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Ferranti Helicopters Agusta-Bell 206B JetRanger II G-AZZB (cn. 8327) at Farnborough in September 1974 (Photo: Keith C. Wilson courtesy of David Haines)

A Ferranti 206 wears the company's distinctive Dijon livery. The craft was purchased just weeks before this photo was taken (hence the missing Royal Mail cypher on the baggage door) but .. the crew at Gatwick had clearly set-about 'Ferrantifying' her as she already had the hand-sewn leather interior with high-back seats (rare for the early 70's) and which were supplied by Connolly Brothers of London.

In addition to custom leather seats, Ferranti 206's sported various interior trimmings. These appeared on the inside door panels and behind the two front seats and were typically made from Walnut (burr) and supplied by another London-based vendor, Mulliner Park Ward.

Ferranti 206's also sported white seat belts with chrome buckles and chocolate coloured woolen floor rugs. In terms of avionics each Ferranti 206 was equipped with VOR, Decca's DANAC 'moving map' system and, of course, Ferranti's own Stability Augmentation System (SAS) which, so I'm told, made the 206 a 'dream' to fly.

The aircraft were additionally among the first to wear a special blend of polyurethane paint (devised with the assistance of Agusta) and were finished with several layers of clear coating which gave the aircraft their super high gloss appearance. So much so that Bell Helicopter (in 1970-71) appealed to Ferranti to divulge the ingedients and process involved and which resulted in this becoming standard fayre for all US production 206's from the early to mid 70's onwards.

Schermuly flares were fitted to all Ferranti 206's for public transport flights at night. (Permissable in singles back then).

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Italian Air Force Agusta-Bell 47J-2A MM80417 at Paris Le Bourget on the 19th June 1965 (Photo: R.A. Scholefield)

This aircraft was 'borrowed' by Agusta (while in the service of the Italian Air Force) as one of several 'J2A' demonstrators and was seen here at the 1965 Paris Air Show where it was bought by my godfather on behalf of the Ferranti Electronics Group.

A month after this photo was taken it was registered to Ferranti as G-ATFV and remained with them until December 1969 when the craft was sold to Overhill Estates of Bolney in Sussex.

In 1971 she experienced a four year hiatus as she sojourned in Zambia flying as 9J-ACX until returning to the UK in 1975 when she was registered to Autair of Luton.

After Autair she went on to be owned variously by the 'Travel Centre' in Norwich, Air Anglia also of Norwich, 'GSM Helicopters' of Ripon in Yorkshire and eventually Alexander Warren & Co. of Bridgnorth in Shropshire before being retired from the register in 1992 (though I suspect she had probably stopped flying before then).

I have been wondering for a while when public transport at night in singles was banned? Anyone know exactly. And were there any incidents that led to this decision, and is there anything on the interweb about it ?

Regards CF

This is to advise (for those who remember him) that my godfather passed away in his sleep last night age 92.

Lt Col Bob Smith
 

It is with sadness that I heard yesterday of the passing of Bob Smith in Ficksburg Free State South Africa. Bob was a member of my masonic lodge in Ficksburg and I was privileged to have know him during the past 10 years. He was an example to everyone and his type will never pass this way very often. The lodge wishes to pass on to his family and friends our sincere condolences.

Me too....I first met Bob when he was test flying Sycamores at Weston super Mare for Bristol Helicopters. His passing leaves only Sox Hosegood as the survivor of that little band,who also included Don Farquarson and Peter Wilson.
I last saw Bob at a HeliExpo in the US probably 15-20 years ago.
RIP

"What's the name of your ship?"

"What?"

"I say again - What's the name of your ship?"

"What?"

"What's your cargo?"

"expletive deleted"

It will mean something to some........

RIP Bob.


Just noticed that ZB isn't wearing the Royal Mail/Post Brenhinol decoration on the boot door. I guess there was a reason.

Bob Smith's obituary appeared in The Telegraph today.

Oh dear, what a mistake-a-to make! That's Chris Hunt, not Bob Smith in the photo in the Telegraph and Chris is very much alive. I've emailed the Telegraph to advise that.

Edit: the Telegraph team have emailed to say they now have the correct photo in the online version of the Telegraph.

I'm sorry to hear that Bob Smith has passed away.

I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Guild of Air Pilots 'Henshaw Dinner' held at AFB Ysterplaat in February 2009. A real character!

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He'd fallen and broken his ankle earler in the day but was determined to attend, even though confined to a wheelchair.



http://www.pprune.org/aviation-histo...haw-rip-3.html

Oh, the stories I could tell of Lance Corporal Smith.

I spent a lot of time with him in unusual places, and some very amusing situations,

Anglesey connection
 

I remember as a kid we had a boat, (malll) and caravan (smaller) in Beaumoris.
One day we were out in the Menai Straits, and I think " rescued " or provided assistance to a parked yacht on a sand bank.....

The crew invited us back to have a drink, on their island......

My father accepted, I as 6-7 years old declined.

This must have been 1956 (ish).

There was a Gentlemans yacht, parked off the island, plus a landing stage. I never remember any helicopter movements.

Is this part of the family....

glf

I see that Col. Smith made it into today's Telegraph again, confirming their error from last Friday and offering a new photograph.

As heli1 intimated, one of the very last to leave us from among those who can be described as Britain's first helicopter pioneers.

Sorry to see Bob Smith has gone.

I remember a well oiled session in 1987 at the Bahari Beach Hotel, Dar Es Salaam with Bob reminising about his military background. A loud disco was playing in the background and you had to shout to be heard. Just as the music died Bob rather loudly said

"We are professionals our job is killing people"

There was a rather stunned silence and then the music started up again.
To say we received some rather strange looks was an understatement.


From the same period Bob was doing some film work with a 206 for an Indian film company which involved a car chase with the helicopter in close pursuit.
The car hit a log in the bush and went up vertically, the 206 missing it by inches.
The film company changed the script to incorporate the scene.
Bob had actually offered his own car for use in the scene which was declined!!!!!!!

I've been in touch with Savoia who was recently sent this photo by Barry Friend. The photo is of a Ferranti Augusta-Bell 47J-2S Ranger(the same one as appears further up this page, only in this photo it's been repainted). The photo was taken in 1967 and, as can clearly be seen, has some Folland Gnats of the Red Arrows in the background. However, Barry doesn't have a location for this picture. Can anyone help?
ambi



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Getting to work 60's style
 

Recently on BBC Four was a programme on transport, road and air, and one part had a clip of Sebastian de Ferranti getting from home to work using his Brantly, so some screen snaps of the flight.
http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/sr...ies/thumbs.gif Wiggy


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ferranti helicopters
 

Hi my mum worked for ferranti helicopters when they where based at gatwick and Shoreham for many years, and also when they got bought out by British Calidonian. I regularly went up on test flights, and all ways helped when they done pleasure flights, and had the most fortunate expirience of flying to Biggin Hill air show and having the last flight with Hugh Lovett before watching G-AVSN crashing to the floor and killing all on board, a day thet I will never forget!!
I do have a scap book that I made and do have original brochuer and pictures, and mum is does still keep in contact still with ageing staff.

iandwells2
 

Thanks for that information, though quite shocking.
It's good to see some additions to this very interesting thread.
I am always on the lookout for information on anything to do with Ferranti due to the Irish connection.
I've sent you a PM.

I had the pleasure of flying with Denis Ferranti in 1976 at his chateau in the south of France. An amazing man, 68 years old, only 1 eye, his right, lost the left one in the Isle of ManTT in 1929 I think & so the Irish CAA insisted he had a commercial pilot in the left seat of his 206 or 500 to keep an eye on the T & P gauges!! His charming wife also had a PPL.