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John Eacott 14th May 2011 11:36

That was the Multiplex helicopter: now long gone, it was a 2004 photo! ISTR Multiplex had a little contract in UK to build a footy field or something :p

A check of the rego at CASA says that MXE is now a VANS RV-7A homebuilt, registered as of 17 March 2011.

Savoia 18th May 2011 07:44

.
John, thanks for this info! :ok:

Anyone with any clues as to where this 206 is being unpacked from? The craft wears a scheme similar to that of Japan's Aero Asahi.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/__...unload%201.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/__...unload%202.jpg

In the same hangar is a 'devil' (G-DEVL) and a 'Jessie' (G-JESI) below.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/__...C-rVM/jesi.jpg

Sav

Savoia 21st May 2011 06:09

Irish Nostalgia
 
.
Sustaining the theme on this and recent pages of musings from the Emerald Isle, this early example Bell 206 EI-ASW which seems to have been a contemporary of Denis de Ferranti's EI-AWA.

EI-ASW was an early model (1968) 206 (serial no. 180). In fact there was only one Bell 206 earlier than this in the British Isles, serial no. 66 (G-AVTE) which went to a firm 'BSR Ltd.'

Ferranti's 206 EI-AWA was a slightly later model (1972, serial no. 897) but was also a Bell and, curiously, carried the same (slightly gaudy in my view) copper-gold motif although with ASW (as seen below) this is offset with white 'patches'.

In 1972 ASW is then sold to the UK and registered as G-BADS and recorded as becoming the property of Viscount Downe (John Christian George Dawnay) of Wykeham Abbey. Viscount Downe was a contemporary of Sebastian de Ferranti in that he flew his own JetRanger and had his own (albeit moderately sized) electronics company.

I am keen to discover whether ASW was owned by Viscount Downe (originally an Irish title) while on the Irish register or whether she belonged to someone else first.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/__...29%20-%202.jpg
Bell 206A EI-ASW as seen at Plymouth Roborough on 17th October 1970. (Photo: Chris England)

Maintaining the Irish spirit, some contemporary nostalgia below:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/__...b%20cr%20i.jpg
QEII arrives with the Duke at the 'Rock of Cashel' in the morning hours of 20th May 2011 courtesy of the Royal Household's S76C G-XXEB

It brings back the memories .. having lived for some time in the shadow of 'the Rock' at the Cashel Palace Hotel during the early 80's in the days when it was owned by Vincent O'Brien.

Sav

outhouse 21st May 2011 06:36

Well, drifting back through this interesting thread I found a snap in post 644 by Saviol, of a S62A with Gulf Air as the operator. A little piece of history of the emerging beginnings of Gulf Helicopters in Doha Qatar. Originally as I believe, in support of the emerging off shore oil and gas development, two S62s operated out of Doha for a number of years, fist operated by Bristow, then by Gulf Air and later Qatar Petroleum under the Gulf Helicopters banner.
After the introduction of the Bell 212 the S62 sat in glorious isolation *and gathering dust at the developing heliport at Doha until sent as scrap to one of the many junk yards outside of town.
A old friend driving around the industrial area a few years ago tells me that he noticed a dilapidated S62 sitting among the wreckage of old and scrapped cars. A part of the local history lost unfortunatly. **:sad:

Wageslave 21st May 2011 09:13

I saw Savoia's post 689 and realised that the fabulous anecdote about the Sussex police helo was not, in fact an invention.

They discovered to their chagrin that with the rear door left open the signwriting read

SEX
LICE

stacey_s 21st May 2011 16:48

Three S62's were actually sold to Court Helicopters in 78/79, two went to Dubai for a period of time and the third I believe went to S.A., the scrap one was a crashed airframe.
Bristows were there very early on before the S92's with S55 Whirlwinds, and later supported Gulf with leased 212's when the S62's were retired.

Stacey

outhouse 21st May 2011 17:06

Well done Stacy, nice to have the detail. I will pass the history to my old chum next time I contact.:ok:

500 Fan 21st May 2011 17:57

EI-ASW
 
It looks like this Jet Ranger might have been the first B206 to have been operated by Irish Helicopters Ltd, albeit on a leased-in basis.

According to one source, it looks like it was operated by Helicopter Maintenance Ltd, Irish Helicopters, Welltrade Ltd (01 Dec 1968), and then went into private ownership on the 23 Nov 1970. It was cancelled in September 1972, becoming G-BADS before going abroad as SE-HGH and was written off while carrying this registration in 1977. Two different sources confirm these registrations as being correct for this airframe.

500 Fan.

Phil Kemp 21st May 2011 19:08


Bristows were there very early on before the S92's with S55 Whirlwinds, and later supported Gulf with leased 212's when the S62's were retired.


Wow, Stacey; that's quite a jump from the WS55 to the S92! :eek:

Savoia 22nd May 2011 09:30

Asian Nostalgia
 
.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/__...traits%20-.jpg
An AS 330J (or perhaps one of the eleven NAS 330J's built by Indonesia's IPTN) approaches Mobil Oil's seismic acquisition and research vessel the 'Ted Nelson' in the Malacca Straits c. 1981.

Sav

stacey_s 22nd May 2011 09:35

Sorry Phil!!

:O:}

si354 27th May 2011 17:25

if it was the Allouette II it was G AWAP

Savoia 28th May 2011 07:38


if it was the Allouette II it was G AWAP
http://images.zaazu.com/img/scratch-...0415-large.gif

Savoia 31st May 2011 05:15

.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1...ani%252529.jpg
Royal Australian Navy SeaKing Mk50A trailing the Aussie Navy ensign at the Nowra Airshow on 1st November 1998. This aircraft, N16-100, went on to meet her demise on 2nd April 2005 during Tsunami relief operations on the island of Nias. Sadly 9 Australian Defence Force personnel were killed and 2 seriously injured in the crash. [This photo dedicated to the families of those who perished].

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-C...nna%252529.jpg
AgustaBell 212AM of the Italian Air Force at Santu Pietru, Malta on 9th August 2007 air lifting the remains of an AFM 'Bulldog' which crashed during a coastal patrol.

S.

Savoia 1st June 2011 08:08

.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g...ne%2525203.jpg
One of the early 206L's (c.1979) operating in the Gulf of Mexico was this model owned/contracted to Motorola Communications who employed the craft in support of their offshore radio network which linked the various rigs with rig-to-shore comms.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-u...rke%252529.jpg
Bell 206L1 N1077G at Dubai International Airport on 1st August 1980 (Photo: Steve Dark)

Any details relating to 77G's tour in Dubai would be welcome.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-j...ock%252529.jpg
Bell 206L1 G-EYRE (which has featured several times on this thread courtesy of WiganAirways) seen here at Duxford in August 1991 while owned by 'Hideroute Ltd' of Benfleet. An unidentified 206 appearing in the background. (Photo: Martin Laycock)

Savoia 2nd June 2011 08:04

European Rangers
 
.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-w...splay_4754.jpg
Swedish Police AgustaBell 206B SE-HPF at Bromma Airport (Stockholm) on 1st May 1972. HPF was the third 206 delivered by Agusta to the Swedish Police and was up-graded from and 'A' to a 'B' by Ostermans Aero. Sadly, the aircraft crashed in Grantofta in June 1980 with the loss of three souls. (Photo: Rolf Larsson)

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-X...sup%252529.jpg
AgustaBell 206A D-HARU at Jeenwang in Germany on 24th June 1975. (Photo: Stuart Jessup)

Savoia 4th June 2011 07:58

.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Z...ith%252529.jpg
British Army Air Corps SA3130 AH2 XR380 at Middle Wallop on 26th July 1975. Originally painted (in error) as 'XJ380' (Photo: Russ Smith)

Sandy Toad 4th June 2011 17:20

N1077G
Pretty sure N1077G though shown on AeroGulf's ramp was bought for Sh Saud bin Rashid al Mu'alla then Crown Prince of Umm al Quwain.
He had learnt to fly on a B206 with Dubai Police Air Wing.
It was re-registered A6-UAQ. Rod Good, ex Bristow, was recruited to fly for him.
It was soon traded up for a Bell 222 UT which then took up the registration A6-UAQ until de-registered from the UAE Civil Register. It then flew as UAQ-1 until sold.
The LongRanger was sold out of country - Sweden??

Savoia 5th June 2011 05:59

.
Middle East LongRangers

Thanks ST!

On the off chance that you may know something about it .. G-BFAL .. a Ferranti supplied 206L delivered to the Fayed stable (in those days Fayed's aircraft were registered under the name 'Genavco') was the first LongRanger in the UK (July 1979) however, before becoming BFAL she was briefly registered as A6-BCL. Do you happen to know whether this craft was actually delivered to the UAE prior to arriving in the UK?

More Bölkow ..

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4...4/13804966.jpg
G-BATC (which appeared on page 31) graces the cover of Air Pictorial's July 1980 edition advertising their exposé on Trinity House ops. The publication is touted for the princely sum of 55p or (as stamped on the cover) $1.95

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-M...k_-_870581.jpg
G-AZOM, which appeared on page 30, is seen here refuelling at Turnhouse in 1982

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-s...SZJjwI/105.jpg
A Canadian Fisheries Department Bo105 sits on the helideck of the MV George Pearkes. Further details unknown.

Savoia 5th June 2011 09:24

Army Days
 
.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6...6-cM/Lynx1.jpg
Aldergrove Dispersal: Lynx Crew - REME pilot and door gunner prepare for sortie. Painting by Wynne Hopkins.

The reference to REME brings to mind Bertie Thruster .. in fact if one enlarges the image the pilot even wears a tache!

Savoia 6th June 2011 06:23

Colt Executive Aviation
 
.
Staverton airfield, Gloucestershire, late 70's early 80's. Anyone with any recollections of this company, the key people involved and something of their operations? They seem to have been connected to a Mitsubishi dealership.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-A...orVF4/BCVZ.jpg
CEA appear to have started out with this 1975 Mann-supplied AgustaBell 206B G-BCVZ. Though operated by CEA the craft was registered to a Fairoaks based outfit 'Camlet Helicopters'

From the 206 they progressed to the Ecureuil most of which carried the letters 'RR' at the conclusion of their registration!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-V...52520Craft.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-s...c%25252080.jpg

This 1980 Flight International ad makes reference to a Peter Turner. Any additional details welcome.

vfr440 6th June 2011 06:42

Colt
 
S
I seem to recall one of our Mann pilots went to work for Colt, Robert xxxxx (TRC will know). They were based Bristol way i think.

More when I can remember it! ~ VFR

treadigraph 6th June 2011 06:54

As I recall, the G-*ORR refered to the family name, MORR was Michael Orr.

Aside from the Squirrels, they had an Aerostar, G-COLT, and either owned or sponsored several hot air balloons.

Owner of the Aerostar was "The Colt Car Company".

Again, if memory serves... they were a sponsor of the Biggin Hill Air Fair around the early 1980s, I seem to remember some of the aircraft there and a car trade stand.

They may also have been the sponsorship of Vic Norman's Zlin 526 and Zlin 50 which had Mitsubishi/Colt sponsorship.

Tarman 6th June 2011 06:55

The Colt Car Company was headed by a guy called Michael Orr which probably explains the registrations.
The Mitsubishi Colt was a bit of a high performance car in it's day, maybe the aviation side was an offshoot of the Mitsubishi racing arm ?.


Tarman

I16 6th June 2011 07:52

FH 1100
 
Hope this is OK and does not worry the copyright police.


http://www.helispot.com/images/0000356.jpg

Savoia 6th June 2011 08:18

.
There was a PPRuNer on here a minute ago trying to post an image of a Kiwi FH1100 but the post has now gone!

This is to say that I've had a go at trying to clean-up your image (below).

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o...g2o/FH1100.jpg
New Zealand FH1100 ZK-HCI at Mount Cook in November 1984. The notes state that this craft was the oldest turbine helicopter on the Kiwi register and that she was the first helicopter recorded as landing on Mt. Cook at an altitude of 12,394ft in 1971.

And there I was thinking that landing a JetRanger with 3 POB on Mt. Albert Edward (11,852ft) in Papua New Guinea was a pain but in an FH1100 ... :sad:.

Colt Aviation

Thanks for the responses. :ok:

The name Michael Orr certainly rings a bell and I look forward to any additional responses which may come in from those with memories of this company.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-I...ley%252529.jpg
Colt Aviation's AS350B G-PORR at Greenham Common on 27th June 1981. (Photo: Derek Heley)

bolkow 6th June 2011 09:12

Savoia, I dotn suppose you know if that particualr published book "Air Pictoral" on that trinity house operation is still available from any source. I'd be very interested to read it.

Savoia 6th June 2011 09:29

.
Bolkow; here

There may also be someone with a back copy willing to scan the Trinity article and send it to you!

Sav

bolkow 6th June 2011 09:34

thanks very much for that reply.

heli1 6th June 2011 11:40

Savoia..
Going back to Colt Aviation Peter Turner was their chief pilot and today is MD Executive Aviation,still based at Staverton (sorry Gloucestershire Airport).
He is on leave for a couple/three weeks but I'm sure will give the low down if you e mail him and put him in touch with this thread.

Brilliant Stuff 6th June 2011 13:30

Robert Kellie is the ex Mann pilot who used to be heavily involved with Colt.

Robert is now in semi retirement but still offering his considerable experience to Polo Aviation.

Mostly Robert is busy sampling wine with the odd Gin & Tonic thrown in, though he is missing the flying.

Cracking chap.:ok::ok::ok::ok::ok:

Ahh de Havilland 6th June 2011 14:19

Colt Executive Aviation
 
I remember this outfit very well, so apologies in advance for a long post.

Colt Executive Aviation (CEA) was a division of The Colt Car Company, the UK Mitsubishi distributor.

Colt began operations with Aerostar G-COLT and recruited Peter Turner from Bristol Air Taxis as chief pilot. When the Aerostar proved unsuitable they decided to replace it with a Cessna 441 but when the type experienced technical problems replaced it with a Commander 690 G-JRMM followed by King Air G-STYR, then King Air 200 G-MCEO. An Aztec G-SATO was added, and rapidly replaced by another King Air G-PTER. All the turboprops were named “Bright Eyes” and had regn based on directors names Jack R Morris-Marsham, Richard STYeR, Michael Charles Edward Orr, Mr Sato, and PeTER Turner.

At the same time as they were replacing the Aerostar they leased Jetranger G-BCVZ from Mann to evaluate helicopter operations, but when they selected the Squirrel G-BFNC was op for a while. Incidentally ‘VZ was the first a/c in the black & white Colt livery. They recruited Robert Kellie as Chief Helicopter Pilot – presumably this was the ex Mann pilot mentioned earlier.

The company’s first owned helicopter was G-MORR, soon followed by a whole family of ORR’s named after various members of that family. The exception possibly being G-MAHO; this crashed into the Humber after hitting a ships mast during a film assignment. A Dauphin was reported on order but never materialized.

Michael Orr used the helicopters extensively to commute from his house in Minchinhampton to Colt HQ nearby Cirencester. This continued when he moved to Devon with G-PTER deputizing in bad weather. G-MORR was his prime a/c and was repainted in a black with red stripes version of the livery with Lonsdale Cars logos when Colt tried unsuccessfully to sell Australian made Mitsubishi’s in the UK.

CEA was a pioneer in the Police market operating for Devon & Cornwall and Thames Valley. Their helis always managed to hit the headlines rescuing topless streaker Erica Rowe from blizzards in Wales, and drying out Cheltenham racecourse. They also established their own maintenance op & became distributor for the Mitsubishi Diamond jet (later Beechjet) importing G-JMSO named Jimbo after Orr’s son. However a/c utilization was low and costs were high. They also paid a top of the market price for Harvard G-AZBN at the Strathallan auction having originally gone after the Hurricane. The Harvard flew around with a large Mitsubishi diamond logo on its underside.

Eventually Mitsubishi tired of Michael Orr’s extravagances (ocean yachts, offshore powerboat racing, hot air balloons, aerobatic sponsorship, lavish HQ building, sponsorship of Mark Phillips’ Gatcombe Country Fair and CEA) and pushed him out. Peter Beaumont his successor canned CEA and sold the business off to Asbon Associates, including the aircraft were sold.

Later Colt realized they really did need business aircraft and had a couple of Citations (G-CCCL Colt Car Co Ltd followed by G-JETC) and a pair Squirrels G-TMMC (The Mitsubishi Motor Co) and G-BMIF. These were operated by Corporate Jet Services headed by Peter Turner and predecessor to his EAS.

Robert Kellie went on to form Helicopter’s UK and Mark Trumble (pilot of the ill fated G-MAHO) to form Police Aviation Services.

Pheww - I pause for breath.

Brilliant Stuff 6th June 2011 15:32

And Rober Kellie did an underslung Job when he was working at Mann which was a Birthday surprise except this turned into a Birthday surprise surprise because the load dropped itself a tad early. :D:D:D. Of course he has the trophy to prove it.

TRC 6th June 2011 18:35


..... registered to a Fairoaks based outfit 'Camlet Helicopters'




Camlet Helicopters was/is a name that appeared quite often on Mann operated machines - one of the most famous is probably poor old G-BBRI, the most abused (by student pilots) 47G-5A in the history of anything. Having been bounced and cartwheeled around Fairoaks umpteen times there can't be anything left of the original machine that was brand new from the factory when I joined Mann's in 1974.

Savoia 7th June 2011 08:16

.
Heli1 thanks. Have dropped Peter a note via the firm your mentioned and will wait to see whether he comes back. In the meantime, and as you have probably seen, De Havilland has provided a formidable synopsis of Colt's interesting history.

De Havilland; no need to apologise for the length of your posts for they are, without exception, masterful missives; informative, engaging and thoroughly enjoyable!


G-MORR was his prime a/c and was repainted in a black with red stripes version of the livery with Lonsdale Cars logo
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-R...-ilE/morr2.jpg


CEA was a pioneer in the Police market operating for Devon & Cornwall and Thames Valley.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y...2520Exeter.jpg


Robert Kellie went on to form Helicopter’s UK and Mark Trumble (pilot of the ill fated G-MAHO) to form Police Aviation Services.
Never had the pleasure of meeting Robert Kellie but Brilliant Stuff (above) seems to rate him highly. I did however happen upon Mark Trumble in the early 80's in Dublin and there's a bit of a story to it.

Ferranti supplied Mohammed Al Fayed (ex-Harrods owner) with what I believe was his first helicopter in the UK. The ship supplied was G-BAKX a Bell 206B bought from Harrison Construction of Droitwich and delivered to Fayed's company 'Genavco' in March '77. A couple of months later Ferranti supplied Fayed with a second helicopter, G-BFAL, the UK's first 206L and which ultimately led to the sale of BAKX which was bought by Castle Motors of Liskeard. In August '79 Castle Air (as they became) sold KX to Brendan O'Mahony a celebrity lawyer and perhaps one of Dublin's most successful legal minds. I think it was Castle who suggested the services of Mark Trumble in a freelance capacity to O'Mahony and he ended-up flying a couple of tours including a trip to the South of France.

Around 1981-82 my godfather took-up the assignment of flying for the race horse trainer Vincent O'Brien in Tipperary and while in Eire met with Brendan. When Brendan discovered that Bob had been involved with his craft in her former life he insisted on Bob giving a hand whenever he could. Brendan was a flyer but, as with Sebastian de Ferranti, was mindful of his limitations and generally preferred having someone experienced alongside.

Well there we were (I guess 1982) at the Irish Helicopters hangar in Dublin to collect G-BAKX (now EI-BHI) which had been in to have its Sperry AH repaired. It was a short trip (perhaps 7 minutes) from Dublin Airport to Leixlip where Brendan had his home. Shortly after take-off this acrid aroma permeated the Ranger's cabin and the face of the Sperry instrument turned brown. A few seconds later small amounts of thick white smoke emerged from the sides of the instrument panel. Bob very calmly informed Dublin that we were heading back to the field but that comms would off as we had an electrical problem. Dublin tower advised us to proceed to the main apron in front of their cab and then instructed a plank on approach to go around. Bob then switched off the battery and isolated the AH's breaker.

A long story short - when Brendan eventually received the bill from Irish Helicopters he naturally refused to pay for the 'repairs' to the instrument given that it hadn't worked that well. Irish Helicopters then decided that they would take-on their client (one of the country's leading lawyers) in a suit. By the time this came to court Col. Bob was in Kenya freelancing for Freddie Wilcox so Brendan asked "How about your godson, wasn't he on board?" and so I was pulled out of boarding school in the UK and spirited to Dublin where Brendan and his family made a royal fuss over me. Concerned however that the court may not wish to decide the matter purely on the testimony of a 15 year old, Brendan called up Mark Trumble to provide supporting evidence regarding the general manner in which EI-BHI was cared for and as someone who had been familiar with the aircraft.

When my turn came up I did my best to recount the events of the incident and which seemed to have been well received judging from Brendan's beaming face and the limited number of questions from the prosecution.

Mark was then called and, fairly quickly, (and I can still hear the accents of the 'Hoirish' lawyers) the prosecution focused on the fact that BHI was generally kept in the open. Mark went on to state that he had operated several 206's which were never hangared and that this posed no problem .. so long as certain measures were taken! It took less than a second for the prosecution to respond in his finest 'hoirish haccent' "And which measures exactly would they be now Mr Trumble?" Mark then mentioned how in his previous operations he would spray parts of the engine area with WD-40 which he said acted to prevent the effects of unwanted moisture. For the next 20 minutes the court then discussed the merits of WD-40 and whether this practice had formed part of the routine applied to Brendan's craft. Brendan was not pleased as evidenced by the scowl which had appeared across his face.

The fact that the engine bay was nowhere near the instrument panel and that WD-40 probably had little to do with the artificial horizon catching fire did not seem to matter to anyone. At one point in the proceedings the judge asked an Irish Helicopters mechanic about the repair procedures applied to the failed instrument. The mechanic made fleeting reference to a hair dryer (which I don't think is unusual - it was probably a heat gun of some sort) and which statement his Lordship latched onto with zealous intrigue. For the rest of the proceedings the judge would, at every possible opportunity, repeat the phrase "hair dryer!!" with pronounced consternation.

The following day's Irish Times (or whatever it was) on page two .. "Firm Repairs Copter using Hair Dryer". Perhaps needless to say, Irish Helicopters were made to pay for the repair of the unit (which was to be sent back to the manufacturer) and Brendan was awarded damages. He then moved the ship's maintenance to SRS at Shannon.

Ah, these little memories from times past but, I suppose that's what nostalgia is all about!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5...jx8/EI-BHI.jpg
Bell 206B EI-BHI formerly owned by Dublin lawyer Brendan O'Mahony which became part of a legal dispute between the owner and Irish Helicopters at which PPRuNer Savoia and Mark Trumble gave testimony. When this craft was supplied to Mohammed Al Fayed in the 70's the white circle contained the letter 'F' which many incorrectly assumed stood for Ferranti. When the craft was sold to Castle Motors the 'F' was retained as their owner's surname also began with an 'F'.

Shane101 9th June 2011 22:24

Irish Airwork
 
Hi all,
Would anyone know anything about a short lived operation doing crop spraying in Ireland in the late 70s with a couple of 206s called Airwork?

500 Fan 10th June 2011 09:34

As far as I know, Irish Airwork were not connected with Irish Helicopters in any way. They flew a Hiller UH-12 EI-BCA along with Jet Rangers EI-BEV and EI-BHE and, possibly, EI-BES. I would love to know more about this operation myself. Thanks.

500 Fan.

Shane101 10th June 2011 20:57

Airwork
 
Thats right, thats wht Irish helis got Bell 47 EI-BKG to compete in the crop spraying business.

Also does anyone know anything about the short lived Dublin to Holyhead S-61 service flown by S-61 EI-BPK in 1985, who set it up?

Savoia 10th June 2011 21:56

Dublin City Helicopters
 
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2...KWnQ/DHRAL.jpg
Dublin City Helicopters sole S61N taxis towards its awaiting marshaller standing next to an Aer Lingus 747 in May 1985

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-O...%25257E_12.jpg
Rail-air link advertising poster



Anglesey’s ill-fated Dublin-Holyhead helicopter service

THE Mail took to the skies amid much excitement as “a new and exciting way to cross the Irish Sea” was launched – only to be grounded a mere 10 weeks later.

In April 1985, the new Holyhead-Dublin helicopter service began its five flights a day, and the Mail climbed aboard for the maiden voyage.

“The first £1.2 million Sikorsky N61 copter to arrive at Holyhead’s brand new heliport aroused great interest among workers in the nearby Penrhos industrial estate last week,” wrote reporter Myfanwy Jones.

“They all downed tools and made a beeline for the helicopter, seeking a better view.


“Soon, the helicopter engines began to warm up, producing a tremendous amount of vibration which got the old adrenaline flowing.

“I couldn’t wait to get in the air.

“Then, with a small bump, we rose vertically about 50ft into the air, before setting off on a route around South Stack and Trearddur Bay, then rising to the normal cruising height of 1,500ft and a speed of 138mph.”

TV star Anneka Rice visited Holyhead to launch the service, which could carry 26 passengers and baggage, as well as a crew of two pilots and a cabin assistant.

Peter Powell, from the Holyhead heliport, told the Mail: “This is the first truly international shuttle service in Europe.”

John Riordan, the man behind the venture, said: “We intend to run a first-class service at second-class prices and give our passengers another choice in getting to Britain.”

Waiting passengers could enjoy the “luxurious” heliport’s “spacious lounges, fine restaurant and duty-free goods,” before crossing the Irish Sea in 30 minutes.

The service was expected to carry between 30,000 and 35,000 passengers during its first year of operation, reported the Mail.

While “not without its teething troubles,” it initially seemed to do well: “The new service is already carrying more passengers than expected and bookings were said to be flooding in.”

However, by June, all flights had been cancelled and the staff made redundant.

The service was suspended after the company “failed to get a £250,000 council loan to help them out of a cash crisis,” wrote the Mail.

“The last helicopter flight to leave Holyhead for Dublin left on time at 9.15pm on Monday night, and afterwards the gates to the airport were locked.”



Anglesey’s ill-fated Dublin-Holyhead helicopter service - Mail Series

sAx_R54 11th June 2011 14:32

Amazing what you can happen across, when looking for the 7-seater craft as by flown by Gilles Villeneuve.

Mr Savoia, Mr Kenyon amazing stuff!!!

sAx


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