The Rotary Nostalgia Thread
Thread Starter
G-AYMW
In post 1331 of the previous page Yoyo has contributed an image of G-AYMW which, as he rightly points out, debuted on this thread back on page 31:
Bell 206B JetRanger G-AYMW at Leicester Racecourse on 10th January 1971 (Photo: Brian Johnstone)
AYMW seems to have been imported to the UK in 1970 and sold directly to BEAS at Kidlington. From there she moves on to Wykeham Helicopters of Scarborough in 1973 and with whom she remains until 1984 when she becomes a Dollar bird.
Her registration history has her former ID as EI-BJR and the CAA file shows a period of one year (1980) where she is in Eire while under Wykeham's ownership.
Looking at the colour scheme in Yoyo's image (though it be black and white) I am guessing that our friend Denis de Ferranti had an arrangement with Wykeham and was perhaps leasing this aircraft.
Certainly if the craft was painted a gaudy gold (perhaps Yoyo can remember) then this was Denis' standard fayre when it came to colouring his rotary fleet.
Bell 206A EI-ASW at Plymouth's Roborough Airport on 17th October 1970 (Photo: Nostalgia Thread supporter .. Chris England)
Here, EI-ASW is seen wearing the same scheme as that worn by AYMW in Yoyo's post of the previous page. I am wondering whether prior to her delivery to BEAS, AYMW flew as EI-BJR? Perhaps someone from the 'Isle' can help us!
Doman LZ5
Jeacott - thanks for the contribution of the 'grass-hopping mini-bus'. Am familiar with the Doman design and though she be ugly enough to qualify as an early Italian effort she was in fact American (although Ambrosini of Italy were looking at manufacturing this 'bug' under licence):
The Doman LZ-5 was a utility helicopter developed in the United States in the early 1950s by Doman Helicopters Inc. of Danbury, Connecticut. Despite the procurement of international manufacturing agreements, no series production of the aircraft ever occurred and only three prototypes were built. Two of these were purchased by the United States Army as the YH-31, but eventually becoming VH-31.
Like the preceding LZ-1 through LZ-4, the LZ-5 utilized designer Glidden Doman's unorthodox gimbaled rotor head system, which featured the elimination of rotor hinges and dampers and included blades of soft-in-plane dynamic design. The servo control system was entirely contained within the rotor head, with no external oil tanks or plumbing. The tail rotor was also hingeless and free floating to eliminate stresses in rapid tail rotor turns. In other ways it had a conventional helicopter main rotor and tail rotor configuration. The pilot and co-pilot were seated over the engine, which was in the nose, and a six-passenger compartment was located behind them. The engine was cooled by exhaust ejectors, producing an energy saving that increased payload by 800 pounds. The aircraft featured wheeled quadricycle undercarriage, the main units of which carried dual wheels.
Doman continued with development, building another LZ-5 aircraft in a joint venture with Fleet in Canada. The LZ-5 helicopters were simultaneously Type Certificated in U.S. and Canada in 1954. The third helicopter flew extensively in Canada under Canadian registration CF-IBG and in the United States, France, and Italy under U.S. registration N812. It flew in the Paris Air Show in 1960. This aircraft was also modified with the installation of full blind flight instrumentation, which was demonstrated extensively in the effort to sell it as a trainer. The aircraft thus equipped was advertised as the D-10. The planned production version would have been modified with a turbo-charged engine and designated as the D-10B. Doman sold production rights for military versions to Hiller and for the Italian market to Ambrosini.
The Doman LZ4 from which the LZ5 was developed c.1949
The LZ5 wearing her Canadian registration CF-IBG (see above)
The LZ5 used for demonstrations with the US Army c.1954
Of course Britain was not impervious to 'ugly duckling' designs and in which regard the Percival P74 which appeared on page 44 springs to mind!
.
In post 1331 of the previous page Yoyo has contributed an image of G-AYMW which, as he rightly points out, debuted on this thread back on page 31:
Bell 206B JetRanger G-AYMW at Leicester Racecourse on 10th January 1971 (Photo: Brian Johnstone)
AYMW seems to have been imported to the UK in 1970 and sold directly to BEAS at Kidlington. From there she moves on to Wykeham Helicopters of Scarborough in 1973 and with whom she remains until 1984 when she becomes a Dollar bird.
Her registration history has her former ID as EI-BJR and the CAA file shows a period of one year (1980) where she is in Eire while under Wykeham's ownership.
Looking at the colour scheme in Yoyo's image (though it be black and white) I am guessing that our friend Denis de Ferranti had an arrangement with Wykeham and was perhaps leasing this aircraft.
Certainly if the craft was painted a gaudy gold (perhaps Yoyo can remember) then this was Denis' standard fayre when it came to colouring his rotary fleet.
Bell 206A EI-ASW at Plymouth's Roborough Airport on 17th October 1970 (Photo: Nostalgia Thread supporter .. Chris England)
Here, EI-ASW is seen wearing the same scheme as that worn by AYMW in Yoyo's post of the previous page. I am wondering whether prior to her delivery to BEAS, AYMW flew as EI-BJR? Perhaps someone from the 'Isle' can help us!
Doman LZ5
Jeacott - thanks for the contribution of the 'grass-hopping mini-bus'. Am familiar with the Doman design and though she be ugly enough to qualify as an early Italian effort she was in fact American (although Ambrosini of Italy were looking at manufacturing this 'bug' under licence):
The Doman LZ-5 was a utility helicopter developed in the United States in the early 1950s by Doman Helicopters Inc. of Danbury, Connecticut. Despite the procurement of international manufacturing agreements, no series production of the aircraft ever occurred and only three prototypes were built. Two of these were purchased by the United States Army as the YH-31, but eventually becoming VH-31.
Like the preceding LZ-1 through LZ-4, the LZ-5 utilized designer Glidden Doman's unorthodox gimbaled rotor head system, which featured the elimination of rotor hinges and dampers and included blades of soft-in-plane dynamic design. The servo control system was entirely contained within the rotor head, with no external oil tanks or plumbing. The tail rotor was also hingeless and free floating to eliminate stresses in rapid tail rotor turns. In other ways it had a conventional helicopter main rotor and tail rotor configuration. The pilot and co-pilot were seated over the engine, which was in the nose, and a six-passenger compartment was located behind them. The engine was cooled by exhaust ejectors, producing an energy saving that increased payload by 800 pounds. The aircraft featured wheeled quadricycle undercarriage, the main units of which carried dual wheels.
Doman continued with development, building another LZ-5 aircraft in a joint venture with Fleet in Canada. The LZ-5 helicopters were simultaneously Type Certificated in U.S. and Canada in 1954. The third helicopter flew extensively in Canada under Canadian registration CF-IBG and in the United States, France, and Italy under U.S. registration N812. It flew in the Paris Air Show in 1960. This aircraft was also modified with the installation of full blind flight instrumentation, which was demonstrated extensively in the effort to sell it as a trainer. The aircraft thus equipped was advertised as the D-10. The planned production version would have been modified with a turbo-charged engine and designated as the D-10B. Doman sold production rights for military versions to Hiller and for the Italian market to Ambrosini.
The Doman LZ4 from which the LZ5 was developed c.1949
The LZ5 wearing her Canadian registration CF-IBG (see above)
The LZ5 used for demonstrations with the US Army c.1954
Of course Britain was not impervious to 'ugly duckling' designs and in which regard the Percival P74 which appeared on page 44 springs to mind!
.
Thread Starter
Markus Buttinger has kindly contributed this wonderful (and rare) shot of an FH1100 in its natural habitat (North America) but he doesn't remember the exact location at which he took this image. Evidently it was a 'proper' heliport, somewhere near the Hoover Dam, 1979.
Some minutes after this shot was taken Markus was treated to a flight in this bird over the Hoover Dam. Sadly that remains his only ever excursion in a blitterblat! (We'll have to change that Markus).
Anyone with any clues on the location please do chip in!
Fairchild-Hiller FH100 N711KH 'somewhere' in Nevada (not far from the Hoover Dam) in 1979 (Photo: Markus Buttinger)
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Savoia...Can't remember the colour of 'YMW at Finningley but looks similar to the 1970 paintjob.
Couple of questions...reading a little about Charles Hughesdon re Tradewinds I realized that he must now be 103 years old.
Did this thread 'do' the Cessna Helicopter? Steve Remington 's Collectair webpage covers it and Woodason Aircraft Models/Heston Airport on
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Couple of questions...reading a little about Charles Hughesdon re Tradewinds I realized that he must now be 103 years old.
Did this thread 'do' the Cessna Helicopter? Steve Remington 's Collectair webpage covers it and Woodason Aircraft Models/Heston Airport on
Collect Air
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AYMW/BJR
Hi Sav,
Well I cant help on the actual colours but the paint job looks slightly different to the 1974 image which was the same as EI-ASW. So unless the scheme was different in one side of the airframe she had a subtle change before 1980.
Here she is in 1980 with Irish Helicopters Ltd. Maybe she was only in Ireland for a short period as otherwise I'm sure you would have seen her during your time there.
Well I cant help on the actual colours but the paint job looks slightly different to the 1974 image which was the same as EI-ASW. So unless the scheme was different in one side of the airframe she had a subtle change before 1980.
Here she is in 1980 with Irish Helicopters Ltd. Maybe she was only in Ireland for a short period as otherwise I'm sure you would have seen her during your time there.
EI-BJR
Operated by Irish Helicopters, I believe it was only in country a little over six months. Picture above was taken in Shannon Airport, could have been on its way to Mayo or should I say Casa de Ferranti...
Thread Starter
Yoyo: Hadn't really thought about whether Charles was still with is but, if he is, then good for him! 
Shane: You've come up with some great material in recent months and this shot of BJR is a classic example. Had been unable to source anything on her during her Irish tour so this (together with CVR's comments) is most helpful.
Looking at your image one does see that it is somewhat different from Yoyo's mid-70's shot and this, combined with the fact that she is wearing Irish Helicopters titles now makes me wonder whether she ever in fact served with Denis.
You do understand my supposition however .. there were (to the best of my knowledge) no other UK/Eire based 206's wearing half white doors except those in Denis' stable and had EI-BJR's/G-AYMW's fuselage been a copper-gold colour then the similarity would have been too much of a coincidence!
Denis de Ferranti's copper-gold with white panels colour scheme as seen on EI-ASW
G-AYMW (mid-70's) wearing a similar scheme including the single black stripe running along the bottom of the upper cowlings
DOWN UNDER!
John Friedrich's empty-containers-for-cash funded LongRangers c.1982
South Australia's first dedicated aeromedical aircraft, LongRanger VH-BJX
9 Network's LongRanger VH-TCH at Darling Harbour in February 1982
Shane: You've come up with some great material in recent months and this shot of BJR is a classic example. Had been unable to source anything on her during her Irish tour so this (together with CVR's comments) is most helpful.
Looking at your image one does see that it is somewhat different from Yoyo's mid-70's shot and this, combined with the fact that she is wearing Irish Helicopters titles now makes me wonder whether she ever in fact served with Denis.
You do understand my supposition however .. there were (to the best of my knowledge) no other UK/Eire based 206's wearing half white doors except those in Denis' stable and had EI-BJR's/G-AYMW's fuselage been a copper-gold colour then the similarity would have been too much of a coincidence!
Denis de Ferranti's copper-gold with white panels colour scheme as seen on EI-ASW
G-AYMW (mid-70's) wearing a similar scheme including the single black stripe running along the bottom of the upper cowlings
DOWN UNDER!
John Friedrich's empty-containers-for-cash funded LongRangers c.1982
South Australia's first dedicated aeromedical aircraft, LongRanger VH-BJX
9 Network's LongRanger VH-TCH at Darling Harbour in February 1982
I think I would rather be ON the stretcher and in pain than have to suffer the humiliation of having to wear those crews clothes 
Very gay for the day back then...
Very gay for the day back then...
Thread Starter
Griffo
I think its more of an Australian thing as when I was down that way (late 80's and early 90's) quite a few in the aviation business wore shorts (including ground handlers). Don't know if its the same now!
I presume you've seen the photo of the Aussie helicopter mechanic on vacation?
I think its more of an Australian thing as when I was down that way (late 80's and early 90's) quite a few in the aviation business wore shorts (including ground handlers). Don't know if its the same now!
I presume you've seen the photo of the Aussie helicopter mechanic on vacation?
it's not unusual to watch the baggage handlers out on the tarmac in shorts
I am sure you mean - it's not unusual to see the baggage handlers out on the tarmac in shorts.
Griffo....you always did have a thing for Pink!
RVDT, JE was a Sailor....
Thread Starter
In an attempt to maintain topical consistency, one offers this gaily coloured Venezuelan registered MD530F!
The 'F' model always delivered a smoother ride than the 'D' and 'E' models, no doubt due to its slightly longer blades. Let's hope the Afghan recruits enjoy them as trainers.
The 'F' model always delivered a smoother ride than the 'D' and 'E' models, no doubt due to its slightly longer blades. Let's hope the Afghan recruits enjoy them as trainers.