.
Sax: Gilles Villeneuve features briefly on page 17 when he arrived at the German Grand Prix in 1979 courtesy of G-BCYP which, at the time, was registered to Mann's but which, according to VFR, was used/leased by a chap called Walter the Wolfe! The 206 is of course a 5 seat ship although perhaps Villeneuve went on to charter the 'L' model.

Concorde

On page 32 appear two images of S61's with the Concorde subsequent to my disclosure that I had been searching for an image of a 206 with Concorde somewhere in the frame (and which image I am not even sure exists). The same week as the post on page 32 appeared I received an email from one my aviation photographer friends containing the image below:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-p...est%252529.jpg
Delta Airlines DC8 N8148A departing Heathrow in December 1970 (Photo: M. West)

Now clearly the aircraft is not the Concorde but the photographer did point out that there was a 206 in the shot and perhaps this is as near to the image I was looking for as I will find! My photo-viewing software does not include a programme which allows me to zoom while maintaining pixel integrity so I really can't make out what is written on the 206 but there does seem to be something in the vacinity of where the registration often appears on the tailboom and which leads me to believe that the craft in question just might be G-AVII (the UK's first 206) below:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Z...lin%252529.jpg
The UK's first JetRanger G-AVII at Biggin Hill on 11th May 1968 (Photo: John Hamlin)

From what I know AVII (at the time of this photo) had her registration painted on the fuselage around the area of the baggage bay leaving the for'ard section of the tailboom available to display Bristow's then customer - Plessey.

Russian Nostalgia

I have no idea as to whether there are any Russian-speaking followers of The Nostalgia Thread but, if there are, then they may find this of interest:


Part 1 of 6

Dublin City Helis
 

Wow, Nice work, well found!

I wonder who flew it for that brief period, and if they got their old job back shortly afterwards.

Sounds about right :ok: (see here)

.
Shane: Some more info and images on DCH!

Quote:

---

Dublin City Helicopters
Sikorsky S-61 Helicopter
Registration EI-BPK

Dublin City Helicopters hoped to carry between 30,000 and 35,000
passengers during their first 12 months of operations. The breakeven
load factor would be about 55%, but this was rarely achieved, with an
average of about 40% per flight.

The "block time" (brakes off Dublin to brakes on Holyhead) was about
30 minutes. Departures from Dublin Airport (Pier 1) were at 0700,
1115, 1450, 1630 and 2145, with Holyhead departures at 0745, 1230,
1535, 1930, and 2230hrs. At Holyhead a coach service linked the
helipad with the rail station. The service was marketed jointly with
British Rail as "Helirail"

Fares:
Holyhead-Dublin London-Dublin
Single UK£35 UK£59
Low season day return UK£45
High season day return UK£56
Monthly return low season UK£53 UK£83
Monthly return high season UK£60 UK£94

During the same period direct air fares London-Dublin were:
Single UK£68
Excursion return low season UK£116
Excursion return high season UK£135
APEX (Basic) UK£94
APEX (Peak) UK£103

The helicopter was delivered Gatwick-Holyhead-Dublin 27.03.85 in full
Dublin City Helicopters colours. Entered service on 03.04.85 with a
basic 5 round trips to Holyhead per day except Sunday. D.C.H. built
their own heliport at Holyhead, it was equipped with approach lights
and PAPI's (Precision Approach Path Indicators) in two directions.


This service did not generate the passenger numbers required and from
mid-May their services were cut to three round trips a day, dropping
the early morning and late evening services.
Operated several shuttle flights between Dublin and the Bruce
Springsteen concert at Slane on 01/06/85.

The 5-per day schedule between Dublin and Holyhead was reinstated at
the beginning of June, but on 6-7 June all operations were cancelled
when the helicopter "went tech." and had to be ferried to
London-Gatwick to fix a gear-box problem. Dublin City Helicopters
suspended operations at the close of business on 17.06.85. EI-BPK was
re-possessed by British Airways Helicopters the following morning, and
departed Dublin at 0810 hrs local for Aberdeen/Dyce.

The Dublin-Holyhead service had been in operation for only 11 weeks.
The company operated about 285 round trips during the 11 weeks, and
apart from the two day downtime for unscheduled maintenance,
operational reliability was good, with very few technical delays and
only a handful of weather disruptions, when RAF Valley
was used as an alternative terminal.

---

To answer your question, if the above is correct and the craft was leased from BAH and if the lease was on an AMCI basis, then the crews presumably went on to perform other BAH-related work.

Shame really as a 30 minute sector is perfect for blitterblat flying: Execute take-off and clear-up the outbound radio-work, climb to cruise height and set her up for the leg, whack on the AP and let P2 do his thing (he's all keen and eagre anyway). Pour a shot of caffè espresso from the Thermos bottle, read a quarter page of a decent daily, pick up a tune on the ADF while checking-out any interesting shipping .. then prepare for descent and landing! :E

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W...nQtcE/BPK2.jpg
Dublin City Helicopters S61N EI-BPK departs Dublin on 30th March 1985 for the 30 minute flight to Holyhead (Photo: Fergal Goodman)

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-y...ben%252529.jpg
BPK at Dubs on 22nd April 1985 (Photo: Jacob Struben)

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-X...5%252520-2.jpg
BPK again at Dubs this time on 7th May 1985

Apparently DCH intended to move the Irish end of the op to a downtown facility in Dublin and which would have made more sense and presumably attracted greater appeal but, as we've read, the enterprise didn't last long enough.

DCH
 

Thanks Sav, very comprehensive. Its a real pity the service didnt last actually. If they went from Dublin city centre it could have been an amazing development too. At least until Ryanair got going.

A few pages back Dennis mentioned David Voy autorotating into South London. He was in this. G-BDKD is currently nearing the end of a total rebuild and should fly again later this year.

http://www.helicopterservice.com.au/...%20(Small).jpg

.
Gaseous, thanks for this shot of the 'Bad Kid' at Batt!

Not sure where Dennisimo has gone in recent weeks, when I last communicated with him he had just returned from picking-up his award from the Royal Aero Club. Hopefully he will drop-in soon.

Please post an image of the Bad Kid once she's all 'done up' and all the best in your endeavours to complete the rebuild.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T...ker%252529.jpg
Enstrom F-28A G-BDKD at Epsom Downs c. 1977 (Photo: Daphnie Parker)

The intriguing (read frustrating) thing about this photo is that the aircraft I have been madly searching for .. G-BAKX (mentioned in post #729 on the previous page) is sitting right behind the 'Bad Kid'. Even more frustratingly is the fact that at the time of this photo 'KX' was owned by Mohammed Al Fayed and which is precisely the period from which I am seeking an image! Murphy busy at work me thinks.

Re: the image above, BDKD was of course owned at the time by the late great John Crewdson of Helicopter Hire Southend who were on contract (if I am not mistaken) to the Met.

Here you go; From FLIGHT International 10 June 1978
 

.
Shane - Grazie Mille!

Another entry in relation to G-SPEY. I have finally been able to track down evidence of how she would have looked when Newforest was considering buy her (below):

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6...nut%252529.jpg
Craggan Chaise owned AgustaBell 206B JetRanger III G-SPEY at the 'Oaks' c. 1981-82 (Photo courtesy of Wingnut)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-K...g%25252079.jpg
Jimmy Page, founder of the rock group 'Led Zeppelin' being dropped off at Knebworth in August 1979 by an AS350

Its difficult to say which craft was used for this charter. The colours appear remarkably similar to Tommy Sopwith's but the scheme on the tail seems to be a slightly different. By August 1979 there were already 8 Ecureuils in the UK belonging respectively to: Endeavour Aviation, McAlpine (x2), Glenagles (x2), Shawline, Lord Glendyne and D. Russell Ltd.

Mystery of Led Zeppelin Squirrel
 

Savoia

I'm perplexed by this one... Had a quick look at all the likely candidates and found:

Gleneagles: G-BFZE + G-BGCV standard AS cs with orangey-red 'mask' and brown stripes
McAlpine: G-BGHG, BFNC, G-BGIL, G-BGIM (Glendyne), G-BMAV (Masselaz) all were in a standard AS cs - beige with dark blue + white stripes under door and dark blue stripe over window
Shawline: G-BGCW in same cs as McAlpine (as least when became G-FERG soon after)
Cabair/Russell: G-BGIF in standard AS cs with mid blue mask (darker than photo) and with same colour stripes.
Endeavour: G-GINA similar colours but different stripe pattern.

In particular they all have white engine cowlings except G-GINA.

None of these fit the 'Zeppelin' heli which seems to have pale blue mask, dark blue stripe on upper fuselage engine cowling, white stripe under cockpit & doors edged in blue.

Funny how most of these early imports all had the same cs. Lack of imagination?

Speaking of Shawline does anyone know anything about them?

Early Ecureuils
 

.
De Havilland; thank you for your research efforts. The Zeppelin ship does seem to be something of a conundrum!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-T...ale%252529.jpg
Ferguson Aviation's AS350B G-FERG landing at Blackbushe on 4th September 1980 during shuttle operations to Farnborough (Photo: Bill Teasdale)

G-FERG was formerly G-BGCW registered to Shawline in December 1978 then to Ferguson Aviation of Leavesdon Herts (would that be an airfield for MD 600 to park his mount while visiting Watford?) in October 1979 (when she became G-FERG) and then to the Colt Car Company of Cirencester (discussed on the previous page) where she became G-EORR.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S...ber%252529.jpg
McAlpine's G-BGIL imported in February 1979 and seen here at Cranfield on 8th Sep 1979. The craft was destroyed in 1982 (Photo: Ray Barber)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-s...zny%252529.jpg
The Lord Glendyne's Ecureuil (delivered to him in February 1979) and seen here at Cranfield on 5th September 1981 (Photo: Alan Mosiezny)

De Havilland, as you say, the bulk of the UK's early Ecureuils were delivered in Aerospat's pastel-fawn with brown accents (above), the exceptions seem to have been Sopwith and D. Russell (below) who employed blue tones.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-N...zny%252529.jpg
D. Russell's AS350B (delivered in May '79) at Elstree on 28th June 1979 (Photo: Alan Mosiezny)

In the absence of any further information I'm going to take a stab at it and say that the Zeppelin ship was probably Sopwith's but wearing a scheme prior to the two versions so kindly posted by Helipixman!

Shawline: If I recall rightly these guys were based somewhere near Brands Hatch (close to where Barry Sheene used to live .. I think). If they are the ones .. then I seem to recall that they were a fairly small outfit, beyond that I know very little about them. Dennisimo would surely know more.

In addition to more info on Shawline it would also be interesting to discover any history relating to D. Russell's aircraft as well as that of the Lord Glendyne.

Shawline
 

My knowledge of Shawline is pretty limited too. A base at Brands Hatch, and they closed down very soon after delivery of Squirrel G-BGCW.

According to their advert of April 79 selling up the fleet they had: 2 B206, Hiller 12, the Squirrel (only 24hrsTT) and a couple of ex RAF Whirlwinds. I think one of the B206s was G-BAUM. They also had a Bell 47 (G-BFPP) at some stage.

Lord Glendyne
 

Robert Nivison, Bt, 3rd Baron Glendyne, senior partner in R Nivison & Co - stockbrokers.

G-BGIM may have replaced a Jetranger but I am not sure. It kept the standard AS cs for a long time but later was resprayed in a gold colour scheme.

From new G-BGIM was operated by McAlpine Helicopters, but it may have moved on to Lynton Aviation before it was sold to Tom Walkinshaw as G-OKAT in 1988.

Interesting registration G-OKAT could it be a reference to Jaguar for whom TWR ran their Le Mans team, and a pun on the cat food brand? Or perhaps a ref to a lady by the name of Kate? Who knows?

Masselaz Helicopters
 

One company that always intrigued me was Masselaz Helicopters. They were early purchasers of both the AS350 & AS355, specifically G-BMAV and G-OMAV.

From new they were both operated by McAlpine Helicopters, but OMAV later moved to Lynton Aviation. BMAV had the basic AS cs but with a rampant lion on the door. OMAV had the AS355 prototype cs again with the rampant lion on the door.

Masselaz was a Jersey company but who was the actual owner?

D Russell + Cabair
 

Savoia

I can't add much certainty on D Russell the owner of G-BGIF. However I think that it may have been owned by the owner of Cabair and operated by them. His name may be David Russell.

I can't confirm any of this but I am sure someone else can.

Very dim recollection of a pair of Whirlwinds noted in a yard near Brands Hatch according to the spotter's rust bible "Wrecks and Relics" back then - might have actually be at been Fawkham Green?

To cast back briefly to TV and filmwork, I've recently watched the excellent "Hopscotch" (Walter Matthau and Glenda Jackson) which stars Helicopter Hire's G-BGYF, presumably flown by John Crewdson, plus a cavorting camoflagued and canopied Stampe which I recall used to live at Biggin... The aerial action takes place off that barge heliport near London Bridge, over Beachy Head, and at an airfield "near Beachy Head" which I don't recognise at all. Anyone recall it and where the airfield was?

Haven't seen the film, but IMDB credit two helicopter pilots -John Crewdson and Philip Voss. No help with the airfield near Beachy Head though.

.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-v...chopperbb2.jpg
Helicopter Hire's G-BGYF (which featured earlier in the thread) as she appears in the 1980 movie 'Hopscotch' as recently viewed by Treadigraph

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4...w/palnewe8.jpg
The 'plank' described by Treadigraph from the same film

Was looking at the image of SPEY (above) and the unorthodox tie down used for her 'mainsail' - then I spotted the tip-targets and realised that TRC/VFR must have been tracking her!

Solved: the Led Zeppelin mystery
 

Savoia

Like you I thought that the colours of the heli might indicate that it was Endeavour's G-GINA but dismissed the idea because I thought the first colour scheme featured in this thread was the first one the a/c wore. After your post I had another look and voila!

Thanks to Alain Michot we have evidence of G-GINA in the Led Zep cs at LBG 23-6-95 during the Paris Airshow

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2734/...c7b24cd8_b.jpg

In case my attempt at inserting the image fails the link is 023.06.1995 Le Bourget Aerospatiale AS.350B Squirel (G-GINA - cn.1016)!

Any guidance on posting photos to the thread much appreciated.

ADH

More Al Fayed Helis?
 

Tonight I was browsing another Savoia initiated thread, this time the Ferranti one, and found a link to a BCAL site that mentioned the following:

Bo105 "G-BFYA was owned by Genavco (al Fayed of Harrods fame) and again operated by Ferranti until bought by them"

Can anyone confirm this?

.
De Havilland: Firstly, bravo on solving the Led Zepplin conundrum and what a great find in digging-up one of the rare images of GINA! :ok:

Secondly, BFYA, to the best of my knowledge, was never owned by Genavco/Fayed. The two aircraft supplied and managed by Ferranti were the Bell 206 G-BAKX (shown in post #742 above) and the Bell 206L G-BFAL (the UK's first LongRanger).

Ferranti were one of the pioneers who introduced twin-engine, IFR all-weather capability to the UK's executive market and, in this regard, it is almost certain that Genavco/Fayed would have chartered one or more of Ferranti's 105's from time to time. My assumption therefore is that BFYA's association with Fayed is through charter and the reference to ownership a mistake.

After the demise of Ferranti I'm not sure who took on Fayed's helicopter management responsibilities but, as you probably know, before long they began recruiting their own crews and ultimately morphed into Air Harrods.

Sav

.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-q...ver%252529.jpg
SA341B AH1 XZ322 Gazelle at RAF Cosford on 12th June 2011 (Photo: Robert Beaver)

Army, Navy and Air Force Gazelles recently on display at RAF Cosford. I am intrigued by the the brown-tones, was this a common Army motif?

Also intrigued by the notice behind the cabin reading: NO POWER, NO BRAKES, NO HYDRAULICS and again by the wording on the rear door (beneath the red cross) which reads "Cabin Bulkhead".

The red cross (presumably indicating the location of the first aid kit) was a feature of Ferranti's aircraft but is not something I have often seen elsewhere.

.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a...rsary-logo.jpg

Today is the first anniversary of The Nostalgia Thread and it seemed appropriate to express one's appreciation for the many and varied contributions which have made this such an interesting read over the past 12 months.

Some of the highlights include:

The Earl of Rochester's 'Ode to Taly' on Page 1

Quote:

---

Oh Taly, gee Taly, where are you now,
Some place far off or over the brow?

From I-Taly you came and G-Taly were named,
Your very first owner someone so famed.

Delivered by Geoffrey, you gave him a start,
When your little engine produced a small f*rt!

Your pilot a gardener known as Ken D,
Would deliver the Duke for afternoon tea.

Now you are known by the name of J-LEE
But to us you shall always remain G-TALY!

---

Geoffers delivery of G-WIZZ on Page 2 and the Earl's 'Wizz the Bizz' poem

Quote:

---

(This verse should ideally be sung in a style similar to that of Noel Coward’s ‘Mad Dogs’)

G-WIZZ was the bizz with her pretty black paint and her very neat name so quaint!

So Geoff with the boys set off with their toys and landed in a field north of Troyes.

With her intermittent blips Geoff clambered her hips which helped to name him ‘Geoff n Chips’!

The delay of the day could have been such a gloom when up so soon sprang Melun.

Geoff acted away the Gendarmes looking grey and wishing he would leave that day!

Then in stepped a vet he was looking after met saying ‘better let them stay as yet’.

Then off to the ‘tel you could hear Geoffers yell as the Renault 4 screeched to the door!

But what the Capt’n failed to say, was that in between the cheese and wine, were his antics with a maid divine!

Then onto Britland under power where Geoffrey fought with Gatwick tower who refused that the bizz was the WIZZ!

“Now I didn’t choose this bizz called WIZZ ‘twas the owner’s little ‘tis and the problem is not mine but his!

So you’d better let me pass before this comes a silly farce, for, to be sure as it is noon and you resemble a baboon I do not want this to be posted onto PPRuNe”!

---

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X...xvo/G-WIZZ.jpg
Geoffers ferry flight from Frosinone to Fairoaks with G-WIZZ c. late 70's

Speechless Two's Rhodesian Expedition: Page 3

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-p...ushing-206.jpg
Rhodesian ground crew assist in making ready one of ten 206's which were flown out from the UK on board DC10's in order to support the Rhodesian election process

Papal Flying and the Holy Sea King: Page 5

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R...ano%252529.jpg
A brief synopsis of Papal flying and the 'Vaticopter'

Lake Como and Villa D'Este: Page 6

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-t...tti-veyron.jpg
Il Bugati Veyron outside the Villa D'Este where Geoffers was entertained by Agusta back in the day

The delivery of G-TALY from Frosinone to Fairoaks in March 1979 by Geoffers and Ken: Page 7

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6...art%252521.jpg
Once again the slanderous pen of Geoffersincornwall was at work with the caption reading: "A moment of acute embarrassment as Ken offers to give the ground crew a hand with the bump start. A quiet word in his ear and after a conference with the engineers we confirm that a starter motor is included in the specification." My father asserts that he knew there was a starter motor fitted all along and that he was just trying to be helpful!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L...%252520Ken.jpg

The Cadbury Tales: Peter Cadbury (aka The Cad): Pages 9, 11, 13, 20, 21

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-I...l%25252059.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

John Eacott's Legs: Page 10

Charles Hughesdon: Page 10

Sabena's Rotary Fleet: Page 12

Metpol's Bell 222 Op's and the Conversation between the Commissioner of Police and the Bell Rep: Page 14

The Gregory Files - Ken Gregory and Air Gregory: Pages 14 & 20

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4...252520Moss.jpg
Ken Gregory (centre) with Stirling Moss (right) and Stirling's father Alfred (left)

Gay Absalom: Pages 14, 15 and 35

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-W...520Absalom.jpg
Gay Absalom returns to the UK having completed a solo-cross-channel flight to Deuville, France and for which endeavour she received an award from the French Aero Club. June 1967.

The Chapman Files: Colin Chapman, Team Lotus and 'The Dancer': Pages 2 and 15

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-H...it_S2_Thum.jpg
Chapman at his private airfield 'Hethel'

Paco's Corvette: Page 15

The Brantly 305: Pages 18 and 19

While this subject was 'on the go' the R44-owning musician J. Kay temporarily signed-up to PPRuNe expressing his admiration of the type.

Bolkow Nostalgia: Pages 30 and 31

The Sopwith Files - Rotary-Wing Flyer Tommy Sopwith: Pages 33, 34 and 35


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-V...es-Torquay.jpg
Tommy Sopwith (right) stands with Sir Max Aitken founder of the Cowes-Torquay boat race

The Marquess of Bristol: Page 34

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3...520Bristol.jpg
John Hervey, 7th Marquess, (1954-1999) (Earl Jermyn until he inherited the title in 1985) was the epitome of the "mad bad and dangerous to know" aristocrat who went through the family fortune in a tidal wave of over indulgence, in particular drugs.

In 1988 the Jersey police found 13g of cocaine in his helicopter at St Helier. He did seven months in the island gaol. This wasn't G-BKTK, more likely his later Hughes 500 G-BMJV. Not the best role model but certainly a character!

How it all began ..

.. an innocuous enquiry as to the whereabouts of the craft in which I performed my PPL!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-S.../s640/TALY.png

To all who have contributed, thanks for the memories, and for those who still have photos and stories stashed away in boxes and in the deepest recesses of their minds .. please dig them out and post them on PPRuNe!

Finally, The Earl of Rochester suggested that his poem 'Wizz the Bizz' be sung in a style similar to that of Noel Coward's 'Mad Dogs'! Given the largely British theme to this thread perhaps its not a bad idea for the thread to have its own 'anthem' and 'Mad Dogs' might just fit the bill. Enjoy!

Back from the dead I suppose
 

Hi all and many thanks to 'S' for his kind words on the Royal Aero Club award. Not sure I deserve the honour, but it was nice anyway, especially meeting the wonderful Wingco, Bob Foster, one of the original 'few' Also my apologies for not being able to respond to a couple of PP requests. But just to say after 43 days without an internet provider, 17 phone calls to SKY totalling three hours, (true) no less than three replacement 'routers' four ADSL filters, and one engineer visit, I simply had to change to BTs excellent Hub 3 model. All is now well ... a process that eventually solved the problem in just 36 hours.

Now G-BDKD was the first 'vertical console' 28A model I imported circa 1974. All later models became the 280 'Shark' shape with the vertical console as standard. Bad Dog was originally sold to a Nick .... (at Lydd) and I'm struggling to recall the surname, but I first met him when he was racing a Mini at Lydden Hill circa 1968 and lapping quicker than my single-seat BT21! If you're out there Nick, my warmest regards.

For 'S' ... I'll trawl back through the last few weeks posts and come back on any items I've not been able to cover while being offline.

Oh and meantime I duly met up with 'The Hoff' ex GR4 man and CO of 9 Squadron up at Marham. A really nice guy and subject to getting use of a rotary for him, we'll be flying together hopefully soon. James kindly allowed me to spend an afternoon with the 1X Squadron pilots and a little over an hour on the Thales GR4 Sim ... 400 knots 100 feet above the Welsh valleys and my head hadn't stopped spinning was still spinning the next day!

Regards to all 'Nostalgias' Dennis Kenyon.

G NORM
 

Dennis, In answer to a request for info on G NORM. G NORM was operated by Norman Bailey Helicopters based at Eastleigh Airport, Southampton. It was collected from Air Hansons at Brooklands on 22 April 1983 by myself and Mark Thatcher was co pilot. The flight to So'ton was 35 minutes. On 11 May 1984 it crashed in Derbyshire whilst on private hire. Damage was extensive and it was beyond economic repair

.
Dennisimo, welcome back!

In recent pages we have discussed Tommy Sopwith and I suppose it would be great to hear whether you have any recollections of this rotary-wing character, son of Sir Thomas Sopwith! Industry Insider mentioned that Tommy lost a finger courtesy of a set of main rotors and I recall the Colonel relating such a story to me but was unaware that it was attributed to Tommy. He seems to have been based in the Brighton/Shoreham environs so perhaps there are some memories!

Similarly, Ah de Havilland and I were both wondering whether you had any recollections of the "Mad bad and dangerous to know aristocrat" the Marquess of Bristol (page 34) who at one time flew a Hughes 500C (G-BKTK) which you would later go on to sell to Barry Sheene when it became G-STEF?

While on the matter of 500's, do you recall G-BESS (below) which used to belong to one of your partners at Skyline (Peter Millward). He came in to Booker one day and hit a small post with the tail rotor (perhaps you remember the chain-link affair that existed for a while around the heli-park opposite your hangar). He then proceeded to observe the cool down while the tail began to rattle itself to pieces. I think it was 'Nobby' who ran out to tell him to shut the thing down before matters escalated!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w...ter%252529.jpg
Hughes 500D G-BESS seen at Cranfield on 3rd September 1977. Imported by Sloane Aviation then sold to Micro Consultants of Surrey and on to Dennis' former business partner Peter Millward in 1981. Ferranti's AB206B G-AWJW in the background. (Photo: Keith Sowter)

Head Turner: If you are referring to Mark Thatcher scion of mother Mags then, to link it with my previous post, he was the only other student I recall (at the time) who was training on G-TALY. If however by '83 he was already qualified then perhaps he was performing his 206 conversion in early '84 as opposed to undertaking his PPL. For whatever reason Thatcher kept bashing Antonio 'Nobby' about my age quizzing whether I was old enough to be his student. To be fair I had only just turned 17 but looked about 15!

Celtic Rangers .. of another kind!
 

Wigan I am responding here in anticipation of further linkages which may well steer us further away from the Mann theme.

Well done on your research regarding Western Air. Its intriguing because there seem to be so many of these firms which one has never heard of before. All relative of course.

WOSP has appeared several times on this thread, initially on page 4 where she is barely visible behind a Gleneagles 206 being wheeled-out to launch by an army of ground-handlers in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The same image can be seen in post #756 above.

PPRuNe member Paco spent some time flying WOSP and he may have an idea as to the history behind Western. Have there been many Glasgow-based helicopter operators that you know of over the years?

Another shot of WOSP. She was one of the first 206 III's in the UK:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-A...aig%252529.jpg
Burnthills operated B206B III G-WOSP at the Strathallan Airshow in Auchterarder on 8th July 1984 (Photo: Alec MacKellaig)

G-WOSP
 

S
I've a mind that the owner of G WOSP was called McGilverary (sp?); perhaps Tommy? Something like that comes to mind, but it was a long time ago :confused: (Brain cells only fuctioning on 3 cylinders) - VFR

G-WOSP - disregard
 

S
Disregard my previous, Wigan has it all strightened out on the Alan Mann thread, sorry :ugh: - VFR

Thoughts
 

Just to upate on a few of my associated recollections on the individuals and rotary types mentioned. Yes while working with Archie McKenzie's March Helicopters up at Sywell. Original name came when Mike Smith and Archie set up the new business ... Mike & Archie ... I flew his Lordships Hughes 500 and great fun it was hobnobbing about with a Royal Crest on the side.

When visiting his Endeavour Motor car business in Brighton, Tommy Sopwith often parked his AS350 for the day, close to the A27 entrance of Shoreham Airport. As has been mentioned, he was a regular flyer from Shoreham in the late 1970s/early 1980s.

Many stories of Mark T abound. In 1984. being a regular client at Skyine Helis, when on leaving the offices for a practice H2/H4 Heli Lane navex, I called back to Mark ... "Got your map?" His simply replied. "There's more than a few people out there who say the worst thing I can carry is a map!" This followed his well reported car rally foray into the Sahara.

Peter Millward's Hughes 500D, G-BESS was one of the Skyline fleet. In 1984, Peter was unfortunate to lose the engine while flying over Oxford. He put it down safely. However the college who owned the land wouldn't allow entry of the recovering truck without an exhorbitant indemnity. We solved the problem by removing the engine and lifting G-BESS using a second H500 and lowering her on to the platform lorry standing by on a nearby road.

Oh and I have now met James 'The Hoff'. ex CO of 1X Squadron up at Marham. I spent the day with his Squadrom pilots ... not one being over thirteen I swear! I was kindly allowed to spend an hour on the Thales GR4 Sim. Absolutely FAB.

An end titbit. Taking tea in the Squadron crew room, one of the pilots said ... "I'm told you used to fly the Meteor ... when was that?" "1954" ... I had to admit." He raised his eyes. "Over fifty years ago ... My Dad wasn't even born then." Now that has to be the line to end all lines!

Best wishes to all.

Dennis Kenyon.

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Va bene Vittorio! (ie. no problem VFR). :ok: What with WASP, WOSP and BUZZ .. and then there was a Wasp Helicopters (an altogether separate outfit so I believe) it can become a little confusing.

Ah yes well, the march of time is relentless Dennisimo and it doesn't take long before one realises that life has us on this carousel which jollies us from cradle to grave with alarming efficiency! Still, hopefully, we get to collect some memorable moments along the way and which 'album of life' we might sometimes share with those who have the strength to endure our various tales.

Well done to The Hoff for hosting you with his former Squadron.

Apparitions of the elves and their safety culture even then! Shame.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-r...2520Meteor.jpg
Dennis in his Meteor! ;)

By the way Dennis, if you do have any images from your Meteor days please email me - we should preserve them along with the rest of your photos.

Celtic Rangers ... continued ..

Another obscure (to me) Highlands outfit were Kestrel (on the other side of the bluff ;) to you Wigan):

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j...29%252520p.jpg
Inverness-based 'Kestrel Helicopters' evidently operated this Bell 206B G-AWUC seen here at Inverness in the summer of 1974 (Photo: Peter Nicholson)

Kestrel were an extremely nice company with very friendly staff. I had the pleasure of flying their 47 a few times. Unfortunately the business in the building next door didn't appreciate the noise! I can't remember if I flew that 206. I believe they moved into some offshore work. Must find my 1977 log book!

G-AWUC
 

Summer of '74, the JR was registered to Air West Ltd., in Dorset, the bottom of England, so must have been leased into Kestral at Inverness, the top of Scotland, first time I have heard of Kestrel, must have been a small operation, it wasn't until December 1975 that PLM started up, any connection maybe?
As for operators at Glasgow, I think McAlpine had G-OMAV or G-BMAV based there at some stage,just remember Burnthill's, which became Gleneagle's, when they returned - as it were - to Edinburgh, Clyde started up, and moved out of Glasgow to the City centre heliport,Edinburgh had Lakeside Helicopters for while. they had G-WOSP as one of their JR's, and the sad demise of Lothian, wonder where G-LILA is?

Wigan

I recall McAlpine having G-BBHW, a Gazelle, based at Glasgow.
The first time that I encountered G-BMAV was when PDG first had her around 2000.There was a Squirrel based during the late eighties G-NIAL that was registered to Timothy Laing Aviation which was connected to PLM if I recall correctly. It later became G-PLMD

During the mid seventies, shortly before Burnthills was set up, there was a Jet Ranger G-AYCM based at Glasgow. It was registered to Fras-air limited which I assume was Hugh Fraser's company.

Tarman

Kestrel Helicopters
 

I read somewhere that Kestrel were owned by or under the same ownership as Peregrine Air Services.

They were reported as operating a pair of JetRangers - G-AWUC and Lord Dulverton's G-AZAG. I have no confirmation of the later.

I didn't know they had a Bell 47, and would be interested to learn more.

JR G-AYCM was with Fras-Air 2/73 to 2/76, another one was G-AWRV new to A.Gilmour,Glasgow, 12/68 to 3/69, then to Sagil Helicopters Ltd, Glasgow 4/69 to 1/70, maybe more will pop up as we go along.

Wigan

Fras-Air & WASP Helis
 

Yes Fras-Air was owned by Sir Hugh Fraser of House of Fraser fame.

The company was sold to Air Charter Scotland in the 80s - this was the ACS run by Geoff Rosenbloom and not the current company of that name.

There's a story that Sir Hugh turned up in his JetRanger at Glenforsa airfield, Mull with several men, they all jumped out & a/c departed. The airfield demanded a lading fee but hey refused to pay on the grounds that the a/c had not actually touched down. The matter was settled when Sir Hugh bought doubles for everyone at the bar.



I too have posted some more info on Western Air Scotland Partners t/a Wasp Helicopter Hire on the Alan Mann thread.

Oh I meant to add that the Timothy Laing owner of G-NIAL was the 'L' in PLM Helicopters. The P was Capt John Poland, and the M was MacKenzie.

There were several Laings and MacKenzies amongst the directors and shareholders of PLM but Timothy Laing was the largest single shareholder and together the Laings had 60% of the shares.

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Wigan, well done, again! Had totally forgotten about McAlpine's involvement in the Highlands.

Tarman, great stuff! I've posted McAlpine's Gazelle (below).

ADH, brillant!

Am also keen to learn more about everything mentioned above and to discover the registration of the Bell 47 which Nigel flew for the 'nice people' at Kestrel.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Z...29%252520p.jpg
SA341G belonging to McAlpine Aviation stationed at Glasgow in the mid-70's (Photo: Martin Stephen)

Ferranti had a 206 based in Edinburgh during the 70's which, to the best of my knowledge, performed liaison/communications with one or more of their factories.

DRK & the Meteor
 

Hallo again Savoia,

I'll go through the old archives and see if I can locate a Meteor shot ... but it won't be the one you illustrate. That was a Mk 8 ... I flew the Mk4s!

Like everyone ... just love this thread which sure stirs up some wonderful memories of people, places & aircraft. I had my finger on the G-BUZZ machine which I owned and AOC operated at Redhill in the early and mid 1990s. I understand it later got its rotors tangled up with another heli at WAP. Any news on that happening?

Regards. Dennis Kenyon.

Kestrel and PLM Helicopters
 

Kestrel was the predecessor to PLM. I don't think there was ever a Bell 47 for Nigel and Timothy Laing was not the L of PLM, that was his uncle Hector Laing, although Timothy did become chairman of PLM/PDG. Regarding Peregrine and Kestrel, they were only the AOC holder to which Kestrel was attached to initially.