "Beast" is known as the "Moe J Vee"!

If ever there was a "Real Man's Helicopter"....they were it!

Two HUGE Recips....leaking Oil all over the place....in these days it would require an EPA Impact Statement for every landing site.

Huge Cockpit....well isolated from the SLF.....a real Helicopter she was!

Plank Cap

For you Sav,

The front half of Jock's G-AWGU resplendent in the BAH colours of the day. My stepdad stands by the nose of the aircraft, in preparation of requalifying on type. This followed an 8 year layoff from flying after sustaining a serious injury earlier in an unscheduled arrival in another Jetranger, minus running engine!

This photo dates from 1977, Inverness. S61N G-BEDI stands ready for action in the background, my stepdad's next mount after a few hours on the 206. It would appear he got to the aircraft before BA's uniform stores people got to him! Not sure if either aircraft is still with us in some form or other, but sadly my stepdad is not...

heli1

Really SASless. All US Army helicopters were named after Native American Indian tribes ,so in this case it was surely pronounced the "Mo ha vee" not the "Mo ja vee "?
Sergei Sikorsky was with the H-37 when the type was based with the US army in Europe,serving his time as a mechanic I believe .Imgine he had plenty of work keeping it serviceable.
Years later I came across a bunch of them in a yard next to Davis Monthan in Arizona ,minus their engines and instruments etc that had been sold off.i went to examine more closely but was warned off by the owner who pointed out that the cabins were popular hiding places for the local rattlers!

CharlieOneSix

Ah, dear old Rupert. We joined the RN together and just over two weeks ago the survivors of our entry had a 50th anniversary weekend celebration of that event at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth - see group photo here . At our dinner Rupert's name was read out as one of those no longer with us and we remembered him in our toast to Absent Friends. A greatly missed pal.

Nigel Osborn

My wife & I shared a house in Singapore with Rupert & his wife along with Colin Howgil, a Royal Marine pilot, & his wife, great happy days in 848! Rupert had been planning to visit here but tragically suddenly died before we could meet up.

stacey_s

G-AWGU S/n 8044 still alive as A7-HAO residing in Doha.

Stacey

Plank Cap

CharlieOneSix and Nigel, thanks for your kind comments re. my late step father, Rupert Wilson 1940-2010.
ex RN, Bristow, BAH, Shell Brunei, KLM Helicopters, East Asia Airlines, Flight Safety.

ambidextrous

Sav,
Sadly that particular machine does not figure in my novel of a logbook, many others but not that one. By June 1968 they'd let me loose on a Scout, yeehah!
With fraternal greetings,
ambi

Savoia

Ambi: I was told the Scout had somewhat 'brick like' autorotative qualities but .. that could just have been a malicious rumour!

Planko: Sorry about papa-in-law. There's always something special about being able to share the experience of flight with family members who are fellow flyers.

Thanks for the photo of "GU" .. wonderful! To the best of my knowledge G-BEDI ended-up as N754WN but .. I do not know whether she is still serviceable.


The Colonel at the controls of British Airways Agusta-Bell 206A (converted to a B) JetRanger G-AWGU at the Beehive (LGW) in 1978

longbox

This is a fantastic thread, I have been involved with the 206 since the age of 8, now 44, I am lucky that I have flown the 206 for many many years and i still love it today. I thought I would do the log book crawl and list a few tat i have flown for fun, most of which have featured here

G-ROGR
G-RODS
G-ONOW
G-PORT
G-WLLY (was also rogr)
G-SHCC
G-BUZZ
G-WIZZ
G-GAND
G-GUST
G-AWOL
G-BVGS
G-JETX
G-SUEZ
G-OETI
G-BZNI
G-MILI
G-OCRP
G-EYLE
G-HRAY
G_SUEX
G-SUET
G-SUEY
G-TTMB
G-CYRS
G-OLDN
G-MAAX
EI-PKS
G-BLZN
G-OHHI
G-INVU
G-BOTM
G-WHAZ
G-CBXY
G-BTHY
G-JACI
G-MILI
G-OJPS
G-ILYA
G-BOLO
G-BPWI
G-BLGV
G-HELO
G-COIN
G-HELE
G-HMPT
G-OCST
G-OMDR

They are the ones that I can find easily, there are more I flew once and have forgotten, it is such a great helicopter, I am now lucky to be selling new Bells for Bell in the UK, but the 206 is still my regular hack and I still love it!

Savoia

Lol !! Wow, what a great list! Bravo LB!

Of course several of your 'conquests' have featured on this thread.

I think we shall have to place a 'gentle burden' upon you to post some of the snaps you may have collected over the years!

Brilliant Stuff

Snap on G-ONOW & G-OCST.

Last I heard G-ONOW has gone stateside.

SASless

The Scout's autorotative qualities was once described to me as being akin to a set of streamlined Car Keys.

Anthony Supplebottom

Always knew someone would register an aircraft after me.