Sav................

'tis Biggin Hill.......... Express Aviation hangar, always worth a visit in those days.

Planemike

Alouette II G-AWFY | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8...0d10d046_c.jpg
Alouette II G-AWFY by egbjdh, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8210/8...2a8ab33d_c.jpg

Aye! Tho I first set eyes on it till about a decade later (1975), when it would have been partially obscured by a Britannia from that viewpoint! 'NFH could be seen flogging the circuit with Bristows at Redhill in '75...

And I should have been among those who would recognise it given how often I visited there as a youngster with my late father!

Planemike: Thanks. The Express Aviation hangar .. which side was this on do you recall? The same side as the Decca hangar and Air Touring or on the opposite side with Fairflight and Surrey & Kent?

I remember that somewhere 'in between' was a 'Sportair' semi-circular roof hangar outside of which a red and white Hughes 500D would sometimes pitch up (mid-to-late 70's).

Someone emailed me last year telling me that Gordon King of King Air at one time had a helicopter but .. I've been unable to verify this.

5H-MUM Dar Es Salaam 1987 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8541/8...161dcb3a_c.jpg

Hi Savoia

BO105 5H-MUM at Dar 1987
Sadly none of ANI or MPN

Mamma mia! I never thought I would see her again!

It brings back some memories (not all of them grand).

Shall have to dig out the ones I have of MPN.

Great stuff! :ok:

The Express Aviation hangar was also the Decca hangar - Decca's fleet (in 1975 the Bell 47, Jetstream and Percival Prince) occupied the western end with several other residents - there was a wall or partition as I recall.

The Sportair hangar is the blister hangar set back in the trees close to the threshold of 29 - apart from Sportair's fleet, it also used to be occupied by Micro Consultants who had a Shrike Commander and SF-260 and I think there was a Hughes 500 at one point. they eventually got a Citation in there I think!

The photo is from the very early 60s, I am guessing 62. At that time the only hangar down that corner of the field was the the black Bellman. Express were in the east facing end, towards the woods. treadi is correct the Decca Prince and later others were also in that part of the hangar. AA Rapide (later an Apache) was also a resident.

As I recall the opposite end was occupied by a company that operated several American registered Bell 47s. Cannot bring the name of the company to mind. Edit: 08 May. It was World Wide, see this thread: http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/513...licopters.html

Just checked my notes it is 50 years ago this month that I first visited BH for the first Air Fair 04 May 63.

Planemike

PS The hangar is visible in the background of this photo.http://www.abpic.co.uk/images/images/1108326M.jpg

Quick bit of sleuthing with GINFO - the Hughes 500 was G-BESS! MCL owned her between '77 and early '81.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8542/8...abe6d561_c.jpg

G-BESS

Hughes 500D
 

Ah ... dear old G-BESS. So good to see her again. I started Skyline Helicopters at Wycombe Air Park circa 1982 when one of our first acquisitions was the G-BESS 500D for my co-director Peter Milward. Now scratching my head, I recall the occasion we used a second 500 (G-HOOK?) to lift G-BESS from where she landed safely following an engine failure auto into an Oxford college field of standing crop. The college wouldn't allow us to go in with a lorry so we simply removed the C-20 which dropped the weight to something in the region of 1300lbs and long-lined her back to safety.

The wonderful, Guy Ralph Scott was of course the Express MD at Biggin Hill, and in the late 1970s I regularly visited him as a co-Piper dealer. He was a great diner and would take us down to the pub in Westerham, (Kings Head or Crown perhaps?) but now a block of flats or some sort of business HQ although it still bears the name of the pub! .... I'm also trying to think of the name of the research TV firm who owned the Citation and whose boss was later knighted, but the brain cells are not what they used to be! He also flew an AS350 Squirrel.

And thanks for the Hong Kong blues song. Ain't life weird! ... At the time George Harrison seemed surprised that anyone would have known of the blues tune ... certainly when he played his version for myself and Barry Sheene. And great to hear that Barry's life is remembered with an annual run down under. Does Stephanie take part in any way? I'm sure many are aware of Barry's previous 500, G-STEF.

Want another Bazza story? ... Circa 1986/7, I attended a Castle Donnington Motocycle GP. There I met my old student Barry in the car park, which we were using as a helipad for our camera ship 500. My company March Helicopters was covering the event for the early days of David Earl's TV2 micro-wave system. Having landed after the morning practice, Barry asked if he could do the camera ship flying for the race. So off he went and with his knowledge of race tactics, probably did a better job than I could.
Take care all ...... Dennis K.

G-BESS
 

PS. G-BESS pictured at the Aviator Hotel. Sywell of course. DRK

Sav,

G-ANFH finished up at Bristow's in 1969 and was used at Blackpool for several months.

Best Regards.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-p...ughes%2529.jpg
Automobile Association De Havilland DH89A Dragon Rapide G-AHKV at Biggin Hill in 1959 (Photo: Jerry Hughes)

A great shame this photo is not in colour for, if it were, you would see the delightful Rapide in bright yellow with black piping.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P...amlin%2529.jpg
Automobile Association Piper PA23-160 Apache G-APZE at Biggin Hill on 12th May 1967 (Photo: John Hamlin)

Planemike: Thanks for the further description. If it was one and the same hangar as the one used by Decca (as Treadigraph suggests) then I remember it well.

G-ARIA (the Decca Bell 47) and her pilot 'Robin' Hood have of course be covered earlier in the thread on pages 71 and 80.

Sadly there weren't that many blitterblats at Biggin in the 60's and 70's. I remember that if you passed to the right of the Decca/Express Aviation hangar past more curved roof hangars at the very end was an Air and Space Autogyro owned (I think) by someone called Chris Devere? Anyway, whoever it was ended-up landing the thing on our property in the early 70's when my father used to keep his planks at Biggin.

Treadigraph: Thank you for your investigative work! Great to discover that the craft I saw at Sportair ends-up having so much relevance and was also to be found in 'Eric the Ferret's' photo album!

Denissimo: I remember BESS well too .. as Peter would regularly fly into Booker in the mornings using this craft. Do you recall the incident where he 'dinged' the tail rotor on one of the chain posts surrounding the helipad at Skyline? Nobby had to run out and tell him to shut down (he was doing the 2-3 minute cool down) before the tail shook itself to pieces!

Oldlae: Many thanks. :ok: Its been too long since we heard from you last!

Dennis, would that be Peter Michael who - so Wikipedia tells me - founded both Micro Consultants and Quantel - never knew what they did till I read the article on Wiki!

Sav, a mere tickle compared with your heard work!

Yes I can only remember those two as regular helicopters at Biggin, and rather more when the British Grand Prix was at Brands Hatch.

The two blister hangars beyond Express contained some interesting airframes. the far one as you say had the Air & Space 18A plus a dilapidated Commander 500 both owned by Interflight - Chris de Vere was certainly associated with Biggin Hill.

The other blister hangar next to Express contained an American Lear 25 for a bit. Both blisters collapsed under the weight of snow on separate occasions in the 1980s/1990s.

Master Bates, Mrs Grundy and The Great Sempini
 

The F4 Phantom was introduced to Royal Naval service in 1969 and this September Air Day was the navy's first chance to show off this spectacularly powerful and beautiful aircraft.

The pre-display briefing started as a rather intense and detailed affair. The room was crowded and after Met Briefing it developed into a detailed discussion between various stovies about wind direction, maximum allowable crosswinds and runway changes. One felt it was a day for the helicopter fraternity to be seen but not heard. It was not our party.

But, half way through the session Cdr (Air) asked whether there were any questions so far. At the back, a young RAF Flt. Lieutenant, on exchange with 845, stood and asked if his Wessex V could be positioned further down the dispersal area for the start of his display. Cdr (A) said all aircraft positions had been carefully planned and was this change necessary. The Flt. Lt. said it was otherwise he was going to have to overfly the display line at low level and he was anxious that his piano should not fall into the crowd by accident. All faces were now turned back toward this intruder. Rather nonplussed and anxious to get things back on track quickly Cdr (A) said to do whatever was safest and were there any more questions.

Colin Bates, or Mrs Grundy as we must now call him, stood and asked if he could park his Hiller closer to the hardstanding on completion of his display, as at present he was going to have to walk 500 yards across soft grass in a tight skirt and high heeled shoes.

This rather upset the gravitas of the rest of the briefing.

Colin's display went well. The PA had been calling for some time for Mrs Grundy to go to the Control Tower as she had won the draw for a trip in a helicopter. I positioned the Hiller in front of the crowd, the doors having been removed for ease of access. Mrs Grundy duly appeared and tottered toward the aircraft. Since she was obviously "Having difficulty with the straps" I left the aircraft and walked around to help her strap in. Once Colin was happy he gave me the nod and to ensure things got off to a flying start I tweeked the twistgrip open. Colin grabbed a handful of lever to control the revs and he was off.

The sight of the poor little old lady trapped alone in the helicopter and obviously out of control always shocked then entertained the crowd and Colin did it extremely well.

The Wessex with the underslung piano went equally well but for all the wrong reasons.

The commentator announced its arrival from stage left,

"Carrying one of the priceless pianos from Lord Bath's collection and today being played by Sempini the world renowned concert pianist, who is playing a short selection from his repetoire".

The piano was on the underslung hook, Sempini on the winch wire secured to the piano by a short strop. Inside the piano was a Marker Marine flare.

Honky Tonk music was being played over the PA as Sempini, dressed in top hat and tail coat was flown down the crowd line.

When suddenly,

"Oh dear, Sempini's playing seems to have set fire to the piano".

Sure enough smoke is seen billowing from the piano. The Wessex climbs slowly away and after what seems like an age and at a great height the piano is seen to fall away and crash noisily onto the intersection of the two runways, thus halting all proceedings until the wreckage has been cleared. An unusually good shot for the RAF!

What we did not realise at the time but found out later was that the Marker Marine, usually immersed in seawater, had really set fire to the piano. The heat being such that Sempini had to lean away from the piano which had made it extremely difficult to release the strop. As flames started to lick toward the belly of the aircraft the pilot wanted to release the hook but was prevented from doing so because Sempini was still attached to the piano. Eventually Sempini managed to release the strop and was winched in, allowing the pilot to drop the piano with the result already described.

The moral of the story must be not to take part in Air Days.

ICO: Fantastico! Bravo! :D

Thank you very much for taking the time to relay this amusing story, much appreciated! :ok: Sounds like you all had great fun.

Do you suppose any of these displays was ever captured on cine camera or the like?

The Summerlee Files ..

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l...an+on+lift.JPG
Jim Summerlee with Westland Whirlwind on lift with Capt. Maclean (not sure which ship)

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-W...off+Cyprus.JPG
Jim Summerlee, with crewmen Mitchell and Hazel (testing winch) aboard HMS Eagle on 14th June 1956, off the coast of Cyprus

For Treadigraph.
 

Yes Sir ... With memory jogged it surely was Peter Michael who became Sir Peter. Around the early 1980s when your TV became capable of all sorts of changing picture perspectives with subject words flying off one corner of the screen ... you can thank Peter Michael and his business Quantel for that technology. The word was that he exhibited his system at an electronic show event in America and the resultant interest and orders launched his business to stratospheric levels.

Many of us will remember dear Colin Bates who was sadly lost with a tail rotor failure on his Bell 206. I think he was with Air Hanson at the time.

Regards to all. Dennis Kenyon.

Sempini
 

PS ... the great man was Semprini. A classical and modern concert pianist. DRK

More Summerlee ..

The Navy Days

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7...e+distance.JPG
Freddie Wilcox with Dapper Berrill. Admiral Sir Philip Vian further along the deck

I think the insinuation here is that Wilcox and Berrill had the Admiral in the 'palm of their hands' which, viewed obliquely, could be a little worrying but .. not altogether unusual for Navy types! ;)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f...Staff+Type.JPG
Waiting for a Boat: (L-R Seated) Danny Kaye, Jim Summerlee, Freddie Wilcox, Duncan Lang and Jack Hayster. (Standing) A staff type c. 1950's

Back in the days when most people didn't possess massive wardrobes .. but what they had allowed them to appear respectable! ;)

The Whirlwind above coded J ( for Eagle) is a Mk 3 ,XG581 ,photographed in the harbour at Malta circa May 1956. It was allocated to the Ships Flight that year.With the arrival of Mk7s in57 it was allocated to 701 for training but was relegated to instruction at Arbroath after being written off in an accident at the end of 1957. After that it just faded away .

Underwear Commercial
 

I recall an incident at Biggin Hill where an advertising firm for an underwear manufacturer contacted us and asked that we supply a helicopter with a rope ladder underneath to shoot a commercial for their underwear.

The story line was that a gorgeous girl driving an open Aston Martin would drive down the runway while the helicopter lowered a young man in his underwear, hanging on the ladder, into the seat next to her. Not as easy as it sounds. The poor guy was dragged on the pavement, over the back of the car, over the windshield, almost ran over and eventually success.

I shall admit to old age and the fact that this occurred in 1962 makes it even more hazy but I was not the pilot flying the Bell 47, thank goodness. I don't suppose you can get away with that nowdays.

Oh yes you can.

Watch from about 0.29

Heli1: Grazie Mille!

Thank you for identifying the Whirlwind in question from Summerlee's photos .. even obtaining her registration, much appreciated. :ok:

Nice one TRC! :ok: Were you involved in that production?

Some more 'scantily clad' antics beneath a Bell!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L...Acrobatics.jpg

Yep.

Had one guy underneath for the formation with the car - he was upside down with his head level with the driver's window of a BMW sports car. Didn't scrape him on the road once.

At the end of the picture we had two people under. I was inside voice marshalling and ready to cut them off if we lost an engine - once they were on the ground, obviously. We'd be SSE - or at least flyaway - once their weight was off.

All CAA approved!

Bravo TRC! :D

For 'Eric the Ferret'

Here's what I have of MPN:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-a...H-MPN+1986.jpg
Bell 206B JetRanger II 5H-MPN landing at Bahari (north of Dar es Salaam) in 1986 flying as 'Kilimo 5'

This was a contract I flew (just a teenager back then .. commercial licence fresh in hand) for the UN's Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

We were tasked to assist in the control of Quelea Bird and Desert Locust. We were aided by two teams .. one from the Tanzania Ministry of Agriculture flying unit called 'Kilimo Anga' (literally 'Agricultural Air) based in Arusha, who provided Cessna 185's .. the other was the Desert Locust Control Organisation based in Nairobi who supplied the trusty De Havilland Beaver. Both the 185's and Beavers would support in spraying whereas the Ranger, when not spraying, would serve as a scout to locate the swarms.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-k...elea+swarm.jpg
This is NOT a swarm .. but a 'normal' size (for Africa) flock of Quelea birds visiting a watering hole

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-W...+in+a+tree.jpg
Quelea's in a tree

Before the animal activists get up in arms .. you should firstly know that I am an animal lover myself .. and absolutely mad keen on dogs and horses!

Secondly .. an average size swarm of African Quelea birds can consume upwards of 50 tonnes of grain per day .. causing devastation to rural villages which, if unprotected, would starve. In East Africa the principal crops to be affected by Queleas are cereals such as millet, sorghum, rice and wheat.

Spraying Quelea birds was something of a task, not only because of the irregularity of the areas to be sprayed .. but mainly because this was only ever done at night once the birds had roosted.

It was impossible to carry out this work without hitting the birds as some of them would fly up as you approached the roost. At one point we had snow baffles fitted in order to protect the air intakes. I have to admit though .. it did take a while to get used to the sound of these small creatures banging into the aircraft. However, as they are generally quite small (and very light) their impact was 'relatively' insignificant although .. on one occasion the chin perspex on the pilot's side 'imploded' when .. after hitting what I felt were simply too many of the creatures .. I climbed .. only to slam into a larger flock which were trying to escape the mayhem. Pieces of perspex hit the instrument panel and my legs! Not fun.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-w...MPN+Bahari.jpg
The Colonel coming out to greet a landed Savoia

You can tell its the Colonel holding the door .. because .. well what can one say .. he wore those white gloves to the very end of his career!

Eric: You can be thankful that by the time you arrived I had managed to persuade the Colonel to 'consider' a uniform other than tropical whites, citing the fact that deep in the bush while assisting to load chemicals and fuel, this was perhaps not the ideal form of attire. So I was permitted to 'experiment' (under trial) with the khaki coveralls which were eventually worn. However, I was under strict instructions that for all formal meetings with the client, meeting the Tanzania DCA, Ministry of Agriculture and the like .. that the 'whites' had to be put back on! :rolleyes: The Colonel had of course been recently encouraged in Brasil where, with 12 pilots under his charge (operating a fleet of S76's) he discovered (to his delight I should add) that they loved donnig the whites and standing-out from their 'blue slacked' brethren!

By the time you arrived, MPN was probably wearing red stripes. Between the blue and red schemes, she was (for about 3 months) painted in camouflage for a short contract with the TPDF (Tanzanian Army) which involved carrying an armed patrol across what are now Tanzania's western most goldfields.

Regarding ANI .. sadly was never able to get a photo of her before her demise. But, as you may recall .. she was imported from Germany (where she had flown as D-HOOL) and was an ex-Rotorflug bird and still wore Rotorflug's old colours.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H...-HOOL%2529.jpg
ANI's colours

Savoia,

I'm not sure why you persist in calling the 206 variants "Rangers"? The Bell 47J Ranger was the first VIP variant of a Bell (and the first helicopter to carry a US President):

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...px-Bell47J.JPG

Whereas the Bell 206 is a JetRanger:

http://www.helispot.com/images/28/2842.jpg

Getting to the suspending people below helicopters, I had to transfer a "Who Dares Wins" contestant to a motorcycle underway along a runway, from my BK117. Not at all an easy task as the balance required on the motorbike was a far more difficult task than flying along with a live body on the end of a long line, a few feet off the deck.

No idea what happened to the photos, unfortunately :hmm:

I had a go at him for that some time ago................. :rolleyes:

Hi Savoia

I was half hoping you might have a photo of MPN post birdstrike as it was quite spectacular.

I remember that a result of the incident was the fitting of snow baffles to keep birds out of the intake. A strange fit for an aircraft operating in Africa.

Another issue that was raised was what to do in the event of an accident and the pilot getting covered in chemical. The answer being atropine, the antidote for nerve gas!!!!!!!

I have to say that I am surprised (and gratified) you are still with us after working with what was a seriously toxic chemical.

I remember MPN being re painted locally in what turned out to be paint with zero resistance to engine oil. Nice brown streaks everywhere.

Hiller's continue to fly in the UK.
 

A few images taken only a few weeks back of the ex LAPD Hiller UH-12C helicopter as starred in 'Vertical Challenge - The Hiller Aircraft Story' book by Jay P. Spenser now in U.S. army colors, along with a 12A model converted to the UH-12C based out of Henstridge, UK. Images taken from an Enstrom 280.

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3582ae53.jpg

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1bcd959f.jpg

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3e0d7ec0.jpg

Rotorhead: Great to see the classic Hiller 12 still flying in the UK! :ok:

The Africa Years ..

Eric, thanks for your well wishes. The chemical used (a Fenitrothian derivative) is now a thoroughly banned substance. My heart went out to the Beaver drivers (hmm .. that doesn't sound quite right does it) anyway .. several of whom (having been in the game for many years) suffered from respiratory problems of one kind or another and one of whom had scraped-up enough money together (these were local pilots) to make a medical visit to the US where he had a lung or part of a lung (is that possible?) removed!

Being a 'contact' chemical it was necessarily lethal and, as a result, one tried to do what one could to minimise risk. Obviously I flew with the vents and windows shut and, after a short while a rubber painter's mask arrived from Dar which I also wore. One of the problems was that, spraying at night, it wasn't especially easy to line-up on one's previous swath after making the end of run turn .. so it could sometimes happen that you inadvertently passed through your own spray, until that is, I employed a different pattern of spraying! There are, as you might imagine, many intriguing stories relating to that contract.

It was my first job as a commercial pilot and although I loved flying .. I don't mind saying that I was somewhat relieved when it ended. The risks were just a little too much .. even for someone as eager as I was back then.

Regarding Rangers ..

I'm certain I don't really have to explain that this is colloquialism! And .. its use is not altogether inaccurate as, according to the manufacturer, the 47J, 206, 206L and 429 .. are all Rangers of various kinds!

Nevertheless, now that John, and before him TRC, have both mentioned this .. I shall relent in my further employment of this phrase. I hope this sacrifice causes widespread jubilation !! ;)

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-L...WDW+Scouts.jpg
Eacott's Westland Sprout in 'Who Dares Wins'

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B...1-no/WDW+3.png
The Sprout with SAS members dangling beneath

Of course this really was an SAS technique .. but one specially reserved for those who had been recently court martialed. Being suspended below the Sprout was an alternative option for those not wishing to be placed in the 'Glasshouse'! ;)

Savoia,

Were the beloved white gloves of the Colonel the same pair that you wore in PNG? ;)

Ah no Adroight .. those were 'RAF leather flying gloves' (below) ..

http://www.transair.co.uk/products/i...ing_gloves.jpg

.. which were in fact a very very light blue colour .. but looked white until they became soiled.

My godfather used to wear white cotton 'ceremonial' gloves (which I was also made to wear as a youngster). However he was not alone .. there were some who also 'picked-up the habit' such as the late great John Dicken!

Too Funny
 

TRC

The video is so funny. We expect as a matter of course here in the US that we can get away with all kinds of idiotic, risky stunts but we expect that our UK ancestors have better sense AND regulations.

Bell Ranger 47J2
 

In the 60's we used a Bell Ranger N257PH to haul geologists around the mountains of Southeast Alaska so they could crack rocks and do whatever else they do. It invariable included carrying large sacks of rocks back to camp on the beach. The elevations became ridiculous for a non-turbo charged aircraft so I had to inspect each passenger and his bag of rocks prior to departing some high ridge line to make sure we weren't over loaded. There were times when we would load everyone on board, close the doors, pull up the collective and NOTHING happened! To the dismay of the tired geologists I would have to order one of them out of the machine and come back for him later. I have sent Savoia a photo of this aircraft sitting on a mountain top and I appreciate his assistance in publishing them. I apologize in advance for the quality of my photos, many of which were in the form of slides and were later converted to jpeg.

Of Eacott, Australia and Sprouts!

Have you ever heard of a Navy Scout ??

Well, apparently in Australia ..

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7360/8...63589424_b.jpg

From the information available .. two Scout helicopters were acquired by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in April 1963 and were operated by the 723 Naval Air Squadron, with the aircraft being rotated aboard the hydrographic survey ship HMAS Moresby.

The RAN Scouts proved the practicalities of operating helicopters from small ships for the RAN, and the RAN operated these helicopters up until 1973, when they were replaced by Bell 206B-1 Kiowas.

The experience with the Scouts aboard HMAS Moresby illustrated the need for a higher-level maintenance regime as a result of operating the helicopters in areas with high concentrations of abrasive coral sand encountered around the Australian coastline and the detrimental effect that it had on the rotor blades, airframe and engine components.

Despite the additional effort to maintain the helicopters, the Scouts were considered to be superior to the seaplanes and flying boats that had previously been used in this role.

One of the Scouts apparently ditched in Wewak Harbour whilst taking off from HMAS Moresby, April 1967, although it was subsequently recovered the aircraft was written off.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-m...ka+in+1966.jpg
Bell 47J2 N257PH overlooking the Bering Ice Field in Alaska in 1966

The elevations became ridiculous for a non-turbo charged aircraft so I had to inspect each passenger and his bag of rocks prior to departing some high ridge line to make sure we weren't over loaded.

There were times when we would load everyone on board, close the doors, pull up the collective and NOTHING happened!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-v...allop+1968.JPG
Hughes 300 (269A) G-AVZC owned by Air Gregory as seen at Middle Wallop in 1968

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-y...allop+1968.JPG
Brantly B-2B G-ATJY owned by Cy Rose as seen at Middle Wallop in 1968

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3...allop+1968.JPG
Brantly 305 G-ASXF operated by Endeavour Aviation as seen at Middle Wallop in 1968

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-P...allop+1968.JPG
Agusta-Bell 206A JetRanger G-AVZG owned by Endeavour Aviation as seen at Middle Wallop in 1968

These were snapped in the Summer of 1968 whilst completing my Army Air Corps pilot training at Middle Wallop. Hopefully as 212man was probably still in shorts, I won't be contradicted? ;)

G-AVZG.

Is that Tommy Sopwith at the tail with the engine blanks?

When Ambidextrous sent me the above photos I though "mamma mia .. Ambi has been keeping these wonderful shots hidden away until now!"

Ambidextrous' 'summer snaps' from '68 just happened to capture the very aircraft we have been reviewing on this thread .. and some special craft at that!

Firstly G-AVZC which appeared on page 78 courtesy of PPruNer Wildboy, the son of Wally Wilding. His photos show his dad with "ZC" during his time with Air Gregory.

Then G-ATJY. There are very few images available of this craft so it is great to have this on record. Although bought initially by the aviation enthusiast Douglas Arnold, at the time of the photo she was under the tenure of the late Cy Rose - someone who was a good friend to the Colonel. Cy was also a good friend of The Maestro, Dennis 'the Menace' Kenyon aka Denissimo!

Next we have G-AXSF. Earier in the thread we looked at all of the UK's Brantly 305's (I think there were around 7 in total). They were certainly a rare craft. "SF" was owned by BEAS but operated by Endeavour Aviation at the time of the photo. In fact the Endeavour titles are just visible behind the door.

And finally we have G-AVZG. Again, there are very few images of this craft and which makes Ambi's 'snap' all the more appreciated.

Oldlae got it in one! :ok:

"ZG" was delivered new by Mann's to Tommy Sopwith just before the Christmas of '67. She was the 13th JetRanger on the British register and Ambi just happened to snap her with Tommy. Fantastico! (I think he even had all his fingers at the time!)

In my email banter with Ambi he wrote: "I remember your Godfather being spoken of with affection by my peers whilst under training (e.g: Hugh Colqhuon) my instructor on Bell 47 Sioux."

This was gratifying to hear but .. I have never heard of Hugh Colqhuon. Is there anyone who could tell me a little more about him. Did he remain in the Army for example?