Oldest operational helo?

[helihub]

longest owned by one owner

Sav, SMDJ is nothing! Here are a few which spring to mind which date further back.
* B206 G-CPTS has one owner from new in 1980.
* Norman Foster's B206 G-BKEW is close, he's had that since 1982
* WPD (ex SWEB) have had B206 G-BARP since 1982
* Alan Mann Hc B47G5 G-BBRI - while it has had three registered owners, the changes are nominal and AMH have operated this one from new in 1975 (including recent years as a hangar queen!)

I am sure there are more. No doubt the big operators have had some of their fleet for a long while - Bo105s perhaps?

[MarkH1]

If I am not mistaken, Whisper Jet in the US operates some Sikorsky S55 helicopters, dating back to 1952!

Very intresting to see what they have done to the helicopters

Whisper Jet Home Page

Mark

[FauxZ]

Golden Wings Aviation in Washington State USA is flying 4 or 5 S55's with round motors for cherry drying each year. Don't know the exact date of manufacture, but I think it was just a couple years after dirt was new.

[bolkow]

I do know that the penzance S61NM has airframe hours in the region approaching 45000!

[bolkow]

Helihub, the highest time bo105's in the UK are ex-bond, G-BATC has gone past 20000 hours but as far as I can see they seem to be taken out of service not long after passing this milestone.

[Savoia]

.
Helihub: Great discovery with CPTS. It just so happened that I came across one of her photos last week and which I shall put up on the Mann thread.

31 years with one owner isn't bad in the private category. When I first read about CPTS I had no idea she was still flying in the UK! Great stuff.

Sav

[helihub]

Sorry, my fault for sidetracking this thread onto TTAF numbers. Lets get back to the original topic of "how long helicopters have been in the same ownership".... I looked through the currently owned Bond Bo105s and found one bought pre 1990 - G-CDBS in 1989. I guess if you counted the re-shells they did, those probably have a rivet or two dating back to the 70s

[griffothefog]

G-CDBS

You mean this one....

1700 missions plus in her..



Scan pic sorry...

[SuperF]

We have a 206 brought new in 77, on commercial/ag work all it's life. Down in NZ.

[rotorfossil]

Another Bell 47D at Coastal Helicopters Inc, Belfast Maine. Not sure of the build date.