Shane

As you've probably seen, there's not much out there on the fifty or so Westland-built civilian Dragonflys. If you do happen upon any interesting information please do share it with us.

In the meantime ..

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3...eld%252529.jpg
Westland WS-51 Dragonfly Mk1A G-ALIK at Manchester's Ringway on 23rd August 1951. Westland's demonstrator making the second visit of a helicopter to Manchester's Ringway. It gave demonstration flights to local dignitaries. Later rebuilt as a Widgeon and re-registered G-APPS (Photo and notes courtesy of celebrated Airliners photographer, RA Scholefield)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-q...Dragonflys.jpg
A pair of BEA Dragonflys (Sadly, no further details)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5...ogh%252529.jpg
Westland WS-51 Dragonfly HR3 B-983 aboard a British carrier in Copenhagen Harbour in the mid-50's (Photo: Flemming Fogh)

This craft was fitted with a Sproule net used to scoop aircrew out of the sea. Christ would doubtless have been pleased at this literal application of his instruction to be fishers of men! Another image of this Dragonfly on the previous page.


The R-5 but I think you might find it interesting

Sav

S-51
 

Even an R-4 with no wheels in that video, very odd. And 17 people "on" an R-5 ! wonder what health and safety would make of that.

Brantlys in Britain
 

This was back in the days when the elves and their over-developed sense of safety were nowhere to be seen - t'was the age of freedom of innocence!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-j...29%2525202.jpg
Brantly B-2B G-ATFH at Gloucester's Staverton Airport on 11th June 1966 (Photo: John Black)

Imported by BEAS in '65 then sold to Roger Woodward (presumably his first craft) in '72 and the following year to Sydney Cole of Newport Pagnell. In '75 she was sold to CW Udale Plant Ltd under whose patronage she perished on 10th April 1976.

An excerpt from the accident report reads:

More Brantlys in Britain on pages: 16-20 & 44-45

Pan Am New York Shuttle
 

Chopper

I cannot think of any additional types employed in the Pan Am shuttle service of the 1980's.

As you know, Pan Am outsourced this activity to Omniflight Helicopters (the outfit founded in 1962 by Dan Parker, grandson of George Parker the founder of the Parker Pen Company).

Pan Am offered a shuttle service between East 60th Street's 'Manhattan Heliport' and New York's three main airports, namely: JFK, Newark and La Guardia. The shuttle was complimentary for First Class ticket holders.

The Pan Am shuttle service was probably the last New York airport-helicopter-shuttle service to operate until the arrival of US Helicopter in March 2006.

Onmiflight initially leased/purchased 4 Bell 222's to service their contract with Pan Am. Although I am not certain as to when Omniflight commenced these operations, I am fairly confident that it must be circa 1980.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E...520Guardia.jpg
An Omniflight Bell222A collects First Class passengers from New York's Newark Airport for the short hop to East 60th Street Heliport in Manhattan

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-O...252520B222.jpg
Pan Am arranged for Omniflight's aircraft to access spaces at all New York's major airports which were adjacent to the stands of their arriving aircraft. Above, 222 No.3 awaits passengers at JFK

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-B...20Heliport.jpg
Bell 222 pair at the East 60th Street Heliport aka the Pan Am 'Metroport'. (This image taken from the 1983 movie 'Scarface').

In 1984 Omniflight leased 2 WG30's from Westland to add to the 222 fleet:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5...i%25252084.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-h...0Manhattan.jpg
An Omniflight WG30-100 over Manhattan c.1984

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z...ugh%252529.jpg
Omniflight Westland WG30-100 at the East 60th Street Heliport (Pan Am Metroport) lifts into the hover on 1st July 1986, now wearing Pan Am's larger style letters in blue, to depart along the East River for New York's JFK Airport (Photo: Bill Hough)

Then in 1987 something happened which I remember reading about in Flight (article below) and which, at the time, I found astonishing given the severity of the FAA's judgements against Omniflight. Even if Omniflight were guilty of all these transgressions I was of the view that the FAA would have given them a short grace period to get their act together rather than shut them down overnight as it were.

However, there is doubtless a backstory to this event and which might help put things into perspective:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-V...87%252520a.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-K...87%252520b.jpg

A piece of Pan Am heli-shuttle memorabilia:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6...LuggageTag.jpg
Pan Am Shuttle Luggage Tag

Sav

RE: The Pan Am helicopter shuttle. I happened to be working at the time for Pan American World Services (PAWS), a subsidiary that had all the branding of Pan American World Airways without the benefits. PAWS ran the E60th Street "Metroport" and employed a much-younger me as a lineboy/driver/heliport operator (in that order).

The shuttle began, using Omniflight's 222's and later the WG-30's. It was going like gangbusters until the unfortunate day in September of 1982 when one of the pax wandered into the tail rotor of a running 222 while both pilots were belted into their seats. The passenger did not survive.

Subsequently, all of us who were working that day were summoned up to the (then) Pan Am Building for a meeting with (among others) Ed Acker, the airline's CEO. There was a lot of grimacing and tsk-tsk'ing about what a shame the accident was. PAWS people (I won't name names) assured Mr. Acker that everything had been done to prevent this accident, but it was "just one of those unfortunate things." Acker seemed to agree.

But me being Mr. Big Mouth (even back then), I meekly raised my hand and mentioned that we actually could have done better, because we hadn't given the passengers any kind of briefing.

There were some puzzled looks by the PAA people in the room. It was asked by someone very high up in their chain-of-command (Acker himself or possibly a lawyer) what type of briefing the passengers had prior to be let out on to the ramp with running helicopters; surely they were warned about the tail rotor? And then commenced a certain shuffling of feet and averted glances.

Admittedly, the FAR's only specify that passenger briefings be done prior to takeoff, not prior to boarding. PAWS personnel were not required to brief pax; if it was required by FAR then it was the pilot's responsibility. Omniflight was operating under the assumption it was a "91" (non-commercial) operation since the service was ostensibly "free."

It came out at that meeting that neither Omniflight nor Pan Am were doing *any* passenger briefings. The meeting did not end on a good note. Shortly afterward, big signs in multiple languages appeared in the passenger waiting areas, and pre-boarding briefings were instituted.

However, just down the East River at the 34th Street heliport (made infamous with the recent crash of that Bell 206 there), New York Helicopter (a distant, no-relation follow-on) of the original New York Airways) was running a similar "scheduled" service between Manhattan and the three New York area airports (primarily for TWA, which explains the red and white livery of NYH aircraft).

I left "Pan Am" and went to work for NYH as an SIC on the slow, clunky S-58ET. The Pan Am guys were always bragging about how fast their sleek, modern, retractable gear 222's were. Heh. We'd both leave Manhattan at the same time bound for JFK. As the 222 was touching down at the Pan Am Worldport, we'd be on short-final for the TWA (now JetBlue) terminal. On short legs, extra cruise speed doesn't count for much.

Good times.

The FAA ultimately said that Omniflight/PAWS had been running a 135 charter operation without, oh...ANY of the items (training, documentation, CERTIFICATE) that is required for such things. The service was then discontinued. Pan Am (the airline) never liked it all that much anyway. It was hugely expensive, and we never got the impression that the airline felt that it pumped up First Class bookings all that much. If anything, it was just an advertising thing.

http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/t...rs/SA360Ca.jpg

One of New York Helicopters SA-360C Dauphins, N49533 ("New York 1"). It is painted up for a movie shoot which I believe was "The Soldier" so this had to be around 1981. The helicopter is on the ramp of Island Helicopters/New York Helicopters in Garden City, N.Y. You can still see the red cloth interior. The "paint" was a rubberized material that came off under the stream of a high-pressure water hose. Notice the modular emergency floats.

FH1100, how wonderful to have an American on Nostalgia!

I have an abundance of North American nostalgia in the form of images but have never been inclined to post this material as I didn't think we had much of a following Stateside.

A couple of queries in case you know the answers: Do you recall when the shuttle service began - I'm assuming 1980. Also, did the aircraft use any special call signs?

Re: Omniflight .. my understanding is that they were a fairly respectable operator with a good track record in the Gulf. Was this the case as far as you are aware?

New York Helicopter .. yes, now it comes back to me. In fact they (and not Omniflight) would have been the final shuttle operator prior to the advent of US Helicopter. Do you known in which years they spooled-up and terminated operations? Also, do you have an image of one of more of the tail-dragger Dauphins in NHY's red and white livery? I would love to see that for old times sake! 'New York 1' .. lol .. what an excellent call sign! :ok:

Brgds

Sav

Many thanks Savoia and FH1100 for that and I've watched the opening of The SOldier (having seen the ski chase shown during the motion picture BLue Jean Cop where Sam Elliotts character is watching The Soldier in the cinema where he lives!) and wasn't sure if the scene with the Dauphin was shot in Europe or States :cool:

I remember seeing pictures on !!!!!!!!!!!!!! and Helispot of New York Helicopter S-58T and SA360/365c

New Member
 

Sorry for posting in this thread, but could not find the link for new post.
I was looking on the web for any info on Allouette G-AWFY, when I came
across this forum. May I say how enjoyable it has been reading the posts.
In the late seventies and into the early ninties I was very interested in
crop spraying, and had a friend who was the manager at N Hutchings of
Edwinstowe in Nottinghamshie. I took photos of all thier machines including "AW". If any member of the group would like me to post or send
them PM with the photo's of any of the following helecopters, it would be my pleasure.
G-AWFY Allouette
G-AYTF J Ranger
G-AZRU J Ranger
G-BGHO B47
G-BAYX B47
G-BIEB B47
G-BBAZ 12E
G-BBLO 12E
G-BBLE 12E

All are in Crop Spraying fit, and G-AYTF was in the JPS black colour scheme.

John Layden.

John

A warm welcome to the Nostalgia Thread - great to have you with us!

I think I can safely say that we would love to see your images, especially given that several of the craft have previously featured on this thread.

Any commentary you can offer on the Hutchings operation would also be appreciated. Not quite the same as crop-spraying but my first commercial assignment was a three-year UN contract in East Africa spraying locust and quelea bird (the latter had to be sprayed at night!).

G-AYTF (known as "The Gay Dancer" or just "The Dancer") has special significance for me being that this was the aircraft I performed my first solo in (under the watchful eye of the late Antonio 'Nobby' Clarke). It was also the first (and only) craft in which I suffered an engine failure.

Brgds

Sav

Dear Sav, thank you for your kind welcome.
My main aviation interest has always been helicopters, and in particular Crop Sprayers, as a young twenty year old in the mid seventies I would jump on my motorcycle camera slung on my back and head out to where they were working. There were several regular companies that worked this area (North Notts) at that time. Agricopters from Thruxton, N Huchhings from Edwinstowe, only ten miles from me, Farmwork Services from Metheringham in Lincolnshire, Miller's from Wickenby airport, primerrily stuck with Ag-Cats though, Linc's Aerial Spraying, Pawnee users, John Holburn Farm Helicopters from Grantham, and a couple of others from North Yorkshire.
Over the years I got to know one or two of the outfits very well, they would often allow me a ride up when the pilot had only half a tank to finnish off. N Hutchings was the main sprayers in this area with it being local, I got to know them very well and became friends with the manager of the company and the pilot. The manager was a chap called Chris ?? his surname just escapes me, and the pilot was a Kiwi by the name of Ross Harvey, Ross was Tragically killed in a sight seeing flight about fifteen years ago, his good friend Jamie Mckenzie (also a crop sprayer) was also killed in the same accident I believe, he flew with a company from Thirsk in North Yorkshire in the eighties.
Hutching first started using Helicopters in or around 1977, they started with a Hiller 12E. they bought Alouette G-AWFY in 1980 I think, they used this aircraft for around three years, it was sold on to Italy for a Alpine Medevac company, unfortunatly it was written off in an accident near Bergamo in Northern Italy not long afterwards. They then loaned G-AYTF for a season, this was resplendant in its JPS black colour scheme, it always looked out of its depth with the spraying gear attached, compared to its more glamourous usual commitments.
After G-AYTF went back they then took delivery of another Jet Ranger G-AZRU, this looked like a new machine very clean. they had this jet for only one season I think. Right up until the early nineties when the EU basically outlawed Aerial Crop Spraying Hutchings finnished of using a mixture of Bell 47's, hired in machines. At the time, all thier maintenance work was carried out by a company at East Midlands airport.
Looking at my old photo's brings the memories flooding back, they were good times, Chris being a motorcycle fan himself used to swap me a flight in the Heli for a ride on my bike, (not a bad swap I think), Ross would deviate off his return route to allow me to overfly my home, or any other landmark I wished to take photo's, a true gentleman.
Below I have included a couple of shots of "TF", I shall in due course upload the others, especially the Alouette G-AWFY, which has a special place in my heart.
Regards... John.

ps having difficulty inserting image, have not done this before
help would be most welcome.

More PLM ..
 

John - Interesting stuff! Meanwhile ..

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-c...2520G-BAYA.jpg

Presumably PLM's first 206, G-BAYA. Being a Bell model she was imported by CSE in '73 and sold to Provincial Helicopter Charter (who became Metropolitan Helicopter Hire) almost immediately. Then on to Goldington Investments and eventually PLM in February 1976.

Less than a year later on 11th January 1977 BAYA came to her demise during a filming sortie at Loch Avon in Invernessshire.

An excerpt from the accident report reads:

More PLM nostalgia on pages 39 & 46 as well as page 7 of the Alan Mann thread.

Here we Are Sav, I think I may have solved it.. John.



http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6224/...cdc71e4d_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6115/...06f8645d_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6228/...6a373956_z.jpg

And the other Jet Ranger, G-AZRU..

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6222/...4470f9ce_z.jpg


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6219/...d27fc7c3_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6112/...5d2f28e0_z.jpg

Great stuff John, well done! :ok:

I have to say that seeing both of these craft fitted with spray gear is incongruous with my recollections of them! The Dancer was of course Colin Chapman's personal mount while AZRU used to carry about the late James Hanson (he who was once engaged to Audrey Hepburn)!

It seems as if Dennisimo sold the Dancer directly to Hutchings while AZRU was probably leased from Dollar?

Regarding Ross Harvey .. this name rings a bell. I have a feeling some of the Kiwis I worked with in PNG may have mentioned him and, if so, then it was most probably in connection with flying, either in the Antarctic or deer hunting back in NZ!

Keep the photos and stories coming.

Brgds

Sav

The Dancer lady
 

Hi Savoia ... sorry ... G-AYTF wasn't sold to the Hitchings name. About July 1984 my firm Skyline at Wycombe Air Park sold it to Chris Tennant's new business. I remember December 1982 flying the dancer back direct from Colin Chapman's airfield at Hethel and seem to recall she was the first 206 I'd seen with the Collins 841H autopilot fitted. She spent the whole of the Christmas break parked in my garden on Mill Hill opposite Shoreham Airport. Skyline opened for business at Wycombe in January 1983. Regards to all.
Dennis Kenyon.

The Dancer Lady
 

Morning Dennisk.


Thank you for that info, its nice to put these little pieces of imformation together, for me anyway.. Regards, John

Island Helicopter Corp.
 

Ciao Dennisimo!

Re: The Dancer, the records state:

1) Feb '71 - Douglas Bunn (Hickstead Jumping Grounds)
2) Jan '79 - Alan Mann
3) Sept '80 - Team Lotus (Colin Chapman)
4) Apr '83 - Skyline Helicopters
5) Sep '83 - Dennis Smith, Hawridge Court, Bucks
6) Jan '85 - Neville Hutchings, Mansfield, Notts

I assumed that Dennis Smith was perhaps one of the Slykine partners - either way from Dennis she seems (on the record at least) to have been sold straight to Hutchings!

Followed just a couple of months later by another 206 you bought which also had a Collins 3 axis fitted .. G-TALY!

And the next year the Colonel and I followed suit collecting G-TALY (now G-CSKY) before Chirstmas and returning her after the new year. In fact, that was the Colonel's last Christmas in the UK.

Island Helicopter Corp.

FH100, were Island the predecessor to NYH and do you recall these craft?

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A...%252520NYC.jpg
An Island Helicopters Bell 206L over New York (date unknown but presumably c. 1979)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-L...g%25252079.jpg
An Island Helicopters SA360C N360CP refuells at East 34th Street Heliport in August 1979

Allouette G-AWFY (N Hutchings)
 

Just expanding the thread a little more, here are a few shots of "FY".

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6033/...677376dc_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6117/...ef27a869_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6233/...d5782b46_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6041/...0cfee7e3_z.jpg

This was my life before joining North Scottish in 1984.... Stinkin, Dirty, non romantic way of getting hours..... And SCARY AS ****...:eek:

Hi Griff,

Dont't put yourself down ,proper flying... mens work. John.

Popular Dancer
 

Hi again Savoia,

I didn't appreciate TF was at one time owned by Dennis Smith. I knew that Dennis well having purchased his DH Dove, (G-AHLB) or something like that in the mid 1970s. It was registered to Alarm Systems, Dennis' Smith's company. Dennis purchased an Enstrom, but sadly much later, he changed it for a Rotorway and lost his life when he suffered an in-fight M/R blade failure.
BW to all Dennis K.

Oh and I've found a pic of G-AYTF that was taken when I landed at Leeds Castle, (inside the moat!) ... the occasion was a company pleasure flying do for the Eden Vale firm. I'll try & get the pic to you via e-mail. It had the JPS logo still so must have been taken early 1983. DK.

Hi Dennis and Sav.

Have been looking through my photo's this evening, having took on board what Sav posted regarding registration info for "TF", ie Nev Hutchings seemingly purchasing it in 1985, It looks like I have boobed in marking RU and TF as pictured in 1984, they are in a batch with my oldest daughter, and yes it was the summer of 85, my utmost opologies if this may have caused any confusion..

regards.. John.

Hi laydo, Sav, Griffo,

Greetings from the Great White North.

You seem to be the men in the know re 80's spray companies in Blighty :ok:. Did you come across an Aussie guy name of Tim, last name eludes me for now,(but had a really hot Lincs girl for a wife,again, name eludes me). Last I know of him doing Ag work, was for Miller, out of Wickenby I think,late 80's early 90's. Was mostly plank, but had a few hours rotary,spraying in Blighty thoughout the 80's. Last time I had a beer with him was in Louth,Lincs (the Wheatsheaf), be the Millenium, Xmas time,he was living there, me visiting family as an expat Ludensian. We became good buddies, he was really interested in the International rotary scene as Ag was about done/done in the UK. Me flying Notar, 350, 205,212,longline ops and fire fighting, at the time,as I am doing again, in Canada really interested him. Put him in touch with the guys hiring at the time. We stayed in touch for a while, then as happens all the time in this industry, lost contact. Any leads or contacts would be great. Love to talk to the fella again, and have a few more beers in Blighty.Keep the nostalgia coming, remember as a kid on hols from boarding school, laying between the potato rows on our farm in Lincolnshire,hiding from the flagmen(before AgNav et al) getting nailed by the flyboys doing aerial spray.......:eek: If only I knew, well still passing me medical :ok:.

Regards all you guys/gals in Blighty,

Newfie.......:ok::)

Ciao Newfie

While my first commercial assignment was agricultural it was Africa-based and so, I'm sorry to say, I have little awareness of the UK 'ag scene' as it were.

Those on here who have an inkling of what went on are our new member Laydo, veteran image supplier Helipixman and Nostalgia Thread Patron .. Dennis Kenyon. Between them one should be able to gain a fairly good list of UK spraying companies.

On page 29 Helipixman lists the details of some ag firms (Elipix, if you're still around could you please reload the images in your post #576 on page 29 - as they've gorn!).

Hope you have luck finding 'Tim' from Down Under. Btw, if you're in Newfoundland and have any images of helicopters in snow - I would be grateful as I have a growing 'snow copters' collection.

John: Great images of AWFY :ok: You mentioned this craft had specical significance for you? I must say that the Alouettes/Lamas seem more suited to this type of work than the 206 (although the 206 does more than a fair job) but the booms on the Alouette blend well with her aft framework!

Given your interest in crop dusting and in Alouettes, I'm arranging some images which I hope you will enjoy. (Just awaiting the various photographers permissions). Regarding AWFY, we have a rather nice shot of her on page 27 in her early days with Heli-Union (UK) when she wore a teal blue colour. The image was taken by Nostalgia Thread friend and celebrated Air-Britain photographer Chris England.

More Alouettes ...

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3...ice%252529.jpg
Dollar Helicopters SA315B Lama G-AZNI at Coventry on 23rd August 1986 (Photo: Peter Fitzmaurice)

AZNI was imported by BEAS in '72 then sold to Dollar in '78. Though listed as being exported to the US, AZNI looks suspiciously similar to the tragically mangled wreck which appears in post #569 on page 29.

Dennis, you can email me the image. Grazie! :ok: Trying to track down Dennis Smith's Dove!

Miller's Pawnee
 

Hi Newfie.

Could this be your friend, this is the only clear shot showing the pilot.
I have plenty of photo's of Miller Ag-Cat's, and Pawnee's, but unfortunatly
only the a/c.

regards John.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6238/...6804ac05_z.jpg

During my time at Dollar, there were at least 3 Lama's.
G-AZNI, G-BNNF, and a.n.other that I can't recall. They were unfortunately regularly recovered to Coventry in conditions like the picture on Page 29. They were rebuilt from the Registration plate up-wards back to a flying aircraft. Due to the nature of the work they were being used for, it was seen as an occupational hazard, plus it kept Michel and Les Corbett and others in continuous employment! I remember the two aircraft being damaged in Peru. Upland Goose was the company Ops director at the time so he may remember more of that incident. Also one came back from Kenya (1992?) in multiple pieces. We had been flying in support of the Nissan works rally team on the Safari Rally with it and a Long Ranger L4 which we had leased to do the job. The Lama had been in a confined area fuelling site and had come out heavy and had over-pitched, coming down in a crumpled heap.
Unfortunately I have no pictures of this time as my :mad: ex-wife destroyed them all. :mad:

Lol - oh dear! You'll forgive me for laughing but whenever I hear of the antics the ladies get up to (especially when it comes to destroying the property of their spouses) I have to chuckle! Its so childish. When during the final sordid days of my first marriage my ex picked-up a Limoges enamelled vase I had bought for a princely sum in Brussels - I began to laugh and said something like "really", "fine, go ahead if it will make you feel better." To my surprise she put it down!

Re: Dollar's Lamas, sad indeed. An over-pitched Lama in Kenya, wow! You've said it was a fuel site so I'm guessing it must have uplifted a full tank and had full pax .. plus!

John: The fields in your photos seem fairly flat and obstacle free. In Italy, France and elsewhere some of the spray targets are not so accommodating:

"The trouble with power lines is"
 

Thanks for those couple of excellent vids Sav, very nice..



The area where I live, northern central UK is relatively flat, with only undulating rolling hillsides, the biggest obstacles for the dusters are the telephone cables and low voltage power lines, as in the shot below. I actully saw this Management Aviation (Metheringham) come to grief, the pilot was a little shaken, but ok.. BA was taken away on a flat bed truck.


John..


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6231/...39794201_z.jpg

laydo, Sav,

John, many thanks for posting the Miller pic, yep I think you got my buddy in one, the power of PPRUNE..:ok:. I am planning to come visit the UK over Xmas this year with the wife. I'm sure I will bump into him in the pub..:). I seem to recall the surname Wilson, from Queensland if that rings a bell.

Sav,

I live in St Johns, and yes have many 'snowcopter' pics. Funny you should ask, as I am in a remote drill camp in N.Ontario right now on tour, and we had our first snowfall of the winter last night,aprox 5cm, nothing for our standards, but I think my engineer took some pics as it cleared and the Northern Lights appeared. I was even impressed with my 350 B2 sillouetted against them and the snow,and have seen many beautiful sights in my years in Canuckland.Internet is very slow here, but when I get off tour will send many snowcopter pics for your collection, pm me your email....:ok:

Thanks again guys for posting all this nostalgia, and keep them coming. Days are getting very short and nights very long here, winter has arrived. It really passes the time on weather days or the long nights on tour reading all this great stuff....:) Best Regards, Newfie.....

Shamrock
 

Hello,
Its not Aussie Rangers or Ag birds but would anyone know anything about the time G-APTE stayed in Ireland during the winter of 1960 as a "Shamrock Helicopters" machine?
I presume it was a marketing exercise by Westland but maybe not, any ideas?




http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...90032109_n.jpg

Shane, interesting stuff!

Mindful of your interest in Widgeons and Dragonflys I have been in contact with a couple of friends in an effort to glean a little more information .. and images. The information is scarce but I've received a couple more images (including two examples from Italy and which I shall post during the week).

As you know, BEA ran a 'service' between various cities including a destination in Wales and there were also a couple of railway companies who got in on the act although I am still trying to verify whether the railway companies utilised rotorcraft.

Here below is one of the images sent to me after making some enquiries subsequent to your post on the Ferranti thread:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-a.../s761/0679.jpg
Westland Widgeon S-51 Series 2 G-AKTW in 1948 (Photo uncredited)

First registered to Westlands in February 1948 this craft was then re-registered as G-APPR and sold on to Bristows in November 1961. In June 1962 (still under Bristow's employ) she ventured south to Nigeria.

Crop spraying
 

These ag pictures are great! Some more operators …

- A Penniston (Trading as Apple Aviation)
- ADS (Aerial Ltd)
- Agricola Aerial Work Ltd
- Agricopters Ltd
- Air-Ag Developments; (Formerly Zanji Ltd trading as Davies Aerial)
- Bowker Air Services
- Brown & Forsyth; (Trading as Fosse Helicopter Services Ltd)
- Ciba-Geigy Aerial Spraying
- Dollar Air Services
- Farm Aviation Services Ltd
- Farmair Ltd
- Farmwork Services (East) Ltd
- G & S C Neal Ltd
- GSM Helicopters
- Helicare Ltd
- Helicopter Farming Ltd
- Helicopter Hire Ltd
- Helicrops Ltd
- Heliscott Ltd
- Helispray
- J O'Brien (Trading as O'Brien Helicopter Services)
- JEF Aviation
- Jim Pearce; (Trading as Sussex AG)
- Peter Charles (Air Farmers) Ltd
- Point to Point Helicopters Ltd
- S M Ring (Trading as S & J Contracting Services Ltd)
- Skegness Air Taxi Service Ltd
- Sussex Services Ltd
- W D Clifton, P W Sleath & D B Goss (Trading as Boston Aviation Services)

This is from some CAA files archived at the Museum of Rural Life. Some are the fixed wing names already mentioned in this
thread, operating Pawnees or AgCats.
The National Archives | Access to Archives

The CAA files start about 1980, so the frantic days of the late 1970s crop spraying are missing … when lots of suitable and “cheap” a/c came onto the market. And probably a time when the “Aerial Application Certificate” was probably at its least onerous! You only need to look at the numbers of ag a/c registered, and the amount of bumps & scrapes, to get an idea of how much ag flying was going on in Britain.

Some operators are missing off the list.

Not on the list is Heliscot (not Heliscott) at Inverness. They were headed up by the well-known Major Francis F Chamberlain, who kindly put up with my endless questions. They operated UH-12Es G-BDFO, G-BEDK, G-BEFY and G-BFLR at various times.

G-BFLR had the much-talked-about low volume Micronair rotary atomizer spray units, their benefits being somewhat outweighed by the over-engineered spray booms, too heavy compared with the lighter Simplex booms.

There was a potato farmer not far from Longside airfield, name of Norrie, who operated 12E G-BDYY for a time as AGN Helicopters, whose ex Blue Eagles Sioux pilot Mr Vavangas (also well known I believe!) also kindly put up with my questions.

Lastly, DM Carnegie, an agricultural contractor based at their farm next to the then-secret Cold War USN communications site (RAF Edzell) operated a lovely reworked B47G-3B-1, G-BHBW, one of the bulk sell-offs of the AAC’s Sioux. IIRC Heliwork acquired lots of them. This one was zero-timed by Heliwork I believe, resplendent in white and dark blue. Certainly
cosmetically they had done a lovely job on this machine.

When I saw G-BHBW in 1980 it had not long started spraying work, operated for Carnegie’s by Gleneagles Helicopters with maint support from Perth and flown by Pat Orchard. Pat found himself sitting in a pile of scrap in a field a few months later when one of his rotor tips just clipped the door runner frame of a barn, one of those that pokes way out beyond the edge of the building. Luckily Pat just had a few bumps and scratches I believe. A nice gent, another who was happy to answer questions
from a daft bystander.

There must have been sufficient cash and profit in the game, as next year the Carnegies returned with a beautiful BRAND NEW 12E, G-DMCH. It was flown by Martin Nash, who I believe had attended to the purchase (and was maybe involved with operating the Bell, I believe he was involved at Gleneagles?)

The owners liked the Hiller better - it would lift a lot more gallons than the Bell 47. Mr Nash and the Carnegies put up with yet more questions and were kind enough to find me a place in their ground crew truck for the day, buy me a bag of chips at the end of the day, and give me a flight in the Hiller.

When I saw G-DMCH first, it was only a few weeks into the UK, all shiny and new, crisp red & white paint job, firm-looking seat cushions and a nice clean carpet on the floor.

Martin Nash flew the first season of spraying and then I believe concentrated on his a/c brokering business. The following year a New Zealander flew the Hiller, Peter something. He had been a long time at this, lower, and getting into awkward little bits of fields, but it never looked dangerous, he seemed like a machine, very consistent. Another pleasant guy, he was over here for our summer, his wife worked in the hotel/pub, and then they were off back to NZ for their summer.

By now, although the 12E was only a year old, it was hard to tell the colour of the machine, the seat cushions were flat and the floor carpet had vanished altogether!

“Stinkin, dirty“ as griffo says - the chemicals just got absolutely everywhere. The crew constantly battled to try and keep the bubble clean enough and the nozzles working properly. When the Scottish weather allowed, the pace was impressive - pilot and ground crew just attacked it all day, with a few short breaks, fill, spray, fill, spray, refuel. By the end of the day, you knew they’d been working hard, half of them were asleep on the drive back.

G-DMCH soldiered on, drivers and machine keeping out of trouble, until the eng packed in while bracken spraying in 1991, pretty good going for an ag helicopter, another pile of scrap but just light injuries thankfully.

Others regularly passing through Scotland on spraying jobs were Dollar, I recall another ex-Sioux of theirs, G-BGHN, being w/o when the sprayboom trailed thru the wheat, luckily just a few scratches for Ken Hall.

Phil Slattery's website has lots of good nostalgia about Dollar's forestry work: The Slatts Pages Index

I also remember seeing a spray 269C operated by Heli-Highland in the mid 80s?, the reg G-BSCD sticks in my mind, but G-INFO doesn’t help (still current as G-IBHH). I recall seeing the wee spray tanks on the 269 and thinking “the price to the farmer must be good for this to be worth it”, but lower operating costs, mind you.

I also remember seeing Sioux G-CHOP come through doing spraying at the end of the 80s.

I have some pics of most of these aircraft, if I can only find them!

Many of the Hillers in the late 1970s were the just-sold-off RN 705 Sq fleet: UK Serials

One of them, later to become G-BDOI with Management Aviation, was even still spraying in Hungary last year: Kukorica permetezés Hiller UH-12E-vel / Spraying cornfield with Hiller UH-12E - YouTube

While G-BBLB, BBLC, BBLD, BBLE, BBLF and BBLG were the ex Canadian forces “Nomads”: Canadian Forces Hillers

The Hillers and Bell I saw used Simplex spraygear:
http://www.simplexmfg.com/brochures/...9)Brochure.pdf – same as laydo’s pic of G-BBBA

They also had an Automatic Flagman, a device presumably largely redundant these days due to Ag Nav GPS and the like. I recall Carnegies used a mix of real flagmen as well as the AF. Although the AF was cheaper than using a bloke in the field, the Carnegies found the price of the flags was extortionate, and had a go at making their own (after all it’s just a bit of cardboard with some lavvy roll attached), but it was too fiddly, IIRC.

Apologies for this long rambling post, but the photos brought back good memories of impressive people and flying.

Any chance of posting the Bell & Hiller pics, laydo?

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-I...52520small.jpg

Well done Watson! :ok:

Your list should provide a useful resource for those investigating the UK's rotary agricultural heritage. Hopefully others will chip in with the names of additional operators.

In the meantime, some agri-nostalgia:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-B...0Schofield.jpg
Carl Agar, founder of Okanagan Helicopters (later Canadian Helicopters) flying a Bell 47 in early crop-spraying operations c. 1950 (Photo: Jack Schofield)

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-l...2525201950.jpg
Another US-based Bell 47 engaged in agricultural operatrions also c. 1950

And for something this side of the Atlantic ..

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-a...4/s880/TCC.jpg
Hiller UH-12A (Date and location unknown)

G-ANOB was first registered to Pest Control of Bourn, Cambridge in May 1954. From the she moved to Fison Airwork before being bought by a Richard Bradbury of Eastleigh in 1960. Evidently she was employed in spraying ops.


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-B...52520small.jpg

Shane; for you:

The number of those still around able to relate first-hand their experiences of flying the likes of the Sycamore, Widgeon or any number of aircraft from the 40's and 50's are becoming scarce. Take my godfather, 90 this year and, as with most of his generation, he doesn't stray online so any feedback regarding flying ops in these craft will need to come through family members or friends. But, let's keep at it because it would be good to receive some reports on how these aircraft flew (as you originally asked). I mean where can one go to read a 'flight report' on something like the Widgeon?

The Widgeon was an interesting project and one has to admire Westland's confidence in making the required investment to enhance upon the Dragonfly. They certainly achieved an improvement when it came to aesthetics in that the British Widgeon looked more reasonable than the American Drangonfly - or at least that's my view.

Some nostalgia for you .. The Widgeon (as you doubtless know) was the first aircraft to land at Westland's Heliport in Battersea and here below are some details of that event:

BATTERSEA: THE BEGINNING

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-X.../Play+Icon.png
Official Opening of Battersea


..

Dear Watson my Friend.
 

What an excellent piece, and a great insight into the Scottish
spraying scene. well done. I will be posting the Bell's and Hillers
later this afternoon.

By the way, if you look at the Hutchings Jet Rangers the "flagman" dispenser can be seen very clearly just above the skid, it seemed
to work very well.. John.

Just for Watson, here are the Bell 47's
 

Here are the Bell's

G-BFJN
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6110/...31a70260_z.jpg

G-BAYX
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6041/...000f4e16_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6041/...8f42163f_z.jpg

G-BGHO
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6105/...92c76212_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6039/...0c42af02_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6046/...2c805013_z.jpg

And a Unknown serial, Yellow Dollar machine
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6092/...f330450f_z.jpg

And here are the Hiller's
 

G-BBAZ
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6230/...f8da01f3_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6114/...1d74418a_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6219/...1d7320cf_z.jpg

G-BBLO Sloane Helicopters
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6093/...00f44231_z.jpg

G-BBLE Central Helicopters Leamington
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6215/...ab3e32dc_z.jpg

Hope these are of interest Gents.. John

John, brilliant! Most enjoyable. :D

Laydo,

The Orange and white 47 was a G5 and I am certain was the aircraft that Dollar sold to a company called Napair aerial spraying services in Riyadh Saudi, which was then Cypriot registered. I flew it on the aphids contract out there in 1984. She suffered a tail rotor failure and was probably written off.

Unfortunately my pics book is in Cyprus so I cannot post pics on this one. :(

Brings back some horrid memories, but I grew a pair in those days at such a tender age :ok:

Ag nostalgia
 

Hi all ... this thread gets better and better, but surprised that my boss's old firm of Spoonair Ag Services hasn't been listed. (circa 1977-1980.) Also just love the occasionally forgotten 'names' that crop up (no pun intended) . At its most active the Spoonair business employed three Enstrom 28C turbo models on cereal work, bracken and the ever present spuds! Maneb was the order of the day for those I seem to recall. Then some fiery stuff for Septoria and 'Rincosporium' ... have I got that right? We also did a bit of stubble turnip seeding.

The company had some some good contracts with Boots, ICI (Plant protection) and local farmers. Two of our pilots were ex NZ guys being David Cook and Derek Alexander. The pair of them would whip through anything up to 100 acres an hour. (£4 an acre was the going rate then.) Paul Manning was our specialist Ag man. I'm hoping Savoia will get two or three pics of self at work using the Enstrom on hillside bracken while pulling some huge blade-tip vortices. I can remember Ray Peel at $$$ who was always very helpful to us as newcomers. Was Brian Izzard our Chief Ag pilot? Sorry guys ... the memories fade these days. BW to all. Dennis K.