That's my father's old ship. He was Barratt's pilot in the 80s and I regularly run a Google search to see if there are any shots of G-HELY and the later arrival G-BUSA.

If it's OK on here, I'll save these off and print them out for him.

flames - Savoia (who started this thread and has posted most of the pictures of G-HELY) is away at the moment but I cannot see any problem for you to print the images. If Savoia was around I know he would ask you to post some details of your father's work as it is probably very interesting. Looking forward...

Best regards,
Zis

Hi Zishelix

I'm heading up to see him this weekend, so I'll check whether he's happy to break out chapter and verse. I only know broad dates and positions. I'm sure he will have bumped into a few heli pilots of a certain age on this forum

I've grabbed the pics, so thanks for the pre-emptive permission.

Niall

[edit] Just realised my location still shows Sydney. I'll change it as I'm about 5 miles from Fairoaks now ! [edit]

Let's hope your father won't mind to share some of his memories with us. I appreciate your assistance...

Don't worry about Savoia, as far as I know he stimulating people to do so

Yes, Barratt's liked doing that:


1970's Barratt Homes Ad

ps: Notice the monthly mortgage payment amount!

Hi - old pic of 105DBS-4 (or at least that is what info says) found in auction lot in dusty Yorkshire barn.
Willing to post to pilot if wanted........
Lincs Air Amb - looking like Waddo in background.
Tell me how to post pic on here for further details!

As many here will know, I flew with John Crewdson on many a happy occasion but it all started with the filming of Rollerball. (the original release) Believe it please ... but we used an Enstrom and probably a non turbo-charged 28A. I certainly recall having the hull dressed with the "Energy Corporation" logo. In fact while refuelling at Blackbushe, the kindly re-fueller offered to send the invoice to the Corporation! WE did actually pay on the spot though ... honest.

John Crewdson certainly taught me a thing or two about film work, when, having been unfairly labelled a young 'Hothead' I was asked to fly a Bell 206 through a brick wall for the Barratt's advertisement. I spent too much time considering the effect on the M/R blades when compressing a few sheets of polystyrene, not to mention how the T/R blades might fare. Eventually we elected to decline the task.

Later, I mentioned the job with JC who surely knew the game better than me. The final shot produced was nothing like the original requirement since, as can be seen, the pilot simply ran the skids through the top foot or so ... which apparently satisfied all and sundry. Blast .... there went the odd grand or so.

Just wonderful though to read so many of the old names associated with that wonderful gentleman Alan Mann. I recall dear Bob Baff who always made a point of 'walking tall' as he exited his high skid 206. And how I remember the occasion, I flew Bob in to the Flight Magazine's 'Cranfield Show' exhibition in a bog standard PA28. 'Twas about 1973 ish. Bob asked if he could make the landing and knowing he was a dedicate rotary man, I expected something of 'an arrival.' Of course he produced the smoothest touch down imaginable.

Please all ex-Manners - keep the stories going. BW to all. Dennis Kenyon.

I spent a very happy 5 years going to meetings at AMH. They did a superb job of looking after our A109s and certainly took a lot of stick from me, Bob Tonks, Don Nutbrown and Jack ? (I can't remember), the boss. They had some great techs and worked really hard for us. I can't remember the actual name of the meetings, LCCB or something like that. Always chaired by Don Bartlett (REME Major) from the IPT who tried really hard to nail me to the floor! Lunch was always outstanding - very fond memories of those days.

Dear all. just in case any of you have not heard, or forgotten, this years annual gathering is taking place this coming Saturday (August 2nd). It is the usual bar/BBQ at the Fairoaks Flight Centre starting at 4pm and ending whenever we've had enough. Don't forget this is now a total Alan Mann Group event plus airport residents that were associated with us at AMG, pilots, customers, etc. Friends and family all welcome. More the merrier. If you want feeding (BBQ tickets £8/head), please contact me with a PM or better still email me direct. Hope to see you on Saturday.

Hi - quick question - does anyone recall the date/month the Argentine A109s returned from the Falklands? In 1982/1983?

Does anyone recognize these aircraft and know where they ended up.
This was 1974 when I worked for AM as groundcrew for a summer holiday job.

G-BCBE went to US as N65031 then Canada as C-GSHC - appears to have been cancelled.

Other looks like G-BCWN which went to Noel Edmonds as G-NOEL, then G-RODS then G-JWBI, lastly with a company in Humberside. No current CofA.

Thanks Treadigraph!
I'll see if I can look out some more photos of 206s...

I stumbled across this site whilst looking for photos of the Rothmans ad that featured an AM Bell 47.

Hi Zeus

I am sure we will all look forward to any photographs of Alan Mann 206s you may have. I have an extensive collection of UK registered helicopter photographs and probably most of the Alan Mann fleet and sales... any you have not got or would like to see ! I flew in both G-BCWM and G-BCWN Battersea to Fairoaks on empty legs in my hitch hiking days !!!! It seemed to be OK to do that then.

Helipixman

How about these two. G-BARO and G-AWOL?
I got to fly in most of the aircraft. Usually on air tests.
I learnt a lot from my short time at Fairoaks and it stood me in good stead for a career in aviation.

Sorry it is a bit dark, but think this shows G-BBBM and G-AVKS

Some more nice photos Zeus with colour schemes I have not seen on those particular helicopters. I am interested to know G-BARO, this was owned by A Streeter & Co but the badge on the side I think is for Greenham Group... was it leased to them ?

Please keep em coming !

Helipixman, as I understood it G-BARO was owned by the Greenham group and was used to ferry managers and workmen between sites. (I used to have to clean brick dust out of it!)

Lets try:

Sorry is a poor quality photo. I think the light blue aircraft is G-AXGO which I was unreliably informed belonged to Lord Elpus. On the other hand it may have been one of the Cadbury family?
As regards the black 206 I have no idea.

G-AXGO was owned by Tradewinds between '75 and '78 when it was written off. Before that Stewart Smith and Co. Lord Elpus

Black 206, Lotus?

Thank you treadigraph!

Now I think about it Stewart Smith and Co rings a bell as does Lotus.
Shame to read that G-AXGO "crashed into River Severn at Denby Island on 02Mar78".

Lord Elpus? I was young and it was expected that jokes should be played...
At least I wasn't asked to go to the stores and get some "elbow grease"!

I am now running out of AM photos, but will have a dig around in the archives.