The Rotary Nostalgia Thread
Stacey's project with the others of his year must have been a tremendous undertaking, why does the aircraft have an American reg? Was it built from scratch?
I put Stacey (with all the hair) to the far top left of the gathering.
I put Stacey (with all the hair) to the far top left of the gathering.
Chief Bottle Washer
But this is nothing to do with Rotary Nostalgia, is it
Ah, saw what you did with the Rotary thing there, SP...
Fantastic apprentice project - did it have a donk fitted/ did it fly?
Fantastic apprentice project - did it have a donk fitted/ did it fly?
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Did not fly but had a donk fitted with no internals, it was a 'Rotary' engine and old!!, so rotary nostalgia!! gedit!!
The one in Yeovilton is the one and the same machine, made from parts from Spain and the rest from an Irish bog or so I was led to believe, OLDLAE is correct far left with all the hair.
The one in Yeovilton is the one and the same machine, made from parts from Spain and the rest from an Irish bog or so I was led to believe, OLDLAE is correct far left with all the hair.
Thread Starter
Bruce Aspinall RIP
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The AgustaBell 206B JetRanger II G-CPTS belonging to Bruce Aspinall has recently featured on the Oldest Operational Helicopter thread as well as on the Alan Mann nostalgia thread.
Today I received a message from a family who are friends of the Aspinall's and who have evidently been reading PPRuNe. Their message conveys the sad news that Bruce Aspinall, who has owned G-CPTS for the past 33 years, passed away on 24th April.
This post is to convey condolences to the Aspinall's and their friends.
Mrs 'K' who wrote to me mentioned that: "The helicopter you have referred to on your forum was to have gone for the helecopter equivalent of an MOT this week."
AgustaBell 206B G-CPTS at Blackpool Squires Gate on 28th April 1984 (Photo: Derek Heley)
RIP Bruce.
Sav
The AgustaBell 206B JetRanger II G-CPTS belonging to Bruce Aspinall has recently featured on the Oldest Operational Helicopter thread as well as on the Alan Mann nostalgia thread.
Today I received a message from a family who are friends of the Aspinall's and who have evidently been reading PPRuNe. Their message conveys the sad news that Bruce Aspinall, who has owned G-CPTS for the past 33 years, passed away on 24th April.
This post is to convey condolences to the Aspinall's and their friends.
Mrs 'K' who wrote to me mentioned that: "The helicopter you have referred to on your forum was to have gone for the helecopter equivalent of an MOT this week."
AgustaBell 206B G-CPTS at Blackpool Squires Gate on 28th April 1984 (Photo: Derek Heley)
RIP Bruce.
Sav
Endeavour Aviation/Thomas Edward Brodie Sopwith
G-ATSJ Brantly 305 c/n 1024 registered to T.E.B Sopwith 11.5.66 then to his company Endeavour Aviation 22.12.67
Sold to Alan Mann Racing Ltd 13.11.68
Crashed 24.5.77 during ownership of R.H. Ryan
Another shot of G-ATSJ with some interesting aircraft in background.
G-AVZG Agusta Bell 206A Jetranger c/n 8017 registered to Endeavour Aviation, 12.12.67
Sold to Ernest George Aviation 18.5.73 and eventually went to Canada for spares use !
G-BASE Bell 206B Jetranger II c/n 969 registered to Endeavour Aviation, 8.3.73.
Seen on the embankment next to the London City helistop, anyone know what this exhibition was about ?
Sold to Air Hanson Ltd, 22.12.78 and has since been registered as G-OCBB and G-TUCH before leaving the UK as 9M-LLT
Tommy Sopwith was also chairman of the company operating the helistop
G-GINA AS.350B Ecureuil c/n 1016 registered to Endeavour Aviation, 21.3.78 with personal reg for his wife
Sold in the USA as N130FH
Another shot of G-GINA
all photos from Helipixman collection
Last edited by helipixman; 6th Jul 2011 at 16:09.
Endeavour Aviation Part 2
G-IINA AS.350B1 Ecureuil c/n 2382 ex N908BA registered to Endeavour Aviation, 11.12.90
Sold to TWR Group Ltd, 15.12.95
Since re-registered as G-BWLI before leaving the UK as HB-XJC
Lastly McAlpine Helicopters had the registration G-INAS reserved probably for Sopwith but not used on a helicopter !
all photos Helipixman collection
Last edited by helipixman; 6th Jul 2011 at 16:00.
Thread Starter
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Ah .. Helipix, you've done it again! When the rummaging through slides and negatives of others was silenced .. the Helipixman Collection triumphed with the delivery of evidence from times past bringing to life our ramblings of a bygone age in British rotary exploits. A well deserved Bravo; for you seem to have captured every one of Sopwith's rotorcraft!
The Brantly 305 G-ATSJ has of course popped-up previously on this thread but, these are great new shots and how wonderful it is to be able to link her with the subject of our latest discussions.
Wonderful too to see the AgustaBell 206A G-AVZG which Ferranti chartered from Tommy when their fleet were committed. One has to admire the VOR antenna arrangement beneath the cabs of so many 60's JetRangers - classic! I bet more than one came home bent!
Of G-BASE, what a unique shot along the Embankment. I am puzzled however by CSE's advertising of both Bell and AgustaBell products although the reality in the early 70's was that both CSE and Mann's ended-up with a number of each through various sales and part-exchanges.
G-GINA looks resplendent in her two-tone blue (not totally in love with the scheme but the colours are great). GINA, to the best of my knowledge, was the first Ecureuil to grace the shores of Blighty!
And finally, G-IIIIINA! Where is that pub .. the 'Sussex Pad' which overlooks an airfield?
Helipix, again, well done - thoroughly enjoyable.
Best
Sav
Awarded to Helipixman for his tireless efforts in bringing the Nostalgia Thread to life with the aid of his seemingly inexhaustible collection of superb rotary-wing images
Ah .. Helipix, you've done it again! When the rummaging through slides and negatives of others was silenced .. the Helipixman Collection triumphed with the delivery of evidence from times past bringing to life our ramblings of a bygone age in British rotary exploits. A well deserved Bravo; for you seem to have captured every one of Sopwith's rotorcraft!
The Brantly 305 G-ATSJ has of course popped-up previously on this thread but, these are great new shots and how wonderful it is to be able to link her with the subject of our latest discussions.
Wonderful too to see the AgustaBell 206A G-AVZG which Ferranti chartered from Tommy when their fleet were committed. One has to admire the VOR antenna arrangement beneath the cabs of so many 60's JetRangers - classic! I bet more than one came home bent!
Of G-BASE, what a unique shot along the Embankment. I am puzzled however by CSE's advertising of both Bell and AgustaBell products although the reality in the early 70's was that both CSE and Mann's ended-up with a number of each through various sales and part-exchanges.
G-GINA looks resplendent in her two-tone blue (not totally in love with the scheme but the colours are great). GINA, to the best of my knowledge, was the first Ecureuil to grace the shores of Blighty!
And finally, G-IIIIINA! Where is that pub .. the 'Sussex Pad' which overlooks an airfield?
Helipix, again, well done - thoroughly enjoyable.
Best
Sav
* * *
The Savoia
Medal of Appreciation
Medal of Appreciation
Awarded to Helipixman for his tireless efforts in bringing the Nostalgia Thread to life with the aid of his seemingly inexhaustible collection of superb rotary-wing images
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Sussex pad
Sav
Google is your friend - Sussex Pad Hotel just outside the northern boundary of Shoreham Airport. Website Sussex Pad Hotel - HOME
Best Regards
Hofmeister
Google is your friend - Sussex Pad Hotel just outside the northern boundary of Shoreham Airport. Website Sussex Pad Hotel - HOME
Best Regards
Hofmeister
Thread Starter
The Sopwith Files: More Sopwith ...
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Grazie Mille Hof! I just find it strange that I can't remember having seen it during my visits there.
The fact that G-IINA is at Shoreham is a splendid affirmation of MB's post (#668) in which he cited sightings of the Sopwith fleet at the field.
While on pubs, one of my favoured pubs in England is in fact in Sussex; Badgers, just south of Petworth House along the road to Goodwood. They used to serve an interpretation of 'Bubble & Squeak' which was basically a potato pankcake with all sorts thrown in. A simple and inexpensive dish which, when washed down with their local ale, was scrumptious.
More Sopwith ...
It would appear from this Flight Article (1st April 1971) that Tommy was at some point a director of CSE Aviation:
Also, this rather interesting piece (below) which refers to Tommy as Chairman of the BHAB and how he temporarily utilised the 'Mercator' (a Thames lighter) as a helipad during the 1973 London Plane Show. Evidently they logged 100+ movements without any complaints.
Now I am reasonably confident that this is one and the same event which my godfather related to me whereby local residents complained bitterly that they had not been given prior notification of the temporary use of the barge as a helipad stating that had they been notified .. they would have complained .. on principle! Lol .. some things never change!
Flight International November 1973
Sav
Grazie Mille Hof! I just find it strange that I can't remember having seen it during my visits there.
The fact that G-IINA is at Shoreham is a splendid affirmation of MB's post (#668) in which he cited sightings of the Sopwith fleet at the field.
While on pubs, one of my favoured pubs in England is in fact in Sussex; Badgers, just south of Petworth House along the road to Goodwood. They used to serve an interpretation of 'Bubble & Squeak' which was basically a potato pankcake with all sorts thrown in. A simple and inexpensive dish which, when washed down with their local ale, was scrumptious.
More Sopwith ...
It would appear from this Flight Article (1st April 1971) that Tommy was at some point a director of CSE Aviation:
Also, this rather interesting piece (below) which refers to Tommy as Chairman of the BHAB and how he temporarily utilised the 'Mercator' (a Thames lighter) as a helipad during the 1973 London Plane Show. Evidently they logged 100+ movements without any complaints.
Now I am reasonably confident that this is one and the same event which my godfather related to me whereby local residents complained bitterly that they had not been given prior notification of the temporary use of the barge as a helipad stating that had they been notified .. they would have complained .. on principle! Lol .. some things never change!
Flight International November 1973
Sav
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I regularly used to see one of Tommy Sopwith's Squirrels landing in that NE corner of Shoreham airfield, I think he used to just hop over the fence and into a car - summer '88(?)
Also heard the lurid tales of Lord Snorty stumbling out of his H500 at Battersea with white powder all over his shirt, and at other times inexplicably returning from the Channel Isles by sea while someone else (his pilot?) flew the helo and bags in unaccompanied. One can only surmise why...
I will try to dig out my Enstrom pics soon.
Also heard the lurid tales of Lord Snorty stumbling out of his H500 at Battersea with white powder all over his shirt, and at other times inexplicably returning from the Channel Isles by sea while someone else (his pilot?) flew the helo and bags in unaccompanied. One can only surmise why...
I will try to dig out my Enstrom pics soon.
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Tommy Sopwith
I think the FI cutting from 1973 about the London Plane Show clears up exactly when the photo of G-BASE was taken.
I thought the picture didn't look much like the City Helistop which was on the barge "William" moored next to warehouses on the south bank, near Cannon Street rail bridge. The location looks too grand for this.
The shot seems to have been taken from the terrace of the Festival Hall and shows the Thames lighter "Mercator" used as a temporary landing pad in the backgound. Note also the elaborate street light.
Shame such an event could never happen again.
I thought the picture didn't look much like the City Helistop which was on the barge "William" moored next to warehouses on the south bank, near Cannon Street rail bridge. The location looks too grand for this.
The shot seems to have been taken from the terrace of the Festival Hall and shows the Thames lighter "Mercator" used as a temporary landing pad in the backgound. Note also the elaborate street light.
Shame such an event could never happen again.
I remember parking the Trinity House bolkow up in the same spot by the Sussex Pad back in the late 80's.............. By far the best bacon buttes Ive ever had by none 
( heart stoppers)
( heart stoppers)
Thread Starter
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Ah .. good old unhealthy British food. I do miss it!
Of Shoreham and 105's ..
Ex-Ferranti Bo105D G-BAFD on contract to Sussex Police as seen in September 1988. (Photo: Steve Stoneman)
Sav
Ah .. good old unhealthy British food. I do miss it!
Of Shoreham and 105's ..
Ex-Ferranti Bo105D G-BAFD on contract to Sussex Police as seen in September 1988. (Photo: Steve Stoneman)
Sav
Thread Starter
Gay Absalom & Nobby Clarke
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There have been a handful of comments regarding Gay on this and a couple of other threads and I thought it would be useful to consolidate them:
Gay Absalom returns to the UK having completed a solo-cross-channel flight to Deuville, France and for which endeavour she received an award from the French Aero Club. June 1967.
..Flight International 9th May 1968
Would be great to discover the 500 of which Plank Cap speaks as well as to find out, as CharlieOneSix suggests, what happened to Gay!
I was pleased to happen upon this image (however poor) of the late-great 'Antonio' 'Nobbly' 'Nobby' Clarke! Besides calling him Antonio I would also refer to him as Leo based on my belief (which he disputed) of his similarity to the actor Leo McKern. Basically, whenever he did anything I didn't fully appreciate I would respond 'Yes Leo'. This exchange most frequently occurred after work when we would stop at his local for a pint whereupon, having purchased not a single round, he would say 'I think this is your round!'
A gentleman flyer much missed!
Leo McKern whom Savoia accused of resembling 'The Clarke'
Sav
There have been a handful of comments regarding Gay on this and a couple of other threads and I thought it would be useful to consolidate them:
Plank Cap wrote: Mid 70's and a still vibrant memory of the most gorgeous silver and black Hughes 500C on high skids. As a 10 year old boy my future fate and career were shaped by this image, fully rammed home a few minutes later at the sight of an even more gorgeous long-haired blonde lady purposefully striding out to the aircraft and taking off on some undoubtedly fabulous mission.
To a youngster it didn't get any better.....
To a youngster it didn't get any better.....
CharlieOneSix wrote: That would have been Gay Absalom.
She followed a family trend in joining her father (Roland) in flying helicopters and passed her PPL in 1966. It was not long before she progressed to a CPL in a period when females and helicopters were not an accepted combination in the commercial world. She was 23 when she enrolled at the Oxford Air Training School at Kidlington and got her commercial licence.
Bristows turned her down and, although he was not a party to the original decision, Alan Bristow himself rejected her subsequent appeal. She then got a job with Air Gregory. I remember seeing her at Battersea many times during the early/mid 70's - wonder what became of her?
She followed a family trend in joining her father (Roland) in flying helicopters and passed her PPL in 1966. It was not long before she progressed to a CPL in a period when females and helicopters were not an accepted combination in the commercial world. She was 23 when she enrolled at the Oxford Air Training School at Kidlington and got her commercial licence.
Bristows turned her down and, although he was not a party to the original decision, Alan Bristow himself rejected her subsequent appeal. She then got a job with Air Gregory. I remember seeing her at Battersea many times during the early/mid 70's - wonder what became of her?
DennisK wrote: Gay Barratt (née Absalom) flew for my firm many times. She was the lady pilot featured flying the Enstrom Shark, G-PALS in "To the Manor Born." The director wanted a lady 'blonde' pilot and I believe Gay was in fact the ONLY CPL in those days.
Cornish Jack wrote: Of the two memories of the day, one was dropping our smoke grenade UPWIND of the VIP guest enclosure, the other was the arrival of a Jet Ranger and being goggle-eyed at the tall, blonde lime-green trouser suited lady pilot.
Gay Absalom returns to the UK having completed a solo-cross-channel flight to Deuville, France and for which endeavour she received an award from the French Aero Club. June 1967.
..Flight International 9th May 1968
Would be great to discover the 500 of which Plank Cap speaks as well as to find out, as CharlieOneSix suggests, what happened to Gay!
I was pleased to happen upon this image (however poor) of the late-great 'Antonio' 'Nobbly' 'Nobby' Clarke! Besides calling him Antonio I would also refer to him as Leo based on my belief (which he disputed) of his similarity to the actor Leo McKern. Basically, whenever he did anything I didn't fully appreciate I would respond 'Yes Leo'. This exchange most frequently occurred after work when we would stop at his local for a pint whereupon, having purchased not a single round, he would say 'I think this is your round!'
A gentleman flyer much missed!
Leo McKern whom Savoia accused of resembling 'The Clarke'
Sav
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Unhealthy food!!
S
I don't know the value or otherwise of calorie-enhanced bacon butties, but you have 'cafe-corretto' (Sp?) do you not? Especially in the Winter. Sets one up for the day - well it did me (had 3 of them) prior to a frosty start on ground handling at Aeroporto Torino one cold Feruary morn.
What a way to live (even if it is now non-pc)
VFR
I don't know the value or otherwise of calorie-enhanced bacon butties, but you have 'cafe-corretto' (Sp?) do you not? Especially in the Winter. Sets one up for the day - well it did me (had 3 of them) prior to a frosty start on ground handling at Aeroporto Torino one cold Feruary morn.
What a way to live (even if it is now non-pc)
VFR
Thread Starter
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On Wednesday 11th May 2011 at the RAF Club in London,
Wing Commander Robert (Bob) Foster presented the Venerable Dennis 'Dennisimo' 'The Menace' Kenyon, with the Royal Aero Club's Diploma.
Wing Commander Robert (Bob) Foster presented the Venerable Dennis 'Dennisimo' 'The Menace' Kenyon, with the Royal Aero Club's Diploma.
Dennis Kenyon started flying in the RAF in 1952 and has flown some 85 aircraft types from Tiger Moths to early military jets. In 1972 he joined Spooner Aviation from where he developed one of the UK's most successful helicopter sales distributorships becoming synonymous with the Enstrom brand he promoted. Dennis is qualified as a Helicopter ATPL, Instructor and Type Rating Examiner. He is also an acclaimed display pilot and evaluator.
Dennis has flown 32 differnet types of rotary aircraft and has amassed in excess of 13,000 flying hours. He has performed at more than 1,200 airshows and has appeared in several feature films. He has represented Great Britain in four World Helicopter Championships, winning the aerobatic freestyle title in 1992.
In 2005 he set up a flying scholarship to sponsor to helicopter PPL standard those with a passion for rotary-wing flight. He continues to convey his experience through writing articles on helicopter test flights, flight theory and flight safety.
* * *
Dennis, my sincere congratulations on having received this reward. Well done!
Sav
Thread Starter
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Si, caffè corretto, but this is far from unhealthy VFR. In fact, quite the opposite!
Furthermore, do not waste your time with those little 'shot' glasses but rather indulge in a 'proper' breakfast (below). Regarding political correctness - I try to stamp it out at every possible opportunity, lol!
Salute
Sav
Si, caffè corretto, but this is far from unhealthy VFR. In fact, quite the opposite!
Furthermore, do not waste your time with those little 'shot' glasses but rather indulge in a 'proper' breakfast (below). Regarding political correctness - I try to stamp it out at every possible opportunity, lol!
Salute
Sav
Thread Starter
An Australian in County Clare!
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One is accustomed to seeing a variety of registrations employed across Europe in both corporate and private applications; US, Bermudan, Manx etc. however, Aussie registered craft are less common.
Anyone with knowledge of the ship below?
AW109E VH-MXE at Dromoland Castle on 29th August 2004. (Photo: Trevor Mulkerrins)
Some weeks prior to this photo Dromoland hosted the US-EU summit (below) during which rotorcraft doubtless provided essential support.
George W. walks through the grounds of Dromoland Castle with Romano Prodi and Bertie Ahern on 26th June 2004
Sav
One is accustomed to seeing a variety of registrations employed across Europe in both corporate and private applications; US, Bermudan, Manx etc. however, Aussie registered craft are less common.
Anyone with knowledge of the ship below?
AW109E VH-MXE at Dromoland Castle on 29th August 2004. (Photo: Trevor Mulkerrins)
Some weeks prior to this photo Dromoland hosted the US-EU summit (below) during which rotorcraft doubtless provided essential support.
George W. walks through the grounds of Dromoland Castle with Romano Prodi and Bertie Ahern on 26th June 2004
Sav