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'EW - well, well!
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The comments about 'EW are all correct. NF owned BCWM and wanted to upgrade to a J/RIII, and Agusta couldn't deliver fast enough. So I was despatched to Germany to do the pre-purchase on what became BKEW. And yes, the colour scheme was changed c2000 to white and grey. But your photo is intriguing. If you look behind the machine standing in the hangar doorway in his new, clean AMH 'ovies' is your own VFR. :ok: Little more hair than now, and big, black Michael Caine glasses. Well, well, well :D -VFR |
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Captured! https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-y...Y/s512/VFR.jpg VFR at the 'Oaks' replete with 'Michael Caine glasses' G-BKEW on the ramp, G-ESAL in the shop Now let's see if we can't track-down TRC! |
Who remembers John Acroyd-Hunt? I worked at Fairoaks (Ground Crew; then in Accounts) from 1982-1983 and remember him. One of my jobs as a junior was to open the post during the morning and 'Ackers' would some times join me. I remember him as a really nice guy; who sadly was killed in a Jetranger in 1986? Correct me if I am wrong with this date. Does anyone have information on the accident? I can not remeber the precise causes; but I was so sad to learn of his untimely death; at the time he was Alan's right hand man (no offence Chris Hobbs)
I have great memories of Fairoaks; for a 17 year old it was a great place to work; driving the fuel truck and refueling Jetrangers (some times rotors running) as well as Agusta 109's. |
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My only recollection of JAH is the occasion when he and a Mann-mechanic (which I thought was TRC but which may have been someone else) came to the rescue in G-BEHG (see page 3) to a ploughed field just south of Hethel (the Team Lotus base) when Colin Chapman's Bell 206 (G-AYTF) aka 'The Dancer' suffered an engine failure in the early 80's. There was a little bit of local flying involved between the landing site, the farmer's house and a local pub where the Colonel had temporarily stationed himself and my enduring memory is of JAH flying about in his green Wellington boots! I am also trying to remember the circumstances surrounding his sad demise. Was it the Grecian incident? |
The Boys from Brazil!
Back in the day (mainly the 70's) when Mann's had a sizeable slice of both domestic and international film work it would seem that another one of their contributions was 'The Boys from Brazil' (1978) starring Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier and James Mason.
This was the craft used: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-r..._CGQVDB_IA.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9..._CGQVDB_IC.jpg https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-m..._CGQVDB_ID.jpg This was a Bell (as opposed to AgustaBell) but, aside from that one is at a loss to discover more because, as can been seen, the registration has been painted over. Why they didn't use the same colour as the remainder of the fuselage I don't know. Perhaps the director thought that a white regtangle would look smart! Any offers as to when (one assumes 1977), where, the craft and driver? It seems as though there may be need to compile an Alan Mann filmography! |
quick hello message
After reading this thread (again) I just had to join in i'm afraid. Like many long serving AM people I have many fond memories of people, helicopters and events centered around the AMH home. I hope to contribute in some intersting way in future. Nothing else to add right now but I sure will be looking through old photos etc to hopefully add some things of interest. Keep up the great work guys (and girls?).
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The pilot who flew for "The Boys in Brazil" is not mentioned in the long list of credits on IMDB.
As to which JetRanger this was, there were not many Bell-built JetRanger IIs in the Mann fleet at that time, and I don't have photos to know whether G-BAUM and G-BBEU were both in yellow/white - these being the only two registered in AMH name at the time, although it's of course v.feasible that they operated 206s registered in other people's names. In 1976 BAUM was still in caramel colours like this... http://www.abpic.co.uk/images/images/1049755M.jpg |
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Savoia wrote: Now let's see if we can't track-down TRC! TRC wrote: I've just looked back at the photos of TALY, and I am ashamed to admit that it's me doing the unmentionable thing with the hose (no idea what though). I'm also looking in the P2 door a couple of pictures later. I look like something out of Fleetwood Mac. TRC avin' a larf! https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-n...xVlmKdQ/30.jpg TRC studiously preparing TALY for the Duke Savoia wrote: It seems as though there may be need to compile an Alan Mann filmography! This is a start, quite a few blanks to be filled-in and doubtless more films and series to be added - any contributions (large or small) welcomed. Not entirely sure whether 'The Run of the Country' belongs in the list. JCB wasn't registered to Mann's at the time of filming and I don't know whether TRC was still with them in the 90's but I'm sure we'll find out. Of the film (Run of the Country) TRC wrote: I remember it well. We had to fly up and down just inside the Irish border painted to look like a British Army helicopter. Not ideal really..... We were delayed leaving Ireland by a day, so to get the machine back in time for its next job we went direct Dundalk Bay to Wallasey - 120 nm. At 61 miles to run, the ENG CHIP light came on. Floats fitted but no bottles installed. Me and him in immersion suits, five-man dinghy, flares, etc.. Conversation was a little stilted. We turned towards Valley where the Sea King lives. When asked to continue not above something uncomfortably low for the last few miles, they kindly raised the circuit height of the swarm of Hawks and we landed to the massed blue lights of the airfield fire service. The chip was, of course, a whisker - but as far as we were concerned it might have had a full part number on it. The last Eng Chip that he had resulted in he engine stopping 15 seconds later. We had to night stop at Valley because they couldn't raise even a RAF plod to do the necessary Special Branch stuff. HeliHub: Well done. You are quite right it could only have been BAUM or BBEU at that time and one knows for a fact that BBEU wore the Mann motif so I'm going with that as the entrant for 'The Boys from Brazil'! |
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https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-K...52520logo2.png These are the ex-Alan Mann'ers on PPRuNe (that we know of): Andy Healey ExDesigner Geoffersincornwall LAS1997 NJT TRC VFR440 . |
Aerial filming
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You need TRC to fill in teh gaps; he's done LOTS of filming. Aside from many other things...................! ;) -VFR |
It was me with JA-H in BEHG that day. He was not involved in the 'Grecian Incident' (Do you mean Corfiot btw?)
The Boys from Brazil was shot in Portugal. I flew with Nigel Thornton in G-BBEU from Fairoaks to Lisbon. Your filmography is missing some other facts that I can fill in - High Road to China, the aircrew were Nigel Thornton, Paul Midgeley and John Ackers. The Run of the Country, the 206 was flown to and from Ireland by Johnny Crewdson. MW did the action flying and filming with a Wescam on the same 206. (Incidentally, I can't think of any connection with this event or aircraft with AMH.) NJT is missing from The Old Mann's Club membership list. He is back to the camera in the photo of TALY in post 128. |
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So it was you with Ackers to the rescue - Bravo! Thanks for all the various info re: film work. NJT now added to the OMC. A revised filmography below: https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-f...2520films3.png There are doubtless numerous additional films and TV series to be added and which we shall do as the info rolls in. HeliHub mentioned G-BAUM .. Registered to 'Fairoaks Aviation' in '73, bought by Blair & Co. '74, then to Shawline in '77 and finally to PLM in '78. While with PLM (and not the be outdone by her former company Bell 206 BBEU) she 'starred' in a the film 'Death Watch' (1980) below: https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-U...CO_AB_LMED.jpg HeliHub's G-BAUM (operated by PLM) featuring in the movie 'Death Watch' which starred Romy Schneider and Harvey Keitel https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-c...52520Watch.jpg The film featued two 206's the second being G-BUZZ which, at the time of filming, was registered to Western Air of Glasgow. (More info needed on that lot Wigan!) . |
G-FILM appeared in at least one episode of The Professionals as did both G-BGGX & G-BGGY. G-FILM also starred in a Schweppes commercial shot on Chobham Common. Several more, but can't remember the details.. |
Death Watch.
Seems the film location was round the Glasgow area 1980, Finnieston is mentioned on a web site, this is round the corner from the present day site of the Bond's Glasgow heliport, as for the two JR's, BAUM was with PLM 1/78 until dereg as destroyed 5/84, (lifting operation accident), BUZZ, with Western Air (Scotland) Partners Ltd., 4/78 to 8/82, also had WOSP 11/78 to 9/81. One with an Alan Mann connection, 4/75 to 7/75, BDBR, which was used in the great film, Local Hero by PLM Helicopters http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/...e709cd8d_z.jpg with KNOX names http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/...3a6d76a463.jpg Anybody for the drivers name? http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3247/...52dff354_z.jpg locals wave goodbye http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5231/...5d86d548_z.jpg never mind the actor, good pilot view http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5234/...ffcc80cb_z.jpg with the famous red phone box http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5231/...a1a9cb17_z.jpg Bye Bye WA |
Anybody for the drivers name? |
Agreed - definitely John Poland.
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John Poland
Yes, John Poland and even gets a mention on the cast list, must have been a 'PLUM' job!
Having breakfast http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/...15b92cb6_z.jpg well at least he got fed http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5073/...538e01f3_z.jpg and he wasn't last on the list. WA |
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Well done Wigan! :ok: So who were Western Air - was this a pre-Clyde manifestation? Re: John Poland, never met him but he shares the same name as the best man at my first wedding! He could almost get away with being a young Bill Nighy - poor chap! ;) Also glad to see that I wasn't the only one who restricted himself to three-bars back in the days when I flew commercially. Brgds |
Western Air
Sav.
Western Air seemed to have started in 1976 with a Brantly B2B, G-WASP ( ex G-ASXE ), registered to Sims, Automatics, Glasgow, Sims is a supplier of friut machines,gaming machines, pool tables etc. and are still around today,in 1977 G-WASP, - as it were - changed hands, to Donald S. McGillivray,Elizabeth A. McGillivray and Walter Glen, ( the partners ),T/A Western Air (Scotland) Partners Ltd, from the same address as Sims, WASP lasted from 2/77 to 11/81, this was joined by Jet Ranger G-BUZZ, ( WASP, BUZZ ),in 4/78, lasting until 8/82, next was G- WOSP, Western Air (Scotland) Partners, T/A WASP Helicopter Hire from 11/78 to 9/81, when it went to Burnthills Aviation Ltd.,don't know of anything after 1982, but I'll have a dig about, but would seem they quit the helicopter hire business about that time. Wigan |
John Poland - PLM Helis
John Poland was the P in PLM, who along with Laing and Mackenzie were among the shareholders and directors.
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Wasp Helicopter Hire
Wasp was headed by Don McGillivray and operated G-CHIC Hughes 269 in addition to G-WASP, G-BUZZ & G-WOSP. Don also had a Campbell Cricket (G-AYHH) which was replaced by G-WASP.
G-CHIC was regn to Wasp on 31.7.79 but crashed soon after on 13.11.79 near Betws-y-Coed when it struck trees shortly after t/o. The pilot died from a fractured skull as he was not wearing a crash helmet. I am not sure but I think the pilot killed in G-CHIC was Don McGillivray, as the MD changed from Don to Elizabeth McGillivray. Wasp were based to quote Flight in a small hangar behind an industrial estate in north Glasgow, and all the aircraft were regn to the same Glasgow address as Sims Automations so there may be a financial link. |
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De Havilland, I must say that I greatly enjoy your posts, you always manage to provide thoroughly interesting information. Within minutes of your post on John Poland's association with PLM, Tarman was adding complimentary information over on Nostalgia. I had always wondered what the acronym stood for. |
Aren't we indulging in severe thread drift here?
This is the AMH thread isn't it? |
Alan Mann Helicopters (Nostalgia thread)
Ref post from c53204 on 01/06. Are we going to say any more about the ZE cabs? AMH were involved with them for some time so there must be some interesting stuff out there or should we leave them in peace now that they are retired. I have info on paint schemes and a couple of pictures if we are happy to further this one.
Does anyone have any info on G-HUEY which is the UH-1D that came back from the Falklands and was sponsored by the RIAT for a while. I remember it being with AMH for a while under some sort of maintenance deal. |
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I'm sure it would be of interest to learn more about Mann's involvement with the Army 109's. Did they ever pitch-up at Fairoaks for maintenance? https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-l...520Ringway.jpg G-BCWM/N cited by the photographer as being a frequent visitor to Manchester's Ringway during the 80's |
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https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T...y%25252075.jpg Terence Murphy (wearing the neckerchief - centre) collecting AgustaBell 206B G-BDFD from Agusta in June 1975 BDFD's tenure at Mann's was brief indeed having being delivered in June and then flown back across the Channel in July to take up residence in her new home, France. |
ZE cabs
Hi guys. please help. After the request about the ZE machines I saw some pictures posted along with a couple of write-ups but I can't find them now. I am having finger trouble here or have I lost it?!
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AAC A109's
thanks to Savoia for the link to the new thread.
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TRC wrote: G-FILM appeared in at least one episode of The Professionals as did both G-BGGX & G-BGGY. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-t...es%2525204.jpg Mann's G-BCWM/N appearing in episode 4 of the Professionals c. late 1970's |
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0..._landscape.jpg
Am trying to establish whether Mann's were involved in the filming of the movie 'Figures in a Landscape' (1970). The pilot is credited as being one Gilbert Chomat who's other filming credits include: The Longest Day, The Sound of Music and Murphy's War. Does his name ring any bells? Shots from the movie: http://www.rotaryaction.com/images/figlands.jpg http://www.imfdb.org/w/images/thumb/...ures1892_5.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3102/...38db2322b5.jpg From the poster it seems as if the aircraft wore an 'XZ' prefix. |
From the poster it seems as if the aircraft wore an 'XZ' prefix..... Shots from the movie.. Another clue to Mann's non-involvement is that if the film was dated 1970, which is 10 years or so before G-FILM was aquired by them. The names of the pilot and the aerial camera operator sound rather French to me too ... The film is set in South America (but shot in Spain). The national mark for Mexico is XA - maybe XZ was a bit of poetic licence by the art department - it wouldn't be the first time. |
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-x...ith%252529.jpg
Early 109A demonstrator I-CDMV is towed at Farnborough in Septmeber 1976 (Photo: Chris Lisney-Smith) https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-e...ber%252529.jpg Agusta 109A demonstrator I-CVMD seen at Cranfield on 8th September 1979 (Photo: Ray Barber) This 'A' model demonstrator attended the 1979 Cranfield Show along with the LongRanger I-CDVM and is seen wearing Mann's sticker on the passenger door. During the show I accompanied my godfather in this aircraft while one the Agusta jocks invited him to pole the craft about the Cranfield vicinity. lemonchiffon |
... show that it has an Astazou engine. That rules it out as being neither a British Army machine or G-FILM. These were Artouste powered. The Army Alouettes were XR I think. http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/5782/unled1ah.png http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/5...b23e29142b.jpg |
The film was shot in Sierra Nevada (Spain). Could have been either AWEE or AWAP.. In any case, there would have been no Mann's involvement. |
"I sent someone"...?
Oh well, that's what comes of being a mere cameraman, rather than a helicopter pilot or engineer I suppose. I spent many happy days at AMA, working with Peter Allwork and the guys in helicopters. Peter was an amazing cameraman and could work magic, but for that matter, so were the pilots who (when I was shooting) did most of the work. Brian Rose |
Brian, are you talking about the "Ginger Assassin"?
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ex manns workers
And 254 i was there during 1998 to 2003
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"I sent someone"...?
Re. post 32. Brian, The penny has just dropped.. sorry.
It was you that went and got the weird but effective hydraulic pump wasn't it. I'd forgotten who it was. Well well... |
Yes, I forgot that name! Peter had a somewhat short fuse, his favorite remark seemed to be (especially when a camera or cable went down) "I don't f*****g believe it!" We all had a lot of fun together.
Aerial filming seems to have changed a lot from the times of side mounts and flying with the doors off. Funnily enough, we were discussing this in another forum (Guild of Television Cameramen) and the health and safety implications of non qualified people installing camera mounts. On that particular Professionals shoot, I seem to remember the Assistant Director insist that I hurried up with the installation. We simply told him that unless it was done OUR way, we don't fly. Then the stupid bugger nearly walked into the tail rotor. Oh happy days! |
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