The Rotary Nostalgia Thread
Thread Starter
She is indeed a 47H-1. More about G-AZYB in post 447 of this thread.
Griffo, your initial Bölkow shot has spawned a series of similar images (see post 1285 above)!
Griffo, your initial Bölkow shot has spawned a series of similar images (see post 1285 above)!
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All the Bells (but no Whistles!)
Ah, Savoia, that's what happens when negatives lay 'unprinted' for nearly 40 years...I thought it was some kind of Enstrom....no excuse, either, I've been to the Weston Museum!....Pretty little helicopter....Italian styled, perhaps?
My neighbour from my Fifties schooldays in Heston took this shot of the Turriff Bell 47J there (1964ish)
Agusta-Bell 47J-2 Ranger, G-ASNV, Turriff Construction Ltd.
Does anybody in the rotary scene have other pics at Heston?....I know the CAA made a ceremonial JetRanger flight from Heston to Fairoaks when they vacated their Heston offices in the Seventies
My neighbour from my Fifties schooldays in Heston took this shot of the Turriff Bell 47J there (1964ish)
Agusta-Bell 47J-2 Ranger, G-ASNV, Turriff Construction Ltd.
Does anybody in the rotary scene have other pics at Heston?....I know the CAA made a ceremonial JetRanger flight from Heston to Fairoaks when they vacated their Heston offices in the Seventies
Last edited by A30yoyo; 7th Feb 2012 at 19:31.
A30yoyo:
Actually yoyo, when I saw that pic the first thought that popped into my mind was:
Hyacinth: "Richard! Do be careful as there seems to be one of those dreadful eggbeaters off to your right. Sound your horn, dear."
(are you sure this is the M4, Mildred?)
Hyacinth: "Richard! Do be careful as there seems to be one of those dreadful eggbeaters off to your right. Sound your horn, dear."
Thread Starter
Out of curiosity, what type of car is it? Either a Vauxhall or Ford I am sure.
Yes, not bad for her day. The 47 'H' model was Bell's attempt at a 'deluxe' version of the successful 'G' model. Features included an enclosed sound-proofed cabin which could accommodate one pilot and two passengers. The cabin had leather upholstery throughout as well as a leather covered instrument panel which grouped all the switches and carburetor controls. The enclosed metal monocoque tail boom contained a luggage compartment (unique for a Bell in those days). The craft was powered by a 200hp Franklin 6V4-200-C32AB engine.
Produced in 1955, Bell gave the 'H' model the name 'Bellairus' - she was intended for the executive market but .. sadly, though Bell did a good job of putting this bird together, it turned out to be too small for the job.
The 47 'Bellairus' with its enclosed monocoque tail boom
Newly produced 'H' models awaiting delivery
Ah no friend. If I were to post some of the earlier Italian rotary-wing designs I would have to go hide under a rock somewhere. I'm afraid it took a couple of decades before the post-war Italian depression began to lift to the point where morale was restored and we began to see the revival of that creative spirit for which Italy is now known.
However, not long after the introduction of the Bellairus Agusta did re-vamp a Bell design which became the Agusta 102. As with all Italian designs up to that point .. not especially attractive but functional and with (from what I understand) reasonable performance.
The aircraft was based on the mechanical components of a Bell 48 that Agusta incorporated into an all-new, streamlined fuselage. The first flight was on 3 February 1959 at Cascina Costa under the hand of then well-known Agusta test pilot Ottorino Lancia. The prototype was exhibited at that year's Paris Air Show in faux military colours.
Only two production examples were built, operated by Elivie in a regular air service between Turin and Milan from 1961. However, the advent of turbine-powered helicopters in the 1960s soon rendered the A102 obsolete.
The A102 at Locarno Airport on 28th October 1960 (Quite what the sheep were doing grazing at the airfield I don't know but I suspect it was probably an arrangement between the airfield manager and a local farmer)
The float-equipped 102 I-AGUT
The 102's panel
.. and cabin (which could accommodate 9 passengers)
The 102 was developed from Bell's model 48A
(Photos: Mario Bazzani and the Agusta archives)
Quite extraordinary that you should mention this Yoyo because over on the Mann Thread we have just been discussing the craft in question which, as it happens, ended-up being bought by Noel Edmonds.
The event you refer to (the last official movement recorded at Heston Aerodrome) took place on 6th June 1978 in an Alan Mann JetRanger (described above) G-BWCN and which you can read about in post 89 of the Mann Thread.
Pretty little helicopter ..
Produced in 1955, Bell gave the 'H' model the name 'Bellairus' - she was intended for the executive market but .. sadly, though Bell did a good job of putting this bird together, it turned out to be too small for the job.
The 47 'Bellairus' with its enclosed monocoque tail boom
Newly produced 'H' models awaiting delivery
Italian styled, perhaps?
However, not long after the introduction of the Bellairus Agusta did re-vamp a Bell design which became the Agusta 102. As with all Italian designs up to that point .. not especially attractive but functional and with (from what I understand) reasonable performance.
The aircraft was based on the mechanical components of a Bell 48 that Agusta incorporated into an all-new, streamlined fuselage. The first flight was on 3 February 1959 at Cascina Costa under the hand of then well-known Agusta test pilot Ottorino Lancia. The prototype was exhibited at that year's Paris Air Show in faux military colours.
Only two production examples were built, operated by Elivie in a regular air service between Turin and Milan from 1961. However, the advent of turbine-powered helicopters in the 1960s soon rendered the A102 obsolete.
The A102 at Locarno Airport on 28th October 1960 (Quite what the sheep were doing grazing at the airfield I don't know but I suspect it was probably an arrangement between the airfield manager and a local farmer)
The float-equipped 102 I-AGUT
The 102's panel
.. and cabin (which could accommodate 9 passengers)
The 102 was developed from Bell's model 48A
(Photos: Mario Bazzani and the Agusta archives)
I know the CAA made a ceremonial JetRanger flight from Heston to Fairoaks when they vacated their Heston offices in the Seventies.
The event you refer to (the last official movement recorded at Heston Aerodrome) took place on 6th June 1978 in an Alan Mann JetRanger (described above) G-BWCN and which you can read about in post 89 of the Mann Thread.
Savoia...Some historic pictures of Bell 47's for your files. All are from the files of Redding Air Service, started by Burt Train in 1957. Unfortunately he passed back in 2005, but his company lives on. The company primarily is involved in the utility industry, and I was recently forwarded a photo from the USFS of Burt doing some of the first trials for bucket work. The Tail # is N988B, this number has since been transfered to one of our L4's.
Here are a bunch of pictures from the company history.
This is our hangar which is still there---we have added onto it though:
More to follow...
Here are a bunch of pictures from the company history.
This is our hangar which is still there---we have added onto it though:
More to follow...
Part two...
Here is one of our ongoing contracts---snow surveys for CA Dept. Of Water:
Same snow survey being done these days:
And the man himself--Burt Train shortly before he passed:
Here is one of our ongoing contracts---snow surveys for CA Dept. Of Water:
Same snow survey being done these days:
And the man himself--Burt Train shortly before he passed:
Avoid imitations
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Out of curiosity, what type of car is it?
I think it's a Vauxhall Victor FD.
Out of curiosity, what type of car is it?
I think it's a Vauxhall Victor FD.
(The FD was a slightly prettier version with twin round headlights and a slight "coke bottle" hint to the rear of the bodyshell).
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Victor FD or FE
see Victor photo post#1298....btw what limit is there on memory use on Photobucket?
Last edited by A30yoyo; 8th Feb 2012 at 12:30. Reason: delete photo
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....btw what limit is there on memory use on Photobucket?
Avoid imitations
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Forget the Vauxhall, look at that lurvely Puma in the back ground; my old sqn too, by the looks of it. I think that was a Tiger Meet year, too.
)
Thread Starter
Gordy - Queste sono Bellissime!
These are wonderful images with the Bell 47 being the industry's all-time universal classic. So many North American rotary-wing pioneers began their businesses with this craft .. the likes of Carl Brady (ERA) and Bob Suggs (PHI) and doubtless many others.
In Papua New Guinea (where I flew for a season) Rotorwork Helicopters began their activities with a 47 (Tony Karas was one of their early partners). I'm not sure which type Mal Smith began with, if not a 500 then it may well have been a 47 also.
Tell me, what age was the old boy in your image of him flying the 206?
Agusta built 47's at one of Agusta's hangars c.1956
These are wonderful images with the Bell 47 being the industry's all-time universal classic. So many North American rotary-wing pioneers began their businesses with this craft .. the likes of Carl Brady (ERA) and Bob Suggs (PHI) and doubtless many others.
In Papua New Guinea (where I flew for a season) Rotorwork Helicopters began their activities with a 47 (Tony Karas was one of their early partners). I'm not sure which type Mal Smith began with, if not a 500 then it may well have been a 47 also.
Tell me, what age was the old boy in your image of him flying the 206?
Agusta built 47's at one of Agusta's hangars c.1956
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Mmmm ...
I do believe Mal Smith started Pacific Helicopters with (Ex Aussie Army mates) Peter Spoor and Roger Dundas in the early mid'70's with Hughes 500's ....
Mal I believe is still trying to run PNG (good luck with that Mal) Peter is enjoying life and Roger spends time 'Yachting' and 'stockmarketing' down in Melbourne ....
I do believe Mal Smith started Pacific Helicopters with (Ex Aussie Army mates) Peter Spoor and Roger Dundas in the early mid'70's with Hughes 500's ....
Mal I believe is still trying to run PNG (good luck with that Mal) Peter is enjoying life and Roger spends time 'Yachting' and 'stockmarketing' down in Melbourne ....
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If I were to post some of the earlier Italian rotary-wing designs I would have to go hide under a rock somewhere
It was one of a number of prototype helicopters I remember from 1960s editions of the Observers Book of Aircraft - the Piasecki Pathfinder and Filper Beta (which looked rather like the result of an illicit union between a Bond Bug and a CH-46!) are two others that have surfaced amidst my mind's flotsam.
That Bell 48/Agusta 102 does look a bit like an early and rather ill-defined Bell 204, any commonality?