That's an old Bond Puma is it not?

No, the Puma was brand new. The Bolkow is G-BUXS. I still wake up in a cold sweat...

Underslung Bolkow
 

where did this take place ?

That is the Bolkow being returned to Tingwall. The reason why it happened was because of an occurrence near Out Skerries involving a disagreeable hydraulic pack! I wasn't the first no hydraulics Bolkow pilot apparently although some of the others weren't quite so lucky.

Cheers Cyclic.

I was trying to ascertain if it was the Bond pre '99 or the present incarnation.

http://www.abpic.co.uk/images/images/1259652M.jpg

G-BUXS at Cape Wrath Lighthouse on 9th August 2009

A couple of Bond Bo105s (G-BATC and G-TVAM) have been purchased by the South Georgia Heritage Trust and are about to embark on a trip to the South Atlantic for their Habitat Restoration Project.

South Georgia Heritage Trust - Projects

We are still looking for a UK licenced 105 engineer to join the team.

If anybody knows someone who is available it would be appreciated.

A final shot of G-BATC at Newquay EGHQ, taken just before she flew away from Trinity House Lighthouse Service duties after I-don't-know-how-many years service. I mentioned to the engineers at Staverton that she has the best SAS system of any of the Bolkows I've flown - they grinned and said "soon fix that"... :)

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a.../890G-BATC.jpg

Any information on what aircraft will replace BATC on the trinity house job, I odnt think the planned MD900 is due to start for some time yet, so I am guessing it will be another bolkow or interim EC135?

The new aircraft G-COTH is due to take over the contract on 1st December.

What type of aircraft is G-COTH?

It is an MD902 Explorer.

Thanks DeltaNg

Thanks for that. Just did a search for G-COTH on g-info and it comes back blank? Is this a new build aircraft?

YO! Thud and Blunder. How are you mate?

Nice to see a picture from you that isn't going to get the authority twitching!!! :ok:

Just heard a little snippet that after completion of their work in SG, BATC and TVAM will be left behind as it's considered uneconomical to bring them back!

Is this true? :eek: Can anybody shed any light on this? As the thought of leaving a wonderful airframe, which I have over 2000 Hrs in, to rot alongside boats, whaling stations, Argie Puma's etc, fills me with despair :{

I am no authority on used airframes Bobby but I do know used bolkows of that vintage are generally worth around the £200.000 mark from the few I have seen for sale. How long are they going to be working down there?
BATC has over 20000 airframe hours on it now, and I did hear that BAMF was retired because of corrosion with a few more hours than that. Maybe the airframe will be spent at the end of the period they plan to use it for?
BTW, why are argie pumas rotting down there, surely they would have been useful in Iraq at a time when they are talking about extending the service lives of Pumas already in the inventory to bring them up to the 25000 hour mark/milestone?

South Georgia
 

Blind Bob,

can you confirm its BATC & TVAM ? seems odd to purchase a DB, a very high time one at that, & a DBS, why not two DBS's ?

I have two red DBS's sir or two yellow ?

Trinity House
 

COTH is ex N3ND, MD902, & is being fitted out at Staverton, I would say 1 Dec is optimistic !

Bond lost the contract to SAS.

Bobby,

read your PMs mate.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/__dRpfF8qlVM/TO...w%20change.jpg

'WP' at Boulmer in June '85 completing lighthouse crew change