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https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-i...field%2529.jpg
Bristow Helicopters Westland Wessex Series 60-1 G-ATBZ as seen at North Denes Aerodrome on 7th June 1970 (Photo: RA Scholefield) |
Interesting that AZOM didn't sink, the pax ended up in the water yet no mention in the report as to why the liferaft wasn't used.
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Eric: The available report (advertised as a bulletin) might mean there is a more detailed report .. somewhere .. which may answer the question of the liferaft?
Of Strubby and Bölkows .. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-l...neman%2529.jpg Management Aviation MBB Bo105D G-BCXO at Strubby Airfield on 15th April 1975 (Photo: Steve Stoneman) Originally registered to Helicopter Marketing and then Management Aviation this craft is rumoured to have become G-THLS in her latter years although the record does not clearly reveal this transfer. The serial no. for BCXO is given as S80 and for THLS S80/859. As with G-AZOM (mentioned in an earlier post) G-THLS ended hers days swimming. |
The 'Invasion' of Rockall
As all British readers would know from their 'proper' education .. On 18th September 1955 at precisely 10.16 am, in what would be the final territorial expansion of the British Empire, the island of Rockall (a small outcrop of rock in the North Atlantic somewhere between Scotland and Iceland) was officially annexed by the British Crown when Lieutenant-Commander Desmond Scott RN, Sergeant Brian Peel RM, Corporal AA Fraser RM and James Fisher (a civilian naturalist and former Royal Marine) were deposited on the island by a Royal Navy helicopter from HMS Vidal (coincidentally named after the man who first charted the island).
The team cemented in a brass plaque on 'Hall's Ledge' and hoisted the Union Flag to stake the UK's claim. The inscription on the plaque read: By authority of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her other realms and territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, and in accordance with Her Majesty's instructions dated the 14th day of September, 1955, a landing was effected this day upon this island of Rockall from HMS Vidal. The Union flag was hoisted and possession of the island was taken in the name of Her Majesty. R H Connell, Captain, HMS Vidal, 18 September 1955. http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2843/9...f2e77ee1_b.jpg Royal Navy Survey Ship HMS Vidal in the Atlantic with a Westland-Sikorsky WS51 Dragonfly aboard Video of the event: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-X.../Play+Icon.png |
. . . these events followed by 58 years of seabirds crapping and covering
the plaque in thick layers of guano. |
... and the Dragonfly pilot was Tubby Leonard. Lovely man who left the RN in the rank of Commander after serving as a test pilot and then he worked for Sperry after he left the service. He passed away in 2010.
Daily Telegraph obituary here |
C16: According to my godfather 'Tubby' was indeed a 'great guy'. Sadly never got to meet him in person.
A thread was launched at his passing: http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/434...y-leonard.html Westpac Life Saver: 40th Anniversary https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q...Anniv+Logo.png https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Q...da+in+1973.jpg The first training session at Wanda in 1973 https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m...es+Bell+47.jpg 'The Wales' rescue helicopter made use of a fixed-float Airfast Bell 47 equipped with external stretcher panniers https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A...Wales+47+3.jpg Rescue exercises on the beach https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-g...Wales+47+2.jpg Hoisting from the hook (which I believe they also used to do from the 206) https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-F...-no/VH-UHC.jpg 'Wales Rescue' upgrades to an Airfast Bell 206, in this case .. VH-UHC https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w...les+Rescue.jpg The contract (as far as I know) then moved to Ferguson who supplied this 206, VH-FHF https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-F...-no/VH-ELP.jpg At one point Westpac 'trialled' this Ecureuil, they may subsequently have bought it! My apologies for the lack of details regarding the Bell 47 registration and photo locations. These details from Westpac's own site. |
Surf used the same system in the AS 350 for many years. I think ELP ended up on the Sunshine coast & was sold to West Australia or was it Tassie. The 350 had a winch but this strop system was much quicker, easier & took 2 people unlike the winch. I can't recall any accidents with it.:ok:
Spent a lot of time in UHC when it was rigged up for bush work! |
Nigel: I only seem to have shots of UHC 'wearing' floats but .. if I happen upon one where she's in 'bush' configuration (high skids I suppose) I'll put it up.
Having posted a Trans World Hughes 300 on the previous page (EI-AOU .. I want to say .. AEIOU!!) .. it would be rude not to 'expose' her stable-mate which is a recent contribution from RA Scholefield's wonderful collection of aviation imagery: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5508/1...35dfc997_b.jpg Trans World Helicopters Hughes 300 (269B) EI-APH at Hannover Airport in Germany, as seen on 7th May 1966 (Photo: RA Scholefield) APH is seen here attending the Hannover Air Show in 1966 as part of the Hughes exhibit. Very likely at the time of her delivery to Trans World. In 1978 she was sold to Globe Construction of Felsted in Essex, when she became G-AWKC, and in '71 she moved to Tywford Moors Helicopters of Southampton. Her last UK owner was Forecourt Services of Eastleigh in Hampshire who acquired her in 1976. The following year the craft was exported to Austria (via Germany) where she ended her days as OE-AXG. |
Keeping with the floats ..
Another shot of G-ATDW (a previous photo of her, taken at Southampton, appears on page 101): https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-K...field%2529.jpg Bristow Helicopters Hiller UH-12E4 G-ATDW as seen at Redhill on 14th May 1966 (Photo: RA Scholefield) Began life as N5350V, then VP-YXR, G-ATDW and finally ZK-HCQ. Registered to Bristows (Redhill) between 1965-68. |
The Hiller Thriller....
Gotta love those old Hillers, especially the 4 seaters, so retro looking today.
I have just returned from a short trip to San Francisco this week, which included a visit to the Hiller Aviation Museum at San Carlos. This is a fascinating building out at the airport there with many old aircraft, and restoration workshop onsite, all set up by Stanley Hiller himself. Two amazing Hiller facts; 1) I was informed the -12 is still in production (my late step father learned to fly on one in the early 60s with the Royal Navy). 2) Whilst airborne, Stanley Hiller used to demonstrate that aircraft's stability characteristics by climbing onto the outside of the machine, whilst a colleague would do the same on the opposite side - leaving nobody in the cockpit! The museum has a photo of him doing precisely this. Personally having learned to fly with the Bell 47, this is not something that ever occurred to me to try........ |
Personally having learned to fly with the Bell 47, this is not something that ever occurred to me to try........ |
Ciao Planko!
I have a brother who lives in SF so .. when next there I shall endeavour to visit San Carlos and check-out the museum. Sounds interesting. On page 90 there is a photo of Stanley Hiller standing aside one of his prototypes while his wife Carolyn is in the hover being taught the trade .. and on page 91 there is a photo of two crew from the Hiller factory having left the cockpit (in flight) and sitting on the engine tray in an effort to demonstrate the craft's stability! Astonished to learn that the Hiller 12 is still being produced. |
Hiller History
Sav Hey,
I knew you'd have the story on some previous pages, well found! A small selection below from the Hiller museum in San Carlos. The famous Hiller 12 in Korean MASH guise, suspended from the rafters. The yellow coaxial XH-44 that Stanley landed in his girlfriend's parental house on his first meeting with them, circa 1942. My favourite though is the orange painted tandem rotor device, intended as a single pilot (open cockpit!) twin engined stretcher carrier for battlefield medevac. Apparently it never saw production strangely enough, possibly couldn't find a willing test pilot, let alone stretcher patient........... Regards, Le Plank http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...psd9d82ff8.jpg http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ps5bc7fad7.jpg http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ps845714e9.jpg |
Lonely Front Seat
Here's a question for all you old and bolds out there.
On the 4 seat Hiller (and Bell 47J) with the one and only pilot seat (and presumably one set of controls) up front ahead of the pax bench, just how did a pilot new to the type get checked out? Perhaps back then it was all done over a cup of tea on the ground and a chat with the trainer before blasting off solo on one's first mission..........? |
You learnt in the 3 seat model such as the Bell 47G series, then went onto the 47J. Same deal with the Hiller. No problem!:ok:
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Oddly....a helicopter is a helicopter is a helicopter!
The UK makes it difficult with its "Type" system. Compare the UK system to the US FAA system of "Typing". |
Originally Posted by Plank Cap
(Post 8088683)
just how did a pilot new to the type get checked out?
Just realised that first solo on the J2 was almost exactly 45 years ago......I feel old! |
Originally Posted by Plank Cap
(Post 8088683)
Here's a question for all you old and bolds out there.
On the 4 seat Hiller (and Bell 47J) with the one and only pilot seat (and presumably one set of controls) up front ahead of the pax bench, just how did a pilot new to the type get checked out? Perhaps back then it was all done over a cup of tea on the ground and a chat with the trainer before blasting off solo on one's first mission..........? I should have made the time :hmm: |
In Canada we do have the "type" system as well so when you get the B47 type endorsement you get all the model of that type, I flew the G2, G4 and the J models.
JD |
The Hiller 12E-4 has a set of dual controls on the left side of the bench seat, just where the regular 12E has the duals. The Bell 47J had no such feature.
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Some great responses to Planko's enquiry! :ok:
If anyone has photos/memorabilia from their Hiller/47 days .. please do post! Planko: Great shots from the Hiller museum. As FH1100 has said .. the 12E-4 had the availability of dual controls .. accommodated on the aircraft's port side rear bench (see below): https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-W.../Int+H12E4.jpg Hiller UH12-E4 G-ASAZ cabin view Because of the wide angle lens .. the pedals for the 'rear seat' pilot's position look a little far but .. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s...iller+12e4.jpg G-ASAZ controls (the 'famous' Hiller from the film 'Goldfinger') .. in reality they are within reach. From my godfather's days with the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment (AFEE) at RAF Beaulieu and later with the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) at Boscombe Down, he would tell me that he and his fellow test pilots would constantly be trying out new types which they have never flown before and .. in some cases .. which had no accompanying paperwork (manuals or instructions). He told me that more than once did he gave himself a little 'fright'! I suppose when the 109's were captured in the Falklands (if they were flown off) that someone may have had to do a bit of 'experimenting' to get them to the ship! Back to the Hillers and Bells .. the 47 'J' had two configurations. One in which the driver's legs were astride the main console (as per the 12-E4) and the other where the instrument stack was off to one side (as was the case on Ferranti's J2) and which my godfather would refer to (and which was perhaps commonly referred to) as the music stand! |
Squadron Leader Ken Topp
Squadron Leader Ken Topp, of Sherborne, West Dorset has died age 78 at West Abbey Nursing Home in Yeovil. He was born on August 8, 1935 in nearby Milborne Port and attended Milborne Port Primary School and Fosters Grammar School in Sherborne. Here he formed friendships which were to last throughout his life and which he continued to treasure. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v...il+in+1951.jpg Sqdn Ldr Ken Topp Ken showed great talent in music, learning to play the piano and the organ for Milborne Port Methodist Church. His involvement with the church youth club at Milborne Port led to his meeting the love of his life, Ruth. Their relationship was always solid and remained steadfast through Ken's subsequent career development. Ken became an apprentice at Westland Aircraft in 1951, soon becoming involved in the early helicopter manufacture working in the development department. He gained his Higher National Certificate at what was then Yeovil Technical College and was subsequently accepted at Cranfield College of Aeronautics, specialising in helicopter engineering. His expertise in this highly technical field was acknowledged when he won the coveted Alan Marsh award for outstanding achievement in the field of helicopter research. After completing his MSc at Cranfield, Ken returned to Westland to become involved in the design and engineering study of tilt rotor aircraft and other helicopter design work and was able to further develop his expertise in this field. In 1971 he moved to the Plessey Marine Research Unit, becoming a senior member of the engineering design and development team. Later that year he joined the Royal Air Force as a commissioned officer in the engineering branch. After initial training at RAF College, Cranwell, he was posted to RAF Ternhill, part of RAF Training Command. From RAF Ternhill, Ken went to RAF Little Rissingham as Air Engineering Officer to the aircraft training wing. He was kept busy looking after the engineering aspects of fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Next came a posting to Strike Command where he provided support for all the in-service helicopter engineering and modification programmes. From Strike Command Ken was assigned to RAF Finningley where he was responsible for the in-service maintenance of the MK3 Sea King fleet of helicopters. As Ken's operational days drew to a close he accepted a post at the Ministry of Defence in London where his wealth of expertise was diligently applied. Ken eventually retired from the RAF and rejoined Westland Helicopters as ILS manager for EH101, working within the customer support departments. In November 1959, Ken married Ruth and settled down in Yeovil where sons Andrew and Mike were born. In 1964 they moved to Sherborne where Sarah was born, completing the family. This home became Ken and Ruth's pride and joy, the beautiful garden was always well tended and productive. https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-D...o/Ken+Topp.jpg Ken had a passion for cars, Jaguars and Triumphs in particular. He put his practical skills to good use building canoes and a mirror sailing dingy which the family sailed on the Thames and lakes in Wales. Ken was a well-liked, jolly character who endeared himself to everyone who met him with his charismatic personality. His proud family said that they would like to thank all those who have supported their parents over the past three years as they struggled to deal with their ill health. The family said: "It was tough for Ken and Ruth, they both put up brave fights against cancer, fights that sadly neither won. Ruth passed away peacefully on June 9, 2013, 11 weeks before Ken. They will be so sadly missed by all their family and friends." Expertise that served RAF and Westland | Yeovil People RIP Ken. |
Work Horse
If you had to WORK you drove a Hiller. If you just wanted to fly passengers or cruise around you used a Bell. As an old U.S. Army instructor I have seen student pilots bounce the old 23D as high as the control tower without sustaining any serious damage. It was just a more rugged machine than the Bell's but it was a little more work to fly. It had one peculiarity that was not to be tested however; settling with power. It is possible to loose adequate control over the control paddles during serious settling with power and thereby loose complete control of the cyclic system. In my case, entering auto-rotation only allowed the blades to flex down and chop off the tail boom resulting in a most serious problem.
http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps7d50d557.png |
Ciao Sillohed!
Great stuff! :ok: In my case, entering auto-rotation only allowed the blades to flex down and chop off the tail boom resulting in a most serious problem. I count a couple of ex-US Army instructors among my friends both great characters, with many interesting stories between them. Something which may interest you is a wedding which took place in London on 13th June 1962. The wedding was between Charles de Laroque and Toni Robinson. Charles was an old Harrovian and Miss Robinson a BOAC flight attendant (air hostess in those days) and private pilot. They were married in St. Mary Abbots Church in Kensington but .. I don't suppose that will be of too much interest. However, their reception was held at the Hurlingham Club and, when all was done .. they left the Club for Heathrow courtesy of a World Wide Bell 47 .. https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0...Club+WWB47.jpg Charles de Laroque and Toni Robinson at their wedding reception at the Hurlingham Club on 13th June 1962 https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-V...farewell+2.png A World Wide Bell 47 graces the reception in preparation to whisk the happy couple to 'Harry Heethers' (Heathrow) where they boarded an aircraft for Trinidad for their honeymoon https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_...-no/WW+B47.jpg The bride and groom prepare to depart the Hurlingham Club World Wide only purchased the 'Singing Bell' (G-ARIA) in October 1962 and .. the craft in these photos wears a different livery to that which can be seen in the photo of G-ARIA (on the previous page) while she was with World Wide. Also, this craft displays what appears to be the World Wide logo (on the floats) which looks to be a globe with wings. Any ideas as to which craft this could be? As discussed previously, it seems that many of World Wide's singles wore floats. |
As those floats required the skids being removed, it made engine failures a bit tricky as the floats couldn't run on land, so it meant doing zero ground speed landings; not too easy in a G2 or when heavy!:ugh:
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Savoia
Great pictures, but where do you keep finding then from?
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Nigel: Yes, I can imagine how challenging that could be. In fact I did enquire once about autorotations and landings in general when flying fixed-float aircraft. Doubtless easier done with those types where the skids run beneath the floats.
Nomorehelosforme: First of all .. why no more helos for you ?? :) Secondly, my picture sources are derived from an eclectic mix of online searches, friends and contacts who know I collect specific aviation images and a phalanx of kind and cooperative photographers who are willing to share the fruit of their labour! It was in the pursuit of helicopter images and memorabilia (and with the encouragement of former Ferranti Bölkow Training Captain 'Speechless Two' .. later Chief Pilot of BCal Helicopters) that I joined PPRuNe! To this end, anyone with a mind to contributing interesting helicopter photos or point me in the direction of interesting historical helicopter images and write-ups .. please feel free to mail me at [email protected] Grazie mille! |
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-o.../MF+Logo+s.png
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8...ell%2529+m.jpg British Army Westland-Bell Sioux, Borneo, 1965 (Photo: Ronnie Bell) Seen here transporting two Gordon Highlanders. Rumour has it that the Westland Sioux had a larger Perspex canopy than its American counterpart! |
Montreal Canada 1977. First pic is Bell47 G4 and the second one is a B47 G2. Now the exact model I don't remember. Might be able to compare the bubble size with the Sioux.
JD http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/v...psfe4f0f68.jpg http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/v...psb7c41063.jpg |
The British Army Bell 47 G3s certainly do have have bigger canopies than the G4 & G5 that I fly. The G5 is significantly smaller.
I've heard a tale of one G3 carrying pilot+4 in Borneo in a desperate situation - 3 in the cabin and one on each litter kit. Anybody able to expand on this? I bet the MP Guage went round a few times ;o) |
Fijdor: Very nice photos! :ok:
I don't suppose you would have an approximate date for the 'CF' registered 47? Mr B: Can't help you with the Borneo event (yet) but .. with regard to the 47 accommodating a pilot plus four what I can say is .. https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9...2527s+Peak.jpg Bell 47 hovers over Pike's Peak in Colorado with six people aboard in 1964 (Photo: University of Texas, Special Collections Dept.) |
Savoia I am glad that you posted a photo of that B47 at Pikes Peak because I would not have believed it.
Did some research on my B47 and the only thing found was the serial# Bell 47 G4A = 7519 CF-SYU believed to be a soloy conversion now Bell 47 G2 = 2021 CF-KJU hope this help. Jacques |
World Wide
Nigel, even the water landings was no laughing matter. I do recall having landed on a Canadian lake once to take advantage of the pristine enviornment and wonderful fishing. Floating around in the middle of the lake was so relaxing. It never occurred to me that I would have to START the helicopter once again when the fun was over. After about 5 rotations on the water I finally had enough tail rotor control to stay still but had I been a bit closer to the willows along the shore it would not have been very funny (not to mention one of the floats going flat or something equally distressing)
:bored:. |
I found the water landings very easy as the ground tended to be a lot harder! I guess over the years I must have done several hundred in both the 47 & 206 without any problems.:ok:
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WorldWide Bell
Savoia,
Very interesting photographs. I can vaguely recall several instances in in 1963 where World Wide did some charters for Weddings, etc. One charter in particular involved flying a gentleman in his underwear hanging on a ladder below a Bell 47 and lowering him into a speeding Aston Martin (I think) driven by a beautiful girl. The runway at Biggin Hill was used for the photo shoot. If I recall correctly the poor guy was dragged over the trunk/boot, over the wind screen, along side and eventually into the passenger seat. If anyone in the UK has any photos or video of that shoot PLEASE share it! The shoot was for an underwear manufacturer (St. Marks or St. Michaels or something.) On another subject, the only photo of a working World Wide Bell 47 that I find belongs to my friend Jan Wim Hasselman and it is a photo of his dad Fritz. Here it is although not very informative. http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...pse6a83adb.jpg |
Funny Looking Thing
This picture was taken in 1957 during a magnetic survey of the Canadian Arctic by Aero Service Corporation out of Philadelphia. The operation flew 600 hours and 16000 miles during that summer.
http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps00ce07e3.jpg |
Sillohed: Thank you for your reminiscences as well as the truly nostalgic photos! :ok: I had a wee chuckle as I imagined you spinning about on the lake trying to fire-up the old girl!
Magnetic surveys still throw-up some pretty bizarre contraptions for helicopters to fly with or tow but that surely is a classic, lol! Some more evidence of early British Bells with floats .. (Apologies for the terrible photo quality, scanned from a newspaper cutting). https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-I...outts%2529.jpg Bell 47G-4A G-AYAE at Fort Charlotte in Lerwick on the Shetland Isles on 7th June 1970 (Photo: Dennis Coutts) The newspaper article reads: A helicopter has been seen over Lerwick in recent weeks but it was only on the eve of departure from Shetland that it landed in the town. In Fort Charlotte on Sunday the pilot chatted with county surveyor Mr J. P. Moar who used the machine to lift pipes for a water scheme. The main use however was for aerial surveying for the Ordnance Survey. The floats bear the word 'helicopters' but in 1970 G-AYAE was registered to Film Flight! In '74 she moved on to join John Crewdson's stables at Southend as part of the Helicopter-Hire fleet. |
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i...ckers%2529.jpg
Rent-a-Copter FH1100 G-AVTG as seen at Battersea Heliport in May 1969 (Photo: Brian Bickers) A 'new' image of G-AVTG (courtesy of Brian Bickers) and which last appears on page 77 wearing the 'Helicopter Sales' livery a year prior to the above photo. This photo taken just one month before 'TG' perished at the 1969 Paris Air Show where she was being flown by Nigel Osborn's former RN instructor Terry MacDonald. |
Here is another specimen of the FH1100 on floats in winter, they were just great to work in places where the snow was deep and no crust.
The other pic is of the same aircraft with the eng/tran cowling over the tailboom lost of space to work on the eng. 4 months earlier me and my engineer ended up in the trees with that same aircraft after the engine quit while tracking the blades. Nobody got hurt. Photo taken Northern Quebec, Canada winter 78/79 JD http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/v...ps87bbde94.jpg http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/v...ps2000cb69.jpg |
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