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

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

G-FILM
 

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

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

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

Not criticising, just getting things straight.

John Crewdson
 

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

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

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

(Details courtesy of Mario Bazzani).

Sav

G-AWAP
 

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

A summary of the accident report reads:

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

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

Images herewith:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sav

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sav

Captain George, Disc Jockey
 

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

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

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

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

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

Irn Bru photos (including one rare one)
 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Helipixman

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

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


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

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

'Saddle bags' mounted abreast the fuel tank?

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

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

Sav

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

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


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

Edit:

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

G-FILM
 

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

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

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

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

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

Sav

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

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

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

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

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

Still searching.

Sav

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

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

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

The Crewdson Files

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

The Sealand saga:

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

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

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

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

Dennisimo!

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

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

A couple of shots which you may recall:

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

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

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

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

Rgds

Sav

Nostalgia
 

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

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

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

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

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

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Dennisimo, great stuff! :ok:


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

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

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

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

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

Sav