The Rotary Nostalgia Thread
Thread Starter
Grazie mille VFR! 
Aérospatiale (Sud Aviation) SA342J Gazelle C-FEMF belonging to Caterpillar dealer 'Finning Tractor' departs Vancouver International Airport in March 1987 (Photo: Mike Head)
Toronto Heli-Shuttle
Air Canada AS350B Astar C-GDUF in 1986 (Photo: Air Canada Archives)
In 1986 Air Canada operated this 'Astar' as part of a shuttle service to downtown Toronto. Does anyone recall this operation or know any of the details relating to it?
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Aérospatiale (Sud Aviation) SA342J Gazelle C-FEMF belonging to Caterpillar dealer 'Finning Tractor' departs Vancouver International Airport in March 1987 (Photo: Mike Head)
Toronto Heli-Shuttle
Air Canada AS350B Astar C-GDUF in 1986 (Photo: Air Canada Archives)
In 1986 Air Canada operated this 'Astar' as part of a shuttle service to downtown Toronto. Does anyone recall this operation or know any of the details relating to it?
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Last edited by Savoia; 10th Dec 2013 at 11:18.
Thread Starter
Fantastico Carholme, grazie mille !! 
Carholme many thanks. I was having no joy unearthing details surrounding this operation.
Ranger Helicopters Aérospatiale AS350B C-GBBX at the downtown Cherry Beach Heliport in Toronto in 1986 (Photo: The Mike Ody Collection)
From the photo notes: From August 1986 to June 1987 Air Canada leased three AS350 Astar's from Ranger Helicopters to operate a connector service between Toronto International Airport and Cherry Beach Heliport near Downtown Toronto.
And which brings me onto the next hurdle .. can anyone provide a little background information on Ranger Helicopters, where they were based and how long they operated for?
Plus .. if anyone has any memories of the Air Canada shuttle, please do chip-in!
Carholme many thanks. I was having no joy unearthing details surrounding this operation.
Ranger Helicopters Aérospatiale AS350B C-GBBX at the downtown Cherry Beach Heliport in Toronto in 1986 (Photo: The Mike Ody Collection)
From the photo notes: From August 1986 to June 1987 Air Canada leased three AS350 Astar's from Ranger Helicopters to operate a connector service between Toronto International Airport and Cherry Beach Heliport near Downtown Toronto.
And which brings me onto the next hurdle .. can anyone provide a little background information on Ranger Helicopters, where they were based and how long they operated for?
Plus .. if anyone has any memories of the Air Canada shuttle, please do chip-in!
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Sav, Regarding your photo of the Gazelle from 1987, the two pilots (L & R, rear) are Jim McCartney and Jules Allen. The crewman at second left on the front row is Howie Jones.
I served on 1AFT Gazelle Sqn at RAF Shawbury with Jim and Jules a couple of years previous to the photo but they are wearing CFS(H) upper arm badges so they must have moved across dispersal by then.
I'm also wondering if it might be Bob Holden wearing the blue uniform.
I served on 1AFT Gazelle Sqn at RAF Shawbury with Jim and Jules a couple of years previous to the photo but they are wearing CFS(H) upper arm badges so they must have moved across dispersal by then.
I'm also wondering if it might be Bob Holden wearing the blue uniform.
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Heli1, I searched for an image of Castle Ashby. I'd say you're spot on - it's a perfect match!
Thread Starter
Grazie ShyTorque/Heli1!
Prior to posting the 'Ashby' Gazelle I visited the British Helicopter Team site whereupon a 'Championship Archive' page was proffered. I immediately though "Ah .. problem solved" but their 'archive' only extended as far as 2005.
But, based on recent input from ShyTorque and Heli1 we can now add the following information:
Gazelle attending the 1987 British Helicopter Championships at Castle Ashby. Identifed crew are: Jim McCartney (standing), Jules Allen (extreme right) and Howie Jones (front row, second from the left), Jerry English (to the right of Howie Jones). Blue uniform (in front of trophy) perhaps Bob Holden?
A further Gazelle image from Castle Ashby, this one a year earlier attending the World Helicopter Championships:
RAF SA341D HT3 Gazelle ZB628 attending the World Helicopter Championships at Castle Ashby on 26th June 1986 (Photo: Don Hewins)
ZB628 was of course to become the swimming Gazelle.
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Prior to posting the 'Ashby' Gazelle I visited the British Helicopter Team site whereupon a 'Championship Archive' page was proffered. I immediately though "Ah .. problem solved" but their 'archive' only extended as far as 2005.
But, based on recent input from ShyTorque and Heli1 we can now add the following information:
Gazelle attending the 1987 British Helicopter Championships at Castle Ashby. Identifed crew are: Jim McCartney (standing), Jules Allen (extreme right) and Howie Jones (front row, second from the left), Jerry English (to the right of Howie Jones). Blue uniform (in front of trophy) perhaps Bob Holden?
A further Gazelle image from Castle Ashby, this one a year earlier attending the World Helicopter Championships:
RAF SA341D HT3 Gazelle ZB628 attending the World Helicopter Championships at Castle Ashby on 26th June 1986 (Photo: Don Hewins)
ZB628 was of course to become the swimming Gazelle.
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Last edited by Savoia; 9th Dec 2013 at 08:33. Reason: Add names to Castle Ashby photo
Gazelle/ RNAS Yeovilton
Was sent there once at the end of my commitment to my school CCF it was meant to be a great week of range firing, on land! Then the Falkends got invaded HMS as it was at the time went on red alert, 12 young guys were sent home having been awarded Cadet of the year and the chance of a weeks range firing, got one day in!
That aside waiting for the coach home I saw so much preparation prior to heading out. Apart from the numerous helicopters was the Vulcan there?
That aside waiting for the coach home I saw so much preparation prior to heading out. Apart from the numerous helicopters was the Vulcan there?
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Sycamore, I concur.
NMHFM, Sorry but that one's definitely RAF, not Navy!
ZB628 was a CFS(H) airframe. The last time I flew it was my very last flight on type. Night currency check, 11th November 1991.
NMHFM, Sorry but that one's definitely RAF, not Navy!
ZB628 was a CFS(H) airframe. The last time I flew it was my very last flight on type. Night currency check, 11th November 1991.
Thread Starter
Carholme: Thank you. Your notes are much appreciated for, as you rightly say, information on Ranger Helicopters is scarce. Gary Vincent (who contributed the JetRanger photo below) informs me that he read that by the time Ranger sold-out to Canadian they had 62 helicopters and one fixed-wing and that they may have been associated with Maple Leaf Helicopters? Again .. Grazie!
Sycamore: Grazie mille! Have added Jerry's name to the photo notes.
A little more from Canada:
Timberland Helicopters Aérospatiale (Sud Aviation) SA341G C-GOCA as seen at Courtenay Airpark in British Columbia on 6th July 2004 (Photo: Jason Pineau)
Century Helicopters Bell 206B JetRanger II C-GIWU as seen at a private helipad on the edge of a potato field situated along 64th Street in Delta, British Columbia (just south of Vancouver), in June 1981 (Photo: Gary Vincent)
Gary Vincent (who contributed the photo above) has sent me an intriguing photo .. of a type I have never before seen .. and which I shall be posting in the next couple of days.
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Sycamore: Grazie mille!
Have added Jerry's name to the photo notes.A little more from Canada:
Timberland Helicopters Aérospatiale (Sud Aviation) SA341G C-GOCA as seen at Courtenay Airpark in British Columbia on 6th July 2004 (Photo: Jason Pineau)
Century Helicopters Bell 206B JetRanger II C-GIWU as seen at a private helipad on the edge of a potato field situated along 64th Street in Delta, British Columbia (just south of Vancouver), in June 1981 (Photo: Gary Vincent)
Gary Vincent (who contributed the photo above) has sent me an intriguing photo .. of a type I have never before seen .. and which I shall be posting in the next couple of days.
.
Last edited by Savoia; 10th Dec 2013 at 11:19.
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Gazelle Connections
Having received a message from Gary Vincent re: Ranger Helicopters and their possible association with Maple Leaf Helicopters (and which information I added in my comments to Carholme in my previous post) one discovers that Maple Leaf Helicopters (not sure if this is the original company) are in fact disposing of a Gazelle .. not sure of it is theirs or one of their customers:
SA341G Gazelle C-GONG s/n 1363 presently being tendered for sale by Maple Leaf
C-GONG's interior
C-GONG in flight
Maple Leaf Helicopters
SA341G Gazelle C-GONG s/n 1363 presently being tendered for sale by Maple Leaf
C-GONG's interior
C-GONG in flight
Maple Leaf Helicopters
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I'm not a pilot or involved in the rotary community by any means, just an enthusiast and aviation history buff who has been enjoying this thread immensely. So I thought I'd contribute in some small way. My dad is a professional photographer and was hired by Bell Helicopter for a project in Iran in the late 70's. He was involved with photographing the rotor assemblies in-flight and while I don't have access to the technical photos he took, I do have a few of his more candid shots so I thought I'd share. These were Bell 214A/Cs, bought by Iran before the fall of the Shah.
That's my pops on the right, eh
You can see the camera setup for photographing the rotor hub here, being checked by one of my dad's more colorful co-workers!
That's my pops on the right, eh
You can see the camera setup for photographing the rotor hub here, being checked by one of my dad's more colorful co-workers!
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I love Speedy's last picture of the camels fleeing from the helicopter.
Below is a similar picture of fleeing animals taken in the Tsavo game reserve in the 60s. Flying with the left hand, camera in the right and mind the trees! I expect that lots of us have photos of wild animals taken from the cockpit............? Let's see them then.
Below is a similar picture of fleeing animals taken in the Tsavo game reserve in the 60s. Flying with the left hand, camera in the right and mind the trees! I expect that lots of us have photos of wild animals taken from the cockpit............? Let's see them then.
Last edited by bast0n; 10th Dec 2013 at 09:35.
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As I was saying before the Pinger interrupted................
I loved Speedys picture of the camels in flight chased by the helicopter and thought there may be more of a similar ilk.
Below is a picture of hephalumps in the Tsavo game reserve in Kenya in the 60s. Fly with left hand, camera and most of you out of the window, mind the trees and click. We used to have a competition on board when people got there slides back for the most boring shot of wild animals - this one did not win!
There must be more of this sort of thing out there so let's see them.
PS: The camera was a Kodak Retinette - a great and robust thing.
I loved Speedys picture of the camels in flight chased by the helicopter and thought there may be more of a similar ilk.
Below is a picture of hephalumps in the Tsavo game reserve in Kenya in the 60s. Fly with left hand, camera and most of you out of the window, mind the trees and click. We used to have a competition on board when people got there slides back for the most boring shot of wild animals - this one did not win!
There must be more of this sort of thing out there so let's see them.
PS: The camera was a Kodak Retinette - a great and robust thing.
Last edited by bast0n; 10th Dec 2013 at 17:25.
Thread Starter
Speedy: Welcome aboard. Great to see your dad's photos! I have a couple of Iranian 214's in my collection so I shall endeavour to dig them out and post them. Camel mustering with a 214 .. brilliant!
Bastiano: Not taken with my own hand I regret .. although I have spent many-an-hour above the game reserves in both Kenya and Tanzania but .. sadly .. with no camera available and long before the age of mobile phones!
A Hughes 500 herds Lelwel (Jackson's) hartebeest for relocation to Solio Ranch Laikipia District, Kenya in 2009 (Photo: Lewa Wildlife Conservancy)
Zebras photographed from a Hughes 300 at Etosha National Park in Namibia in 2011 (Photo: Hannes Lochner)
#
An AW139 engaged in game countning within the Tswalu Game Reserve in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa in 2013. Nicky Oppenheimer flying P2 in this shot. (Photo: Tswalu Game Reserve)
I have a couple of Iranian 214's in my collection so I shall endeavour to dig them out and post them. Camel mustering with a 214 .. brilliant! Bastiano: Not taken with my own hand I regret .. although I have spent many-an-hour above the game reserves in both Kenya and Tanzania but .. sadly .. with no camera available and long before the age of mobile phones!
A Hughes 500 herds Lelwel (Jackson's) hartebeest for relocation to Solio Ranch Laikipia District, Kenya in 2009 (Photo: Lewa Wildlife Conservancy)
Zebras photographed from a Hughes 300 at Etosha National Park in Namibia in 2011 (Photo: Hannes Lochner)
#An AW139 engaged in game countning within the Tswalu Game Reserve in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa in 2013. Nicky Oppenheimer flying P2 in this shot. (Photo: Tswalu Game Reserve)