655 Sqn NI Gazelle Swansong announced
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655 Sqn NI Gazelle Swansong announced
Dates announced, but no info re the tour before they arrive at Fleetlands for disposal.
See
https://www.scramble.nl/military-new...dron-swan-song
See
https://www.scramble.nl/military-new...dron-swan-song
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Gazelle was just into army service when I joined my first squadron in 1975, goes into retirement 5 months after me.
Both of us having spent a lifetime in aviation.
I suspect they have worn better than I have.
Wonder what their final life expectancy will be, there are over 40 ex military Gazelles on the civil register.
Probably longer than mine.
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I've read tonight that the planned flypast has been pushed back a week due to the poor weather forecast ?
Confirmation appreciated if possible as I was going to watch them fly through Dishforth ?
Confirmation appreciated if possible as I was going to watch them fly through Dishforth ?
Last edited by David Thompson; 10th Oct 2023 at 07:45.
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I couldn’t find anything about the route.
Will be interesting to see when they go up for sale
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
From the Barton page...
Due to weather, word is now delayed until Monday (16th).
Due to weather, word is now delayed until Monday (16th).
Gazelle was just into army service when I joined my first squadron in 1975, goes into retirement 5 months after me.
Both of us having spent a lifetime in aviation.
I suspect they have worn better than I have.
Wonder what their final life expectancy will be, there are over 40 ex military Gazelles on the civil register.
Probably longer than mine.
Both of us having spent a lifetime in aviation.
I suspect they have worn better than I have.
Wonder what their final life expectancy will be, there are over 40 ex military Gazelles on the civil register.
Probably longer than mine.
Looking at G-INFO it reveals that one of our squadron Gazelles from 1975 is still flying G-CGJX, XW892.
Also still flying G-CIEY XW851. This was a demonstration and trials squadron aircraft.
This aircraft sticks in my mind as we found a serious defect with the cyclic flying controls in 1976 while on a major inspection.
This was probably the true cause of the fatal accident to XW850 in 1973 which was attributed to jack stall.
Last edited by ericferret; 10th Oct 2023 at 11:15.
Feb.16,1971,birthday present,CEV Bretigny,SA-341-01,F-ZWRH,Check-out,by Cptne de Charre,Castres,ALAT...and over the next few days,we explored the `envelope`.Over the next few weeks we flew other development `Gazelles`,-002-ZWRA,ZWRL-02,ZWRK-04,even height climbs to FL200/6000M.(French civil certification rqmts).Then at B-Down we got XW276/03 to continue flight testing,although the aircraft was not production standard,it was useful for the `basic stuff,load-lifting,winching,radios,etc,until I had a transmission failure in the hover,fortunately,which delayed our progress`at home`.,but plenty of trips to Marignane to fly the different updates to the rotor-head,fenestron blades,fuselage re-jig of tailboom,..I was posted to Bedford in `72,then in `73 we got XW845/852 fo MADGE TAC Trials ..
Back to B-D `75,and more Gazelles to play with`842-846,849,851,853,866,905,xx370,434; Then we did icing/snow/freezing rain/skis in March`76 in Ottawa...Spent most of it `in manual`,measuring control forces in really `crappy `weather..Last flight in a Gazelle 23/12/`76,for fun..
...A `great helicopter`that I enjoyed flying over 380 hrs;you really did `wear` the Gazelle,and could see the world from different `angles`,some inadvertently/inconvenient,but as long as you had your`dancing shoes on`,it was great `fun...
Here`s `846 in Ottawa,looking more like an `iced lolly` than a KFC Chicken leg``
Back to B-D `75,and more Gazelles to play with`842-846,849,851,853,866,905,xx370,434; Then we did icing/snow/freezing rain/skis in March`76 in Ottawa...Spent most of it `in manual`,measuring control forces in really `crappy `weather..Last flight in a Gazelle 23/12/`76,for fun..
...A `great helicopter`that I enjoyed flying over 380 hrs;you really did `wear` the Gazelle,and could see the world from different `angles`,some inadvertently/inconvenient,but as long as you had your`dancing shoes on`,it was great `fun...
Here`s `846 in Ottawa,looking more like an `iced lolly` than a KFC Chicken leg``
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If I were in the market for a personal helicopter, it would have to be a Gazelle.
I trained on the Whirlwind 10, the Wessex and flew the good old Puma for my first tour. On being posted kicking and screaming to instruct at Shawbury, I found the Gazelle relatively delightful to fly. However after only a year on 1 Sqn the RAF in its “wisdom” / “exigences of the service” decided I was desperately needed back to instruct on the Puma OCU and all that entailed.
Still regret having to leave!
I trained on the Whirlwind 10, the Wessex and flew the good old Puma for my first tour. On being posted kicking and screaming to instruct at Shawbury, I found the Gazelle relatively delightful to fly. However after only a year on 1 Sqn the RAF in its “wisdom” / “exigences of the service” decided I was desperately needed back to instruct on the Puma OCU and all that entailed.
Still regret having to leave!
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Details have been released confirming the flypast next week commencing on Monday 16th with locations and timings remaining the same as already published .
Barton Aerodrome Facebook page has gen on its part in the flypast including the serial numbers of the Gazelles taking part .
Barton Aerodrome Facebook page has gen on its part in the flypast including the serial numbers of the Gazelles taking part .
If you didn't know. I'm told by an insider that Middle Wallop ceases flying the Gazelle on 31st Oct. Employees are there until Mar 24 to wind the operation down before re-employment or not.
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I'd like to think postponed rather than cancelled, unless of course the service end date has changed.
Is there is an official source for info on the Gazelle's Swan-song flight(s)? Barton Aerodrome Spotters (that's what they call themselves) https://www.facebook.com/groups/4141...ibextid=oMANbw seems to be the only source trying to keep all updated at the mo.
Hoping to see them depart from one of the stop offs, rather than just see a flyover, so any updates or official sources would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks 🙏🏼
Is there is an official source for info on the Gazelle's Swan-song flight(s)? Barton Aerodrome Spotters (that's what they call themselves) https://www.facebook.com/groups/4141...ibextid=oMANbw seems to be the only source trying to keep all updated at the mo.
Hoping to see them depart from one of the stop offs, rather than just see a flyover, so any updates or official sources would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks 🙏🏼