The Rotary Nostalgia Thread
It was quite a 'slick' machine, after the second dose of overspray from Ansett it was cut and polished with a teflon treatment which put it into the 115-120kias cruise bracket. Plus a very clean compressor with the use of Water-Meth injection on many a take off in our warmer temps
Thread Starter
John Eacott wrote: .. but we never heard of those fairing cuff thingies ..
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Scotland
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
G-AYCM in #1229
Hi Sav,
JR, G-AYCM was owned by Sir Hugh Fraser of House of Fraser fame, see post #770 for more details.
Wiggy
Good to see the photo's of the G-A, registered JR's
JR, G-AYCM was owned by Sir Hugh Fraser of House of Fraser fame, see post #770 for more details.
Wiggy
Good to see the photo's of the G-A, registered JR's
Thread Starter
Wiggy wrote: Good to see the photo's of the G-A, registered JR's
Quite a number of the 'A' reg 206's that we haven't touched upon are Bristow birds and one of the reasons for that is that in the late 60's (not long after Bristows took delivery of their initial order of 20 ships) many of them were shipped-off to support various overseas contracts.
Of the non-Bristow 206's some of those we have yet to look at include: G-AVVH, G-AVZH, G-AWOY, G-AWRI, G-AWRV, G-AXXO, G-AYDK, G-AYHN and G-AYIY.
Yoyo's G-AVII Shot
It would be grand if we could identify the 1970's Bristow driver from Yoyo's Southend photo of G-AVII!
Bristow ran the Plessey conract for some years with this craft after which, if I remember rightly, it passed to Manfred Mann who were leasing G-AXAY (more about G-AXAY on page 11 of the Alan Mann thread). The contract then went to Ferranti and I am still trying to establish which aircraft was assigned for this purpose but my suspicion is that it was G-AZZB.
If there's anyone with a little more insight into the Plessey contract please do chip in.
Thread Starter
Well if you've clicked onto PPRuNe this morning in the hope of finding a mild pick-me-up then I hope this contribution helps.
Its a British Pathé clip from 1952 documenting the arrival of two S-55's from the US in what is claimed to be the first trans-Atlantic crossing by helicopters.
The S-55's arrive at Prestwick from Iceland but, as with most Pathé clips, its the commentator's post-war British accent and choice of words which, for me, turn these little clips into gems. Enjoy!
British Pathé Clip
Its a British Pathé clip from 1952 documenting the arrival of two S-55's from the US in what is claimed to be the first trans-Atlantic crossing by helicopters.
The S-55's arrive at Prestwick from Iceland but, as with most Pathé clips, its the commentator's post-war British accent and choice of words which, for me, turn these little clips into gems. Enjoy!
British Pathé Clip
Thread Starter
John Fay
On page 49 we highlighted an event which occurred on 8th April 1959 when a Widgeon (G-ANLW) became the first helicopter to land at Westland's Battersea Heliport.
The craft was flown by John Fay:
John Fay
John Fay's landing at Westland Heliport on 8th April 1959 with G-ANLW and which became the first movement at Battersea
John Fay with G-ANLW in a slightly different paint scheme and wearing floats
John with a BEA Dragonfly conducting postal trials with the Royal Mail
The craft was flown by John Fay:
John Fay
John Samuel Fay was born in Brazil in 1921 and brought up in New Zealand until th age of nine when he came to England.
He was educated at Bardfield College and went straight from there to join the Fleet Air Arm in 1940. His training was on Miles Magisters, Fairey Batlles and then on to Swordfish and Albacores. He was appointed to 832 Squadron on HMS Victorious and operated in the Arctic and the Mediterranean.
He also had a short spell at Manston operating in the English Channel. The Victorious crossed the Atlantic at the end of 1942 and after some modifications joined the US fleet in the Pacific. Meanwhile 832 Squadron converted to Grumman Avengers and had the distinction of being the first British squadron to operate from an American carrier; the USS Saratoga.
After returning from the pacific he joined the Sevice Trial Unit at Crail until being appointed to the first helicopter course in Britain at Hanworth in March 1944.
After the war he joined the British European Helicopter Unit, which carried-out pioneering work such as mail and passenger trials, instrument flying and crew training.
On joining Westland aircraft as a test pilot and instructor he flew the types such as the Dragonfly, Whirlwind, Bell 47-B3-1, Widgeon and Wessex plus the Hughes 269. He also trained some 300 service and civil pilots from Britain and foreign countries and demonstrated several Westland aircraft at the Farnborough Airshows in th 1950's and 1960's. He also published several books on helicopters.
He was educated at Bardfield College and went straight from there to join the Fleet Air Arm in 1940. His training was on Miles Magisters, Fairey Batlles and then on to Swordfish and Albacores. He was appointed to 832 Squadron on HMS Victorious and operated in the Arctic and the Mediterranean.
He also had a short spell at Manston operating in the English Channel. The Victorious crossed the Atlantic at the end of 1942 and after some modifications joined the US fleet in the Pacific. Meanwhile 832 Squadron converted to Grumman Avengers and had the distinction of being the first British squadron to operate from an American carrier; the USS Saratoga.
After returning from the pacific he joined the Sevice Trial Unit at Crail until being appointed to the first helicopter course in Britain at Hanworth in March 1944.
After the war he joined the British European Helicopter Unit, which carried-out pioneering work such as mail and passenger trials, instrument flying and crew training.
On joining Westland aircraft as a test pilot and instructor he flew the types such as the Dragonfly, Whirlwind, Bell 47-B3-1, Widgeon and Wessex plus the Hughes 269. He also trained some 300 service and civil pilots from Britain and foreign countries and demonstrated several Westland aircraft at the Farnborough Airshows in th 1950's and 1960's. He also published several books on helicopters.
John Fay's landing at Westland Heliport on 8th April 1959 with G-ANLW and which became the first movement at Battersea
John Fay with G-ANLW in a slightly different paint scheme and wearing floats
John with a BEA Dragonfly conducting postal trials with the Royal Mail
Thread Starter
Agusta-Bell 47G-2 I-VFED of the 'Vigili del Fuoco' (Fire Watch Corps) at Fertilia Airport, Alghero, Sardinia, in 1973. This was the Corps first helicopter
Visit by King Gustaf VI of Sweden to the Italian Andrea-Doria class battleship Caio Duilio on 18th March 1967 with a pair of Sikorsky S-58's (Italian Navy designation HSS-1) on the aft quarterdeck
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: In the Haven of Peace
Age: 79
Posts: 600
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Soggy,
Was this your Farnborough programme?
Was this your Farnborough programme?
Yes, that was the one. Thanks for the newspaper article. Brian Sarginson was CO of 705 when I was a student and then my first CO on 845. He was a superb pilot and held in much awe by we lower life-forms.
During that Farnborough we also had motorcycles on loan - I think they were Triumph 250 cc scrambles bikes. I wasn't able to ride them as I had just been banned from driving, my last heinous offence having been to fail to stop at a T-junction in Helston whilst riding my wife's slowped
. I seem to remember we'd already written off 2 bikes by the end of the first day we had them. They were also used in a little jolly jape when the chaps went off to look at the 'Dead Sparrows' aircraft and noticed that their team had been given MGBs by MG After sticking Fly Navy stickers all over them the trials bikes were revved up in first gear whilst on their parking stands and the Dead Sparrows gleaming machines well sprayed with mud 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Cornwall
Age: 75
Posts: 1,307
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A Cautionary Tale
Once upon a time, in a small Far Eastern country, where the oil is under the sea and not far from land, a group of contractors converged. There were two groups of contractors and one had even brought a helicopter with them. The others were just pilots visiting for the rainy season when the crew-boats couldn't run and more helicopter activity was the plan.
The group of contractors with the helicopter were a mixed bag of Australians, Canadians and Europeans and they belonged to a company called Okanagan, a long dead ancestor of the mighty CHC.
The visiting pilots were British as were many of the resident work-force at that time and we enjoyed the excellent company of both residents and Okanagans.
One amongst the Okanagans was a chap called Jack - and Jack was a jolly fellow and a great practical joker. His speciality was slipping a match head into one of your cigarettes during the tea break should you be foolish enough to leave them lying around. When enjoying your nicotine fix the cigarette would explode and terrify one and all ----- and Jack would always be there peering into the crew-room and chuckling merrily.
Deciding that enough was enough we sought some retribution and knowing these stout fellows to be country bumpkins to the core we dreamed-up a wicked scam.
A function was invented and the whole team invited to attend. It was to be an important event for the ambitious acting chief pilot and a special day for the wife of one Okanagan who was visiting at the time. The heart of the scam was to get these guys dressed up with a tie - something they were definitely not accustomed to. The plan was to collect them together at the Shell Guest House and take a photograph of them in their finery. This included an expensive new dress for the young lady and a wonderful collection of ties that had been borrowed from the resident crews.
Their smiling faces were to turn to grimace and disappointment when they proceeded to the dining room to find, not the Canadian High Commissioner to Kuching (if such a person even existed) but a two-man welcoming committee who, so as not to disappoint, had arranged a curry lunch for them to enjoy and a few cold beers in which to shed their tears.
Give them their due - most saw the funny side. I must say that ever since I have wondered what the Public Affairs Department thought when they received a small slip attesting to the promised attendance of ALL Okanagans to an event about which they knew not a jot.
G.
The form looked something like this:
BSP – Public Affairs Department
NOTICE OF EVENT – Ref. PA1410
On the 13th October the Canadian High Commissioner for Kuching will visit the BSP facilities at Seria and Anduki and afterwards will be entertained for luncheon at the Shell Guest House.
DEPARTMENTAL ACTION REQUIRED
The Okanagan Helicopters detachment at Anduki are requested to attend the above luncheon. Please indicate below those attending, detach the reply slip and forward to:
Public Affairs
Can Hi Com/Oct
HQ
Seria
Your attention is drawn to the protocol advice below:
PROTOCOL
Event Classification - Semi-Formal
Dress Codes – (Host department to indicate dress requirements)
Gentlemen – White Tie
Black Tie
Lounge Suit
Jacket & Tie
Shirt Sleeves with tie - ✔
Shirt Sleeves no tie
Ladies – Ball Gown
Cocktail Dress
Formal Dress
Informal Dress - ✔
VENUE
Shell Guest House, 13.00h
Tear here and return to Public Affairs as soon as possible.
Function Ref No. ………………………………………….
Number Attending ……………………………………………………….
NOTICE OF EVENT – Ref. PA1410
On the 13th October the Canadian High Commissioner for Kuching will visit the BSP facilities at Seria and Anduki and afterwards will be entertained for luncheon at the Shell Guest House.
DEPARTMENTAL ACTION REQUIRED
The Okanagan Helicopters detachment at Anduki are requested to attend the above luncheon. Please indicate below those attending, detach the reply slip and forward to:
Public Affairs
Can Hi Com/Oct
HQ
Seria
Your attention is drawn to the protocol advice below:
PROTOCOL
Event Classification - Semi-Formal
Dress Codes – (Host department to indicate dress requirements)
Gentlemen – White Tie
Black Tie
Lounge Suit
Jacket & Tie
Shirt Sleeves with tie - ✔
Shirt Sleeves no tie
Ladies – Ball Gown
Cocktail Dress
Formal Dress
Informal Dress - ✔
VENUE
Shell Guest House, 13.00h
Tear here and return to Public Affairs as soon as possible.
Function Ref No. ………………………………………….
Number Attending ……………………………………………………….
Last edited by Geoffersincornwall; 15th Jan 2012 at 13:59. Reason: spelling
Thread Starter
Medal of Appreciation
Geoffrey, this is long overdue and for which I can do little more than apologise. However, by employing the adage: "better late than never", I hope to make amends!
Awarded to PPRuNer Geoffersincornwall for his
exceptional contributions to rotary nostalgia along with
his enjoyable wit accompanied by his fascinating pictorial memoirs
and .. for delivering G-WIZZ & G-TALY from Frosinone to Fairoaks
exceptional contributions to rotary nostalgia along with
his enjoyable wit accompanied by his fascinating pictorial memoirs
and .. for delivering G-WIZZ & G-TALY from Frosinone to Fairoaks
Medal of Appreciation Past Recipients:
Baston
Helipixman
Industry Insider
Ah de Havilland
Helipixman
Industry Insider
Ah de Havilland
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Cornwall
Age: 75
Posts: 1,307
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sav - The Post Script
I called my last submission 'A Cautionary Tale for a reason. The practical jokers upon whom we had visited embarrassment and humiliation would not, of course, take it lying down.
A few weeks after our jolly jape I had to leave my 'house-sitting' spot in Kuala Belait and move to the Sea View Hotel where the Okanagan lot were staying. Suffice it to say that when returning at 2 am after a jolly good party I found my hotel room door had been tampered with - the rascals had poured super-glue in the lock so entry was impossible.
Fortunately the night-porter fetched the owner and he broke down the door and I passed a relatively peaceful night.
The remainder of the tour was passed in a nervous state of anticipation but all in very good spirits. They were a good crowd and good sports. The sad thing was that the chap on the far left of the picture was Acting CP and saw the luncheon with the High Commissioner as his ticket to promotion. Apparently he issued a three line whip to his colleagues and their one day off was to be spent in homage to His Excellency. He took the embarrassment personally and did not speak to me after that. Somehow the joke passed him by. I often wonder if his ambitions were fulfilled.
G.
A few weeks after our jolly jape I had to leave my 'house-sitting' spot in Kuala Belait and move to the Sea View Hotel where the Okanagan lot were staying. Suffice it to say that when returning at 2 am after a jolly good party I found my hotel room door had been tampered with - the rascals had poured super-glue in the lock so entry was impossible.
Fortunately the night-porter fetched the owner and he broke down the door and I passed a relatively peaceful night.
The remainder of the tour was passed in a nervous state of anticipation but all in very good spirits. They were a good crowd and good sports. The sad thing was that the chap on the far left of the picture was Acting CP and saw the luncheon with the High Commissioner as his ticket to promotion. Apparently he issued a three line whip to his colleagues and their one day off was to be spent in homage to His Excellency. He took the embarrassment personally and did not speak to me after that. Somehow the joke passed him by. I often wonder if his ambitions were fulfilled.
G.
Thread Starter
Great stuff Geoffers!
I must say that the comments one heard about them when they were orange and white tended to be better than when they became red, white and blue!
And here is one of those birds:
Agusta-Bell 206A JetRanger G-AXKE, the 35th 206 registered in the UK, at an undisclosed location c. late 60's early 70's (Photo: Graham Bunn)
This craft was bought by Bristows in July 1969 but was then shipped-off to Indonesia the following month. In 1973 she is again registered to Bristows in the UK until 1975 when she is transferred to Bermuda after which the trail runs cold.
It is fair to assume therefore that this shot was taken either prior to her departure to Indonesia in 1969 or during her return to the UK between 1973-75 but I am inclined to go for the 73-75 period as all of Bristow's late 60's 206's were delivered in a pale blue colour.
Does anyone have an inkling as to which location this might be?
I must say that the comments one heard about them when they were orange and white tended to be better than when they became red, white and blue!
Savoia wrote: Quite a number of the 'A' reg 206's that we haven't touched upon are Bristow birds and one of the reasons for that is that in the late 60's (not long after Bristows took delivery of their initial order of 20 ships) many of them were shipped-off to support various overseas contracts.
Agusta-Bell 206A JetRanger G-AXKE, the 35th 206 registered in the UK, at an undisclosed location c. late 60's early 70's (Photo: Graham Bunn)
This craft was bought by Bristows in July 1969 but was then shipped-off to Indonesia the following month. In 1973 she is again registered to Bristows in the UK until 1975 when she is transferred to Bermuda after which the trail runs cold.
It is fair to assume therefore that this shot was taken either prior to her departure to Indonesia in 1969 or during her return to the UK between 1973-75 but I am inclined to go for the 73-75 period as all of Bristow's late 60's 206's were delivered in a pale blue colour.
Does anyone have an inkling as to which location this might be?
Thread Starter
1982 was a rough year for Mil accidents .. in April there was the two cab pile-up involving Wessex Mk 5's (XT464 and XT473 from 845 Naval Air Squadron) on South Georgia island during their attempt to extract SAS troops.
Soldiers from D Squadron SAS approach a crashed Wessex in appalling conditions on Fortuna Glacier, South Georgia Island. The surviving Wessex (to the right) was soon to perish as well, resulting in an epic feat of airmanship by the crew of "Humphrey", a third Wessex, to evacuate the men from the glacier
As I have mentioned several times previously, I depend on a small army of photographers to help me illuminate this thread. In all but the rarest of cases when I post an image with the photographer's name mentioned - that person has been solicited for permission to post on this forum and the link to the thread forwarded to the photographer once the image is posted. I must say that almost all the photographers I have approached have been most accommodating and which has been of encouragement.
As a result I have increasingly come to appreciate the efforts of those who are happy to support our merry trip down rotary-memory-lane!
I would like to introduce Graham Bunn (who gave permission to use the image of Bristow's G-AXKE above). Graham's father spent many years as an amateur photographer and amassed a formidable collection of aviation images of which Graham is now custodian. Sadly, Graham's father (now 79) is quite poorly and so, with this post goes out our best wishes for his recovery.
Graham is keen to obtain a little more information about some of the rotary images in his collection and, as a result, I shall be featuring a number of them here on Nostalgia in the hope that we may be able to come up with some helpful responses.
Quite a number of Graham's photos feature a location (the same as that shown in the image of G-AXKE) which is, as yet, unidentified .. and which I would like to identify. If anyone recognises this paddock flanked by what appears to be a fairly distinctive tree line, please do let us know.
Another one of Graham's images: Enstrom F28A G-BAWI landing at our mystery location and being marshalled by what appear to be Army Cadets? (Photo: Graham Bunn)
Using the dates of G-AXKE's return to Britain (1973-75) as a parameter, one observes that BAWI was registered to Cy Rose in April 1973 and sold on in January 1977. Perhaps the inimitable Dennisimo is accompanying Cy in the shot above!
I was at first going to take a stab at the location being Ascot but now think it could be the Carshalton Carnival?
Thread Starter
British Army Westland Scout XR635 on 'Eagle Patrol' in Northern Ireland (any offers on a likely date for this photo would be welcome)
A Royal Navy Westland Wasp from HMS Endurance alights on an ice floe in the Antarctic during 'pre-engagement' reconnaissance operations prior to the Falklands War (1982)
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: In the shadows
Age: 80
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Mystery Location
With the mix of military and civil airframes I wonder whether these photos were taken at one of Charles Hughesdon's Helicopter Garden Parties at Ripley? I haven't flown in there since the 1969 event but somehow it seems familiar.
Hofmeister posted this Pathe News clip on this forum back in September 2010 and the tree type and maturity etc might possibly back up this supposition?
HELICOPTER PARTY - British Pathé
Hofmeister posted this Pathe News clip on this forum back in September 2010 and the tree type and maturity etc might possibly back up this supposition?
HELICOPTER PARTY - British Pathé