Scoiattolo Classico (Classic Squirrel)
 

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/__...Thallon%29.jpg
F-GBBQ (bring your own sausages) at Farnborough on 9th September 1978. (Photo: Paul Thallon)

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/__...ey%20Tiles.jpg
G-BHIV (location and photographer unknown)

First registered in December 1979 to McAlpine's then to Marley Tiles of Riverhead in March 1980. Was re-registered as G-COLN in April 1984 then: G-UNIV Sept '88 > G-RAHM Dec '89 > G-WILX May '90 > G-JOSS Aug '99 and finally G-JESI in December 2003.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/__...0Bajcar%29.jpg
G-NOEI at Farnborough on 4th September 1984. (Photo: Mick Bajcar)

First registered as G-BHIU in December 1979 then became G-MORR in January 1980 and finally G-NOEI in March 1984 prior to being destroyed on 8th October 1985.

An additional image of NOEI appears on page 11 of this thread.

S.

Charles Hughesden (Tradewinds)
 

A couple of photos in answer to post no. 482 by Savoia.

As a young lad watching the helicopters at Battersea Heliport G-AXGO was a very regular visitor. Often a very well dressed pilot would get out once the rotors had slowed sufficiently and then stop them with his brolly.
If my memory serves correctly he also wore a bowler hat ?

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5054/...24693ef0_z.jpg
G-AXGO Bell 206A was registered to Tradewinds Helicopters Ltd, 24.10.75.
Converted to a Bell 206B II at some stage ? Then crashed into River Severn at Denby Island on 2.3.78

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6019/...f6f44a7a_b.jpg
G-BTWA Bell 206B Jetranger II was registered to Charles Hughesden 30.10.78. This was cancelled 25.6.85 and became SX-HBV

Tradewinds Airways also owned another Bell 206A Jetranger G-AXJC but unable to trace any photos ?

all photos from the Helipixman collection

Helipixman

Curry in a Hurry or Do you deliver?
 

The things some people want a helicopter to do, Captain George and G-BOUY doing the honours.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5012/...c8fa39d9_z.jpg

.
Helipix: As always, fantastic! Where would the Nostalgia thread be without your pictorial contributions? There would be many gaps and incomplete stories but .. thankfully we have you and the Helipix Collection! Well done. Another great image of Estepo's G-BTWA!

Does anyone have any clues on the location of Helipix's two images? I was thinking that AXGO could have been at 'Redders' (Redhill) but am not entirely sure. BTWA outside the hangar with the HS125?

Reference was made to G-AXGO by both myself and TRC on page 22. Sadly, she crashed into water during a 'water sampling sortie' on 2nd March 1978. However, before her demise she was owned by Charles Hughesdon's 'Tradewinds Airways' and registered to their Gatwick office. It is quite possible that Geoff Cox flew this craft. AXGO's first owner was Stewart Smith & Co. to whom she was registered in May 1969. She was the 33rd overall JetRanger registered in the UK and the 8th Bell (as opposed to AgustaBell) variant.

At some point, either under Stewart Smith's or Charles Hughesdon's patronage, AXGO was leased to John Dicken who, as mentioned previously, was a good friend to my godfather. Consequently Ferranti would hire aircraft from John (and others) when their fleet were committed.

Herewith is a quote from a former Ferranti pilot: "Ferranti hired John's 206 G-AXGO, and I flew it for the day having picked it up at Brooklands. I thought it was a very “loose” machine and after about 5 hours flying (for Plessey) I landed at the Beehive. As I shut down the aircraft began rocking and my engineer’s face went white. The mast was at a slight angle and one of the bearings at a lateral gearbox attachment point had popped out but was still retained in its housing – no wonder it felt loose!"

Wigan: Great nostalgia! One sees the paper promoted the local Indian restaurant but failed to mention George Muir's firm! Wasn't their a group of Brits in the 80's (or so) who used to set-up meals in unique locations and raise funds for charity? A balloon and Kili (Mt.Kilimanjro) spring to mind.

Herewith another shot of BOUY from Wigan's own collection:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/__...20Heliport.jpg
BOUY at Clyde's Heliport (Photo from the WiganAirways Collection)

At some point during Clyde's ownership of BOUY (from '91 to '96) them seem to have attracted some sort of sponsorship from BP. Perhaps someone knows the details? When this happened BOUY was re-registered as G-GOBP as seen below:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/__...Laycock%29.jpg
Bell 206B G-GOBP at Duxford in August 1991. (Photo: Martin Laycock)

GOBP was participating in a competition involving various 'celebrities', in this case with the then Radio 1 DJ Bruno Brooks, during Helifest '91.

Sadly, as with AXGO (and several of the craft we have covered in recent pages) BOUY was destroyed, while registered as G-LGRM, on 11th September 2000.

An excerpt from the accident report reads as follows:

"The helicopter left Caernarvon to carry out a pipeline survey in North Wales. The forecast weather was for a westerly wind of 10 to 15 kt and visibility greater than 10 km. In the Snowdonia area the forecast was for reduced visibility in cloud and rain. As the helicopter approached Snowdonia the actual conditions, as reported by the pilot, deteriorated as expected to a visibility of 3 to 6 km in rain showers with an overcast cloud base of 1,000 to 1,500 feet in the mountains.

The pilot reported that, with deteriorating conditions ahead and to the right, the helicopter was turned to the left towards a steep hillside and descended in order to maintain ground visual contact. During the turn an unidentified amber caption on the central warning panel illuminated and an undemanded yaw to the right developed.

The pilot did not specifically identify the caution but suspected a tail rotor failure when corrective action on the yaw pedals did not arrest the yawing motion. The pilot therefore turned in the direction of the yaw in 'an attempt to fly out and regain directional control'. But the helicopter continued to yaw to the right and in doing so intermittently entered cloud. Ultimately the helicopter made contact with the ground and broke up. The pilot and observer who were both wearing lap and diagonal seat belts survived with minor injuries.

Subsequent examination of the helicopter showed that the tail rotor drive system was fully functional at impact. Furthermore, the pilot could not be certain which amber caution he had seen illuminated."

S.

G-GOBP
 

BOUY was repainted and reregistered 2/91, for Radio Clyde's afternoon traffic reports, 'Barr's Irn Bru' sponsored the morning reports, and BP sponsored the afternoon reports, so BRDL was the Irn-Bru one, and GOBP was BP's one, photo's are from the repaint and the unveiling ceremony for the press .

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2544/...3fe377eb_z.jpg
New Paint Job
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2680/...7f7_z.jpg?zz=1
New registration
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2650/...8ac73e58_z.jpg
ready for the press unveiling
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2658/...2f9_z.jpg?zz=1
test flight with George,

and the 'Irn-Bru' .

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/...d75_z.jpg?zz=1

WA

The fixed wing pilot was David Perrin, Rothmans solo Pitts pilot. The film about him, "Man in the Sky" is one of aviation's classics!

Chuffer, thanks for that - I couldn't remember his name. Sorry if it appeared disrespectful, I should have tried to look it up somewhere.

G-BTWA photo
 

Photo of G-BTWA was outside McAlpine Aviation at Luton Airport...

Helipixman

Savoia...........

Excellent thread and the index makes it even better........

Thanks and well done......!!!

Planemike

Planemike thanks.

While I edited the index I cannot take credit for its compilation which was performed by one of my staff 'Mark' who is an aviation enthusiast (albeit planks).

S.

G-GOBP goes to G-OBRU
 

After the BP contract was up, GOBP became OBRU, and both JR's were now in Barr's Irn-Bru colours

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5300/...0b5e21ca_z.jpg
G-OBRU
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5062/...14f1eeba_z.jpg
G-BRDL as VH-FRL, photo from Barossa Helicopters.

and after Clyde was taken over by Bond both moved on to pastures new, OBRU to Scotia Helicopters, Cumbernauld, but BRDL went to Australia, to Barossa Helicopters, South Australia, and ran BRDL as VH-FRL for nearly 10 years, 1997 to 2006, she retained the Irn-Bru colours,Bridgette Kies of Barossa told me they liked its colours, even retained a Scottish saltire flag, - St. Andrews - on the engine cowl, sadly sold on in 2006 and crashed in Queensland in 2009 as VH-JTI.

Charles Hughesdon
 

I think the three JetRangers (G-AXGO, G-AXJC, G-BTWA) could be considered primarily to be Charles Hughesdon's personal a/c, even though available for charter through Tradewinds Helicopters.

CFH was the majority shareholder in Tradewinds and was Deputy Chairman of Stewart, Smith & Co, a firm of insurance brokers.

.
Wigan: Great to see OBP and BRU going through their respective changes! I used to see an IRN-BRU 206 running around Aus .. now I know where she came from!

De Havilland: I'm sure you are right. There used to be another chap Surrey-way who used to potter about in a 206, somebody Gardner .. I think! Seem to remember him taking delivery of a new Bell 206 on shorts, orange in colour. Basic from the factory - not a single option added!

I recall being somewhat surprised to see Bell still turning out new 206's with the original back-breaking seats. I asked a Bell rep about this and made reference to the relative comfort of the Ecureuil (Squirrel) seats. I seem to remember him referring to them as 'unnecessary' or similar.

The Bell guys I met in the early 80's were quite blasé about the Squirrel .. a short-lived attitude I am sure!

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/...bbd1b8f5_z.jpg
Westland Wessex Mk 60 G-ATCA over Ford's Dagenham plant on 9th July 1970 en-route to Belgium, yes Belgium, flying the one millionth Ford Cortina car where its new owner awaited its arrival with keys in hand. At the time Ford decided to conduct this 'special export' TCA was registered to 'Westland Charters' who had clearly leased the craft to Bristows who went on to buy her in March of '71.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5183/...4e0b63a6_z.jpg
Vauxhall decides to do something similar on 17th July 2006 (albeit on a far shorter journey) over Tower Bridge en-route Billingsgate Market with their Corsa debut.
(Operator: Helicopter Services Ltd, Wycome Air Park)

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5019/...02ffe3e8c9.jpg
A Skytech Mi26 doing 'its thing' with a Volvo truck.

S.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5266/...d0d96869_z.jpg
G-ASNL 'Arsenal' first appeared on page 20 landing alongside the Queen Mary in the 60's. Here she is seen at 'Pants Ants' (Penzance) in Cornwall. I'm fairly sure it was 'Arsenal' that went for a swim when she became a 'BA' 61.

S.

Mixed Bag Nostalgia
 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5106/...588bb8ede5.jpg
Robert Wlison and Wattie Cameron load a deer carcass onto the side rack of a Bell 47 piloted by Milt Sills (right) in 1964. This uplift of game is touted as being the very first venison recovery flight in Kiwiland.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5110/...54f2050a_z.jpg
Westland Wasp HAS1 - more than likely having just recovered a dan-bouy, with crewman about to haul in the strop and flight deck crew preparing to clear the helideck prior to landing on a Tribal Class Frigate (F131) in the Persian Gulf in 1969.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/...9ab2d654de.jpg
Bell 206 of the New York Port Authority Police Department overhead Manhatten. The twin towers of the WTC still under construction. (Photo: Chuck Howard c. early 70's).

S.

Clyde's Hughes 500C
 

Where Clyde started, a Hughes 500C, G-GASA, leased in 3/86 for a year until G-EYEI arrived in 1987, Traffic report was sponsored by Racal Vodaphone.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5296/...9601f26e_z.jpg

G-CHLA, AS355F1 was an addtional Police Helicopter, still registered as G-REEM to Heliking Ltd., with a Jersey Channel Island address

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5060/...43436769_z.jpg

The Glasgow Heliport hanger and signage

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5142/...2e616ee4_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5189/...04342d29_z.jpg

WA

G-ASNL went to the USA in '83, 'SNM is recorded as destroyed in November '70.

'SNL was presumably the one that would disturb my afternoon nap when I was still in nappies in '64/'65. These days it's the Met's EC145s looking for Croydon ne'er-do-wells interrupting my siesta in the office!

I don't think it's true to say the Wasp is 'being recovered'. It looks more as though it has just recovered a dan-bouy and the crewman is about to haul in the strop while the flight deck crew clear away the deck for landing. The Tribals had the smallest decks and largest wardrooms of all the frigates as I recall - there must be a moral there somewhere.

.
Wigan: Great to see a public transport 500C. There can't have been many in the UK. Also CHLA in the days when Police ships looked respectable before they introduced the 'police-state' black and yellow! You can read a little about CHLA when she became REEM on the Monaco thread. Not the most inspiring type face used in the Clyde Helicopters signage but .. each to their own! ;)

Treadigraph: Thanks for this info. I haven't yet had the time to investigate properly but, if memory serves, 'NL' joined her sister 'NM' in going for a swim and I think it was just the fuse shipped back to the US. Did I read somewhere that she became one of the Carson re-builds? More research required when I get a moment.

Rotarywise: Wasp tag amended accordingly.

S.

Arsenal & Arsenam
 

Clarification of the details relating to G-ASNL and G-ASNM:


ASNL:

• Registered to BEA in December '63 and transferred to BAH in October '69.
• The craft was ditched on 11th March 1983 in an incident attributed to a failure of a spur gear in the main rotor gearbox leading to a rupture of the gearbox casing. Though she remained afloat after ditching 'Arsenal' sank during the subsequent salvage operation.
• The aircraft was sold to the US in October '83.
• ASNL accident report.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/...ce1f0f94_z.jpg
ASNL during her ditching on 11th March 1983


ASNM:

• Registered to BEA in February 1964.
• Destroyed in an incident on 15th November 1970 which was attributed a sudden loss of engine gearbox lubrication resulting in a double engine failure. The aircraft sank within 5 minutes of ditching.
• ASNM accident report.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5029/...ba52d0db_z.jpg
ASNM at Tees Valley (Teeside) on 31st July 1967 en-route ABZ from EGSM (Beccles)

Sav

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_H...cOxE3qGw/4.jpg

In memory of Nigel Thornton, Andy Anderson and David Perrin… the photo taken during filming the ‘High Road to China’ movie 1982, a few days before the tragedy. Location: Grobnik airfield, Rijeka, Croatia (exYugoslavia).

G-FILM
 

Just for the record, I can say with absolute certainty that the passenger in the photo was not involved in the accident - and I'm pretty sure that the pilot is not Nigel Thornton.

A system of rotating the crew was used on the film, and that passenger had left before the accident. If the pilot is who I think it is, he had also gone back to the UK maybe a week prior to the accident.

I replaced the engineer in the photo some two or three weeks before Andy replaced me - the day before the accident. Nigel came out while I was there, can't remember when though.

Not criticising, just getting things straight.

John Crewdson
 

.
After some discussion taking place on the Alan Mann thread regarding the late John Crewdson ...

http://www.heli-archive.ch/uploads/p...300__7__01.jpg
1954 During the MUBA (Munstermesse Basel is an exhibition organised yearly in the city of Basel) the company Flugzeughandels of Zürich rents the Westland-Sikorsky S-51 G-AJHW. The British helicopter is used to advertise the products of Henkel, producer of the laundry detergent Persil.

It is piloted by John Crewdson and is also used as an aerial surveillance platform by the police. In 13 hours the pilot transports 66 passengers in 29 flights.

(Details courtesy of Mario Bazzani).

Sav

G-AWAP
 

.
John Crewdson's career came to an abrupt end through the catastrophic failure of the main rotor head on the Alouette II he was flying.

A summary of the accident report reads:

"The report concludes that the accident was caused by the disengagement of the main rotor head retention bolt, with consequent detachment of the rotor, due to corrosion of the engaging threads between it and the mast.

Contributory factors were the application of a different aeronautical grease from the one specified for use during assembly of the rotor head, the presence of a sulphate contaminant from an unknown source, the omission of a main rotor head inspection which had become due 207 hours prior to the accident, low aircraft utilisation which resulted in long periods of time between successive inspections and an extension of the overhaul period of the main rotor mast assembly."

Images herewith:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/__...s/bolt%201.jpg
The bolt recovered from G-AWAP

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/__...I/bolt%202.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/__...I/bolt%203.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/__...c/bolt%204.jpg
Vertical section through mast showing corrosion product in thread (x1.4)

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/__...g/bolt%205.jpg
View showing loss of thread form in mast and evidence of vertical smearing at 'A' (x12)

As with G-FILM this was a most tragic event and I clearly recall how saddened my godfather was when he learnt of John's demise.

Sav

TRC, I appreciate your kind explanation. I'll try to obtain the original photo and make some hi-res scan...

Looks like the late PM is the pilot and SN in the back. (Sorry for being cryptic, but I sometimes feel uneasy quoting names on here for some reason, although I have done it before).

I have some photos of this job somewhere. I'll post them if they are relevent - and if I can find them.

It's all coming back to me - Tony's first 206 and the one that needed the jig was G-BEPP. Got a few photos of it being recovered and I'll stick them in here if they scan reasonably well.

G-BEPP in the field having been righted and dragged laboriously on to the track. Note the damage to the windscreen centre post and co-pilot's door post caused by 6 feet of main rotor blade hitting them both on the way to a 270 yard personal best, stopping just short of the A1 (M).
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j212/teeo1/Bepp.jpg

.
TRC: Not really familiar with Tony Walker - any background info you can offer?

The field appears not too dissimilar from that in which we put down the 'Dancer' (G-AYTF). I've always wondered how the she was recovered because, from what I recall, the field had hedgerows and ditches surrounding it - perhaps you flew it out of there?

Sav

Captain George, Disc Jockey
 

another strand to George's life, about 1986/87, he became a disc jockey on Clyde 2, with his easy going music and stories.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5142/...3074bd6b_z.jpg

also a book, photo's from the 'Eye in the Sky'
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5299/...417d42cd_z.jpg

and a wee bonus, a cutting with a photo of Heli Leeds G-AYMX
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5229/...5a45b951_z.jpg
SAVOIA,

Clyde Helicopters type face was Radio Clyde's, so both Clyde's used the same.

Irn Bru photos (including one rare one)
 

A few more shots of the Irn Bru helicopters......

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5077/...455286e5_b.jpg
G-BRDL at Glasgow Heliport

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5071/...db543fcb_b.jpg
G-OBRU at Edinburgh Airport

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6099/...4e2cf6e4_b.jpg
G-OBRU at Cumbernauld shortly after sale to Scotia Helicopters

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6034/...1c675ab4_b.jpg
G-BUXS at Glasgow Heliport

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6018/...50c2eab8_b.jpg
G-BUXS at Edinburgh Airport, a rare shot.... Irn Bru titles covered over with Lothian and Borders Police titles. Used for the Commonwealth Heads of Group meeting (CHOGM) in Edinburgh. Lothian and Borders do not operate their own air support unit. It would be interesting to learn if they have operated any other leased helicopters for special events in the past.

Helipixman

I believe my first ever flight in a helicopter was in G-FILM back in Ireland when it was owned by Irish Helicopters registered EI-AUI. Same machine.

.
Wigan/Helipix: Brilliant nostalgia from Clyde and Irn-Bru. :D


One has to chuckle at the 'unfinished' state of the Alouette family (and others for that matter). Still, a true lightweight workhorse which continues to perform to this day!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/__...England%29.jpg
SA318C Alouette II seen at Plymouth on 30th June 1968. (Photo: Chris England)

'Saddle bags' mounted abreast the fuel tank?

Of course if the Al II was 'finished' it would look something like this ..

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/__...20-%20Copy.jpg

Sav

They are emerg floats. Self-contained with integral bottles each side. On and off in no time.

I'm very pleased that they decided to not 'finish' the Al II/Lama...


Yes it was. Mann's bought it from Irish Helicopters.

Edit:

Originally G-BANR of BEAS from 1-73 to 6-74, then it went to Ireland (according to G-INFO anyway).

G-FILM
 

Something that disappointed us was at a HCGB or some such event at Sandown Park.

It was shortly after Mann's aquired the machine, and it was entered into the concours competition. Bearing in mind that it was built in 1961, it looked in really great shape.

The competition was won by a brand new Enstrom. I think it was judged by some 'celebrity' actress, but surely someone could have given her a bit of a clue as to what 'concours' was all about..

Lol! Well if it was a Concours d'Elegance then I have to say I am not surprised!

"Brand new Enstrom" .. "celebrity actress" .. sounds like the perfect environemnt in which 'the Menace' (aka Dennisimo) might flourish! :E

Sav

Have been trying to sort out which craft this may have been. We've tried SPEY but Newforest didn't seem to recognise her.

How about FSCL (below) which was owned by Thirsk Aviation in Felixkirk? Probably more brown than green but .. you never know!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/__...20Heley%29.jpg

Newforest are you sure it was green and gold? Could it have been BCYP (below) as flown by Gilles Villeneuve?

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/__...%20%28b%29.jpg

Still searching.

Sav

Sorry Savoia, should have replied earlier, G-SPEY definitely looks like the object of my desire, the reg. just didn't click. :O

.
Newforest: Well I'm glad we got that sorted out. SPEY, in her day (ie: while with her original owner) was indeed a fine aircraft. :ok:

Wigan: Great to see AYMX in your earlier post. For a time she was owned by Christian Salvesen and I would be keen to discover something about their UK ops (c. 1971-72) in case anyone knows.

The Crewdson Files

John has been mentioned several times on this thread and there is a conversation regarding his role in the film 'The Spy Who Loved Me' currently taking place on the Alan Mann thread.

The Sealand saga:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/__...A/Crewdson.jpg
John Crewdson (third from right) with Roy Bates (to his right) in Aug/Sept 1978.

In 1978 John was involved in the retaking of Sealand from Alexander Achenbach - a German lawyer who had stormed the former fort in August of the same year. Evidently John mentioned that after years of being involved in films where weapons were being waved in his direction - it was 'interesting' to experience it for real during the retaking of Sealand!

Presumably atop Sealand's helideck is the ill-fated G-AWAP, parts of which (recovered from its crash) appear at the top of this page. From TRC's explanation in #530 AWAP is wearing the saddle-bag style pop-outs. Does anyone have a good photo of AWAP?

Additional comments on Crewdson appear on pages 3, 8 and 26 of this thread as well as on page 3 of the Mann thread.

Dennisimo!

Thank you for your comments on Tony Walker in response to my post #525 on this page which in turn was in response to TRC's #524 also on this page.

Great that you taught him to fly - sounds like he was a warm and friendly character! Would still like to discover how BEPP ended up in a field!

A couple of shots which you may recall:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5221/...a9613d1c_z.jpg
G-AVUK at Biggin Hill on 21st May 1972. (Photo: Stephen Rendle).

Prior to being recorded as destroyed in 1983 this craft seems to have shared a fair number of owners including: Twyford Moors, Federated Designs, Monitor Holidays, Richard Lester, Gerald Dommatt and of course Spooner.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5070/...f73682b3_z.jpg
AgustaBell 206A G-FSDG at Brands Hatch on 6th October 1985. (Photo: Keith Sowter).

Known to me as being a sister ship (of sorts) to the late great 'Juliet Whisky' (G-AWJW) a former stalwart of the Ferranti fleet.

Rgds

Sav

Nostalgia
 

Herewith some more reg/pilot names for 'S' and beliieve it please, but i also owned G-AVUK which was purchased from Ken Reid of Twyford Moors in 1972, being the very first Enstrom I flew and in fact the very first to come into the country from Menominee. It was actually an F28 (no A suffix) and was unique in that it didn't have a collective lever friction fitted.

I sold it later to Richard Lester, and taught him to fly. Richard was a lawyer who sadly had to spend time as the guest of HM at Ford. It was then sold to Jimmy Meyer of Federated Homes at Dorking who later part exchanged it for a 280C Shark, (G-OFED)

I especially knew dear John Crewdson as he was one of my first Enstrom customers when his Helicopter Hire company purchased G-BCOT, G-BENO & G-BBRS. (BBRS on Police ops over London! .... G-BCOT was totalled on a night hover air test when a careless engineer coupled up the three push/pull M/R pitch rods 120 degrees out of sequence ... just think through the revised handling!) I flew with John in G-AWAP a couple of times and again filming the first 'Rollerball' circa 1974. On one refuelling occasion ex-Pinewood, the Blackbushe re-fueller looked at the 'Energy Corporation' sign written on the nose for the film and said he'd send the bill there! John's second son Nick later trained for his PPL (H) with me on a Sikorsky (Schweizer) 300 as did his beautiful daughter Kate, (remember the useless Westland 430 G-KATE)

Ref B206, G-FSDG ... that machine was bought from us by Derek Chandler of Flair Soft Drinks, hence the reg with G-FSDA being the first 206 machine in the series that his company Flair Air operated. G-FSDG was originally a C18 A model but around the late 1970s was converted to the C20B version. Derek Chandler's first ever heli was an Enstrom 28C-2 (G-BHAX) I supplied circa 1976

Just call for more 'anorak' information. Dennis Kenyon.

.
Dennisimo, great stuff! :ok:


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5096/...b81cb885_z.jpg
The Agusta A101 as seen in 1964. Count Domenico Agusta third from right.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5138/...b8ce40ef_z.jpg
L-R: Raoul Hefner, Cyril Unwins, Sox Hosegood and Keith Turner. 1st January 1952. Early flight test of the Belvedere.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5029/...9433e983_z.jpg
Hiller 12 flown by Jimmy Harper.

Jimmy Harper was the third Briton to qualify as a rotary-wing pilot. In 1940 he became an instructor on Cierva autogyros. He later became CFI at the RAF Helicopter Training School in Andover. He was also a test pilot for the Airborne Forces Experimental School.

After leaving the service he turned his attention to flying helicopters commercially becoming aviation manager and chief pilot of Pest Control Ltd.

Sav