If he was landing this hard onto concrete, due to ground resonance the helicopter might have been shaken apart. Luckily for him it did not happen, because I don't think this guy would know what to do in that situation.

Is that G-BXTH and the Rally Driver Murray Grierson?

Previous PPRuNe thread
AAIB report

Good to see that even in 2003 the bun fight didn't take too long to develop...

Yes it is the same one . Maybe he was just distracted looking for wires .....

Would have loved to see " The crew " helping to push it back into the hanger ! :ok:

E.

But ....What a Grand and charming old Lady, who had some humour, seldom found in such ease in our older people....

Can any of you imagine TC at that age ! :D ;)

Peter R-B

Lancashire

Gazelle?
 

I have 2000+ hours in R44's and am considering a Gazelle. I own a 2011 R44II with 130 hours. I used to fly 200 hours/year but now do more like 50-75. I'll hit the 12-year calendar before I get anywhere near the 2200 hours. So, I was considering selling the R44 and buying a Gazelle for around 250,000 and figure the extra money from the sale would cover maintenance and diesel fuel for about as long as I'll be healthy enough to fly...

Any thoughts, advice, caution, alternatives would be welcome. The 341 seems like a tough bird with obviously great speed. It's usually just my wife and I but occasionally another couple joins us. No commercial use and I know it's "experimental."

Neil Kaye

[email protected]

nskaye

need to have a company that knows how to maintain it and get the spares otherwise a cracking machine. A cross between a 500 and a 206 really, the room of a 206 with the speed of a 500. Bit heavy on fuel at 40 gals an hour, cruise ( IPS) at 120 to 125 kts. If you have a good one might get 130 cruise

As has already been said, they are good but make sure you get a good and comprehensive conversion.

Make sure the outfit that is going to service it is experienced with the Gazelle.

It is relatively robust but fly her with respect, she has a few vices and when she bites she bites hard.

Good luck

Neil, caution regarding the engine, like all Turbomeca engines the Astazou has a 15 year calendar life. Overhauling it alone will probably cost more than two yes two complete R44 12 year overhauls. Also there are a lot of 10 and 12 year items on the aircraft, so be sure to get good professional advice from someone you trust. Best of luck.

Gazelle
 

Thanks for the advice. Keep it coming. It's a steep learning curve in order to make this decision.

Neil

Gazelle-Eurocopter Response
 

I called EurocopterUSA and was told (and they sent me an e-mail saying) they won't sell parts to anyone to be used in an ex-military Gazelle. That sounds nuts, but I thought I should tell you all and get your response...So where do spare parts come from?

i take it your refering to the ex french 341f2 that have just arrived in the states
they are virtually the same as our uk ex military gazelles execpt they have astazou 111c2 engines not the uk spec astazou 111n2

parts are available for all gazelles civil and military from eurocopter , most eurocopter parts are the same for all gazelles civil or military only the engines and special flight instruments ,weaponry are different

they maybe very expensive though from eurocopter , there are owners of gazelles out there who also have large stocks of parts for their own gazelles and will swop ,sell various parts they dont need with other like minded owners

There is no gazelle part that cant be found some where in the world i own a few gazelles and i dont get any problems

Here is list of some Gazelle parts from one company in US.

http://www.aeroxs.com/resources/Gazelle_Parts.pdf

Gazelle Parts
 

Thanks. I am always amazed and ever grateful for Internet friends who help me out. I'm definitely learning about Gazelles and look forward to flying one to see if it is really right for me. Seems easier to do in the UK than in the USA where the Gazelle community is smaller...

Gazelle training
 

Where is a good place to get Gazelle training. Both flight and maintenance.
Presently flying a Gazelle and Alouette.

Not so helpful for you, but in the UK, Training/Conversions - MWHelicopters Ltd

MW know there gazelles vey well H the chief engineer a cracking bloke. However not sure about the States. Could pay a good instructor to come over and fly with you or come over here I know a few very very good guys

Hi all,


Firstly I am a simmer, I fly chopper sims and to my astonishment the gazelle has been released in a home simulator called DCS. It is still in beta at the moment and very much so a work in progress and I am an end user but I can think of nowhere better to come for the right answers.


If the moderators will allow, I would like to ask some detailed questions about the gazelles flight characteristics for both SAS and non-SAS versions.... very detailed.


Moderators may I?

Get on with it man. No ceremony here.