Quite a few clues here:

• White bone-dome
• Looks like an orange Mae West
• Soldier armed with an SLR
• Wearing Boots DMS with puttees, and 1960 pattern combat jacket and trousers

Late 60's - very early 70's?

We didn't actually deploy to Northern Ireland until 15 August 1969. Flt Lt Tim Jenner (later Air Marshal Sir Tim Jenner) landed the first Wessex of 72 Squadron there in support of British troops who were deployed on 14 August.

This came after a speech by Jack Lynch, the Prime Minister of the Irish Republic who called for a United Nations peacekeeping force to be sent to the province.
300 troops from the 1st Battalion, Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire, occupied the centre of Londonderry.

I was about to go on exchange service to 72 Squadron and had been expecting a nice sunny sojourn in Cyprus with the UN detachment, but instead went on the first of my flying detachments to the province with 72.

I don't particularly remember Eagle patrols then, but they probably started around that time. When I was on my final tour as a 'mud marine' in 1975, I was still wearing boots DMS with puttees and carrying an SLR and the pilots of 845 NACS on HMS Hermes were still wearing white bone domes (though when I was flying my AS Wasp as a Royal Marine, I flew wearing a proper green bone dome!

TRC, thank you for that forensic analysis of clues from the 'Eagle Patrol' photo, most impressive, and thanks to Soggy for affirming TRC's hypothesis!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-X...go%252520s.png

G-ANFH began life in 1953 as a Series 1 Westland Whirlwind subscribed to the factory until purchased by BEA in November 1954.

While with BEA ANFH was involved in a number of route trials for scheduled services including a link between Heathrow and Southampton.

In 1966 the craft appeared in the film 'Murderers' Row' (1966) starring Dean Martin and was involved in shoots in the Isle of Wight and in Monaco. Evidently, at both locations, a hovercraft also appeared and includes one scene in which it drives through the streets of Monte Carlo!

In February 1969 ANFH was bought by Freddie Wilcox (Autair) and sold on to Bristows in April of the same year. While with Bristows ANFH was involved in oil and gas exploration support in the Irish Sea.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-e...252520Copy.jpg
In 1959 Anglia Television chartered G-ANFH from BEA as part of their channel launch which took place on 29th October. The ladies touring with the Whirlwind were accorded the title: 'Helibelles'

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v...282%252529.jpg
G-ANFH on tour with Anglia Television in 1959 and seen here with some of her supporting promotional vehicles

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Y...282%252529.jpg
G-ANFH wearing her red and white livery [trust me] (date and location unknown)

I have to apologise for the rash of recent images lacking in detail, a hazard (I fear) of collecting older photos. Hopefully here on Nostalgia we may be able to fill-in some of the gaps from time-to-time!

Geoff,

Is Jack the guy in the dark blue shirt and white trousers?, if so we had some good times together in India

Sotiras,

A guy I worked with who was ex REME, said that in the mid to late 80s, his Scout squadron got transported over to Ft Lewis for an exercise. This wouldn't be one of the unit's airframe doing a long x country (albeit state) flight up and down the West Coast?

Cheers

Check
 

Correct - I believe his full name was Jack Jaworski and I seem to remember he had a Venezuelan wife and lived in Florida.

G.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6...go%252520s.png

During the past week I received the image below from Adrian Batchelor who worked with HPB Aviation at Leavesden for over 20 years (in their paintshop department) and who has been involved in repainting a number of aircraft which have featured on Nostalgia including G-AWOL and G-EORR. Most notably however, Adrian was involved in repainting Tommy Sopwith's Ecureuil G-GINA (the UK's first AS350) and has kindly sent us this photo which he took after completing the job:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c...lor%252529.jpg
Endeavour Aviation's AS350 G-GINA at Leavesden Aerodrome in 1981 after being resprayed by HPB Aviation (Photo: Adrian Batchelor)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4...2525201910.jpg
Sir Thomas Sopwith (Tommy's father): Who lived to be 101 and built over 18,000 aircraft during the First World War including the iconic 'Camel'

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-o...2525201958.jpg
Tommy Sopwith in 1958 winning a Rally with a Sunbeam Rapier (I think)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-N...252520logo.jpg
Besides racing cars and flying helicopters, Tommy was a keen competitor in power boat races:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-C...520Avenger.jpg
Tommy Sopwith's 'Avenger' powerboat which he raced throughout the 70's and wearing his '007' numbers

In 1968 Tommy won the Cowes boat race with his craft 'Telstar'. The favourite had been Charles Gardner's 'Surfury' (one of the fastest boats in Britain at the time) but ..

“As we approached Torquay I had seen a helicopter flying low back toward the Isle of Wight, I assumed there was a race boat there and that it was likely Sopwith. I didn’t want to believe it, but there was a nasty feeling at the back of my neck….!”

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A...urfctc68cr.jpg
Tommy Sopwith and the crew of 'Telstar' at the Winners' Berth of the 1968 Cowes boat race. Charles Gardner arrives in his craft 'Surfury' "stunned" to find Sopwith had arrived before him and relegating him and the crew of 'Surfury' to that of runners up

Tommy's smaller craft, Telstar, had won over Surfury through a choice of tactics in which Sopwith stole victory under the noses of Gardner and his crew by selecting a calmer inland course.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-w...08/bl3big2.jpg
Charlie Gardner's Surfury racing (and winning) in the previous years' Cowes event (1967)

Present in the shot above is a float-equipped Alouette II and which, one surmises, is none other than G-AVEE (aka F-BNKZ) and which we discussed on page 46.

The Alouette had been hired by the BBC to provide aerial shots of the race which was commentated on by the late great Raymond Baxter.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y...uch_-_1976.jpg
Raymond Baxter seen here in front of a SEPECAT Jaguar at RAF Laarbruch in 1976 and who provided commentary for the Cowes boat race

Oddly, the late Raymond Baxter bears an uncanny resemblance to my doctor!

More Sopwith Files on pages 33 & 35.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-D...go%252520s.png

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-b...20Heliport.jpg
Manhattan's West 30th Street Heliport as seen in its opening year of 1956. Present on the pad are rotorcraft from the New York Airways (NYA) fleet, namely a Piasecki 44B and a Sikorsky S55. NYA ran passenger, mail and small/mid-size freight services between West 30th and the aiports of JFK, La Guardia, Newark and Teterboro and to heliports in New York City (Pan Am building), White Plains and Stamford

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F...0/NY-V44_3.jpg
An NYA Piasecki 44B makes its descent into West 30th (Manhattan Heliport) c. 1957

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d...nemar2011a.jpg
An NYA S55 over the 'Apple' c. 1958

Alan Mann Alouette II The Professionals ITV4
 

Just seen Bodie climb into an Alan Mann Alouette II in this episode now ITV4, where hes undercover as an assasin :)

G-AWOL for sale advert 1985
 

Came across this advert from 1985, also a couple of other snippets, how the prices have changed.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7165/6...62468c72_z.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7144/6...aed58688_z.jpg
Wiggy

Extended TBO?
 

A main gearbox offered Nil TSO from 15,000 hr O/H? :confused: My how things have changed - VFR :ugh:

ARMY SCOUT FLYING 1982
 

Following on from post 1253 about the Scout in Northern Ireland, the attached YouTube clip (language and content a little fruity in places) from the film Who Dares Wins (1982) shows at least 3 Scout AH1 being used for a SAS raid. Unsurprisingly, the film credits its military advisers as "anonymous" but I wonder whether there are any "Rotorheads" who can shed some light on the making of the helicopter scenes. I was quite surprised to see 6 people carried in one or two of the scenes (Pilot, Observer and 4 Troopers)! It must have been a squeeze and quite a weight to lift!!

JetRangers 1970
 

http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z.../G-AVII896.jpg



G-AVII Southend max enlargement


and G-AXAY Stansted July 1970
http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...XAYcars900.jpg



http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...AYturas900.jpg

I was hoping that G-AXAY was an Agusta-Bell to match the Pininfarina Austin and Michelotti Triumph Herald in the car park but it's a plain old Bell JetRanger according to G-INFO and destroyed in 1975

Chopper 2004: You'll find more about Mann's uniquely named Alouette II 'G-FILM' on the Mann thread, specifically pages 2, 4 and 9.

Wiggy: Great to read these old ads! I have a photographer winging some further photos of AWOL towards us so, hopefully soon we shall have some additional angles on the absent 206 Always With Oil Leak!

VFR: Go on then (for the benefit of 'us' who can't remember) what's the new TBO?

Hofmeister: Been a while since I saw that movie (like 30 years ago .. when it was released) but I still remember it. Until such time as a knowledgeable Army driver pops-in what I can say is that I am reasonably confident that the Scout's 1050shp Rolls-Royce Nimbus could manage six soldiers in the back. As you know the Scout was a little lighter than the Wasp (the latter with its wheeled undercarriage, 'roof' floats and sometimes sporting reasonably weighty missiles).

The only flying scene I recall as being 'dud' (as it were) was the part where the SAS boys are dangling beneath the Scout and being lined-up for 'ramming' through the windows! But great fun to watch, lol!

As you probably know, the film's producer, Euan Lloyd, (he of 'Wild Geese' fame) was 'inspired' to create 'Who Dares Wins' by the events of the 1980 Iranian Embassy seige in London having resided not far from the scene of the action and having watched (as many did) the events unfold on TV. Much (if not all) of the aerial footage from the Iranian Embassy seige was filmed with a Heli-Tele fitted to an ex-Ferranti MBB Bo105 (G-BFYA) which was on contract to Metpol.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0...2525201980.jpg
Ex-Ferranti Bo105C G-BFYA on contrat to Metpol and seen here at Battersea in 1980

Yoyo: Lovely pictures, well done! Images of G-AXAY evaded us for some time until PPRuNer Helipixman came to the rescue and now we have these fine shots also. Sadly, and as you say, AXAY came to grief in 1974 and which you can read about here. You can read more about AXAY on pages 6, 10 and 11 of the Mann Thread.

Can anyone identify the Bristow jock driving AVII at Southend in 1970?

Tony Wheeler has recently sent me the following images and which includes, to begin with, another rare 206; G-AXGO:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-V...ler%252529.jpg
Agusta-Bell 206A G-AXGO at Redhill on 16th August 1970 (Photo: Tony Wheeler)

AXGO was Bought by Stuart Smith & Co. in 1969 and seen above probably on a maintenance visit to Bristows. AXGO was later sold on to Charles Hughesdon (Tradewinds) in 1975. As with AXAY this craft also came a cropper, in 1978. The accident summary here.

Another photo from Tony:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Q...ler%252529.jpg
Agusta-Bell 47J2 G-ASNV at Coventry Airport on 10th April 1964 (Photo: Tony Wheeler)

ASNV is seen above just a few months after her acquisition by Turriff Construction of Brentford, Middlesex and if you are thinking "Turriff, I've heard that name before" then you would be right as we featured a Brantly 305 on page 19 of this thread which was owned by the same firm.

'NV' was later purchased by the Port of Bristol Authority (1966) and then by the South Western Electricity Board (SWEB) in 1970. Her pilot (with both of these organisations) was PPRuNer Speechless Two (through whom I discovered PPRuNe!).

206 Xmsn O/H
 

Well S
It went to 2400hrs and I think it is now at 3000hrs. Perhaps more, any engineer with the very latest data at his fingertips will doubtless correct me :ooh:

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a 15k hrs O/H period though. Unbustable and a cost per hour that was miniscule :D - VFR

In my 206B, SN 1736, transmission PN 206-040-002-25 overhaul interval is 4500 hours. Maybe not 15,000 hours, but not bad!

Both of these craft have featured in our previous discussions - 'KX' more so on the Ferranti Thread. Unfortunately the images are not so clear and are lacking in detail when it comes to dates and locations and for which I apologise:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-K.../s769/bakx.jpg

G-BAKX was a 1971 206B manufactured by Bell. After several owners (incuding one car sales firm) she was bought by Genavco (the company used to register Mohammed Al Fayed's aviation assets in the 70's). The sale to Genavco was arranged by my godfather who went on to manage this aircraft under the auspices of Ferranti Helicopters who revamped her with a Ferranti interior and high-gloss paint. I saw this craft several times in Ferranti's hangar at the Beehive as a youngster.

In August 1978 'KX' was bought by another car sales company .. Castle Motors of Trebrown in Liskeard, Cornwall. Castle Motors was owned by a chap called Roy Flood and this (to the best of my knowledge) was his first aircraft. Roy's helicopter interests would later morph into the now well known Castle Air operation.

A year later and the craft was sold to the Republic of Ireland where she was purchased by then leading Dublin laywer Brendan O'Mahony. One of Brendan's first 'safety pilots' was a chap called Mark Trumble (who I think had been freelancing with Castle Motors). Mark and I would later appear together as witnesses in a case involving Irish Helicopters which you can read about in post 729 of this thread.

After Trumble, my godfather stepped-in as safety pilot for Brendan and was therefore reunited with 'KX' (now renamed EI-BHI). The Colonel had met Brendan through Vincent O' Brien and the two of them had hit it off and which was fortuitous in that this resulted in many wonderful hours spent in Eire flying this aircraft.

'KX' sported a white circle on her fuselage which encased the letter 'F' and which most assumed stood for Ferranti but which in fact was for 'Fayed'. (In the 70's Mohammed Al Fayed was more commonly known as simply Mohammed Fayed). After her sale to Roy Flood the 'F' maintained its relevance and I think he retained the letter. When eventually Brendan bought her he had the 'F' painted out but the circle remained.

My first time to fly 'KX' was from the Irish Helicopters hangar at Westpoint, Dublin Airport to Brendan's home in Leixlip (a short journey of less than 10 minutes). When we arrived Brendan came out and explained that before shutting down we should pick-up some oysters which he planned to consume with his pint of Guiness later that evening.

So we headed for Galway where we were to collect two or three dozen oysters from a pub opposite an inlet where fishing boats were moored. Upon landing (on the road!) the pub owner came out carrying several circular polystyrene packages filled with oysters imbedded in crushed ice .. then we were off back to Dublin where the 'air freighted goods' were duly consumed (by Brendan, the Colonel, a young Savoia and some of Brendan's friends at his local) along with copious quantities of the black stuff. Not to be left out I would drink coca-cola with a 'Guiness top'!

This episode reminds me of another occasion (also in Ireland) when Vincent O'Brien's wife had failed to obtain some 35mm film for her camera in the local town of Cashel (Tipperary) and which wasn't hard to believe given that there weren't that many shops in Cashel in the late 70's early 80's. It was late in the day and the following morning she had an 'important' photo assignment (she was a keen photographer) so we were dispatched to Shannon airport to seek-out 35mm film which, eventually the Colonel found in one of the duty free shops after having convinced the teller he was about to board a flight .. which, in fact, he was! ;)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8...lrii%25201.jpg

These two shots are of Castle's LongRanger G-LRII a 1979 LongRanger II (hence the registration) bought by 'Castle Motors' in August of '79 and quite possibly their second aircraft after 'KX'. Castle Air (as they then became) held on to LRII until 1986.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x...lrii%25202.jpg

My thanks to the crew at Castle Air for these photos, specifically Angela Wells and Ross Bunyard their newly appointed MD.

.

G-AWOL
 

Ahhh .... how these names and heli reggies keep cropping up on this wonderful post. The 'Flight' advert for the sale of G-AWOL was placed by my good self in Oct 1985 on joining the sales division of Harold Bamberg's 'Eagle' company at Coworth Park. That beautiful old mansion once owned by Lord Derby and neighbour to Fort Belvedere where the abdication was signed. It may not be generally known that Harold Bamberg was the 'B' in the airline BKS which operated post war, later becoming British Eagle. The other two being Keegan and Stevens.

An how I recall my super dealings with that effervescent Irish Lawyer, Brendan O'Mahoney who in the mid 1970s came to Shoreham to fly and I think bought Enstrom 28A G-BASB or possibly G-BAHU. My warm regards to you Sir ... if you are out there. Dennis Kenyon.

More 'Names' & Reggies
 

Oh and while on the 'nostalgia' kick and the Emerald Isle, anyone have much to do with Enstrom G-ECHO, a 280C Shark which was sold to the owner of Echo Hall in Spa. The Spa itself has an intriguing history which should be looked up on Google. The owner, one Harvey Bicker, now very much a political figure over there, was a real gentleman who took to the heli controls as an absolute natural. His lovely lady wife Elizabeth was a classical concert pianist who played for me one day in the music room . I still have the vynil LP she recorded ... "Flights of Fancy."

For our Irish PPruners ... if anyone knows the likes of Kevin Rafferty, Luke Carberry, the Johns, Quinn and Morgan. Chris Jones, James Murray and of course that wonderful quarryman, Pat O'Carroll down at Tralee ... then please ask them to log on here for a few words. Dennis K

Dennis,

Brendan is still around and the Enstrom was G-BAHU which became
EI-BDF. I think BDF was either owned by or sold to Barry Sheene. My good friend Colin Sayers (RIP) came over to Ireland to teach Brendan to fly and ended up staying becoming chief piot with Irish Airwork and then to Irish Helicopters. Brendan then graduated to G-BAKX,EI-BHI, and the replaced that with an Agusta 109 EI-BUX.

G-AVZH Heathrow early autumn 1970
 

http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z.../G-AVZH900.jpg

Do you know anything about the MBB Bo105 at BEA Helicopters' base September 1971 in this pic?

http://cdn-www.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!/aviati.../4/2056486.jpg

Photos: MBB BO-105 Aircraft Pictures | !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yoyo, great shots, bravo!

Regarding the Bo105C at Gatwick's Beehive I regret to say that I have no recollections of this craft but, as you rightly point out, the aircraft bears the BEA logo and which, I think makes it fair to assume, that it was most likely on trial or lease to them.

While on BA .. can anyone tell me how Jock Cameron finished-up his days? My godfather was in touch with him for some years after he retired from BA but from around the mid-80's I never heard anything more. Also, can anyone recall some of BA's Chief Pilots after Jock?

G-AVZH

Wonderful to see this craft and great that you have been able to put your finger one of the aircraft listed on page 62 identifying the few remaining 'A' reg 206's still to feature on Nostalgia!

AVZH was delivered to the Hanson Trust (Air Hanson) in December 1967 and must therefore have been their first helicopter and the predecessor to G-AZRU (which has featured previously on this thread) which was used as James Hanson's personal runabout.

In your image it is possible to see (on ZH's tail) Hanson's 'colours' an oval device with four divisions in red and white contrast and which made-up the centrepiece of the wings worn by Hanson's pilots.

AVZH was the 6th non-Bristow 206 in the UK and the 14th 206 in the UK overall.

The UK's first 10 (non-Bristow) 206's were:

G-AVSN - Ferranti Helicopters
G-AVTE - BSR
G-AVVH - David Brown Tractors
G-AVYX - SWEB
G-AVZG - Tommy Sopwith
G-AVZH - Lord Hanson
G-AWGU - BEA/BA
G-AWJL - Point to Point
G-AWJW - Ferranti Helicopters
G-AWLL - Sir Robert McAlpine

All of these were built by Agusta with the exception of G-AVTE.

JetRangers 1972 Heathrow
 

I photographed a group of 5 JetRangers on the Southern taxiway in 1972 (some had already gone?)...I think the massed 'airlift' is mentioned elsewhere in the 'Nostalgia' thread.G-AWUC and G-AXXO (edited...originally incorrectly read as 'XXD) unusually climbed out between the back of Field's hangar where I worked and the earth mound next to the Air India maintenance area. G-AVZH and G-AXAY were also present.Hughes 500 G-AZVM and Widgeon G-APTW are on the same neg strip but may have been another day
http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...Rangers900.jpg
http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z.../G-AWUC900.jpg
http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z.../G-AXXD900.jpg
http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...Lflying900.jpg

Aaaah - G-AWUC, flown by Ted Mallet-Warden aka Ted Bollock-Naked. Ex RN.

Later painted in an early 1970's PHI scheme in black and orange. Ted wore an orange shirt with his uniform.

He went on to join Air Hanson.

Yoyo; more great images and further coverage of the last few 'A' reg 206's on our list!

G-AXXO is a great find as (to the best of my knowledge) we have never previously been able to source her image. Her history is brief to say the least; she was first owned by 'Constant Securities' (to whom she was registered at the time of your photo) and then sold (in '73) to Heli Air prior to being shipped back to the US in '75.

G-AWUC featured previously on page 39 of this thread wearing 'Kestrel Helicopters' markings while under the ownership of Air West in Dorset. In your 1972 photo she was owned by 'Heli Jet Executive' as confirmed by the 'HJE' titles. AWUC began life in '68 as David Brown's third 206.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j...2529%2520p.jpg
Bell 206B G-AWUC at Inverness in the Summer of 1974 (Photo: Peter Nicholson)

Regarding your 'multi-Ranger' shot yes, this event featured previously on page 6 of the Mann Thread:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-n...l%25252072.jpg

On must assume that G-AXAY was leased by Mann's at the time of this shot because the file shows she was registered to 'Camlet Helicopters'.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-d...520charter.jpg
A fleet of JetRangers (far to near: G-AWUC, G-AVZH, G-AWOL, G-AXXO and G-AXAY) at London Heathrow c. July 1972 (Photo: Mick West)

Intriguingly, the photo above reveals an 'all Bell' line-up (with the exception of G-AVZH) and which, for the early 70's, was quite a feat!

Regarding G-AWOL, she shares common ground with much of the above having also been registered to Camlet at the time of this photo and being the second edition to the David Brown fleet (David Brown Tractors bought the following aircraft from new: G-AVVH, G-AWOL and G-AWUC).

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-q.../AWOL%2520.jpg
G-AWOL (as posted by TRC on the Mann Thread) wearing Mann's earlier paint scheme

More Wasps ..

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0...m%2520wasp.jpg
Saunders Roe/Westland test pilot Roy Moxam in a Wasp testbed cab (date unknown)

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-T...0torpedoes.jpg
A Royal Navy Westland Wasp with what appear to be Mk 44 torpedeos being fitted (evidently a 5 man job!)

Jet Rangers then and now
 

Savoia....A slightly different view of 'XAY, 'XXO , 'WOL, 'VZH and 'WUC at LHR in 1972 and a shot of G-AXGO on a different day? in 1972. Funny I was thinking about JetRangers this afternoon on the beach with the dog in Penzance and one flew over ...it orbited the town before possibly visiting the Heliport...got an extremely cropped image....looks like light blue and ivory....Mrsyoyo had the car and it was freezing so I didn't bother going down to the heliport...let me know which 1970s JetRangers haven't appeared in your thread, I'll look out for them

http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...OLaVZHaWUC.jpg

http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z.../G-AXGO900.jpg

http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...PZ1Feb2012.jpg

Bigger Bells and more
 

Rooting through 1972 negatives I found this rareish shot of Bell 212 N2961W at LHR ...it became G-BALZ (which has its own thread?) and is still flying in Canada, I believe...also a set from Portsmouth in May 1969, an Italian Navy Bell on the 'Alpino'? and 2 Canadian Sea Kings or whatever they called them in Canada ,all on destroyers or frigates , I think

http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z.../N2961W900.jpg

http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...talNavy900.jpg

http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...ng4026a900.jpg

http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...ng4012a900.jpg

Yoyo, more great shots, bravo!

Now that you have displayed AVZH and AXXO we only have seven non-Bristow 'A' reg 206's which have yet to feature (with photo) on Nostalgia. These are: G-AVVH, G-AWOY, G-AWRI, G-AWRV, G-AYDK, G-AYHN and G-AYIY.

"At Odds With The World 4"

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7167/6...a20b8d20_b.jpg
Austrian AS350B3 OE-XHL flown by 'Christoph' enters the turn over the Alps

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6...80ea3ae7_b.jpg
Christoph's office

More At Odds With The World images: AOWTW1 AOWTW2 AOWTW3

We call them CH124 Sea Kings alright. They appear to be on our old frigates and the helicopters are still flying. Still waiting for Sikorsky to deliver those very overdue CH148 (S92) Cyclone Maritime helicopters.

Thanks...it was the CH124 bit I was unsure of....didn't they use that 'bear-trap' system to get such a big helicopter onto a small deck space?Air-Britain : 4026 portsmouth
suggests 4026 was on HMCS St Laurent (and with the new 'unified' markings while 4012 has the old Navy scheme)

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-V...%2520Wings.png

Saunders-Roe Limited was a British aero-and-marine-engineering company based at Columbine Works East Cowes, Isle of Wight. The name Saunders-Roe was adopted in 1929 after Alliot Verdon Roe (he behind the development of the Lancaster bomber, the Vulcan and the Blue Steel missile) and John Lord took a controlling interest in the boat-builders S.E. Saunders. Prior to this (except for the Sopwith/Saunders Bat Boat) the products were Saunders, the A4 Medina for example dating from 1926. Sam Saunders, the founder, developed the Consuta material used in marine and aviation craft.

In 1951 Saunders-Roe took over the interests of the Cierva Autogyro Company a helicopter design of which was developed into the Skeeter helicopter. In September 1952 the company comprised:

- Saunders-Roe Ltd. with a Head Office in Osborne, East Cowes, Isle of Wight (I.O.W.) with works at Columbine I.O.W. and Southampton Airport

- Saunders-Roe (Anglesey) Ltd, Friars Works, Beaumaris, North Wales

- Saro Laminated Wood Products Ltd., Folly Works, Whippingham, I.O.W.

- Princess Air Transport Co. Ltd of Osborne I.O.W. with an office in London at 45 Parliament St. SW1

In 1959 it demonstrated the first practical hovercraft built under contract to the National Research Development Corporation to Christopher Cockerell's design, the SR.N1.

In the same year Saro's helicopter and hovercraft interests were taken over by Westland Aircraft which continued the Skeeter family with the Scout and Wasp the latter starting life as the P531.

Design of the P531 began in November 1957 as a private venture improvement of the company's earlier Skeeter. The first prototypes were powered by a derated 325 shp Blackburn Turbomeca Turmo 600, a free turbine engine allowing clutchless transmission. The P531 first flew on the 20 July 1958. Three more developed P531-0s followed and these were delivered to the Royal Navy/Fleet Air Arm for trials and familiarisation. Following evaluation by the Navy a batch of 30 developed aircraft were eventually ordered as the Westland Wasp.

Two militiarised P531-2s were completed in 1959, powered by the Blackburn Nimbus and the de Havilland Gnome H1000 free-turbine engines, both derated to 635 hp now that the transmission tests had proved such powers acceptable. Like the Turmo installation, these engines were mounted, uncowled behind the cabin for easy servicing. There were aerodynamic shape revisions and a floor extension to allow six, rather than five seats. The vision was improved with perspex panels in the doors, tankage was increased and all-metal rotors introduced. These modifications increased gross weight by 1,200 lb (544 kg).

Saro had an order for eight pre-production aircraft from the Army Air Corps for evaluation and trials; these would have been known as the Saro Sprite, but the company was taken over by Westland and the aircraft became the first Scout A.H.1s.

Another P531-2 was built for evaluation by the Indian government but following a lack of interest was re-worked as Scout standard for the Army Air Corps.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-O...r%25201958.jpg
The Saunders-Roe Saro P531 Mk1 G-APNV at the 1958 SBAC Show at Farnborough on 13 September 1958

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a...Sep%252058.jpg
G-APNV at Farnborough on 7th September 1958

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m...Cowes_1954.jpg
The glorious Saunders-Roe 'Saro Princess' at the Saro Works, East Cowes in September 1954

.

CharlieOneSix the year after you were last there?
 

More Charles Hughesdon ..
 

That was a great find Shane. Which publication is that please?

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6...9f1c8b82_b.jpg
Helicopter garden party hosted by Charles Hughesdon at his residence, Dunsborough Park, near Ripley in Surrey on 2nd June 1963

A number of aircraft in your article Shane which have featured on Nostalgia including G-ARIA, G-ASXF and G-AVYX.

Nice also to see Ferranti's 206 (G-AWJW) mentioned as well as a photo the recently featured G-AXGO. At the time of the photo AXGO was registered to Stewart Smith & Co. from whom Charles presumably borrowed the aircraft and from whom he would eventually buy the aircraft.

In addition to Charles' efforts I remember Bob Pooley used to host rotary garden parties (at least two of which I attended with my godfather). Do such events still occur in the UK?

Helicopter Garden Party
 

Hi Savoia,

That cutting is from Air Pictorial August 1970

I don’t know if anything like this event still occurs other than at Weston Super Mare where I think Elfan ap Rees of the HelicopterMuseum still organises a fly in sometime in the summer.

Shane

Shane, thanks for that!

More Yoyo copters!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a...Logo%2520s.png
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7028/6...f287fd50_b.jpg
A brand new Hughes 500C G-AZVM sits on the ramp at London's Heathrow in the Summer of 1972 (Photo: Mick West)

At the time of this photo AZVM was registered to Finance and General Investment of Guildford in Surrey prior to moving on to join the Air Gregorious fleet in August 1974.

In the background is the tailfin of the Beecham Group's (they of Beecham's Powders) HS125 3B G-AVVB. Beecham's would later go on to form a jet charter company, Beecham-Imperial Aviation, from their corporate flight department.

You can read more about AZVM in post 864 where she was deployed during the filming of the 'Copter Kids' and in post 885 where you can see her (in colour) at Cranfield (c. 1970's) as well as outside the Heythrop Park Hotel in more recent times.

Village Cricket
 

Just a 'titbit' to add to the aerial shot of Dunsborough Park at Ripley. I especially recall the events, since at the time I frequerntly opened the batting for the Ripley Village cricket team. The pitch and clubhouse, which are still very much there, sat in the open space just over the wall to the south east. The steady stream of choppers arriving didn't help ones batting concentration for sure. At the time I was a fixed wing flyer and didn't convert to rotary til 1972.

PS. Anyone here remember of flew in to Tony Everards social fly-ins in the early 70s. Dennis K.

Savoia....Hughes 500 G-AZVM and the HS125 are on the apron outside the Field's hangar from where Field operated several HS125s for various big British companies...(it was built originally for BOAC's Comet I operations).
I think the aircraft (e.g. Expeditor G-ALJJ) and helicopters (e.g. G-AWGO) operated by Stewart Smith were primarily for the use of Charles Hughesdon.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5217/5...9389e277_z.jpg
G-ALJJ by David Whitworth, on Flickr

Brian Doherty worked for BOAC back in 1957 and got tickets to the Dunsborough Park Rotary party
Air-Britain : doherty ripley

Other ways round Torque
 

Couple of iffy shots of the Mil V-12 at Schiphol, Amsterdam on its way back from the Paris Salon 1971 but at least they show the scale of the beast.Also the USAF Kaman HH-43 Husky crash helicopter at RAF Upper Heyford Open Day, 1970
http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z.../Mi-12-747.jpg

http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...2-Stretch8.jpg

http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...o/Kaman900.jpg

http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z.../Kamanb900.jpg

Dunsborough House
 

My first flight in a helicopter was at one of these parties when aged 3-4 (1970 or 71). Think it was in a Wessex of the Queen's flight which visited.

This clip dates back to '58: HELICOPTER PARTY - British Pathé

Shame it took me 40 years to decide to start learning how to fly one :O

Better late than never.

Lawrence.

Lozz, welcome aboard!

What a great story; to have had your first flight at one of Charles Hughesdon's parties and to fly in a Wessex from the Queen's Flight. Great stuff! :ok:

Your clip has debuted previously on Nostalgia but .. great to see it again. Numerous characters there including Peter Wilson (flying the Sycamore and kindly identified by PPRuNer TRC) who spent quite some time at our family home in the UK during my younger days.

Of Ripley, Hughesdon, Kenyon and Cricket!


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W.../CWK%25201.png


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1...0b%2520iii.png
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-t.../CWK%2520a.png

;)