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Peter Cadbury
When we first mentioned Peter Cadbury (aka Peter the Cad or just PTC) around page two of this thread, I had an inkling that (given PTC's effervescent nature) we might happen upon one or two discoveries.
From my time living in the UK (early 70's through '84) I recalled Peter owning a helicopter, a Bell 206 named G-CHOC. Enter PPRuNer MrChopper who disclosed that PTC had owned an Ecureuil, G-JANY, so named after his last wife. Great stuff! Then last week I was emailed an image of G-BBUX which also turned out to be a 'Cadbury-Copter'. I was astonished! Today I came across a response on the Aviation History and Nostalgia forum which read as follows: FAStoat wrote: On May 3rd 1975 I flew G-AXNZ into Preston Candover to be met by Maurice Gore, to be flown back to Blackbushe in the Air Pegasus Aztec. Unforunately this was needed to be elsewhere so Peter Cadbury fired up a Yellow and Black JetRanger, G-BAKU, and we flew back to Booker in that. I had only had a go in a Gazelle before, so was a bit kackhanded with the very twitchy control on the JetRanger when you had too firm a grip. I remember Peter being very amused at this. Anyway we got back to Booker safely. Well I never! From one to four helicopters courtesy of PPRuNeland and some faithful friends who regularly mail me aviation images to add to my growing assortment of photos. I am especially pleased over the discovery of BAKU as, unlike PTC's other 206's, this one (presumably his first 206) was an Agusta variant. PTC's helicopter line-up now looks like this: G-BAKU AgustaBell 206B May '73 to Sept '75 G-BBUX Bell 206B Dec '75 to Sept '77 G-CHOC Bell 206B Sept '77 to Nov '80 G-JANY AS 350B Oct '79 to Nov '81 As you might imagine, I am now keenly on the prowl for an image of BAKU. Also from the 'other' nostalgia thread: Chevvron wrote: Peter rang us (Farnborough Air Traffic) one Christmas asking when he could deliver our Harrods Hamper. At that time, Farnborough was officially closed from Christmas Eve until after New Year, but some of us who didn't want to take leave went in anyway. We arranged for Peter to enter the zone which he did in a Squirrel G-JANY. He landed and got out, and to our surprise was wearing wellies and courdorys. Personal Message received (and copied with permission): Loki wrote: This is the second time Peter Cadbury's name has come up in the last 24 hours! Yesterday I was at a reunion of Heathrow ATC staff (I was at LHR 1970-1973). There were many anecdotes told, some being about Cadbury. Because of the proximity of his private airstrip to the London Control Zone, he relied on ATC to be flexible to allow him to operate. Needless to say, he often offered trips to ATC staff. I went once from his Hawthorn Hill site down to Plymouth, where he was the chairman of Westward TV. We turned up early on the morning and had to help his "man" to push the islander out of it`s hangar .. other people were often offered drinks prior to departure. I know there is a Heathrow veteran who has a wealth of stories regarding Peter Cadbury. You might try the ATC forum for a response. PPRuNer Chevvron also wrote: I arranged a trip with Peter one day in G-BESO. It was at Bembridge for maintenance, a company pilot was going to bring it back to Candover, then we would go back to Bembridge to drop off the pilot and return to Candover. When I arrived, there was no-one there but, after a couple of minutes, a JetRanger popped up over the hedge, came in and landed. Janie (Peter's wife) got out and said "Peter says do you want a quick ride while he's got it running?" Naturally I said yes, went over, opened the passenger door, put one leg in and we were airborne!! Hardly had chance to sit down let alone fasten my seatbelt!!! Peter explained they'd had his grandchildren for tea and he'd just taken them home. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/__...20Jul%2059.jpg Peter Cadbury (centre) accompanied by his wife Benedicta and Douglas Bader (who was best man at their wedding) at the Royal Court Theatre on 30th July 1959 Anyone with stories, photos or other material relating to Peter Cadbury and his flying days .. please feel free to chip in. S. |
Hi,
I am the administrator for a site called Alec Wortley Helicopters. On the site are a number of old photos, press articles, letters, invoices etc. relating to the two Bell 47 G3B1 helicopters that this company owned and operated between 1979 and 1983. The two helicopters were G-CHOP and G-BGMU, both ex-military and both still airworthy. There are also a few pictures of Bell 206Bs and Westland Scouts. The URL is DR ALEC WORTLEY HELICOPTERS If anyone would like more information, or copies of the pictures at higher resolution, feel free to let me know! |
G BAKU?
When I first went to Dubai it was because of John Akroyd-Hunt whom I had known from Navy Junglie days. He had been asked to find a driver for a new 206 being sold to a Sheikh in the UAE. I went out to Dubai at very short notice in March 1976.
As well as the new 206 there was an older 206 with a Pegasus on the side and I was told it was ex Peter Cadbury. I recall it as Dark Blue with Yellow but can't be certain. I never flew that one as I was told of some interesting starts it had had when the Sheikh was between pilots :ooh: It was still on the UK register as there wasn't a UAE Register then but I'm not sure of the registration. I wonder if this was G BAKU? Timing would fit. I will check for photos next time in UK but don't think I have any. Interesting times! |
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ST: What a small world it is! G-BAKU was delivered to Mann's from Agusta in December 1972. She was then sold to Cadbury in May of '73 who in turn sold her to Horsley Wood and Co. Ltd. in June '75. The next entry on the register simply states that the aircraft was transferred to the UAE in February 1976. Images of BAKU are scarce, in fact so far I have been unable to source any. Rgds S. |
G-BAKU
My records have it taking up UAE registration A6-AYX.
ammended record, difficult to read the writing. |
G-BFFJ
Savoia, the S61 was flown to Breamore House, just south of Salisbury for the day of filming. As you say, the aircraft was painted overnight and back to Cornwall to fly the line the day after filming. It appeared in the film for all of 5 seconds!
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UAE registration is A6, you will need to correct your records.
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WiganAirways: Great to see you back on the thread! Actually there was no need for you to amend your original post as, to the best of my knowledge, there was no aircraft registered as A6-AYX. As Sandy Toad mentioned, at the time of BAKU's arrival in the UAE they had no aircraft registration system. That actually arrived later the same year, on 5th November to be precise. BAKU was sold to Pakistan where she was registered, as you originally posted, as AP-AYX. From there she moved on to the US and was registered as N54618 and N730HP respectively and became one of those rare breeds - a US domiciled Agusta-built JetRanger. BAKU doubtless carried her British registration during her tour in the UAE (as Sandy Toad suggested). Also in the UAE in '76 were these 206's belonging to ADH: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/__...0Murphy%29.jpg N8108J at Abu Dhabi Bateen (AZI) on 30th October 1976. This aircraft did go onto the UAE register and became A6-BCA. (Photo: Terry Murphy) Rev&Checks: Many thanks. :ok: Some Assorted Nostalgia: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/__...7s%20Mount.jpg The late great John 'Chalky' White's former mount seen here at the Leicester Airshow on 26 August 1979. (Photo: John Bell) Evidently participating in a JCB promo. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/__...Y%2079.png.jpg Also in '79 was this B206B N36BL which landed on a rather steep slope in Willowbrook, New York State. The landing necessitated positioning the aircraft beneath power lines. Another angle shows the slope as being more agressive than depicted here. If there are some American PPRuNers interested in Helitack ops from the 70's then you might enjoy this: https://picasaweb.google.com/1174151...27787/The1970S# S. |
Thanks Savoia, I'll change my scribble back to AP.
The nearest I have is sister ship G-BAKT S/N 8341 http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiganai...5762296809914/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/...a0b4498b_z.jpg photo at S/N 8341, G-BAKT | Flickr - Photo Sharing! WA |
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G-BAKT - Was hoping to have left my ramblings of this craft for the Ferranti site but, seeing as you mentioned her .. there's probably no aircraft which has as much significance for me as KT. My father met Col. Bob Smith through Sebastian de Ferranti. Bob and my father evidently hit it off striaght away and remained friends for life. As a result, my father invited Bob to become one of my godparents. At some point Bob felt he ought to expose his godson to the 'other side' of aviation (my father being a reasonably accomplished private fixed-wing flyer). Several attempts were made, without success, one which occurred just a few minutes after I had left our home when Bob landed with G-BBBM on our property. I was as 'devastated' as an eight year old could be! Bob promised that the following weekend (without fail) I would be introduced to the helicopter experience. Up until that point the only contraption which had captured my imagination was the Hovercraft, which I loved, especially Hoverlloyd's red and white beasts. Lo and behold the day came when my father drove me to the Beehive at Gatwick. Sadly on that day Bob was off somewhere with Sebastian but, in his stead we were greeted by Ferranti's Deputy CP, a chap called Chris Hunt. When we entered the hover I exclaimed "Its just like a hovercraft!" not knowing that we were headed to Ramsgate where Chris was to spend the day filming the Hoverlloyd beasts for an advert. It was a day of bliss for the young Savoia! At the end of it all when we returned to the Beehive I had never been so sure about anything - I knew with all certainty that I wanted to fly helicopters. Like many, there are numerous aircraft in which I have encountered memorable experiences but .. KT was by far the most significant for me. Precious memories indeed! https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/__...MtZNImI/KT.jpg G-BAKT landing at Glasgow in 1978 wearing the colours she sported while owned by Ferranti. (Photo: Robert Pittuck) KT was bought by Ferranti from Julian Sacher and sold some years later to Express Helicopters of Southminster, Essex. She then moved on to Burnthills and thereafter Gleneagles. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/__...ris%20Hunt.jpg Ferranti Deputy Chief Pilot Chris Hunt After working for the British Aircraft Corporation Chris was commissioned into the Royal Engineers (1965) from where he was seconded to the Army Air Corps gaining experience in Malaya and Hong Kong. He joined Ferranti in 1973. S. |
G-BAKT
G-BAKT
After Gleneagles she went to Kwik Fit Euro Ltd., as G-FLYR ,11/89, sadly destroyed in an accident at Glamis Castle on 13/7/97. WA |
another of Gleneagles and Clyde
G-AWOL
Have added another of Gleneagles Jet Rangers, G-AWOL http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5180/...b70255bd_z.jpg and Clyde Jet and Long Rangers G-EYEI / G-STVI http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5173/...3b99865b_z.jpg WA |
Looking at G-BAKT in Post #424, I believe this is the first time I've seen a 206 flying with the ground-handling wheel fitted. I remember that they had/have a spring-loaded retaining pin but nevertheless they came off the float pans easily after lowering the helicopter. I can't help feeling that should one come off in-flight it could do a substantial amount of damage.
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Wigan: Great stuff! STVI is doing a great job of maintaining yaw .. despite her lacking a starboard vertical stabiliser. ;) SJ: Clear evidence that KT was no longer in the Ferranti fold. Flying with ghw's attached was strictly 'verboten' as Col. Bob would say. Not however due to reasons of safety but .. aesthetics! The ghw's did, as you say, dislodge quite easily once tension was released and one assumes therefore that for flight they were fastened by some additional means to the skid. Some further blasts from the past include this Air Kilroe 206 and Compass' BEHG (which has featured previously on this thread) departing from in front of the Robertson's Foods hangar at Bristol in August 1986. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/__...MJetRanger.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/__...ust%201986.jpg S. |
G-eyei,g-stvi
Savoia : You noticed all is not as it seems on this photo, :D the photo is two stuck together, as EYEI and STVI (STeVIe), landed a couple of minutes apart, it looked good to combine them, and with a wee bit of photoshop. http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/sr...ies/thumbs.gif
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5299/...4937d80b_z.jpg the real one. |
Ferranti Deputy Chief Pilot Chris Hunt "White gloves" - check "White seat harness" - check Headset from Lancaster bomber with "white trimmings" - check Incidentally this appears to be pre-shoulder harness days. Did this guy moonlight as the butler as well? Pure class! How things change. |
Peter Cadbury
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6038/...fa12c077_b.jpg
G-AZBS registered to Peter Cadbury 17.8.72 (Sold it to B.E.A.S as photo) http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6027/...9fd71d98_b.jpg G-BAKU (location unknown) http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5271/...83efaa4c_b.jpg G-BAKU (With Heli Gulf Titles, again location unknown) http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5080/...c0563e86_b.jpg G-BBUX all pictures from my collection..... Helipixman |
Looking at G-BAKT in Post #424, I believe this is the first time I've seen a 206 flying with the ground-handling wheel fitted. I remember that they had/have a spring-loaded retaining pin but nevertheless they came off the float pans easily after lowering the helicopter G-BAKU (location unknown) The Location is without doubt Mann's hangar at Fairoaks. It's pre early April 1978 as G-AXGO went to the great hangar in the sky on the 14th of that month. |
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Bravissimo signore Elipix! :D Helipix, what can I say, you've done it .. again! Fantastico!!! When it seemed as though the trail which led us to BAKU might have run cold resulting in a disappointing finale without any material evidence .. you came to the rescue with a most satisfying reward for the ramblings of the nostalgia thread! Again, well done! :ok: Not only have you uncovered BAKU complete with her golden pegasus but, your image of her in colour in the UAE must, one presumes, be just as Sandy Toad last remembered her! BUX is also looking good, Greenham perhaps? Then, as if this wasn't enough .. you've gone and uncovered a fifth helicopter from the Cadbury collection .. mama mia Elipix! And I was so sure that after our discovery of BAKU we had ascertained the full extent of Peter's fleet! As with TRC I also noted AXGO at TRC's and VFR440's former place of work. AXGO, I am sure, along with AXJC, belonged to Charles Hughesdon. As TRC mentioned, AXGO was written off but on 2nd March 1978. A synopsis of the accident reads: A/C WAS ENGAGED ON A WATER SAMPLING OPERATION WHEN, WITHOUT WARNING, IT ROLLED TO THE RIGHT. CORRECTIVE ACTION HAD NO EFFECT & THE A/C CAME TO REST PARTLY INVERTED IN THREE FEET OF WATER. CREW MEMBER SAW PORT SKID TOUCH THE WATER AS THE PILOT LOWERED THE HELICOPTER INTO THE HOVER. CAA CLOSURE: THE WRECK WAS RECOVERED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE OUTER SECTION OF ONE OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR DEFECT WAS DISCOVERED. I don't suppose you have an image of G-AZAG in your superb collection? This was the personal mount of Lord Dulverton but, to-date, I have fully failed to source any pictoral evidence of her existence! To conclude, I am reasonably certain that, this time, with the discovery of AZBS, we have finally completed PTC's line up of rotary assets. Best S. |
Savoia, try here for G-AZAG image:
CSE ? G-AZAG | TransportPhotos.com |
Bell 47J Ranger
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/__...0Davies%29.jpg
Bell 47J Ranger seen at Blackbushe on 5th March 1972 (Photo: Trevor Davies) This craft experienced quite an assortment of owners including BEA and Autair. At the time the photo was taken APTH was registered to David George (he of Sloane fame). The craft was eventually sold to Germany in 1992. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/__...%20Olmo%29.jpg AgustaBell 47J Ranger I-MINR seen at the Volandia Aviation Museum at Milan's Malpensa airport. (Photo: Stefano R) This craft was operated by Agip Mineraria throughout the 1960's. S. |
John Dicken
I've put out feelers in the past for the late great John Dicken but have so far only encountered moderate success.
John was a good friend to Col. Bob Smith (Ferranti) and had the rare privilege of flying one of the UK's few bank-owned-and-operated corporate helicopters, the fourth Bell (as opposed to AgustaBell) 206 to be registered in the UK. https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/__...WOM%5B1%5D.jpg John's corporate mount from the late 60's G-AWOM belonging to Queen's bankers Hambros. Photo courtesy of PPRuNer Helipixman and the Helipixman Collection John was a keen Ferranti fan and, according to Bob, would have joined the Ferranti team had he not been caught up elsewhere. He took quite a bit of flack (as did the Ferranti pilots) for wearing white gloves when he flew! https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/__...0Hewins%29.jpg During the 1980's John could often be seen flying 'Gone Drinking With My In-laws' and I recall, on numerous occasions, his visits into Brooklands c.1982-84. (G-DWMI at Farnborough on 5th September 1990. Photo: Don Hewins) There were rumours about John dressed in a nun's outfit for a filming job he did and I am keen to verify this, better still to obtain a copy of the image! Any information at all about John's career would be gratefully appreciated. S. |
Rescue Nostalgia?
Wandering through an innocuous corridor of Leeds General Infirmary recently, I happened to spy some more rotary nostalgia embedded in a mural.
http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/z...eli_rescue.jpg I'm presuming this is a Whirlwind enacting the rescue at Leeds Town Hall, but I'm afraid I don't have any more information. The accompanying newspaper article is only partly reproduced on the mural and doesn't contain the date of the rescue (although I'm guessing this must of been during the 1960s or 1970s?). http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/z...escue_news.jpg I'd be all the more supportive of hospital art projects if a reference to local rotary activities was seen to be a ubiquitous requirement! Simon |
G-AWJL
On ITV4 today was an episode of The Saint, and my attention was drawn to G-AWJL, Bell 206A S/N 181, New 16/05/68 to Point to Point Helicopters Ltd, Watford, but destroyed 22/07/69, managed to get a couple of 'snaps' from the telly, looks like the Captain is wearing white gloves!http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/sr...ies/thumbs.gif
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5217/...9c188be7_z.jpg managed to get a couple of decent, well from a telly, shots. WA |
G-AZAG
http://farm7.static.com/6038/5909204...34f7fe92_b.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6038/...34f7fe92_b.jpg G-AZAG as requested by Savoia in post No.433 Photo from Helipixman collection |
The many face of G-OJCB (part one)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5073/...cc3f231d_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5271/...285aef96_b.jpg http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5277/...cfbbce0c_b.jpg http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6008/...5ff8bb25_b.jpg http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6046/...20480826_b.jpg This colour scheme was for a Noel Edmonds heli fest (for Mr Blobby !!) Note the British Gas titles (bet they were happy) |
Mr Blobby
Did Mr Blobby put the registration on with felt tipped pen?
WA |
The many faces of G-OJCB (part two)
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6038/...33c690c9_b.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6049/...f6729118_b.jpg This scheme was done in washable paint for a film in Ireland ? Anyone know what film ? Photo taken by Helipixman at RAF Finningley Air Show 17.9.94 after flying in from the Yorkshire Helicopter Centre pad in Doncaster. Used for pleasure flying then departed for its filming sortie. I flew in this helicopter just over 30 times during its ownership by Yorkshire Helicopter Centre and use by Lothian Helicopters (happy memories) It is still in the UK now registered as G-BZEE..... Helipixman |
Anyone know what film ? 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. A stimulating few days. |
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HeliSDW: Great Stuff! One has to admit that happening upon rotary nostalgia in an hospital is something of a rarity. One wonders whether there would be milage in helicopter SAR crews befriending their local hostelries and perhaps donating a couple of scrap parts (tail rotors etc.) along with a couple of framed photos of their craft. Presumably this does already happen among some of the pubs closest to SAR bases? At on-base flying clubs/watering holes this sort of memorabilia is almost taken for granted but it would be great to see more aviation nostalgia out in the 'ordinary' places. (Still can't believe the UK gave in to a no smoking ban in pubs!). Wigan: Great Stuff Too! Earlier in this thread there was mention of a 500C belonging to PPRuNer Palma which appeared in an episode of the Avengers. Always great to see these 'helicopter TV stars' from the 60's. Given the slightly broader dimensions of the 206 you posted I'm assuming you have a wide-screen set! http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/sr...lies/wink2.gif I will match your red low-skid 206 (G-AWJL) screen appearance with one of my own .. G-BAKS (also mentioned earlier in this thread) and which appeared in a Bond film. Can't recall if John Crewdson flew her or whether it was someone else! Either way I think that BAKS may have shared a similar fate to that of AWJL. http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/sr...lies/sowee.gif https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/__..._JetRanger.jpg BAKS getting ready to uplift 007! Helipix: What can I say? I am in admiration, and immensely thankful for your comprehensive collection of UK registered helicopter images - in particular 206's. Brilliant! Your contribution towards our efforts on the Ferranti site are deeply appreciated. Re: AZAG: In your image she wears the name 'MBJ Cadogan' on the forward door and which doubtless reflects her ownership by Cadogan Foamwork and Reinforcing between 1975-78. However, prior to 1975 she was owned by Lord Dulverton of Batsford Park in Gloucestershire (from June '71 to October '75). Dulverton was of course the President of the Imperial Tobacco Company which in the 1980's sponsored a couple of aircraft which have previously been mentioned on this thread; Colin Chapman's Bell 206 'The Dancer' (G-AYTF) wearing the John Player livery and Noel Edmond's AS350B (G-NOEI) sporting Marlboro's red and white motif. It would be most interesting if there was anyone who remembers flying Lord Dulverton around in the early 70's. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/__...mh_k/gazag.jpg Lord Dulverton's AB206A which he owned between 1971-75. (Photo: Helipixman) Equally nostalgic of course is 'Chalky' White's AB206B G-OJCB. I find it impossible to look upon this craft without remembering Chalky. His spirited flying was always fun to watch (especially as a youngster) and, well, he was just one heck of a nice guy. I remember visiting an Italian restaurant (I wish I could remember the name) near Brooklands (a couple of times) with my godfather and Pat McHaffey and being flown there in Chalky's craft. My godfather and Pat had some sort of friendly rivalry between them. Bob drove a Rolls, Pat a Ferrari. Bob's pilots wore white gloves, Pat's wore black. Ferranti flew Agustas, Hanson flew Bells .. and so it went on. Of course being of Italian origin it was hard for me to begrudge Pat's appreciation of Italian food and cars and which sympathy was met by protestations from my godfather over issues of 'loyalty' lol! Back to Chalky, and what I believe was JCB's first helicopter, delivered in April of '78 - presumably via Mann's as she was an Agusta. 'CB' had a bespoke interior (seats and side trimming) in which the initials 'JCB' were woven into the fabric. She was fitted with Ferranti's Stability Augmentation System and carried a Decca DANAC navigator. Chalky loved the Ferranti SAS! https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/__...2jtDc/ojcb.jpg Chalky White's runabout. Great memories of a thoroughly great guy. (Photo: Helipixman) Moving on, have you noticed how given the right promptings [images] (Helihub's Anglian Windows A109 on the Alan Mann thread and Helipix's camouflaged G-OJCB on this page) it is possible to uncover vital nostalgic reminiscences from both VFR440 and TRC!!! I hope during my next visit to the UK, with the help of the appropriate lubricants, to get the memorgy cogs of both sufficiently turning so that the site we are working on will contain a good number of interesting stories! Am still searching for any information about John Dicken's career. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/__.../GM%20Sign.png S. |
I remember John Dicken from 1965/6 when he was a Flight Lieutenant on 66 Squadron at RAF Seletar flying Belvederes. I recall he was a very jovial and well-liked person who, along with a small handful of other squadron pilots, (a Flt. Lt. Langwothy rings a faint bell) would frequently call airmen (‘enlisted men’ to some of you) by their Christian names. Though I doubt that the squadron commander at the time, Sqdn. Ldr. ‘Bunny’ Austin (whose death was recently posted on PPrune) would have been happy to hear it. |
Savoia, I think it was Marc Wolf who flew G-BAKS in "For Your Eyes Only". John Crewdson and Nigel Brendish were also involved in the filming.
Excellent thread this, even for a fixed wing aficionado! Anyone remember a Bell 47H G-AZYB that used to live in a shed by a road in Bordon? Came across it on a school trip back in about 1975... G-INFO says "Destroyed" with the owners address at the same location, wondered what happened to it. |
G-AZYB
Treadigraph: You are always welcome in helicopter nostalgia territory and you've struck luck with GAZY-B in that she still 'lives' (albeit in static form) at the helicopter museum at Weston-super-de-la-Mare!
The story of her restoration can be found here: Restoring the Bell 47H-1 At the museum she wears a predominantly red scheme based on the colours she wore when she was sent to Antarctica between 1957-59 where she flew from the support ship the MV Polarhav and the King Baudoin Station in support of the Belgian Antarctic Expedition. After her polar expedition she remained in the cooler climes being sold to Norway then Sweden prior to arriving in the UK in June 1972 where she became the possession of Tywford Moors Helicopters until she was bought by your friend George Watt of Olivers Farm in Lindford, Hampshire in February 1973. This is probably how you remember her though: https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/__.../s720/azyb.jpg Bell 47H-1 G-AZYB at RAF Greenham Common on 7th July 1974. The craft was destroyed ten years later on 21st April 1984 at St. Mary Bourne near Thruxton. S. |
Cor, she has a interesting history, thanks Savoia! Memory is a bit vague, though the reg stuck in my mind for some reason. Hopefully I shall be reunited with her later this year as I am planning to visit the musuem at WSM after the Bristol Balloon Fiesta in August.
Very first aviation memories were of helicopters rather than fixed wing - lived in Penzance under the flight path of the Scilly Isles S-61N and can also recall, aged perhaps three, being scared in the garden by a loud and penetrating drone - it turned out to be a helicopter and probably a Wasp out of Culdrose. I still want to do the Scilly Isles flight before the S-61Ns are retired, will try and get it sorted this year. |
Well- I don't know where to start !
There I was yesterday googling to see if my old employer was still with us and I arrive here. The first page I looked at mentioned me ! It has taken an age to read the whole thing, but very interesting and nostalgic.
I was deputy CE at AMH 1977-79. I remember most of these aircraft. I came out of a/c engineering straight after that so my memories have not been smudged by years of different aircraft. G-AZYB belonged to George ? who owned the Mazda dealership in Bordon. Broxford motors I belive. It was one of the first tasks I was given as the new and only A/B 47 licenced engineer in 77. It was in a bit of a sad state with the old 200hp Franklyn engine's hours having been extended for the last time. I told Roy (chief) that we had to source a new donkey from America. Mark (salesmanager) was delighted and decided that this would be a great time to talk George into upgrading. This was a waste of time as he loved the machine. TRC, Dave Hessey and myself set about the 1200hr check and fitting a (£7000) new engine. All went well and George was delighted. How are you Tom? That is me watching you playing with G-Tally pedals. I've still got all my hair (not quite the same colour) How are you Geoff, remember across London on 5 cyls in G-Lift? And yes it was my bloody coat !! more about that later! |
NJT,
Welcome: no doubt you can straighten out a few of the stories here :cool: |
NJT: A very warm welcome to the nostalgia thread on Rotorheads and bravo on trawling through twenty odd pages of blitter-blat trivia!
It was my godfther, Col. Bob Smith (Ferranti Helicopters), who told me about the espisode when Peter the Cad wanted to warm himself up and decided to select the cabin heat while his trusty engineer was round the side with the cowlings up. I hope he bought you a beer .. and a new coat! Now of course, thanks to PPRuNers such as Helipixman and FAStoat (the latter from the stiff-wing nostalgia thread), I have no clue as to whether this incident happened with BAKU, BUX or CHOC! Planning to be in the UK later in the year and to meet up with TRC and VRF440 and it would be good if you could also make this shindig! There's also an http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/443...licopters.html thread (some have asked why) but I believe once sufficient nostalgic evidence has been collected the reason will become clear. Again welcome, and we look forward to your reminicences from those days when things were, well let's just say .. different. Best S. |
G-CHOC
G-CHOC .
Mark Langford had been desperately trying to put together a deal selling one of our fleet machines, probably G-BCWM or G-BCEU (Glendyne ). However, another machine was bought by Cadbury instead, at a lesser price. This was to prove false economy as there were numerous problems with the C of A and the additional work was far more than the saving. This did not help with the relationship . G-CHOC was one of those machines that always managed to leak a small amount of oil and would be messy and very difficult to identify the source. Clean it all, ground run, all ok. 1 hour flight all clean. 2 hours and all oily again! One Friday afternoon Roy said Cadbury had been on the blower and would like me to check out CHOC on my way home. I was commuting from Salisbury daily and could call in on my way. I duly arrived at Cadbury’s bungalow in Preston Condover about 6:30pm on a dark windy, wet evening. I knocked the door and we went up to the hanger. We Pulled Choc out past an Islander onto the hardstanding and were getting ready when a sleek piston twin gave a low pass and all the runway lights in the hillside came on. Very impressive, he said who it was (his son I think) in their plane, but he was landing somewhere else and was just buzzing. Anyway we got CHOC running and I was torch in hand, ear defenders on panels open having a look to see where the oil was coming from. She was on low skids so not too difficult to have a good shifty. After a couple of minutes I started to smell burning and was looking for smoke when I looked down and saw the janitrol heater had been fired up and had been torching its way through my clothing. Coat,pullover,shirt only my vest to go! I was tired wet and cold so when I opened the pax door and told him it was a bad idea lighting up the heater (I can’t remember my exact words)he got the message. He was nearly apologetic and after we put CHOC back in the hanger he proudly presented me with an old well worn Lillywhites jacket 2 sizes too small and called it quits. About 2 weeks later John Akkers came visiting and said that Mr Cadbury had decided he would give me £20 instead and he wanted his jacket back. No point arguing. Our fleet machines all used to sustain regular damage from seat belts being shut out of the passenger side where they would hammer against the honeycombe tub and dent it. G-CHOC was the only aircraft where we repaired damage from seat belts sustained on the pilot’s door side !!! |
Back in 1982/3, I was looking to buy a Jetranger and visited Alan Mann and was interested in a nice machine painted a dark green with a gold stripe. I was told this was painted in the colours of the owners Rolls Royce, anyone recall this machine as I cannot remember it being discussed here?
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Newforest ... probably G-TREE (I seem to remember her being in that paint scheme in her early days.)
DRK |
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