I think that the Bell 47 looks like G-AZMB ?

Tarman

Mmmmm ....


......trying to aim the craft so as to arrive over the 'pad' at the same time that everything ran out! .....

Ahhhhh YEssssss .... a skill which has served me so well many times whilst trying to sling loads with a 212 at high DA's ..... often found myself 'nesting' atop the load atop the pad ... sometimes the only way to get a useful load where it has to go .... :O

:}

SAV
 

TH Days-
Yes....... chasing the signals from Anneka's chest mounted (sigh) radios (1xUHF and 1xVHF) as they squirted out from a hole in the roof of a Welsh slate cavern.

G, :E

Sorry to bump this one back up but I noticed a little error reading through this great thread.

EOR, the picture you show is not the Stromberg mock up used in filming, it's the hull of G-OBAY (note the low skids) that I sold to the owner of the now closed Cars of the Stars museum in Keswick, Cumbria a few years back....

G-OBAY met an interesting 'end'..worth a Google for those interested

Now I'll get my coat :ok:


http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/sr...eply_small.gif

Airwork
 

Anybody know who was involved in Airwork (Ireland) Ltd who operated there in the late 70s?



EI-BCA Hiller UH-12E ex G-BDYY Crashed Tallaght, Co. Dublin, 31-Jul-77, repaired, cancelled 02-Mar-78, to G-BDYY, SX-HCD

EI-BES...Bell AB.206B 13-Jun-78...G-AZRU Cancelled Aug-80, to G-AZRU

EI-BEV...Bell AB.206B....8026.......12-May-78...G-AVVH, HP-644, G-AVVH Ltd..Crashed Kilruddery, Co. Wicklow, 24-May-79, cancelled 15-Jun-81

EI-BHE...Bell AB.206B....8405.......10-Jul-79...F-BVEM, OO-MHS Cancelled 24-Jul-80, to G-BHSM, D-HOCH

This possibly prompted Irish Helicopters to get in on the Ag game with..

EI-BIY ABell 47G-3B1 Soloy Irish Helicopters (became G-BEHG)

EI-BKG Westland Bell 47G-3B1 Irish Helicopters (became G-BEHN)

Sav please tell you had oxygen for your high jinks.....

No, big lungs.:ok:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-q...29%2525202.jpg
SA318B Alouette II Astazou G-AWAP (unknown location) in 1968

This being the case you will doubtless visit his exploits surrounding the production of the 1962 movie 'The War Lover'.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-x...son%252521.jpg
Nothing like a good buzz job to get the juices flowing! In this case one of the War Lover's ex-PB-1Ws being flown by John Crewdson for a key scene in the movie. Crewdson flew the airplane solo for the sequence (Photo: David Kay)

Sadly, no story covering the life of the late great John Crewdson would be complete without reference to the ill-fated Alouette topping this post and seen above in 1968 wearing 'Film Flight' titles.

Crewdson bought her in 1974 and operated her for a decade until that fateful day in 1984 when she met her demise. An image of the corroded bolt attributed to causing the detachment of AWAP's main rotor (as well as the link to the accident report) can be seen in post 518 on page 26.

For the benefit of our freshman flyers .. Absolutely! [cough] Yes!


.

Helicopter Hire
 

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...Paravision.jpg
Gill Aldham on the Paravision Rig for the Tradex Exhibition opening ceremony.


P.s. First post so hope image works!

G-AWAP presumably in it's Film Flight days so maybe Elstree.

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...f2808/BGYF.jpg

Here's a nice 206 for your nostalgia posts, Ex Air Logistics ship in its new Heli Hire colours.

G-BGYF Air Logistics
 

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...2808/BGYF2.jpg

Prior to painting in its new colours.

Does any one have any pics of VH-FHF, Bell 206 used for Wales Rescue, Sydney, and subsequently used in the TV show Chopper Squad.

Thankyou

Bigsquirrel

Squirrel Grosso!

Check out post 804 on page 41.

I am also looking for an image of the same Surf Rescue craft - specifically a shot showing the word 'Ferguson' written on the nose. This would have been mid-70's!

G-AWAP John Crewdson
 

Unfortunately I was working at Heli Hire at the time G-AWAP went down.

The loss of John marked the beginning of the end and I left about a year before it ceased trading after 8 happy years in the maintenance side.

AWAP was the workhorse of the fleet and rarely at SEN for long, with extended periods spent away with early Heli-Tele work for Marconi or electricity work.

Occasionally used as a pax ship for joy rides.

G-BDKD And its demise
 

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...2808/BDKD1.jpg
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...2808/BDKD2.jpg

G-BDKD met its end while at Heli Hire and was put down to a MRH Damper Seal fault or something.

Just one of a number of Enstroms at HH included BCOT, BBRS and BALT for a time too.

G-ANLW "The Eye of the Needle"
 

I thought these pictures of ANLW may be of interest.

The aircraft was made airworthy again, turned into a "Spoof" Dragonfly with a false nose and used in "The Eye of the Needle"

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...f2808/ANLW.jpg

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...2808/ANLW2.jpg

Post 709 - G-EYRE
 

Not sure how this "Permalink" thing works but the unidentified B206 in the background behind G-EYRE 206L1 is G-CORC.

Belonged to Keiron Corcoran whose brother Paul owned G-PCOR.

Both aircraft were based in Kent.

G-BRTB B206B2
 

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...f2808/BRTB.jpg

G-BRTB Imported for a Martin Ridsdale who operated out of Blackpool I think as Northern Helicopters or something like that in the late 1980's.

Icelandic Coastguard B47's
 

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...f2808/BJFI.jpg

One of two Ex-Icelandic Coastguard Bell 47G's that Helicopter Maintenance Rebuilt.

G-WYTE and G-BJFI (Pictured) were rebuilt and certified as 47G2A-1 ships.

G-WTYE I think was laid to rest in Doncaster last time I heard but BJFI disappeared after flying for Harvest Air for a while.

Does anyone know where BJFI ended up?

Oh, excuse the silliness of my collegue with a wheel pole!!

Ahhh PNG Savoia. I was taking my 'altitude' check on top of Mt Wilhelm near Goroka (circa 14,0000 feet I think) with Gary Freeman (RIP) and he was demonstrating the technique of flying a bowl of porridge. I was trying to pay attention but kept getting distracted by bits of helicopter that littered the approach to the pad. Gary knew the history of each crash.

Concentrates the mind wonderfully :ooh:

Tjef, what a great collection of Southend nostalgia! Bravo, fantastic! :D

G-BGYF featured at the genesis of this thread (page 3 in fact) where she can be seen amidst a 'sea' of JetRangers in Speechless Two's wonderful reminiscences of his Rhodesian expedition. On page 2 PPRuNer Low Flier admitted to having flown YF and referred to her as the 'Raspberry Ripple' 206! A further photo of YF (taken during the filming of "Hopscotch") appears on page 38.

BGYF was touted as being the craft used in the filming of 'The Spy Who Loved Me' but .. as she was imported in July '79 and the filming took place in 1976, I don't see how this was possible! Would you happen to know which 206 John used for this movie (filmed mainly in Sardinia)?

It is great to see this craft in her AirLog livery and which, in my view, was a more pleasing arrangement than her 'Raspberry Ripple' effect. Indeed in her AirLog colours she bears a resemblance to the late Lord Dulverton's 206 (G-AZAG) a photo of which (courtesy of Helipixman) can be seen on page 22.

Sadly, and as you probably know, sometime after returning to the US to become N152AL again, she was involved in a crash in which the pilot was killed. Details of the accident may be found here.

Regarding BDKD the 'Bad Kid' PPruNer Gaseous mentioned in June that the craft was nearing a rebuild and posted an image of her on page 37 at Battersea wearing Police titles. A further image of her appears on page 38 at Epsom and I dare say that Dennisimo has some interesting history with this craft along with John's other Enstroms.

The photo of G-AWAP at the Tradex Fair is great although I am keen to learn a little more about the function of the 'Paravision Rig'!

Of G-ANLW; this was of course John's second Widgeon - the first (G-APVD) having been sold to him by my godfather in 1972.

Here are some shots (with Shane in mind) of G-ANLW in her pre-Helicopter Hire days:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--...252520Expo.jpg
ANLW was assigned on a short term contract from Westland to Sabena in Belgium during one of the Expo fairs. (I'll have to dig up the year)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S...2520floats.jpg
ANLW with Westlands conducting float trials

Around 1983/4 I hired a couple of different 206's from HH. Each time they were flown by a reasonably young chap but .. I simply can't remember his name and, worst of all, I can't remember the registrations of the craft. One was on shorts however and the other wore pop-outs.

Very sorry to hear about Gary. :( I remember him one time providing me with the etymology of his name 'Freeman' and, though interesting enough, seemed somewhat out of context during the middle of a C&T sortie. A quizzical glance on my part brought him back the matter at hand!

They say that PNG sorted out the men from the boys. Perhaps. What I remember is losing five friends in one year - a couple of them plank drivers. In fact I think PNG was probably one of the ultimate testing grounds for the smaller stiff wings - creeping up valleys towards a one way strips with little or no room for manoeuvre and dodging the weather (in and out of IMC) on almost every flight. One can think of better places to fly!

Heli-Hire
 

Hi Savoia,

In 1983/84 HH had the two Jet Rangers G-BBUY & G-BBCA. "CA" was always on low skids and "UY" on Pop-Outs. I have a picture of "UY" in its splendid Orange & White scheme which I can put on here.

The "Spy Who Loved Me" 206 was G-BAML by the way and filmed in Sardinia by the ill-fated G-AWAP. G-BAZN was also used on occasions - Somerton Rayner I believe!

With regards to the Paravision rig, I only saw it used for for the Tradex in 1977 and presumably went back to Film Flight days.

It resembled someone on a parachute so maybe was used for filming parachutists in the air.

Some of the things we did in those days would have been frowned upon and highly illegal now!

I have to say that Heli-Hire/Heli-Maintenance gave me the best grounding that an engineer could have in my apprenticeship and would like to take this opportunity to thank the late John Crewdson, Gill Aldham, Nick Phillips, Dave Hitchin and laterly Richard von Isenburg for 8 fantastic years.

Also will put on some pics of the Air Log 212 which was operated just prior to the G-KATE WG30 era.

Finally, I wonder why was N152AL flying on an "Experimental" Airworthiness certificate when it crashed?

Oh, and the reasonably young chap was probably Howard Mersey who I followed to Aeromega where I worked for 11 years until 2000. Howard is now in Flight Ops at the CAA and I am a QM in a 145 Maint organisation looking after a variety of airlines across europe.

Sav

Anyone know of any pictures of WG30 G-KATE while she was owned by Helicopter Hire but was mostly leased to British Airways Helicopters?

G-KATE
 

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...f2808/KATE.jpg

Best I can do I'm afraid. This was from Westland themselves during one of the pre-delivery test flights. The beast was nothing but trouble from the word go!

Thanks tjef

Although spending much time with BAH on the Southern North Sea, she always wore HH colours.

Tjef many thanks for clarifying (at long last) the identity of the aircraft used in the filming of the 'Spy Who Loved Me.' :ok:

Yes it all comes back. Didn't realise that I had been in both these craft! An image of BBCA appears on page 41 and on page 16 BBUY (in which Dennisimo had some involvement) can be seen wearing her Air Anglia livery. Please do post a shot of her!

I think many of us could say something similar. The 'age of innocence' has all but past and with it much of the (sometimes) frivolous spontaneity which at times could be quite entertaining! It has all become somewhat 'serious' for many in recent decades.

From the accident report:

Well if you speak with him please convey that Bob Smith's godson extends his regards.

From page 28:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-S...2525201982.jpg
Westland WG30-100 G-BIWY at the 'Beehive', London Gatwick, in May 1982 (Photo: Richard Vandervord)

Heli Hire Advert - 1980 BHAB Handbook
 

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...f2808/BHAB.jpg

Those were the days!!!

John Crewdson in the Alouette picture on an oil platform. We were heavily involved with "Sealand" the gun fortress off shore which Roy Bates and his wife turned into a principality!

In the workshop picture are David Hitchen, John Dunkley and Fred (Cannot remember his surname).

G-BBUY
 

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...08/BBUY2-1.jpg

As promised the beautiful "UY" complete with "Otis Lifts" sticker ready for the Open Golf at Sandwich. We were based at Leeds Castle.

"CA" was very dour in comparison (I have never liked the 206 on low skids!) and I think was painted a dark blue when we bought it.

"YF" was in a different scheme for someone but I cannot remember who.

Eccellente Tjef! :ok:

I really am enjoying your Helicopter Hire memorabilia, great stuff, and yes this is how BBUY was clothed when Howard performed the honours for my early 80's charters.

Now c'mon Tjef, spill the beans on some of the more light-hearted antics that the late great JC got up to - he must have done something amusing .. at least once!

Shane; I'm still making enquiries regarding your interest in G-APTE, the Westland Widgeon you posted on page 49 and which was working with Shamrock Helicopters.

I sent a 'round-robin' email to the 30 odd photographers I usually pester for permissions to post on PPRuNe and so far what I have is this ..

In the meantime you might enjoy this British Pathé clip of your craft making her way to the isle of Inishturk off the coast of County Mayo in 1961:

BRITISH PATHÉ CLIP OF G-APTE

Ahh Inishturk! The island of the wild boar, home to the Emerald Isles finest catches of lobster and former dwelling place of the patron saint of Columbia Helicopters! Rumour has it that when a mining company offered to develop the vein of gold which runs through the heart of the island the inhabitants said [Irish accent on] "Ah now, it'll be alright there. We don't need to spoil God's handiwork just because the little leprechauns get itchy feet whenever they walk on our land!".

Oh and Shane, I saw a movie the other day called 'The Guard' (a story set predominantly in Galway). I've not enjoyed a movie that much in a long time - fantastic!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4...52520Poppy.png

Air Hanson Bell 222A rigged like Airwolf for movie -but what movie?
 

Came across this in Paul Beaver's Attack Helicopters published in 1987 by Arms & Armour and the photograph note says that this Air Hanson PLC Bell 222A was rigged up for a movie but does anyone know what production did this star in?

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ie_gunship.jpg

Cheers

EGJB - Les Casquets - 1982 -1984

http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/y...CC09/BATC1.jpg

http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/y...CC09/BATC2.jpg

http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/y...CC09/BATC3.jpg

http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/y...CC09/BATC4.jpg

http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/y...CC09/BATC5.jpg

http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/y...CC09/BATC6.jpg

those are fantastic pics of BATC, best ever, thanks!

Westland WG-30
 

That's what I like about this place.
I've been flying helicopters for almost 20 years now but have never heart about or ever seen a Westland WG-30 before.:ok:

Hi Spunk,

You have not missed much!!

The WG30 was yet another british, low production aircraft which failed to make the grade.

HH had it in mind for a contract for offshore however when the figures were worked out, fully laden it could get out to the rig and halfway back when fuel would run out!! Bring on the 212 (N142AL/G-BIDC) Pics to follow!

How many people knew HH had a 212?

KATE had a number of problems such as a replacement mis-machined gearbox casing which affected the flight controls and it nearly beat itself to death on the ground. Horizontal stabiliser had a habit of falling off when the titanium spar failed (Yes, titanium failure) due to the amount it vibrated.

KATE also was blessed with sliding doors on both sides and having flown in it the noise and vibration was terrible. I thought the Bo105 (Boiled egg with a stick up its a!s!) was bad enough when you flared until this!

G-BFYA - On the subject of Bolkow Bo105.............................
 

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...808/BFYA-1.jpg

"YA" The workhorse that replaced "AWAP" and acted as "Hele Tele" cameraship for London Marathon's, Boat Races galore!

Got a fair few thumps on the head from the skid on this beastie whilst load lifting on Foulness Island.

Capt Phil Bartley was the usual jockey for this beast!

Best job we ever did with this aircraft was the original British Airways flying towers of money. Anyone remember that?

Basically, in the advert all you saw was a pile of money coming into land at an airport.

I truth, we had a large wooden structure covered in dollars lookalike paper and flew up and down the 06/24 at SEN.

Fine until a strop broke!!!

As I said before, fun days they were!!!

The film was 'Ishtar', shot in Morocco in 1987.

More Heli Hire
 

Oops, sorry but appear to have taken over this thread somewhat with Helicopter Hire stuff. Please say if I have outstayed my welcome!!!

Truth is it was such a diverse operation to work for with Crop Spraying one minute, load-lifting, working on film sets joy-rides, Power Line & gas patrols there were never any dull moments.

Anyway, more pictures.............................

Highland Helicopters (Who are they?)

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...f2808/AZVX.jpg

Helicopter Hire
 

For sure, JC's company Helicopter Hire was a star of the 1970s. I got to know the team really well, JC and his super lady Gill Aldam, Phil Bartley and Marc Wolf and David Voy. For a couple of years they were my best Enstrom customers having operated, 28A, G-BCOT (crop spraying, G-BBRS with the Met police, ditto G-BENO) All the family were flyers, beautiful daughter Kate who took her first few lessons with me at Shoreham and No. 2 son Nick Crewsdon who also learned to fly with me on the 300C at Shoreham. Nick is now a pretty experienced rotary man with many licence types and lots of film work to his credit. I keep in touch with Gill who keeps her good looks as well as she ever was.

In the late 1970s John and I did some flying together on one of the Enstroms for the film 'Rollerball' - the first version. Had 'Energy Corporation' logo on the nose which on one occasion prompted a Blackbushe refueller to say he could send the charge on to the corporation! In the 1970s, he introduced me to some early Police flying with the Strathclyde Force, the London Met and the infamous Big G Chief Constable at Kidlington. I have to say I learned so much from a great aviator.

Daughter Kate is a qualfied hospital GP and son No 1 flies the airbus with Virgin. JC's list of film credits is legendary and if the Mods will allow, I'll shortly post around two dozen films where John did both camera and story ship flying.

Sadly it all ended when John was lost with the Aerospatiale following a M/R hub failure while on a water sampling flight. Yes a wonderful business and a wonderful family. Oh and there is a Crewdson Road in Crawley.

Hope these imputs help keep this superb thread upfront. BW to all. Dennis Kenyon.

Johnny Crewdson
 

Nick & Kate Crewdson have been getting all the mentions on here but most of my dealings have been with Johnny who I believe was John's son from his first marriage.

Met him at HH when he was walking around the workshops sporting a "CRASS" tee-shirt.

Many years later I came across him again during my Bristows days and again at Aeromega.

He was always a friendly understated chap who always did the job well.

I think he spent a lot of time on the deadly "Gas Contract" where I think he flew for Dollar plus other operators. Also believe that he did some time on the North Sea.

Not seen Johnny for a good few years but personnally have been out of helicopters for coming up to 12 years now.

In answer to Savoia's earlier question regarding JC's antics, he was a very quiet man but a damn fine pilot. As HH progressed he became more the businessman than the flier.