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OJB: If 8185 flew Anneka in Malta then it should be possible to obtain a photographic record of this event - let's see what we can come up with!
Wildboy: A warm welcome to Nostalgia. These are lovely images, well done. Some of these aircraft have appeared previously on this thread but their return is most welcome. :ok: Perhaps you might like to share with us who your Dad was! For my part much of my 'nostalging' is drawn from my childhood memories of accompanying my godfather, Bob Smith (ex-Army and former Ferranti Helicopters MD), on his various aviation escapades. Rgds Sav |
Hi Sav.
My dad was Wally Wilding. http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psnxih7rzh.jpg G-BAKG He did 17 years in the RAF as pilot including Q.H.I. (C.F.S) And flew with various companies who had the British Gas contract in the 80s. http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psbkhdgse3.jpg (the white cap was sort of his trademark:)) Cheers Ben |
Savoia - can't find any photos, but if you search YouTube "Treasure Hunt Malta", you'll see the old girl. Check out the low flying in Part 5, 3:40 onward:
Part 6, 1:00 onward: |
Ben: I met your father at Biggin Hill, I suppose it must have been 1978 or 79. He was flying a Dollar 206 (I don't remember which one) and he was on a gas survey.
I was just a wee lad in those days but he knew my godfather and remains in my memory for his spirited take-off which he performed for my pleasure. He was, by all accounts, a most capable pilot. Keep the photos coming - wonderful! OJB: Great clips from the Treasure Hunt days. As you've probably read we have an ex-Treasure Hunter on Rotorheads, PPRuNer Geoffersincornwall. Here's a shot of your bird in the same colours she wore for the Treasure Hunt shoot during her time with the Maltese Police: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U...Dalli%2529.jpg Agusta-Bell 206A [cn: 8185] 9H-AAJ in the service of the Malta Police Air Wing as seen at Luqa in Malta in 1985 (Photo: Lawrence Dalli) * * * Anyone else with memories of Wally Wilding? |
B206s
Hi all ... and not having posted for some time, I'm getting withdrawal symptons so just thought I'd add a note to B206 G-FSDA pictured. Many will know that the FSA series were operated by Derek Chandler of 'Flair Soft Drinks' 'A' being the first ... they went on to FSDC etc. Derek's son, Wayne ran the Heli Flair and Southernair businesses in the 1990s and noughties. An innocent note, Derek Chandler left fixed wing for rotary in the mid 1970s when he was driving along the A27 past Shoreham Airport when I was display practicing an Enstrom. Derek was interested in display flying and turned into the airfield to enquire about the manoeuvres and was introduced to yours truly. A short time later he took delivery of Enstrom G-BHAX a 28C-2. With the demise of Southernair, I believe Wayne is now a fixed wing man. Warm wishes if you are reading this. Dennis Kenyon.
PS. I think FSDA or one of them was originally G-ROOT which I purchased as an OO reg from Belgium and next owned by a certain Godfrey Hope. If he is reading this, I have your log book! |
Great that you met him an remember!
He did the gas survey for a good many years, looking at his logbooks sometimes 7 hours of flying a day. Here's a shot of a bell 47 (he flew G2,3,4,5 variants between '77-'79) http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psqt1usqvy.jpg Don't know the tail number of this one or the exact date but I'm guessing the trousers were a bet (or it was Rupert the Bear week:rolleyes:) |
G-FSDG
DennisK
The JR from Belgium was G-FSDG with Flair, started its G reg's with JETR in 4/82, ex OO-CDP, to ROOT 8/82 to 4/85, FSDG 4/85 to 10/95, COUR 10/95 to 5/98 then off to Austria as OE-XLM, the other one, FSDA was ex AWJW in 1/83, then became SHRR in 2/90, was destroyed, reg. cancelled 10/97, both FSDA and FSDG were used, 'on hire',by Clyde Helicopters while waiting for the arrival of EYEI in 1987. Wiggy. |
I remeber meeting Wally in a hotel near Leiscter around 78 or so when he was flying a G5 or G5a for Bristows on the pipeline contract, he had landed and overnighted in the garden of a newly converted old house that was just starting business as a hotel, in the morning the machine refused to start in the cold weather and the battery went flat, so I and another engineer were dispatched from Redhill to get him going again, the machine was parked neatly in the middle of what can only be discribed as an immaculatley flat croquet lawn.
After a drawn out process of changing plugs, Battery and several attempts to start failed I resorted to the old trick of soaking a load of rags in a bucket of hot water and draping them around the induction tubes, much to Wallys amazement the old bird farted!! and away she went. The rest of the evening was spent in the local pub listening to Wally stories, I was too young and didn't have many to tell then!, myself and the other engineer spent a strange night sharing the Honeymoon suite! (the only room finished apart from the one Wally ocuppied), in the morning we awoke to find Wally had started, taken off and disappeared, leaving the once immaculate croquet lawn with a horse shoe pattern of mud made by engineers feet right in the middle, so we quickly paid the bill and legged it!. Best Regards Stacey |
Wally Wilding
One day on the Gas contract Wally's observer had called in sick and Wally was about to go home so I volunteered to act as observer. We flew around the south-east landing at Southend and overnighting at Fairoaks and staying in a hotel at Woking. The intention of observing was to report by map ref any JCB's etc operating near the pipeline to BG at the next landing. I found it hard to get all the ref's ready for each landing so we had to report at the end of the day, BG was not pleased. It was surprising that so many diggers were operating near the pipelines.
Another time Wally had a leaking fuel tank near Sheffield, I took a spare tank in the back of my MGB GT and a container for any drained fuel. After changing the tank I was left with a partly filled tank and a container of fuel which we couldn't use, so I drove down the M1 with all the windows open and having to stop at nearly every service station to have a cigarette. |
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In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Louis Blériot's epic Channel crossing on 25th July 1909 the Daily Mail (who sponsored the initial Channel crossing with a £1,000 prize) organised a London to Paris race from Marble Arch to l'Arc de Triomphe. The race, which attracted some 150 participants, took place between 13th-23rd July 1959. The 'Anniversary Race' involved competitors in desperate measures not merely in the air (which was perhaps the easiest part of the course) but on the roads of the respective capital cities and their environs, as the contestants strove first to get from the centre of London to an airfield not too far distant, and then having flown the Channel to get from their landing point in France to the finishing line. The rules of the race stipulated that the laws and regulations of both Britain and France (particularly air navigation laws and road speed restrictions) must be complied with. Within those restrictions the race was open to anyone, using any form of transport he or she liked. Competitors ranged from well organised teams such as those of the RAF to eccentric individuals. The race was won by a team led by Squadron Leader Charles G. Maughan, the commanding officer of No.65 Squadron. Squadron Leader Maughan completed the course between Marble Arch and l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris in a time of 40 minutes 44 seconds, travelling by Royal Air Force Police motorcycle, Bristol Sycamore helicopter and Hawker Hunter T7. The prize money of £6,500 was donated to charity. From Marble Arch Maughan was driven at a furious pace as a pillion passenger on a motorcycle to Chelsea Embankment where a Bristol Sycamore helicopter was waiting to carry him to Biggin Hill in Kent. There a Hunter T7, with dual side-by-side seating, was waiting, cleared for immediate take-off, with turbojet engine running and Flight Lieutenant Jim Burns at the controls. This streaked across the Channel at high subsonic speeds and touched down at the Armée de l’Air’s Villacoubly base on the south side of Paris where another helicopter was waiting to get him to the centre of Paris. There, a motorcycle was waiting to get Maughan as close to the Arc de Triomphe as it could without infringing Paris’ traffic regulations. The Squadron Leader then completed the course with a 100-yard dash to the finishing line in what proved to be the winning time from Marble Arch of 40 minutes 44 seconds. In practice for the race Maughan had (illegally) arranged for the traffic lights on the route from Marble Arch to Chelsea to be held at green, by getting fellow airmen from 65 Squadron to jump up and down on the pressure pads in the road. But on the day the police, who had got wise to the practice, put a stop to it. The leader of the RAF’s team, Group Captain E. N. Ryder, was third in a time of 42min 6sec, having injured his leg in a motorcycle accident in Paris. British contestants scooped the top three prizes, £5,000, £2,500 and £1,500, with a civilian, Eric Rylands, taking second place in 41min 41sec. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a...Paris+race.jpg Charles G. Maughan during the 1959 London to Paris Air Race with his motorcyclist https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-K...ary%2BRace.jpg The Daily Mail poster for the event Enter Jeremy Hughes .. Jeremy has most graciously agreed to showcase his small private collection of black and white images taken during the race and which captured some of the rotorcraft involved. Here's what he had to say: "In July 1959 I had recently left school and was waiting to start work at my first job which was in a bank. I lived in Shirley near Croydon and at this time Croydon airport was closing down with its aircraft transferring to Biggin Hill. Access to photograph aircraft at Croydon had been very difficult due to police security, however, at Biggin one was pretty much free to wander about and take photos and I was able to get there easily on my bicycle. By chance a well known newspaper (The Daily Mail) sponsored a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Louis Blériot's channel crossing in his monoplane by holding a London to Paris race. This was to be timed between Marble Arch in London to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Quite a few people and teams entered including Billy Butlin,a celebrity who was famous for pioneering holiday camps where the public could stay by the seaside and be entertained at very low cost. They were very popular and he was later knighted by the Queen for his services. He used a Spitfire T.8 for the cross-channel part, other teams used jets or helicopters but most employed a helicopter at some stage of the race. Many also used motorcycles through the city streets which must have been quite dangerous. The race was won by an RAF pilot, Squadron Leader Charles Maugham in 40 minutes 44 seconds. Other teams came from the Army, the French and various private individuals who obviously enjoyed the publicity it gave. The race generated many aircraft movements which I was of course eager to photograph. I used a small Zeiss Nettar folding camera (fairly inexpensive) which took 12 6x6 cm. pictures and I developed and printed the results myself. Of course I have looked after the negatives carefully which I hope is shown in the results. The following year I started learning to fly and eventually joined BEA which later became British Airways. I retired as a captain in 1995.A 100th anniversary race was held in 2009 though I doubt if it was as exciting." All images by Jeremy Hughes, taken at Biggin Hill Aerodrome between 13th-23rd July 1959: https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-t...JH2qs-0631.jpg Westland S51-2 Widgeon G-APVD at Biggin Hill Aerodrome in July 1959 APVD came onto the British register a month before the race in June '59 and was operated by Westlands for four years until being bought by Ferranti in 1963. APVD was pretty much 'kept in the family' being sold by my godfather to his dear friend John Crewdson (Helicopter Hire) and from Crewdson to Andrew Walters (an ex-Army friend of my godfather and owner of International Messengers who also bought G-BBEU and G-OIML). https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6...JH2qs-0639.jpg Westland S51-2 Widgeon G-APTE at Biggin Hill Aerodrome in July 1959 APTE was registered to Westlands from 1959 to 1973 during which time she seems to have been leased to several operators including Bristows (as shown in Jeremy's image above) as well as Aer Lingus. [Note the winged ‘BH’ on the upper fuselage]. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Q...JH2qs-0550.jpg Agusta-Bell 47J Ranger G-APTH at Biggin Hill Aerodrome in July 1959 Registered to British European Airways in April of 1959, transferred onto the Nigerian register in March 1963 and then back on the UK register (still with BEA) in December of the same year. In April 1965 she was bought by Freddie Wilcox (Autair) and then went on to accommodate a string of owners until being sold to Germany in 1992. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-d...JH2qs-0619.jpg Alouette II F-OBMV serial no. 1244 at Biggin Hill Aerodrome in July 1959 https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-U...JH2qs-0620.jpg Close up of F-OBMV https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0...JH2qs-0638.jpg Hiller 12-E EI-AKT at Biggin Hill Aerodrome in July 1959 https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8...nu+bleriot.jpg Copy of the signed menu cover from the dinner sponsored by the Royal Aero Club on 27th October 1959 for the race-goers From the start on the morning of Monday, July 13, when Capt. R. M. B. Walker on a motor cycle, Stirling Moss in a Renault Dauphine and Lt-Cdr. W. Boaks on roller skates left Marble Arch and headed south, to the final evening eleven days later when a quartet of motor-cycle decoys did their best to confuse the police and assist Colette Duval's husband, the Daily Mail Bleriot anniversary race was an undoubted success. The total number of competitors was 135, including the efficient and well-drilled Service entries, a number of enthusiastic amateurs flying their own light aircraft, and a sprinkling of one-off off-beats. The shortest time for the journey from Marble Arch to the Arc de Triomphe (or vice versa) was 40 min 44 sec in the Paris-London direction by S/Ldr Charles Maughan, commanding officer of No. 65 Sqn., Duxford, who received the £5,000 first prize on behalf of the R.A.F. Second fastest at 41 min 41 sec from London was Eric Rylands, who was awarded the second prize of £2,500, and the £1,500 third prize went to G/C. Norman Ryder, station commander at Duxford (42 min 6 sec from Paris). Each used the motor-cycle/helicopter/Hunter Two-Seater/helicopter/motorcycle sequence, with change-overs at the Thames (at Chelsea), Biggin Hill, Villacoublay and Issy. A special prize of £1,000 awarded on the basis of journey time, originality, ingenuity and initiative went to the BEAline syndicate, a group of 11 men and two women from British European Airways who made the exceptionally good average time of 62 min 15 sec for a journey by special double-decker bus from Marble Arch to Paddington Station, special diesel train to Ruislip Gardens, cars to Northolt, Comet 4B to Le Bourget and taxis to the Arc de Triomphe. Ten consolation prizes of £100 were awarded to "competitors who have emerged with high merit." These were Brian Neely, "remarkable ingenuity and practical example in demonstrating a high-level heliport on Hungerford Bridge"; W. E. Butlin, "initiative and a journey considerably speeded by a floating heliport on the Thames"; Capt. R. M. B. Walker, "personal dash, efficient organization and example with a river-bank helicopter platform"; Bill Aston, "initiative and practical demonstration of amphibian aircraft operation between the two cities"; Pierre Auerbach, "fastest user of personal transport with the light executive jet, a Morane Saulnier Paris"; Owen Dixson, "who drove his two-seat invalid carriage—a courageous and remarkably fast journey by a disabled competitor"; Jonathan Hutchinson, "ingenious example of personal transport—a folding motor scooter carried in a light plane"; Fergus Ferguson, "a determined and fast single- handed attempt"; Derek Mott, "students' initiative and ingenuity in building their own cars and aircraft"; and Madame Madelaine Rassam, "excellent time by an energetic airline traveller who made no special advance arrangements and found fast transport as she went along." Among the other entries, several used the Air Charter and Silver City cross-Channel air ferries, in vehicles ranging from Lord Montagu's 1909 Humber to Freddie Laker's Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud and a Heinkel bubble-car, and several used the combination of car, scooter or cycle and light aircraft. On the first day of the race the Amsterdam paper Algetneen Handekblad,having published a London edition carrying an exclusive report that Bleriot was a Russian, entered a team of four reporters who, wearing bowler hats and busily typing their stories, completed their journey through the streets of Paris on an open lorry. Among the fixed-wing aircraft used were Spitfire two-seater, Piaggio P. 136, MS.760 Paris, Hunter T.7, Vautour, Jet Provost, Tiger Moth, Aiglet, Turbulent, Jodel D.I 17, Dove, Prentice, Proctor, Avro 19, Miles Student, Vampire and Viscount. Prior to the race, on July 2, Fairey Aviation Ltd. had announced that the Rotodyne would not take part because "it is essential that an unbroken flight development programme be completed between now and the end of August. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-u...0-d/Hunter.png Eric Rylands gets aboard smartly at Biggin Hill: his Hunter Two-Seater, provided by Hawker Siddeley, was powered by a 200-Series Avon. Mr. Rylands is chairman of Skyways Ltd https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-c...-d/Piaggio.png Bill Aston, chief production test pilot of Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft), used this Piaggio P.I36 from the Thames at Barking to the Seine in Paris https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5...-d/Al%2BII.png Brian Neely used a special platform on Hungerford Bridge to alight from his Alouette II https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-E...-d/Skeeter.png Capt. Roderick Bamford Walker, 23rd Special Air Service Regiment, T.A., approaches his Saunders-Roe Skeeter on its floating platform on the Thames at Chelsea https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2...Q/s0-d/47J.png A third type of helicopter technique, complete with frogmen, was used by Roy Lover of B.E.A., who flew by Comet 4B from Villacoublay to Biggin Hill, and Bell 47 J to the Thames at Westminster (51 min 19 sec) British Pathé clip following George Eyles (Director of tests for the Institute of Advanced Motorists) who flies aboard G-APTE from Battersea With special thanks to Jeremy Hughes whose photos were the inspiration for this piece. |
22 Sqn 'D' Flight. XP347 , XP350.
Many thanks Stacey and Oldlae for your stories and taking the time to post them.
My Dad was in 22 Squadron 'D' flight based at RAF Manston (October '62 -September '64) http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psbswpbiqs.jpg They did Search and Rescue. Heres a picture of what i believe to be XP347 (There is an entry in his log book in April 7th '64 for Daily Mail pictures in 347 and I'm thinking these are the shots they took.) http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psntbcrxtf.jpg http://i.minus.com/iYt3m7FVVx9Ef.jpg I remember him telling me the story of a 'scramble' where the bell rang and off they ran, jumped in, helmets on and strapped in. After taking off and flying out to sea, my dad felt a 'rustle' in his helmet and had to flip it off. There was a rat inside that jumped out and ran about causing havoc in the back until they kicked it out! I remember as a kid, If he ever heard a bell (fire alarm, etc) he was always ready to run and scramble. Heres a picture from his log book, the entry 26th May '64 in aircraft 347 reads Valiant "wheels up" in the details. http://i.minus.com/ihl8eSsTVxg3g.jpghttp://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5xvdegap.jpg Heres another he flew quite regularly, XP350 - This happened on the 13th Febuary 1963. http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...pshyi6vv8c.jpg http://i.minus.com/ibwOWtEpPinQn7.jpg I had a look into what became of this craft and found a few nice pictures of it. Here it is on display to the public at Flambards Theme Park, Helston, Cornwall (Thanks to Tristan for use of the photo) http://i.minus.com/ixkjEIZK2UDfT.jpghttp://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psxjqxfh85.jpg Lost a bit of the sheen in this picture in its current resting place by M Lawson (thanks to him and Demobbed - Out of Service British Military Aircraft for permission to use) http://i.minus.com/ibzxk7mkfBfhfR.jpghttp://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psxuylrdlk.jpg Its been living since 2003 at the national Paintball fields, Bassetts pole. Thanks to Chris at NPF for letting me use these pictures of the old girl back in action and offering me a look around it under 'cease fire conditions', he tells me people have come as far as the Netherlands to see it. http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...pslialfg4v.jpg http://i.minus.com/ixq0O8Uv5Wgmb.jpg Strangely I went to NPF as part of my 'stag do' in 2010 and saw the whirlwind there, but didn't go too close for fear of getting trapped in a corner of it and being shot to bits. http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...pszizyqhx4.jpg A nice little coinsidence none the less. http://i.minus.com/iRwIHSUgPZem7.jpg Ben |
It's a small world, I joined 22 Sqdn in April 1964 and ended up at Manston when I demobbed and joined Bristow March 1969. I worked on all the 22 Sqdn Whirlwinds as they rotated through St Mawgan for major maintenance and mods, I have mixed feelings about seeing XP350 again in such circumstances.
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Great images there Ben! :ok:
Is it true that your Dad picked-up the nickname "Golden Balls" after the pub landing! ;) I'm sure I'm not the first to say that your Dad bore a mild resemblance to the late Richard Harris. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y...2520Harris.jpg Richard Harris; who was not entirely dissimilar in appearance to Wally Wilding |
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https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-D...2BRey%2529.jpg Air Glaciers AS350B3 HB-ZCZ near Sion in Switzerland on 28th April 2012 (Photo: Philippe Rey) Philippe Rey has kindly contributed the above photo to the Nostalgia Thread and which wonderfully compliments our 'At Odds' photo series. https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4...A%2520Logo.png While on the matter of Air Glaciers .. this great Lama shot also: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c...BZaki%2529.jpg Air Glaciers SA315B Lama HB-XTO taken on 1st September 2007 (Photo: Zaki) More "At Odds" images at the following links: AO1 AO2 AO3 AO4 |
Sav,
I raise you this... http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...doha/Scan4.jpg Circa 1989 overhead Truro with yours truly driving the nag and Nigel "Bomber" Harris the only paramedic in Kernow who could map read backwards lying on his back.......... Legend :ok: |
:DSav - Very funny, He did bear a mild resemblance. Great read by the way (London to Paris '59). Must take a good deal of research for a piece like that!
Oldlae - I can imagine how you feel, as you worked on the Whirlwinds to keep them in fine fettle. The pictures of choppers broken up and rotting to the ground are very poignant. I think NPF seem pretty proud to own their one and I hope they keep it intact as long as possible. great action pics Sav and Griffo. |
Borneo
Dad was in Borneo September '64 - March '67.He was in 103 / 110 sqn doing medevac / casevac / searches /ops / etc. He flew over 700hrs, 600hrs as 1st Pilot and flew 30 different whirlwinds 10s during his tour.
http://i.minus.com/ibhUfD9sNnoK6c.jpghttp://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psxovxlqtg.jpg Heres one of them in action XK968 dropping off or picking up in a clearing, this one looks quite spacious but I remember him saying that some of the LZs were just big enough to fit into and the rotors often trimmed the foliage. http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psmq22xhsp.jpg http://i.minus.com/ibcc0aisUvUePL.jpg Heres the same craft shot at RAF Manston March 1991, by 1997 it had been completely destroyed. http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4017/4...b66d3a5b_b.jpg WHIRLWIND HAR10 XK968 by Gaz West, on Flickr But here the same craft immortalized on a st Kitts 80c stamp. I was very pleased to find this on ebay and the seller kindly sent me a detailed picture when i queried the tail number. http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psn4bqe7fx.jpg Heres a couple of pictures from his log book of an unidentified Whirlwind aboard the Empire Kittiwake during the same era. http://i.minus.com/i6E4YkkuvF5JM.jpghttp://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...pswmztydga.jpg http://i.minus.com/ivcvb9CFiBT1p.jpg http://i.minus.com/ibfN9at1bSWHnF.jpghttp://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psihrxvjso.jpg Lastly heres another picture from his Log book of the time i can only guess either bleach was involved or that he was flying VIP (there is some mention to VIP in the duty section on some days.) http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psxjba9rp4.jpg http://i.minus.com/ibljgROxwCF6i5.jpg Ben |
Off Cape Wrath, 18 June 1987. Crew change, HMS Ark Royal.
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ANDINGON-1.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...ry/ArkPark.jpg And here are two for the Maestro...the sublime G-SUTT and the more prosaic but still great-fun and sweet to fly F28A, a much underrated helo. http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c.../SUTT_0003.jpg http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...tary/GBBIN.jpg |
Dear Old Shoreham
Sorry folks ... the moment I see dear old Shoreham Airport, I have to pipe up! Especially for an Enstrom. G-BBIN, Serial Number 157 I seem to recall was naturally nick-named 'Breadbin' locally. I supplied her when new to a client at Helston, Cornwall. That would have been circa 1973 ish. Looking in my files, I see I subsequently sold her no less than three times. My original pic of her was a standard 28A colour scheme in a sort of Orange/White.
Hughes (as she was then) G-SUTT went to Sutton windows after they traded in their first Enstrom 28A being serial 150 ... may have been G-BBHD. Funny how I can rmember CAA reggies after forty years but can't remember where I left my glasses yesterday! Good flying to all. Dennis Kenyon. President designate for the COF society. (a subsidiary to Pprune) |
Shoreham
Oh ... and incidentally that Enstrom pic must have been taken after 1980 as in the background, the last steep roof house on the horizon up Mill Hill was the home I built in 1979! Take care all and thanks for putting up with this trivia. Dennis K.
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Gregory Air Service and Globe construction
Wally Wilding pics again.
Dad left the RAF in Nov '67 and started flying with Gregory Air service Feb '68 Flying mainly Hughes 300 (& Allouette II G-AVEE) He Flew G-AVZC a lot, but also G-AWKC and G-AVUM. http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psiy0q6ms9.jpg Line up of the GFTS at Denham airfield. http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psdexaf8w1.jpg His log book mentions filming 'Avengers' in Jun, Aug and Sept '68 in G-AVZC and ive traced the episodes featuring G-AVZC as Split!, Super secret cypher snatch, and killer all filmed in '68. G-AVUM was also in 'Avengers' this year in an episode named 'Noon doomsday' Ferrying a spy in 'Split!' http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psxjr0fitm.jpg Trying to pick up a dress wearing bad guy in 'Super secret cypher snatch' http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psktjlpnip.jpg Dropping a corpse into a cemetry in 'killer' http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psm6dqpow4.jpg Heres another picture of G-AVZC with Frazer Hines on the right (used to be in Emmerdale farm years ago) and my sister in the middle. http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psh7sfcjuo.jpg Dad did a few filming bits and pieces over the years and as a kid i remember a big green hand from a seamonster that was given to him after filming Dr Who (Dad flew them 'rising' from the sea). He used to try and scare us by putting it round doors as he walked in, etc. In December '68 He started work for Globe construction, flying G-AWKC quite a lot and G-AVZC, G-AVUM, G-AXAY. http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psj425vmcm.jpg G-AWKC http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psvsygaify.jpg http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psjotgpy3n.jpg In Jan '70 he did the conversion to Bell 206 in G-AWRV a 206A and flew this one a lot until Dec '71 when he went to Indonesia and flew Allouettes again. http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psnidhb9rl.jpg This picture from PJK collection. Taken in Edinburgh 6th June 1971 and this ties in with Dads logbook as being in his charge at that time. A spot of map reading in the Bell 206. http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psm14kdvmm.jpg |
Griffo: Unable to raise you (for now) but let's see what turns up! ;)
Ben: Some great nostalgia there involving your Dad, bravo! :ok: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F...SSK+logo+s.png https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-p...v+Slade%29.jpg Royal Navy Westland Sea King HAS-6 ZA136 from "A Flight" 824 Squadron operating with the RFA Fort Austin in June 1988 (Photo: Kevin Slade) 136 is seen here performing a hi-line transfer alongside the RFA Fort Austin in the North Atlantic. Sadly, this craft ditched in September of the same year following a hydraulic leak and fire in rear cabin. The fuselage went to HMS Sultan at Gosport. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Fort Austin was laid down at Scott Lithgow in 1975, launched in 1978 and commissioned in 1979. This ship was designed to carry a wide range of stores to support other ships; ammunition, food, explosives. She had extensive aviation facilities with two flight decks, one to the stern and one spot on top of the hangar which could accommodate up to four Sea Kings. Austin had the capability of replenishing ships at sea via six RAS points. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-U.../FA+Career.png https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_...Portsmouth.jpg The RFA Fort Austin at Portsmouth |
On page 33 we showcased a small selection of S62's including a sister ship to the craft below.
Now Jeremy Hughes (who provided most of the images for the London to Paris post above) has come up with the following S62 shot from 1960: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-E...ughes%2529.jpg Sikorsky S62A N976 belonging to World Wide Helicopters as seen at Biggin Hill in 1960 (Photo: Jeremy Hughes) This craft was evidently damaged during a ditching in Qatar on 10th April 1969 while flying for Shell and was subsequently repaired and sold to Cyprus Airways where she flew as 5B-CBT in 1973. The craft was then sold to Gulf Helicopters in 1975 where she flew as A7-HAB. |
We've showcased a couple of pleasant historical videos on Nostalgia and here's another (produced by Shell) to add to the collection:
Interesting moments include: Westland's G-ALIK performing a take-off captured in slow motion at 7:17, The Bristol Type 171 Sycamore at 9:37 followed by the Cierva Air Horse, the Skeeter and Gyrodyne. Night flying with the Dragonfly as well a Dragonfly in Wales also feature. |
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-J.../s0-d/SOAF.jpg
An Agusta-Bell 206 of the Sultan of Oman's Air Force in the company of a Bell 205, also of the SOAF, over Oman in 1975. Iran donated an entire squadron of 205's to Oman in the 70's. (Photo: Agusta Archives) |
Schreiner Air Transport
Schreiner Air Transport
Indonesian Air Transport Dad was in Indonesia Feb '72 until Jan '73. More Jungle, more clearings. Flying Allouette II and III around Bontang, Sankaliran, Sanga, Saminda, Koriroang, Dteupa, Jepu, Balik, etc. http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psntlp8lfj.jpg Allouette III http://i.minus.com/ic0jGDeS7qLos.jpg PK-TPR and PK-TPS http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psiwudeght.jpg http://i.minus.com/ibhX5yOHFBvjSh.jpg Carefully? loading some cargo. http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0vah3m68.jpg http://i.minus.com/iZcVO7u1Uk1tO.jpg Fuel Delivery http://i.minus.com/ibtR2yjgzLwrnn.jpghttp://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psillvzhdn.jpg Time for a quick cigarette whilst refuelling:).... http://i.minus.com/i2aK0H0L5f1j0.jpghttp://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psycsfc93b.jpg ....and off http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psecawj9nh.jpg |
Wildboy, I flew with Wally many times ,in Borneo and occasionally in Singapore during `Confrontation`,or one of `Britain`s small Wars`. I think Wally was the youngest member of the `Master`s Mafia`,or the infamous group of `Master` aircrew on 103 Squadron. For those unfamiliar with the RAF rank structure , Master Pilot/Navigator/Signaller/Quartermaster/Gunner/Observer were the top ranks of Non-Commissioned Aircrew in the RAF. As such,you didn`t get there very easily ,usually you had vast experience of operating aircraft,how to avoid onerous duties that fell to other lower or even Commisioned ranks,doors were opened for you by Officers,even saluted you(generally a mistake),you could leap tall buildings in a stride,walk through walls,without getting dust on you,even run faster than a speeding train,if you used the powers bestowed on you.....The same as Station Warrant Officers,or a Regimental Sgt Major...or Regulator Chief PettyOfficer in the Navy....God always asked his Secretary to `Request` an audience with them.......
The other ones were MPlt. Jack Trigg,and MPlt. Dougie Ponsford,who can be seen to Wally`s left in the photo meeting/greeting some VVIP (Dougie Ponsford always reminded me of the picture of `The Laughing Cavalier`,and Jack reminded me of Arthur Askey with `bottle-bottom` glasses....Sorry ,forgive me `Masters` for taking your names in vain... ! I was ,kind of,allowed to fly with these guys,and Master Navigators and Signallers,as an SAR crew at Seletar and Butterworth(on holiday),as I had also started as an NCO Sgt Pilot,but had been `Turned` and been `forced` to be commisioned,despite my desire to one day become a `Master` like the `Others`....so I was `accepted`..... Wally was known (only in hushed and whispered words`) as the` Persil-Pilot`,never to his face,or whenever a `Master` was within 100yds...when he wore the VIP flying suit.. He was always `dapper` shall we say except for the fact one could wrap one of the `tropical` flying suits around Wally twice,as evidenced by the earlier pictures. I don`t have any particular anecdotes or tales about Wally,except to say one could always listen to their stories of `times past ` and `daring-do` that they had collectively experienced,and take away the `pearls-of-wisdom`, to think about and maybe use/adapt with the times,because when you are 21-22 or so,you consider yourself invulnerable/know-it-all,but they`d been there,seen it all before ,got the `string-vest`(t-shirts hadn`t been invented),and were here.... Wildboy ,a little `tongue-in-cheek` but your Dad was a real `good-guy`,able to dish out the `banter` with the best.... Sycamore.. Edit ;later; WBy,if you`ve got Wally`s `MasterPilot` rank badges/armbands/ medals...then treasure them,they`re special.... |
Sycamore- Hi, Thanks for you post.
Funny and interesting. Really good to hear from you. The names of Dougie Ponsford and in particular Jack Trigg ring a bell(is Jack in the earlier pic too?). I know Jack was mentioned a lot By my him. I know Dad was 'Dapper' He always wore a shirt and tie and i know he thought there was no reason to let your standards down even in the sweltering jungle. http://i.minus.com/iCbCeWPsOwHqI.jpg http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...pseska9sm4.jpg I do have a good collection of his RAF bits and peices including Aircrew Categorisation cards, rating cards( can only find the white and green, but know he got master green in '64,'65,'66,'67) Badges, books etc. Also his Caterpillar club and Martin baker club cards and tie. RAF_LEUCHARS(16th November 1954) I have his GSM and Borneo medal (Ive applied for a posthumous issue of the PJM a few months ago, but not heard anything back yet) http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psb9mnhken.jpg I dont know if you know what badge or medal he's wearing in this shot (he's also wearing it in the Persil-pilot pic). I've always wondered. http://i.minus.com/ibas6NVLcyajFs.jpg Thanks again, & thanks to Sav and PPRuNe for letting me hog a lot of space in pages 77-79 to be a proud son. I'm almost at the end of my picture record.(maybe a few more Jet ranger shots for good measure). Just need to find the thread to post Dads Meteor and Hunter pics next;) |
Dear Ben
The reminiscences from your father's flying days have been a wonderful illumination to our little thread and I know that many Nostalgia readers have thoroughly appreciated your contribution. Thank you. I am thrilled that I met your Dad that day at Biggin Hill (late 70's) when he was on the gas patrol and to have subsequently 'met' his son through PPRuNe! Please do keep involved with the thread and pop-in whenever you can! Brgds Sav https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-X...logo%2520s.png HMS UNICORN HM Frigate Unicorn was built at Chatham Dockyard, Kent and launched in 1824. A superstructure was built over her main deck and she was laid up "in ordinary", serving as a hulk and a depot ship for most of the next 140 years. Her lack of active duty left her timbers well preserved and in the 1960's steps were initiated to convert her to a museum ship. Though steps were taken (including the addition of the totally new bowsprit) to restore Unicorn to a similar condition as her sister HMS Trincomalee, this plan was changed as it was discovered that the ship was the only example of a wooden frigate of her type existing in ordinary and, as a result, the decision was made to preserve her in her current condition. The Unicorn was never rigged and only went to sea for the voyage from Chatham to Dundee during which she was under tow. It is thought the roof that covers her upper deck has never been replaced. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-g...0-d/ww%2B1.png An RAF Westland Whirlwind oversees the transfer of HM Frigate Unicorn from Earl Grey Dock to Dundee Harbour on 13th November 1962. The Unicorn is being towed downriver by tugs 'Castlecraig' (ahead) and 'Harecraig' (astern) https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-L...ent%2B1963.jpg A Westland Whirlwind engages in Flag Officer Training at HMS St.Vincent at Gosport in Portsmouth in 1963 One is tempted to say that the Whirlwind above is RN given its training duty but .. the markings appear distinctly RAF-like! As a dog lover one is glad to see the chap on the left with a mutt at his heel! |
Originally Posted by Savoia
(Post 7227165)
One is tempted to say that the Whirlwind above is RN given its training duty but .. the markings appear distinctly RAF-like!
|
John thanks.
We did touch on the 'Green Parrots' on page 9 of the Wessex thread but I have yet to dig-up a 'white top' Whirlwind photo (in colour). https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-f...5203%2520s.png On page 20 of this thread we looked at the Agusta-built 206 G-AYBE and which included a photo by PPRuNer 'Tailboom' of the craft landing at the Hoover factory in Merthyr Tydfil. More G-AYBE .. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-q...ruary+1974.jpg Agusta-Bell 206A G-AYBE landing at the fuel pumps at Coventry Airport on 14th February 1974 G-AYBE was bought by United Marine of London in 1970 (presumably from Mann's) who kept her until 1977 when she was exported to France and flew as F-GALU. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Y...outhampton.jpg F-GALU visiting Southampton Airport c. late 70's From France G-AYBE (F-GALU) returned to the UK in 1996 to fly as G-CBHH for Helisport of Biggin Hill. Later the same year she was purchased by Arena Aviation of Crawley who re-registered her G-GUST. GUST went on to fly for 'Dragon Helicopters', 'GHE Realisations' and DNH Helicopters before being withdrawn from use in 2011. |
Originally Posted by Savoia
(Post 7227894)
John thanks.
We did touch on the 'Green Parrots' on page 9 of the Wessex thread but I have yet to dig-up a 'white top' Whirlwind photo (in colour). http://www.vintage-airfix.com/images...d%20Helicopter What looks like Eagle or Ark's flight deck in the background seems a bit out of proportion: I think we'd all have liked to operate from something that size! |
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2...Logo%2520s.png
On page 76 'Monkey Boy' made an enquiry relating the the Marley Tiles Co. TwinEcureuil G-BMTC. At the time of MB's enquiry we were only able to source an image of Marley's single-Ecureuil G-BHIV but, it is now possible (thanks to photographer Adrian) to see the craft in question: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i...helor%2529.jpg Marley Tile Co. AS355F2 Ecureuil II G-BMTC at McAlpines 'Hayes Heliport' in 1984 (Photo: Adrian Batchelor) |
Heliday Nostalgia
Now held at the Helicopter Museum rather than the Sea Front Green at Weston-Super-Mare (21/22 July this year, arrivals day 20th)....these from 2006
http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...oyo/G-NAAB.jpg http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...oyo/G-OGOA.jpg http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...oyo/G-BLGV.jpg http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...oyo/G-SPEE.jpg http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...0yoyo/V-54.jpg http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/z...oyo/G-BAXS.jpg |
Yoyo: Great to see you back! :ok:
Aussie Surf Rescue Rangers https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2...+15+Sep+79.jpg Bell 206B Jet Ranger VH-FJR (cn 0168) of Butler Aviation as seen at Brisbane's Eagle Farm Airport on 15th September 1979 More Aussie Life Saving 206's on pages 41 and 73. |
A30 (and Sav)
Wasn't G-BEWY an ex Bristow Bell 206? |
|
More Aussie nostalgia with this Jayrow JetRanger parked at Melbourne's Moorabbin Airport (what great names they have Down Under .. among my favourites being Wollongong, Come By Chance and Mt. Buggery!).
Sadly no reg or date - my apologies. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-V...irport%2Bb.jpg A fixed-float Bell 206B belonging to Jayrow Helicopters rests with her sister ship at Melbourne's Moorabbin Airport The craft wears the humble moniker "THE Helicopter Company"! |
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--...Logo%2520s.png
One of the Nostalgia Thread's newest photographic contributors Jeremy Hughes (who provided much of the material for the post on the London to Paris Air Race on page 78) has kindly offered us a wonderful photo of the Brantly B2 G-ASHD: https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-d...ughes%2529.jpg Brantly B-2A G-ASHD as seen at Biggin Hill in May 1963 (Photo: Jeremy Hughes) This craft was bought by Pontin's holiday camps of Bournemouth just one month before this photo was taken but went on to crash in the Colne river near Brightlingsea on 15th February 1967. Also in the photo is G-ARVY (another B2) which was imported by BEAS in 1962 but, as with ASHD, 'came a cropper' on 28th August 1964 while practicing autos near Kidlington. In case you are thinking "G-ASHD that rings a bell" you would be right. She first appears on page 45 in a shot taken at Exeter Airport in 1964. |
Here is an interesting photo of one of the Hughes 500Ds operated by Greenpeace (ZK-HTN).
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/n...kow1/Irish.jpg (Apologies. I have no details on the photographer or copyright holder.) It is seen in Dublin Port and I think the date is sometime around 1990 and, presumably, the titles on the tail boom refer to some campaign they were carrying out related to the the Sellafield Nuclear Plant. 500 Fan. |
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