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The Penny Drops!
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TRC: BEHG has appeared a couple of times on the Nostalgia thread (with pop-outs) and I didn't think much of it. Then, today, I was sent this image of her wearing shorts and, lo and behold, the penny drops and I recalled that this was the ship used by you and the welly-wearing John Ackroyd-Hunt in the rescue of the Dancer! On checking the ownership details one discovers that 'HG' was in the 'Willowbrook' stable (a Mann company I think) at the time that the Dancer got into trouble. I remember that when Col. Bob called up Mann's (probably the Savage) he specifically mentioned that you might be better off bringing a ship fitted with 'highs' because of the depth of the furrows in the field. Then JAH and co. turned up in BEHG wearing shorts and had to fuss around trying to find a firm enough portion of soil with the right amount of slope so as to avoid getting stuck in the mud! That incident must now be 30 odd years ago! https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/__...osiezny%29.jpg AB206B JetRanger III G-BEHG at Cranfield on 4th September 1981. The craft used by TRC and John Ackroyd-Hunt to rescue Colin Chapman's 206 G-AYTF after it suffered an engine failure. (Photo: Alan Mosiezny). Sav |
Willowbrook
Savioa.
The address given in records for this company was in Derby Road,Loughborough, Willowbrook was a builder of bus and coach bodies, the company seemed to have, over time, had Jet Rangers and Agusta A109 in operation in Alan Mann colours,109 HWBK is the first to my mind. JR's were BEHG,BGGX and BGGY. |
G-BEHG
Originally bought new by Greenham Plant Hire to replace their previous 206 - G-BCVZ. Both flown by the late Paul Midgley. He had previously flown the 206 for Streeters of Godalming (reg forgotten - grey/red/white scheme, exported to the US I think). HG then went to Compass Helicopters in Bristol. Company set up by Gilbert Greenall of the brewery family who did his PPL at Mann's and bought a 47G-3B1 (reg forgotten too). Compass' pilot was a very pleasant ex-crab called Mike something. No doubt someone will fill the gaps. Willowbrook They were indeed coachbuilders, I think the then MD was a helicopter fan. They also owned a 206L11 G-HBUS. Trouble was, the heli-friendly MD retired/resigned/fired/whatever, and his replacement didn't share the hobby. Eggs and basket comes to mind. Same thing happened later in my illustrious career with Unipart and hot-air balloons. |
Compass CP = Bill Bailey, I think. They later had G-BHXV in the same scheme as G-BEHG above.
Willowbrook heli-friendly MD = George Hughes? (I think that's why it was G-HWBK) |
Compass
Bill Bailey was at Compass, but I remember Mike being there before him. Not 100% certain though.....
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Helihub came up with an important discovery (well, to nostalgia fans) on the 'Oldest Helo' thread regarding an AgustaBell 206B G-CPTS. The craft was bought from Mann's in 1978 by Hothfield Carpets (hence the registration) of Skipton, Yorkshire. Then in 1980 she was registered to Anthony Aspinall (perhaps Hothfield's owner given that his address is also in Skipton). CPTS has remained in Aspinall's ownership to this day - some 31 years on - 33 if Aspinall is the same as Hothfield!. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/__...20Heley%29.jpg AB206B G-CPTS at Blackpool on 28th April 1984. (Photo: Derek Heley) Perhaps the boys from Mann may recall some details of CPTS delivery and subsequent operations? Would also be interesting to view a more recent image of her. Sav |
Bruce Aspinall was in the owner/MD of Hothfield Carpets and is credited with introducing "Berber" style carpets to the UK. The business was sold to the Gaskell Group. The mill closed in the 1990s.
Planemike |
G-CPTS
Don't recall that one at all..
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OK, here are some AMH thoughts to get some more of you adding to this thread.
There now, that should keep you going for an evening or three! |
Willowbrook/Streeters/Gilbert Greenall
Hope this will bring memories back to TRC
Streeters had two Jetrangers:- G-BARO Bell 206B II which went to the US as N47122 G-BFND Agusta Bell 206B II which was sold to Warner Holidays Ltd Gilbert Greenalls Bell 47 was G-BHAR In addition to previously mentioned George Hughes - Willowbrook helis:- J/r G-BEHG, BGGX, G-BGGY A109 G-HWBK L/r G-HBUS he also had G-OAMH 16.1.80 - 3.12.82 Helipixman |
More for 'S'
Hi Savoia,
Yes, that wonderful character and big lorry man, Tony Walker ... (always laughing & even added a 'smiley' to his cheques!) WAS a client of Spooner when I sold and taught him to fly Enstrom 28a, G-BBHE in November 1973 ... AND yes, it did win a 'concours' event oop north! In fact that year the Enstrom won Fortune Magazine's 'best industrial product of the year' award. Tony Walker changed the Enstrom for the B206 which gave him no end of Allison trouble I seem to recall. Surprise, surprise ... Allison claimed he'd never completed the compressor washes! Second tack. Streeters of Godalming was also a Spooner client when Nick Streeter purchased B206, G-BASE, but a little less certain on that reg. 'tis the age you see! Best wishes to all. Dennis Kenyon. |
Four AB412s registered to AMH in Feb 83......... why did AMH have these registered in their name for 16 months? G-TPTR Registered as such to stand for 'Toleman Powerboats Toleman Racing'. Had the pleasure of accompanying the great AD on a flight from Fairoaks to Greece in TR to make two episodes of 'Hart to Hart'. G-BFND Had to go to Goodwood one cold winter day to replace the fuel tank drain valve when it was owned by Warners. Someone had told them that if the valve doesn't fully shut when you do a drain they should poke a bit of wire up it. They did, a coathanger, and it emptied the tank onto the grass overnight. G-BHAR Gilbert wanted to keep it in Army green, but was advised that it wouldn't be too visible. He and I spent ages deciding on the size and position of a number of dayglo triangles that might make the thing a bit more visible. Ended up with a 12" one on each tank, and a 4" triangle on each door over the inside Emerg Exit decal, and on each side of the vertical fin. Visible from about 50 feet on a bright day of course. He was happy though. |
G-BGIM
Helihub
Was G-BGIM owned by Noel Edmonds (Rainford titles) or leased ? I have owner as Lord Glendyne, 14.2.79 - 1.7.88 before becoming G-OKAT. Helipixman |
Helipixman - AFAIK Squirrel BGIM was only managed by his company Helicopter Management. But of course you cannot rely on every change of ownership showing up on the register :)
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http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5296/...01659a49_z.jpg
How the fair oaks of the 'Mannsted' looked in 2009 Dennis Kenyon wrote: Much of the Roger Moore 'Spy Who Loved Me' remote control scene was filmed using a full size mock-up which later stood in the AMH hangar at Fairoaks for a number of years gathering dust. Mock-up of the Bell 206 'owned' by Stromberg in the 1977 Bond film 'The Spy Who Loved Me' - now kept at the James Bond Museum in Cumbria. We touched on this topic on the Nostalgia thread but .. I'm not entirely sure as to whether we resolved which craft was actually used in 'The Spy Who Loved Me'. It was previously suggested that the craft re-painted in the above colours was G-BAKS. BAKS, we know, played a prominent role in the 1981 'For Your Eyes Only' movie - the flying sequence performed by Marc Wolfe. But, is it safe to assume that BAKS also starred in 'The Spy Who Loved Me'? As with all the Bond films 'The Spy Who Loved Me' was filmed all over the place but I'm fairly confident that the flying sequences were performed in Sardinia in 1976 by John Crewdson. Can anyone reveal the identity of the aircraft which Crewdson flew? My godfather told me that John wore a wig during the flying sequences - and looked 'very pretty'! I am hoping that with the mock-up being tucked away in Mann's hangar that the lads from Mann may remember the actual aircraft involved. In the unofficial Bond film 'Never Say Never Again' (1983) I have a feeling that a Mann aircraft was used (ever so briefly) for the landing shot by Miximillian Largo on board the 'Flying Saucer' yacht. The other helicopter featured in that film was a Bo105 which somewhat unceremoniously dropped Bond (or one of his colleagues) into a well! Anyone in the know - please do enlighten us! Sav |
"The Spy Who Loved Me" is in my DVD player right now. Whoever did the 180 spot turn a smidgen over the top of the Lotus was a cracking pilot!
Dunno how well John Crewdson stood in for Caroline Munroe -she was, and probably still is, a very attractive woman! Fixed wing maybe, but "Eveything But The Flak" is a book worth seeking out if you are interested in John Crewdson. |
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Treadigraph: Thanks for the book tip, will certainly check it out! John Crewdson's handiwork in the 'Spy Who Loved Me' posted below with Treadigraph's 'spot turn' appearing at 3:20. More about Crewdson on the Nostalgia thread. TRC: No more details on the voyage with TPTR to Greece? Got to meet Stefanie Powers in the mid 80's in Kenya on a number of occasions - a dinner followed by a snooker game at the Muthaiga Club especially stands out in my memory. A thoroughly pleasant woman. Sav |
I've just spotted the breakdown in my thought process between the first two paragraphs in my previous post! Well, I had spent the evening at a leaving do, so I'm surprised it is lucid at all...!
"Everything But The Flak" was written by Martin Caidin by the way and is about bringing three B-17s over the Pond to film "The War Lover" - more here... |
G-BOLA
Picture for Savoia
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5078/...52e600c3_b.jpg Picture from Helipixman collection |
G-BOLA
That'll be the Bernard Ashley machine, then. Good one too. Also one to which we fitted a (primitive by modern standards) glass cockpit. Weighed tons! And the equipment wasn't too happy with heli-vibrations as I recall.
VFR |
Laura Ashley
Helipix: Many thanks for posting BOLA. You must have one of the few remaining images of her!
Prior to BOLA Laura Ashley operated an AgustaBell 206B G-BMKM (which Mann's sold them in 85/6). Word in the hangar is they may have had another craft before this! https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/__...els%201986.jpg Laura Ashley's AgustaBell 206B seen at Brussels Zaventem c. 1987 Sav |
The following Bell helicopters were believed to have been delivered via Fairoaks (I'll put together an AB206 listing soon too). Hope this jogs a few memories and photos...
B206B3 4374 G-CTPW Control Techniques 4401 G-DBMW Lind, Norwich 4409 G-DENN Abbeyflight Ltd 4475 G-NEWZ Peter Press Ltd 4494 G-MOTA John Sandle Motors 4511 G-OBAM Shawford Park Helicopters 4513 EI-MER Mercury Engineering 4523 EI-PRI Accorp / Rocca Tiles 4551 G-RJTT Air Deluxe B206L4 52257 G-JGBI Dorbcrest Homes, Wigan B407 53137 N7238A Chris de Berg (later became C-FCDB,G-DCDB with same owner) 53186 N52245 J J B Sports, 53282 N44504 Ryan, Dublin 53375 N407RB Roland Bardsley Homes B430 49028 EI-WAV Westair Aviation (owner was McManus, right?) |
The Ashley 109A2 in another guise
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/...fc00feb2aa.jpg and in another scheme http://www.abpic.co.uk/images/images/1209528F.jpg The Ashley 47G5 G-BPAI at Compton Abbas (Ashley had a place out that way as well as Wales and the boat) http://www.abpic.co.uk/images/images/1163199F.jpg In fact I remember seeing a 300C parked up at the place in Dorset. It was N9599F which operated in UK on the N reg for some time and was later G-BXMY (was this linked to Ashley?) It's always been in the grey scheme shown here http://www.abpic.co.uk/images/images/1087101F.jpg |
206l4, 407, 430
and most of the rest for good measure....
http://www.heliforum.com/php/uploads/photos/1215.jpg Some 407s JJB's N52245 later became G-GAJW http://i.pbase.com/g4/91/59491/2/62522293.XSSohPm7.jpg N407RB became G-IORB with same owner http://i.pbase.com/u25/mikerice/larg...492.GIORB1.jpg and the 430 http://www.irishairpics.com/images/i...es/1035345.jpg |
High Road to China
Hi,
Great pilot Mr. David Perrin who fly in Rothmans Aerobatic group.I had a opportunity to meet him and Mr. Antony Biancchi, "Tony" as well as some mechanics from Personal Plane services during shooting of film :"High Road to China" on location in that time Yugoslavia mostly on airfild Grobnik near Rijeka.I work with them for a half year as a contact person between film flying crew and airclub "Krila Kvarnera" where I was doing my ICAO 2 years apprenticeship for aircraft mechanic licence. One Sunday as I remember helicopter G-FILM took off with three persons on board for a short flight, to bring the second pilot for ferry flight of a third Stamp biplane, from 20 min flight time distanced Boljunsko Polje to Grobnik airfield.On a flight there happened a tragical and fatal accident where all thee persons died.Couse of accident was low level flight and helikopter cought a tipical cable used for a local residents to pull, transport goods on a hilly terrain: Crew of a helicopter was: 1982 David Perrin (Stunt-Pilot), Jaron Anderson (Mechaniker), Nigel Thornton (Hubschrauberpilot):. Film "High Road to China" This helicopter (registered G-FILM) was used for training and film work until it crashed in Yugoslavia in 1982 killing the pilot! ... Some links to my photografs taken in that time: Film High Road to China pictures from college photos on webshots http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/27...600x600Q85.jpg http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/45...600x600Q85.jpg |
Streeters Jetrangers
A photo of each of the Streeters Jetrangers mentioned in post 43 by TRC
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6010/...7c6d8f7a_b.jpg G-BARO Bell 206B Jetranger II c/n 971... this is the one sold in the USA. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5032/...39604569_b.jpg G-BFND Agusta Bell 206B Jetranger II c/n 8553.... this is current in the UK as G-BYSE. Photos from the Helipixman collection |
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Helipix: Great photos! Can anyone provide any more details on the Streeters operation? https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/__...Stephen%29.jpg Agusta 109A MkII seen at Shoreham on 12th March 2011. (Photo: Martin Stephen) Originally delivered by Mann's as G-EJCB at the end of 1984 to the late John 'Chalky' White - he of the mechanical diggers! Looking at the above, just wondered whether there are any other 'bits' of the MkII one can throw away in order to save weight! Sav |
A109 weight saving
S
I sincerely hope that the aircraft was on maintenance ................ I don't see the TCH permitting such a modification!! But there's a story about the lower fin (of course there is!). The A109 was designed by Ing Lovera and the late Ing Bellavita. The latter was the aerodynamicist; I met him on occasion at Cascina Costa, and I was very impressed - a gentleman, and extremely well-read in his discipline. I think it was he who insisted upon the lower fin being added to the orginal basic design which actually was more like the A109 E and derivatives. You can tell it was an add-on if you look at the structural aspect. The upper fin has both a forward and trailing edge spar and a transition frame to the tailboom. The lower fin, as an assembly, is just bolted on with a formed L-shaped fabrication and either 8 or 12 AN3 bolts into anchor nuts. (I forget just how many, but it is completely at odds with the careful integrated design of the rest of the airframe). Bellavita went to the big bar in the sky some years ago; I see the hand of Lovera in the later A109 marques though.............;). You are (physically) closer so could confirm the above, but I think it was that way. ~VFR |
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VFR: I shall certainly make some enquiries among friends at AW! I do know however that there was a 'fin removing mod' which applied to a military variant of the 'C' model, specifically the 109BA. Alan Mann was said to have a business partner, the Greek shipping magnate Niki Papadakis, and it is also said that it was because of Papadakis that Mann's colours were yellow and black (those of Papadakis' shipping line) as opposed to the colours of Alan Mann racing which were red and gold. Can anyone verify this and does anyone remember Niki Papadakis? Sav |
...Mann's colours were yellow and black (those of Papadakis' shipping line)... Can anyone verify this and does anyone remember Niki Papadakis? Not sure about the colours, his House colours seem to have been yellow and white with blue stripes, and a black 'P'. Took this when we did some USL's onto one of his ships, the Point Clear, in mid-channel. http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j212/teeo1/TRC3.jpg |
I was watching an old episode of the TV cop series from the 1970's 'The Sweeney' the other day. Quite a lot of Fairoaks features, the West Entrance in particular and a scene when an AMH Bell 47 fly's over; I can not see the registration; but she is in the famous white yellow and black colours; can anyone help identify it? The year would have been either 1974, 75 or 76.
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... an AMH Bell 47 fly's over; I can not see the registration; but she is in the famous white yellow and black colours; can anyone help identify it? G-BCVZ (re. post 43) This photo turned up while I was looking for the Papadakis flag pic. After it was sold by Greenhams it suffered a compressor seize while parked. This is it being recovered by road from near Arundel in Sussex. http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j212/teeo1/TRC1.jpg |
I have several of their old stickers unused in my desk somewhere, the balck with a gold Jet Ranger on and Alan mann Helicopters around the op.
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Mann's colours were yellow and black The stationery was beige with brown lettering and a gold am, even the typewriter ink was brown....... The 206 scheme was all-over chocolate brown up to the engine/xmsn fairings which were gold. (I think... it was 37 years ago :eek:). Edit: Found this b/w picture, shows that the brown 'tide-mark' was lower than I remember it. It was a ghastly scheme ... http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j212/teeo1/TRC5.jpg |
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TRC: Great stuff! :ok: Little or nothing in the public domain about Papadakis! Brilliant that you should have a shot of the company flag. You make reference (above) to G-AVSN (A Ferranti ship) in post #43, did you mean G-BCVZ? Sav |
You make reference (above) to G-AVSN (A Ferranti ship) in post #43, did you mean G-BCVZ? Corrected now, thanks. |
http://www.abpic.co.uk/images/images/1077163F.jpg
G-BCVZ is still flying in Ireland as EI-BIJ Tarman |
.. suffered a compressor seize while parked. Sav |
Excuse my ignorance but what kind of seizure was this... Can't recall the reason in this case. |
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