The Rotary Nostalgia Thread
Thread Starter
Scoiattolo Classico (Classic Squirrel)
F-GBBQ (bring your own sausages) at Farnborough on 9th September 1978. (Photo: Paul Thallon)
G-BHIV (location and photographer unknown)
First registered in December 1979 to McAlpine's then to Marley Tiles of Riverhead in March 1980. Was re-registered as G-COLN in April 1984 then: G-UNIV Sept '88 > G-RAHM Dec '89 > G-WILX May '90 > G-JOSS Aug '99 and finally G-JESI in December 2003.
G-NOEI at Farnborough on 4th September 1984. (Photo: Mick Bajcar)
First registered as G-BHIU in December 1979 then became G-MORR in January 1980 and finally G-NOEI in March 1984 prior to being destroyed on 8th October 1985.
An additional image of NOEI appears on page 11 of this thread.
S.
Charles Hughesden (Tradewinds)
A couple of photos in answer to post no. 482 by Savoia.
As a young lad watching the helicopters at Battersea Heliport G-AXGO was a very regular visitor. Often a very well dressed pilot would get out once the rotors had slowed sufficiently and then stop them with his brolly.
If my memory serves correctly he also wore a bowler hat ?
G-AXGO Bell 206A was registered to Tradewinds Helicopters Ltd, 24.10.75.
Converted to a Bell 206B II at some stage ? Then crashed into River Severn at Denby Island on 2.3.78
G-BTWA Bell 206B Jetranger II was registered to Charles Hughesden 30.10.78. This was cancelled 25.6.85 and became SX-HBV
Tradewinds Airways also owned another Bell 206A Jetranger G-AXJC but unable to trace any photos ?
all photos from the Helipixman collection
Helipixman
As a young lad watching the helicopters at Battersea Heliport G-AXGO was a very regular visitor. Often a very well dressed pilot would get out once the rotors had slowed sufficiently and then stop them with his brolly.
If my memory serves correctly he also wore a bowler hat ?
G-AXGO Bell 206A was registered to Tradewinds Helicopters Ltd, 24.10.75.
Converted to a Bell 206B II at some stage ? Then crashed into River Severn at Denby Island on 2.3.78
G-BTWA Bell 206B Jetranger II was registered to Charles Hughesden 30.10.78. This was cancelled 25.6.85 and became SX-HBV
Tradewinds Airways also owned another Bell 206A Jetranger G-AXJC but unable to trace any photos ?
all photos from the Helipixman collection
Helipixman
Last edited by helipixman; 6th Jul 2011 at 16:46.
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Scotland
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Curry in a Hurry or Do you deliver?
The things some people want a helicopter to do, Captain George and G-BOUY doing the honours.
Last edited by wiganairways; 21st Mar 2011 at 12:32.
Thread Starter
.
Helipix: As always, fantastic! Where would the Nostalgia thread be without your pictorial contributions? There would be many gaps and incomplete stories but .. thankfully we have you and the Helipix Collection! Well done. Another great image of Estepo's G-BTWA!
Does anyone have any clues on the location of Helipix's two images? I was thinking that AXGO could have been at 'Redders' (Redhill) but am not entirely sure. BTWA outside the hangar with the HS125?
Reference was made to G-AXGO by both myself and TRC on page 22. Sadly, she crashed into water during a 'water sampling sortie' on 2nd March 1978. However, before her demise she was owned by Charles Hughesdon's 'Tradewinds Airways' and registered to their Gatwick office. It is quite possible that Geoff Cox flew this craft. AXGO's first owner was Stewart Smith & Co. to whom she was registered in May 1969. She was the 33rd overall JetRanger registered in the UK and the 8th Bell (as opposed to AgustaBell) variant.
At some point, either under Stewart Smith's or Charles Hughesdon's patronage, AXGO was leased to John Dicken who, as mentioned previously, was a good friend to my godfather. Consequently Ferranti would hire aircraft from John (and others) when their fleet were committed.
Herewith is a quote from a former Ferranti pilot: "Ferranti hired John's 206 G-AXGO, and I flew it for the day having picked it up at Brooklands. I thought it was a very “loose” machine and after about 5 hours flying (for Plessey) I landed at the Beehive. As I shut down the aircraft began rocking and my engineer’s face went white. The mast was at a slight angle and one of the bearings at a lateral gearbox attachment point had popped out but was still retained in its housing – no wonder it felt loose!"
Wigan: Great nostalgia! One sees the paper promoted the local Indian restaurant but failed to mention George Muir's firm! Wasn't their a group of Brits in the 80's (or so) who used to set-up meals in unique locations and raise funds for charity? A balloon and Kili (Mt.Kilimanjro) spring to mind.
Herewith another shot of BOUY from Wigan's own collection:
BOUY at Clyde's Heliport (Photo from the WiganAirways Collection)
At some point during Clyde's ownership of BOUY (from '91 to '96) them seem to have attracted some sort of sponsorship from BP. Perhaps someone knows the details? When this happened BOUY was re-registered as G-GOBP as seen below:
Bell 206B G-GOBP at Duxford in August 1991. (Photo: Martin Laycock)
GOBP was participating in a competition involving various 'celebrities', in this case with the then Radio 1 DJ Bruno Brooks, during Helifest '91.
Sadly, as with AXGO (and several of the craft we have covered in recent pages) BOUY was destroyed, while registered as G-LGRM, on 11th September 2000.
An excerpt from the accident report reads as follows:
"The helicopter left Caernarvon to carry out a pipeline survey in North Wales. The forecast weather was for a westerly wind of 10 to 15 kt and visibility greater than 10 km. In the Snowdonia area the forecast was for reduced visibility in cloud and rain. As the helicopter approached Snowdonia the actual conditions, as reported by the pilot, deteriorated as expected to a visibility of 3 to 6 km in rain showers with an overcast cloud base of 1,000 to 1,500 feet in the mountains.
The pilot reported that, with deteriorating conditions ahead and to the right, the helicopter was turned to the left towards a steep hillside and descended in order to maintain ground visual contact. During the turn an unidentified amber caption on the central warning panel illuminated and an undemanded yaw to the right developed.
The pilot did not specifically identify the caution but suspected a tail rotor failure when corrective action on the yaw pedals did not arrest the yawing motion. The pilot therefore turned in the direction of the yaw in 'an attempt to fly out and regain directional control'. But the helicopter continued to yaw to the right and in doing so intermittently entered cloud. Ultimately the helicopter made contact with the ground and broke up. The pilot and observer who were both wearing lap and diagonal seat belts survived with minor injuries.
Subsequent examination of the helicopter showed that the tail rotor drive system was fully functional at impact. Furthermore, the pilot could not be certain which amber caution he had seen illuminated."
S.
Helipix: As always, fantastic! Where would the Nostalgia thread be without your pictorial contributions? There would be many gaps and incomplete stories but .. thankfully we have you and the Helipix Collection! Well done. Another great image of Estepo's G-BTWA!
Does anyone have any clues on the location of Helipix's two images? I was thinking that AXGO could have been at 'Redders' (Redhill) but am not entirely sure. BTWA outside the hangar with the HS125?
Reference was made to G-AXGO by both myself and TRC on page 22. Sadly, she crashed into water during a 'water sampling sortie' on 2nd March 1978. However, before her demise she was owned by Charles Hughesdon's 'Tradewinds Airways' and registered to their Gatwick office. It is quite possible that Geoff Cox flew this craft. AXGO's first owner was Stewart Smith & Co. to whom she was registered in May 1969. She was the 33rd overall JetRanger registered in the UK and the 8th Bell (as opposed to AgustaBell) variant.
At some point, either under Stewart Smith's or Charles Hughesdon's patronage, AXGO was leased to John Dicken who, as mentioned previously, was a good friend to my godfather. Consequently Ferranti would hire aircraft from John (and others) when their fleet were committed.
Herewith is a quote from a former Ferranti pilot: "Ferranti hired John's 206 G-AXGO, and I flew it for the day having picked it up at Brooklands. I thought it was a very “loose” machine and after about 5 hours flying (for Plessey) I landed at the Beehive. As I shut down the aircraft began rocking and my engineer’s face went white. The mast was at a slight angle and one of the bearings at a lateral gearbox attachment point had popped out but was still retained in its housing – no wonder it felt loose!"
Wigan: Great nostalgia! One sees the paper promoted the local Indian restaurant but failed to mention George Muir's firm! Wasn't their a group of Brits in the 80's (or so) who used to set-up meals in unique locations and raise funds for charity? A balloon and Kili (Mt.Kilimanjro) spring to mind.
Herewith another shot of BOUY from Wigan's own collection:
BOUY at Clyde's Heliport (Photo from the WiganAirways Collection)
At some point during Clyde's ownership of BOUY (from '91 to '96) them seem to have attracted some sort of sponsorship from BP. Perhaps someone knows the details? When this happened BOUY was re-registered as G-GOBP as seen below:
Bell 206B G-GOBP at Duxford in August 1991. (Photo: Martin Laycock)
GOBP was participating in a competition involving various 'celebrities', in this case with the then Radio 1 DJ Bruno Brooks, during Helifest '91.
Sadly, as with AXGO (and several of the craft we have covered in recent pages) BOUY was destroyed, while registered as G-LGRM, on 11th September 2000.
An excerpt from the accident report reads as follows:
"The helicopter left Caernarvon to carry out a pipeline survey in North Wales. The forecast weather was for a westerly wind of 10 to 15 kt and visibility greater than 10 km. In the Snowdonia area the forecast was for reduced visibility in cloud and rain. As the helicopter approached Snowdonia the actual conditions, as reported by the pilot, deteriorated as expected to a visibility of 3 to 6 km in rain showers with an overcast cloud base of 1,000 to 1,500 feet in the mountains.
The pilot reported that, with deteriorating conditions ahead and to the right, the helicopter was turned to the left towards a steep hillside and descended in order to maintain ground visual contact. During the turn an unidentified amber caption on the central warning panel illuminated and an undemanded yaw to the right developed.
The pilot did not specifically identify the caution but suspected a tail rotor failure when corrective action on the yaw pedals did not arrest the yawing motion. The pilot therefore turned in the direction of the yaw in 'an attempt to fly out and regain directional control'. But the helicopter continued to yaw to the right and in doing so intermittently entered cloud. Ultimately the helicopter made contact with the ground and broke up. The pilot and observer who were both wearing lap and diagonal seat belts survived with minor injuries.
Subsequent examination of the helicopter showed that the tail rotor drive system was fully functional at impact. Furthermore, the pilot could not be certain which amber caution he had seen illuminated."
S.
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Scotland
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
G-GOBP
BOUY was repainted and reregistered 2/91, for Radio Clyde's afternoon traffic reports, 'Barr's Irn Bru' sponsored the morning reports, and BP sponsored the afternoon reports, so BRDL was the Irn-Bru one, and GOBP was BP's one, photo's are from the repaint and the unveiling ceremony for the press .
New Paint Job
New registration
ready for the press unveiling
test flight with George,
and the 'Irn-Bru' .
WA
New Paint Job
New registration
ready for the press unveiling
test flight with George,
and the 'Irn-Bru' .
WA
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ...back of the drag curve
Age: 61
Posts: 558
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nigel Thornton
Nigel was killed when the Alouette II that he was flying hit wires in Yugoslavia while working on the film ‘High Road to China’ in 1982. Also aboard were a fixed wing pilot and the helicopter engineer, Andy Anderson, who had replaced me only the day before.
Nigel was killed when the Alouette II that he was flying hit wires in Yugoslavia while working on the film ‘High Road to China’ in 1982. Also aboard were a fixed wing pilot and the helicopter engineer, Andy Anderson, who had replaced me only the day before.
Savoia...........
Excellent thread and the index makes it even better........
Thanks and well done......!!!
Planemike
Excellent thread and the index makes it even better........
Thanks and well done......!!!
Planemike
Thread Starter
Planemike thanks.
While I edited the index I cannot take credit for its compilation which was performed by one of my staff 'Mark' who is an aviation enthusiast (albeit planks).
S.
While I edited the index I cannot take credit for its compilation which was performed by one of my staff 'Mark' who is an aviation enthusiast (albeit planks).
S.
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Scotland
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
G-GOBP goes to G-OBRU
After the BP contract was up, GOBP became OBRU, and both JR's were now in Barr's Irn-Bru colours
G-OBRU
G-BRDL as VH-FRL, photo from Barossa Helicopters.
and after Clyde was taken over by Bond both moved on to pastures new, OBRU to Scotia Helicopters, Cumbernauld, but BRDL went to Australia, to Barossa Helicopters, South Australia, and ran BRDL as VH-FRL for nearly 10 years, 1997 to 2006, she retained the Irn-Bru colours,Bridgette Kies of Barossa told me they liked its colours, even retained a Scottish saltire flag, - St. Andrews - on the engine cowl, sadly sold on in 2006 and crashed in Queensland in 2009 as VH-JTI.
G-OBRU
G-BRDL as VH-FRL, photo from Barossa Helicopters.
and after Clyde was taken over by Bond both moved on to pastures new, OBRU to Scotia Helicopters, Cumbernauld, but BRDL went to Australia, to Barossa Helicopters, South Australia, and ran BRDL as VH-FRL for nearly 10 years, 1997 to 2006, she retained the Irn-Bru colours,Bridgette Kies of Barossa told me they liked its colours, even retained a Scottish saltire flag, - St. Andrews - on the engine cowl, sadly sold on in 2006 and crashed in Queensland in 2009 as VH-JTI.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: London
Age: 60
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Charles Hughesdon
I think the three JetRangers (G-AXGO, G-AXJC, G-BTWA) could be considered primarily to be Charles Hughesdon's personal a/c, even though available for charter through Tradewinds Helicopters.
CFH was the majority shareholder in Tradewinds and was Deputy Chairman of Stewart, Smith & Co, a firm of insurance brokers.
CFH was the majority shareholder in Tradewinds and was Deputy Chairman of Stewart, Smith & Co, a firm of insurance brokers.
Thread Starter
.
Wigan: Great to see OBP and BRU going through their respective changes! I used to see an IRN-BRU 206 running around Aus .. now I know where she came from!
De Havilland: I'm sure you are right. There used to be another chap Surrey-way who used to potter about in a 206, somebody Gardner .. I think! Seem to remember him taking delivery of a new Bell 206 on shorts, orange in colour. Basic from the factory - not a single option added!
I recall being somewhat surprised to see Bell still turning out new 206's with the original back-breaking seats. I asked a Bell rep about this and made reference to the relative comfort of the Ecureuil (Squirrel) seats. I seem to remember him referring to them as 'unnecessary' or similar.
The Bell guys I met in the early 80's were quite blasé about the Squirrel .. a short-lived attitude I am sure!
Westland Wessex Mk 60 G-ATCA over Ford's Dagenham plant on 9th July 1970 en-route to Belgium, yes Belgium, flying the one millionth Ford Cortina car where its new owner awaited its arrival with keys in hand. At the time Ford decided to conduct this 'special export' TCA was registered to 'Westland Charters' who had clearly leased the craft to Bristows who went on to buy her in March of '71.
Vauxhall decides to do something similar on 17th July 2006 (albeit on a far shorter journey) over Tower Bridge en-route Billingsgate Market with their Corsa debut.
(Operator: Helicopter Services Ltd, Wycome Air Park)
A Skytech Mi26 doing 'its thing' with a Volvo truck.
S.
Wigan: Great to see OBP and BRU going through their respective changes! I used to see an IRN-BRU 206 running around Aus .. now I know where she came from!
De Havilland: I'm sure you are right. There used to be another chap Surrey-way who used to potter about in a 206, somebody Gardner .. I think! Seem to remember him taking delivery of a new Bell 206 on shorts, orange in colour. Basic from the factory - not a single option added!
I recall being somewhat surprised to see Bell still turning out new 206's with the original back-breaking seats. I asked a Bell rep about this and made reference to the relative comfort of the Ecureuil (Squirrel) seats. I seem to remember him referring to them as 'unnecessary' or similar.
The Bell guys I met in the early 80's were quite blasé about the Squirrel .. a short-lived attitude I am sure!
Westland Wessex Mk 60 G-ATCA over Ford's Dagenham plant on 9th July 1970 en-route to Belgium, yes Belgium, flying the one millionth Ford Cortina car where its new owner awaited its arrival with keys in hand. At the time Ford decided to conduct this 'special export' TCA was registered to 'Westland Charters' who had clearly leased the craft to Bristows who went on to buy her in March of '71.
Vauxhall decides to do something similar on 17th July 2006 (albeit on a far shorter journey) over Tower Bridge en-route Billingsgate Market with their Corsa debut.
(Operator: Helicopter Services Ltd, Wycome Air Park)
A Skytech Mi26 doing 'its thing' with a Volvo truck.
S.
Thread Starter
G-ASNL 'Arsenal' first appeared on page 20 landing alongside the Queen Mary in the 60's. Here she is seen at 'Pants Ants' (Penzance) in Cornwall. I'm fairly sure it was 'Arsenal' that went for a swim when she became a 'BA' 61.
S.
Thread Starter
Mixed Bag Nostalgia
Robert Wlison and Wattie Cameron load a deer carcass onto the side rack of a Bell 47 piloted by Milt Sills (right) in 1964. This uplift of game is touted as being the very first venison recovery flight in Kiwiland.
Westland Wasp HAS1 - more than likely having just recovered a dan-bouy, with crewman about to haul in the strop and flight deck crew preparing to clear the helideck prior to landing on a Tribal Class Frigate (F131) in the Persian Gulf in 1969.
Bell 206 of the New York Port Authority Police Department overhead Manhatten. The twin towers of the WTC still under construction. (Photo: Chuck Howard c. early 70's).
S.
Last edited by Savoia; 25th Mar 2011 at 17:51. Reason: Wasp Tag Amended as per Rotarywise's advice in #515
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Scotland
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Clyde's Hughes 500C
Where Clyde started, a Hughes 500C, G-GASA, leased in 3/86 for a year until G-EYEI arrived in 1987, Traffic report was sponsored by Racal Vodaphone.
G-CHLA, AS355F1 was an addtional Police Helicopter, still registered as G-REEM to Heliking Ltd., with a Jersey Channel Island address
The Glasgow Heliport hangar and signage
WA
G-CHLA, AS355F1 was an addtional Police Helicopter, still registered as G-REEM to Heliking Ltd., with a Jersey Channel Island address
The Glasgow Heliport hangar and signage
WA
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
Posts: 12,631
Received 299 Likes
on
167 Posts
G-ASNL went to the USA in '83, 'SNM is recorded as destroyed in November '70.
'SNL was presumably the one that would disturb my afternoon nap when I was still in nappies in '64/'65. These days it's the Met's EC145s looking for Croydon ne'er-do-wells interrupting my siesta in the office!
'SNL was presumably the one that would disturb my afternoon nap when I was still in nappies in '64/'65. These days it's the Met's EC145s looking for Croydon ne'er-do-wells interrupting my siesta in the office!
Last edited by treadigraph; 25th Mar 2011 at 17:24.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't think it's true to say the Wasp is 'being recovered'. It looks more as though it has just recovered a dan-bouy and the crewman is about to haul in the strop while the flight deck crew clear away the deck for landing. The Tribals had the smallest decks and largest wardrooms of all the frigates as I recall - there must be a moral there somewhere.
Thread Starter
.
Wigan: Great to see a public transport 500C. There can't have been many in the UK. Also CHLA in the days when Police ships looked respectable before they introduced the 'police-state' black and yellow! You can read a little about CHLA when she became REEM on the Monaco thread. Not the most inspiring type face used in the Clyde Helicopters signage but .. each to their own!
Treadigraph: Thanks for this info. I haven't yet had the time to investigate properly but, if memory serves, 'NL' joined her sister 'NM' in going for a swim and I think it was just the fuse shipped back to the US. Did I read somewhere that she became one of the Carson re-builds? More research required when I get a moment.
Rotarywise: Wasp tag amended accordingly.
S.
Wigan: Great to see a public transport 500C. There can't have been many in the UK. Also CHLA in the days when Police ships looked respectable before they introduced the 'police-state' black and yellow! You can read a little about CHLA when she became REEM on the Monaco thread. Not the most inspiring type face used in the Clyde Helicopters signage but .. each to their own!
Treadigraph: Thanks for this info. I haven't yet had the time to investigate properly but, if memory serves, 'NL' joined her sister 'NM' in going for a swim and I think it was just the fuse shipped back to the US. Did I read somewhere that she became one of the Carson re-builds? More research required when I get a moment.
Rotarywise: Wasp tag amended accordingly.
S.
Thread Starter
Arsenal & Arsenam
Clarification of the details relating to G-ASNL and G-ASNM:
ASNL:
ASNL during her ditching on 11th March 1983
ASNM:
ASNM at Tees Valley (Teeside) on 31st July 1967 en-route ABZ from EGSM (Beccles)
Sav
ASNL:
- Registered to BEA in December '63 and transferred to BAH in October '69.
- The craft was ditched on 11th March 1983 in an incident attributed to a failure of a spur gear in the main rotor gearbox leading to a rupture of the gearbox casing. Though she remained afloat after ditching 'Arsenal' sank during the subsequent salvage operation.
- The aircraft was sold to the US in October '83.
- ASNL accident report.
ASNL during her ditching on 11th March 1983
ASNM:
- Registered to BEA in February 1964.
- Destroyed in an incident on 15th November 1970 which was attributed a sudden loss of engine gearbox lubrication resulting in a double engine failure. The aircraft sank within 5 minutes of ditching.
- ASNM accident report.
ASNM at Tees Valley (Teeside) on 31st July 1967 en-route ABZ from EGSM (Beccles)
Sav