S61Ns at work abroad
 

This is a October 1981 - Andouki Airport, Brunei. The original Brunei-Shell colours. In the background is a Bell 212 on charter from Heli-Services Singapore - 9V-BMB.
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This is PH-NZA on UN duty in Croatia as the UN191- March 1994. We got $100 a day 'danger money' and had a kevlar floor under each seat. Only one bullet hole in 2 years.
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Geoffers, as always, brilliant!

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On page 44 we showcased a Swiss Super Puma belonging to Eagle Helicopters being flown single pilot on the Italian side of the Alps during a lift job - but today, renown aviation photographer Dennis Wüstefeld has kindly contributed his own excellent take of a Swiss Puma:

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Swiss Air Force TH89 AS332M1 Super Puma at Meiringen on 11th October 2011 during the "Axalp Fliegerschießen" (Photo: Dennis Wüstefeld)

Dennis, many thanks for this great image! :ok:

Sorry for a late reply, yes the colour scheme is spot on, I will put pictures of her on, she will be seen all over the UK and I will post up where she will be. She is going onto the N reg.

It is still the only helicopter I know that has that draw to her, where ever you land a crowd forms instantly!

Maybe it`s just you ,Gary...!

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Brantly B-2 G-ARVY at Denham in April 1962 (Photo: Peter Fitzmaurice)

The image above is one from a collection taken by the late Peter Fitzmaurice and comes to us via Bill Teasdale (who's wonderful work has featured several times on this thread). Bill is now the custodian of Peter's fine collection and has written: "I have recently acquired the photo collection of the late Peter Fitzmaurice who sadly died in an aviation accident two years ago. He was well known for his wonderful photos taken in the 1950's and 60's and it is the wish of his widow, Susan, that we should continue to display his photos where they can be appreciated and of value."

Well Bill, they are certainly appreciated here on Nostalgia! Our thanks to Susan Fitzmaurice and for Peter too .. if he's up there reading this!

Not much on the books about "Garvy", she seems to have been a BEAS demonstrator of sorts. Another shot of her, this time at Oxford, to follow in time to come.

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Brantly B-2B G-ASHJ at Elstree in September 1964 (Photo: Brian Nichols)

Another fine example of a 60's Brantly in Britain - this one from Brian Nichols who has graciously agreed for his work to be displayed here on Nostalgia.

From BEAS (the Brantly distributor) ASHJ went to Francis Wallis of Loughton in Essex in 1967 and from Loughton to Sunderland in County Durham in 1971 when she was bought by Robert Ryan of Ryan Aviation. Her final owner is recorded as Antony Dean of Leeds.

~ ~ ~

Observe the difference in the canopies between the B2 and the B2B. I know it sounds somewhat childish but .. I remain adamant that when I get the chance I am going to ask someone with an example of the original B2 canopy to place a blade over one of the roof 'bubbles' and pull full pitch and then take a photo revealing the clearance between the blade's trailing edge and the top of the bubble! Yes, I know there will be clearance but .. my guess is that it won't be much - especially with a static blade! The things we think .. lol!

For more Brantlys in Britain see pages: 16 through 20, 44 through 45 and 47.

Some old photos
 

Don't know the background to these but they look interesting and somewhere along the line (about 1968) I 'acquired' them for my scrapbook.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7170/6...851a5d94_z.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7165/6...633b2b2c_z.jpg

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6057/6...873abe1b_z.jpg

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6035/6...9c43291a_z.jpg

G.

'Geoffersincornwall' in his Post #1100 commented that he "Don't know the background..." to his photo's, I think I can assist:

1st Photo: They're trees.
2nd Photo: Another tree.
3rd Photo: A field and more trees.
4th Photo: The wall and part of the roof of a large hangar.

Hope this helps.

A bit of Eastern European nostalgia...

Back in the late 70s - 1978 if I recall correctly - I saw a Polish (I think) Mi-2 whopping eastwards over this neck of the woods (Croydon). I believe it was in the UK for a while, does anyone recall what it was doing here? It wasn't at Farnborough that year

B222
 

Longbox,

should look good then, you keep saying N-reg but what ? N222* ?

St J.
 

I should have been more explicit. I know not the origin or the subject matter of the photos but maybe someone else does, beyond the obvious that the first is a civvy Skeeter and the rest look like the Westland Whirlwind production line at Yeovil circa late 1950s.

G.

Treadigraph, I cannot personally recall having heard anything about an Mi-2 over south London but there are doubtless others who may.

What I do remember (and I think it was early 70's) was that our Russian friends brought across an Mi-10 (the one capable of carrying a bus beneath it) and solicited a number of prospective clients including Bristows.

Sadly, I've been unable to dig-up anything about it.

222
 

Sadly most of the really good 222 N regs have already gone, however there is one that I think will suit all expectations, as soon as the trust is complete I will share with you

Did a quick bit of research on Google; the Mi-2 I spotted was SP-SWG and can be seen at this link on Air Britain's website. Amazing what you can find on line.

I had thought it was here for a month or two, perhaps PZL/WSK used it for a marketing opportunity with the various UK companies while it was here, which might explain its presence over the SE. I don't think I've ever seen another one.

I remember there were some Polish fixed-wing aircraft at Farnborough that year which was around the same time.

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MBB Bo106 D-HDCI at the Hannover Airshow on 30th April 1974 (Photo: Peter Nicholson)

On 25th September 1973, D-HDCI (above), the MBB 106 test bed, made its maiden flight. The 106 was intended as a 7 seat derivative of the 105 and sported a wider cabin capable of accommodating 3 seats in front and 4 in the rear.

An uprated transmission was to deliver an output of up to 692shp with a single-engine output of 380shp compared with 636shp and 370shp respectively for the 105.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-G...0/bo106_01.jpg
The Bo106 in 'prophetic' pose with MBB's technical team in 1973 revealing slightly EC130'esque features

And ..

Do you remember this:

Well if you enjoyed Griffo's 'at odds with the world' photo I have a couple of Bölkow images winging their way to Nostalgia which you will love!

G-BBCA
 

From page 41:

Now, and with thanks to a contribution from Graham Sparkes, we are able to see her in a pose from 1982:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-w...3_Apr_1982.jpg
Bell 206B G-BBCA belonging to Barker's Plant Hire seen at Blackpool's Squire's Gate airport on 13th April 1982 (Photo: Graham Sparkes)

As mentioned above, this craft had a string of owners but is seen in the latest capture while in the employ of Barker's Plant Hire of Newcastle-under-Lyme. From there she moved to Southend (the following year), initially to 'Harvest Aviation?' and then to Helicopter Hire in '84.

For some great Helicopter Hire memorabilia check-out TJEF2808's recent posts on pages 52-54.

To BBCA's right is ex-Bristow Bell 47G-2 G-AXCC and just in the frame is the nose of Agusta-built Bell 206 G-HYDE of Cheshire-based Hyde Tools.

RPM, your request did not go unnoticed but, as you've probably discovered, there's precious little out there on this craft which seems to have started life in Mexico as XC-BOQ. However, PPRuNe being what it is you never know, someone may well drop in with something satisfying!

Old men have long memories
 

Sand! It was the same in Dubai and Das! Haven't been on this site for many years but I see you have a few refs from my past. Your brother has been reading them and worked out the why's and wherefore's. I understand you took a trip to Das and visited the Tavern Bar. Trust you enjoyed it. By strange coincidence, I started writing up my ditching near Brightlingsea in 1966 because I found that the man who pulled me out had died last year so I will be sending his family the story that he probably never told them about.

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Bristol Sycamore HR52 LC103 of the West German Air Force at Hannover on 7th May 1962 (Photo: Courtesy of Ken Elliot)

F-QWAP Fly By Wire demonstrator Paris 2001
 

I scanned these from shots I took during Paris Airshow 2001, around the Place de l'Concorde, where this was outside the museum.

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I think its in the International Helicopter Museum now at Weston Super Mare having been donated by French after it finished its trials?

Cheers

Also on the first day of SBAC Farnborough 1998 I got close to the 2nd prototype of the now cancelled :{Boeing Sikorsky RAH-66 :)

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Yupp the 365 now resides at the Helicopter Museum in Weston Super Mare.

Gay Absalom is my step-grandmother (my grandfather's second wife) and still lives in Warwickshire.

C2004 well done, nice images.

Yes, I can see the wires! :p

Smoth: Welcome to Rotorheads.

We would love to hear anything you might be able to communicate from Gay. Please let her know that my godfather, Col. Bob Smith ex-MD of Ferranti Helicopters is still about (now in his 90's) as I know they knew each other.

I had been saving this clip for when something 'Absolomish' came up; I suppose this would be your great step-grandfather!

British Pathé Clip of Gay Absolom's Father (Rowland) Going to Work in a Brantly

Rgds

Sav

Survival training 'GreenlandAir' style
 

Not quite sure about feeling nostalgic about this particular extravaganza conducted East of Godhaab (Nuuk) in March 1977. The water temp was close to zero and the air temp -15 deg C. We had to move the ice flows out of the way to launch the liferaft and the wind was a cruel 20 knots so the raft was tethered to the quay so as not to loose it out to sea.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6...65eb6ae3_z.jpg

The S61 survival pack contains a 'shotgun/rifle'. This Czech-made 12 bore/7.62 weapon was designed to enable the survivors to protect against Polar Bears and to hunt Ptarmigan and similar game.

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It was bl***y cold - a 'never again' experience.

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We spent the night in a 25 man raft in arctic grade sleeping bags that are vacuum packed into small bricks and carried as part of the normal kit. Anything left outside the sleeping bag would be frozen solid by the morning so you slept with your boots alongside you and passed a less than comfortable night. Still, when morning came you were still alive despite temps of -20 deg C. You were well enough to gather mussels on the beaches of the Fjord and light a fire.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6...f88b65a2_z.jpg

G. :)

Gay
 

It's been too many years since I was able to have a regular chat with that lovely lady and rotary pilot Gay Absolom. (later Gay Barratt) It might not be generally known she was the lady pilot in the 'To the Manor Born' series flying a Spooner Aviation Enstrom ... G-PALS for the reggie buffs! A tall, elegent lady blonde who flew the pants of the difficult old Enstrom Shark I seem to recall. The filming was completed at the Crinkley Bottom 'Manor House' now a hotel. Was it Creech St Thomas or something like that?

In fact I think Gay was the first female commercial heli pilot in the UK. She was certainly flying when I came in to the rotary industry circa 1972! Would love to have some words from her on the thread. Dennis K.

Westland Bells
 

Great stuff Geoffers! Seem to recall some Air Greenland 61's being shown on this thread.

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British Army Westland Sioux aboard HMS Bulwark in Helsinki, Finland in 1971

Quite what the Bulwark was doing in Helsinki I don't know - perhaps they had gone there in an early attempt at cold weather training à la Geoffers!.

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Trent Helicopters Westland Bell 47G-3B-1 G-BFEI sits in Cranfield's lushous grass on 8th July 1985 (Photo: Don Hewins)

My thanks to Don Hewins for this (and his previous) contribution to Nostalgia. As always, a great photo Don! Note the Schermuly dispenser on the craft's lower rear hind quarter.

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AS350B VH-NFO at Schofields on 10th November 1985 (Photo: Wolodymir Nelowkin)

A newly registered VH-NFO attends the Schofield Airshow in November 1985 at HMAS Nirimba.

Well if there's anyone reading who is planning on buying an aircraft please make sure that you either purchase it from a reputable supplier or, if that is not possible, recruit a capable consultant (one who can refer you to a string of satisfied clients) to manage the pre-buy survey.

I've always said that I wouldn't let PPRuNe interfere with my day job but this was sufficiently long ago not to impinge on the sensitivities of my often persnickety clients:

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PPruNer Savoia, with client from the Middle East in tow, conducts a pre-purchase inspection on a GII SP

Most of the planks I conduct pre-buys on involve a two and a half, sometimes three day, affair that takes in the log books and paperwork (one and a half days), flight testing (half a day) and physical inspection (one day). That is aside from the numerous specially ordered inspections which will already have been performed such as borescopes on the engines, x-rays of critical components etc. etc. (all depending on the condition and type of craft).

Granted, my services are not cheap but .. in return the client gets an iron-clad assurance (through the pre-purchase consulting agreement) in which my business is liable for any recourse arising from dissatisfaction which can be attributed to the quality of the inspection. I do not view my guarantee as a risk but an asset because, so long as you are conversant with what needs to be done, the process (while involved) is pretty straight-forward and clients enjoy the fact the your work comes with an assurance.

Sadly, it is always the few corner-cutting non-professionals (across both the fixed and rotary wing industries) who create bad press and cause unnecessary losses for clients who, if it is their first time buying, can become sufficiently disillusioned so as to give-up altogether.

Moral of the story; stick with reputable professionals in everything you do when it comes to aircraft acquisition (and operation). It may cost more 'up-front' but it will even out in the long run and, crucially, insure you against losses such as those written about in the post above.

The Grand Kenyon
 

Posted on behalf of the Maestro:

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Dennis 'The Menace' Kenyon with Bell 206 G-AYTF (aka The Dancer) at Leeds Castle in 1983

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Dennis' hangar at Booker in 1985 harbouring some Nostalgia Thread 'stars' including G-WIZZ and G-CSKY (formerly G-TALY)

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Enstrom F28-A G-BAHU at Blackbushe in 1986 (Photo: Don Hewins)

Based on Dennisimo's previous comments BAHU may have been a 'Presidential' model with its half-covered door (or perhaps this was just painted over!). She was in the Maestro's Shoreham stable in 1972 from where she was sold to Ben Turner. The craft seems to have spent some time in Ireland in the late 70's before being sold to one of Dennis' business partners Peter Millward.

The answer to the earlier question about who made up the army complement of Aerial Peeler in Scotland is extracted from a history of police aviation a free download book on a well known site......

The Scottish task was allotted to 10 Flight, normally based at Carter Barracks, Bulford, Wiltshire.
Four pilots were eventually directly involved in flying the Westland Scout AH1 helicopters in the support mission. Major Maurice Taylor [Lancashire Fusiliers], Captain Jerry Jones [Royal Corps of Transport], Ronnie Matthews [Duke of Edinburgh’s Regiments] and, lastly, Lt. Norman Overy.
Matthews replaced Overy early in March after the Lieutenant was posted elsewhere. Major Charles Wastie, Captain’s Paul Lyle and David Dance shared their time between police flight support and local military requirements using a DHC2 Beaver AL1. To this mixed band of military men Aerial Peeler III became affectionately known as “The Peeping Police Saga”. Their compatriots
were four observers provided by the local police - each held the rank of inspector to ensure the use of the Kinloss Officers Mess although one of their number was actually a sergeant. Charles Rhoden, Murdoch [“Murdo”] McLeod, Charles Inglis and Dick Young, the sergeant. Under normal circumstances police sergeants and constables are only “worthy” of accommodation in the Sergeants Mess.
Also in the police party was Superintendent Alec Findlay, in overall command, and acting as the controller of operations, with a sergeant and two constables manning the Kinloss Control Room

PANews well done, that was a great discovery and completes the post! :ok:

For those just joining the thread PA is referring to post #1063 on page 54 which talks about a special exercise conducted by the British Army using Westland Scouts conducting evaluation missions for the Scottish Police in 1968.

Thanks to PA we can now complete the crew photo:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-C...2520pilots.jpg
Back row: (L-R), Sgt Young, Insp MacLeod, Insp Rhoden, and Insp Inglis
Front row: (Order unknown) Major Maurice Taylor of the Lancashire Fusiliers, Captain Jerry Jones of the Royal Corps of Transport, Ronnie Matthews of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Regiments and Lt. Norman Overy

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AS355F1 G-TALI at Cranfield on 8th July 1985 (Photo: Don Hewins)

Just in today from Don .. G-TALY's successor G-TALI visiting Cranfield. When the son of the former pilot (Ken Davies) to the Duke of Westminster signed-up to PPRuNe in order to post evidence of his dad's ferry flight with G-TALY from Frosinone to Fairoaks (together with PPRuNer Geoffersincornwall) he mentioned that the Duke was sufficiently gracious to as to permit Ken to use TALI to visit the PFA Rally.

For those just joining Nostalgia .. this thread began life as the "G-TALY" thread and so we are always thrilled to see both her and her sister TALI. G-TALY can be seen in Dennis Kenyon's photo in post #1123 above wearing the registration G-CSKY.

Both aircraft were named after the Duke's wife, Natalia, a descendant of the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.

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Westland Gazelle SA341G G-BBHW at London Luton in 1984 (Photo: Anton Heumann)

Delivered from Westlands in 1974 to Bruce Fletcher of Leicester and on to McAlpine's the same year. Bought by MW Helicopters in 1998 when she became G-IZEL and latterly G-WDEV now registered to 'Cropspray Ltd' of Marksbury, Bath.

More Great Gazelles on the following pages: 24, 39 & 46

Savoia, thanks for posting on (always) interesting Gazelle theme :)
My two cents...

Zishelix, it is as though you have risen from the grave! Welcome back.

Wiggy, for you:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-c...fke%252529.jpg
EC135T2 G-SPHU (with sister ship G-SPAO) at Glasgow City Heliport on 27th July 2011 (Photo: Udo Haafke)

We (the owner and I) flew IZEL down there from UK in one and a half days via somewhere in Normandy, Biarritz and Madrid Quatro Vientos (nightstop) and back in just one day. Same owner as the lovely G-BESS pictured previously in these pages.
In it's previous ownership IZEL had been old man McAlpines personal hack, had extraordinarily low hours and had been thoroughly under used and over-maintained. It was beautifully presented with black leather seats - a glorious machine and an utter joy to fly. Still smelled like a gaz though.
Anyone know where it is now?

G-SPHU was recentyl if not still covering for the air ambulance in Swansea and I have seen it here a good few times, it sure gets around considering the distance to Glasgow from here.

Bolkow are you aware SPHU is a stand in when the others are on maintenance?

Lenton Lane Heliport
 

In the mid 1950's BEA decided to operate a regular helicoptor service between Nottingham and Birmingham, calling at Leicester on the way.

A site off Lenton Lane in Nottingham (where Willow Road is now situated) was acquired and an area of tarmac laid to accommodate landings. The service began in 1956 but was a short-lived affair running only for a matter of months.

The two images below were taken by Ada Marriott, who lived on Gregory Street. They show passengers getting on the helicoptor and in the middle a number of locals, including her own mother, Sarah Wesley, posing for their photograph in front of the aircraft.

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https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-r...heliport_2.jpg

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The craft used for this service was G-ANUK, seen above in float-equipped configuration departing London's South Bank

G-ANUK, Westland Whirlwind S-55 Series 3: 1954 Westland Aircraft > 1955 BEA > 1957 The South Georgia Company > 1961 Bristow Helicopters.

Earlier in the thread we touched upon John Crewdson's trips out to 'Sealand' in the North Sea. It seems however that he was not the only one to venture onto these decommissioned forts as in 1990 the Port of London Authority chartered a Twin Ecureuil to do something similar:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_...er%2525205.jpg

http://www.bobleroi.co.uk/ScrapBook/...eGuage1990.jpg
An AS355F lands atop decommissioned 'Maunsell Fort' G5 in the North Sea in 1990 (apologies for the atrocious image)

Evidently the Port of London utilised a fort which was formerly part of Radio Sutch's 'Shivering Sands' facility. The PLA maintained the 'G5' searchlight fort for their remote 'wind and tide' gague.

I flew once with Bristow's SAR team from Lee-on-the-Solent (this would have been mid-90's .. S61) and the driver pointed-out some sort of concrete facility off the south coast (a small ex-WW II installation) and which was equipped with a helipad. I think the facility had been converted to a home (of sorts).

Yes, Brilliant Stuff, was aware of that, but not aware it covered the whole lot North and South.