And the (only?) exception...

JCB had one of the earliest out of sequence registrations, G-BJCB an HS-125-600 in the 1970s - the registration was used again on its replacement; both can be seen on G-INFO, one is listed as G-BJCBx.

Airmail........

Courtesy of G-INFO have turned up some info on your Cabair AS355s.

1). G-BTIS is now registered G-NBEL with Latitude Aviation. Took up those marks on 10 June 10. The aircraft is of course our old friend G-TALI: see page 2 of this thread. It also flew as G-SKYW for some time.
2). G-OBIG was registered on 28 Aug 96. It had previously flew as G-BOPS & G-SVJM. It left the register on 31 Aug 00: destination Belgium.
3). G-OHCP was registered on 19 Mar 94. It had previously been registered G-BKJX, G-TOFF, G-BTVS & G-STVE. It is currently chartered to Staske Construction of Milton Keynes.

Hope that helps.

Planemike

G-LONG
 

CAA has it as

Bell 206L II 45227 New 02-05-79 to 28-08-91 with Air Hanson, then Walsh Aviation 28-08-91 to 08-05-97, Plane Talking Ltd., 08-05-97 to 19-12-97, then to USA, registered N43027 05-01-98 to 03-02-98, then went to Guatemala, registered TG-MIX, and may still be in use.

Wiggy

BcalH and Alton Towers
 

All these pilots and engineers - how about an accountant. I was with BcalH both in Shoreham and Aberdeen before routing via Orion Airways (East Midlands) to Alton Towers. My very early days at Alton Towers as Finance Director discovered John Broome had bankrupted the place and I have a vivid memory of his helicopter pilot removing some "critical instrument" because Broome would've pay him! He left that night and I never saw him again. Next thing was the administrators selling the aircraft (212 from memory). He wasn't pleased!

Airmail: A warm welcome aboard. I also enjoy browsing the thread .. especailly reading those posts which are not posted by 'Savoia' lol!

As Geoffers mentioned, in the UK there is only one airframe allocated per registration (to the best of my knowledge) but, this is not so in all countries, Australia is an exception for example and there are doubtless others.

Some of the craft you have mentioned were registered to Cabair while others were not. One thing all the aircraft you have mentioned have in common (including G-LONG) is that they were all at some point owned by a Jeremy Walsh of Walsh Aviation (as Wiggy has pointed out) and I rather suspect therefore that Walsh was somehow connected to Cabair. If this was so then there is every reason to believe that G-LONG was in fact the craft you recall. She was under Walsh's patronage from 1991-97.

Please try and dig-up some photos from your time with Cabair!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h...el+Rice%29.jpg
AS355F1 Ecureuil II G-BTIS (formerly G-TALI) date and location unknown but probably Ascot and probably early 00's (Photo: Michael Rice)

I actually flew in BTIS in a charter from Elstree in 2004.

Moneymatters: Bean counters are equally welcome! :p

My godfather left John Broome's employ in 1982 and the events you refer to would have happened some years later. The helicopter you mention was in all liklihood G-JLBZ, the Bell 222 which replaced the LongRanger my godfather flew.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-K...the+Towers.jpg
Bell 206L1-LongRanger II G-JLBI at Alton Towers amusement park c. early 1982

This photo was taken after having arrived from the JCB factory in nearby Uttoxeter where my godfather had gone to see Chalky White about collaborating on a sortie to Heathrow to collect a delegration from Disney World who were visiting the Towers.

G-JLBI had so much 'gear' fitted to her (Decca DANAC moving map navigator, autopilot, VOR, ADF, DME, Force Trim actuators, dual AI, dual DG, (dual controls for that matter), rotor brake and Schermuly flares) that with 70% fuel she was good for about 3 pax, lol!

While visiting Chalky over tea he offered my godfather a chocolate McVities digestive which my godfather gratefully accepted. He then went into one of his drawers and brought out a box of chocolate covered marshmallows with jam filling and offered me one .. I was equally appreciative .. whereupon my godfather launced into a tirade of abuse towads Capt. White accusing him of all kinds of prejudices .. but mostly those against Army aviators! Chalky reluctantly offered the Colonel the same treat and about a week later we flew down in company with G-OJCB (JCB's Ferranti-equipped JetRanger) to collect John's guests.

Memorable days.

Hello again,

Firstly, many thanks to the warm welcome by all and also to everyone replying to my post. I also must apologise in that I was so caught up in reading this entire thread that looking at G-INFO for the answers didn't even cross my mind! Having said that, I am glad that I posted as there seems to be a couple of follow ups as a result.

With regards to a (I use 'a' advisedly based on previous posts from better informed people than myself) Long Ranger with the registration G-LONG, I can guarantee that Cabair operated a Long Ranger during during the 90's with this registration! I became part of an ill fated venture to manage their pleasure flying activities in 1997 and G-LONG was part of the business plan, unfortunately because of the engine failure and subsequent heavy landing those plans went south. I can however recall many pleasure flying events before 97 where LONG was utilised.

In terms of ownership of the helicopters (and a lot of the fixed wind aircraft as well), Walsh aviation was a name that cropped up time and time again - and featured on the registration plates inside the aircraft. I have no idea whether this was because it they were owned for tax reasons or there was an individual/company that made a living by leasing these aircraft.

Savoia - I will hunt around for some photos, I know I have/had some somewhere but a few house moves may have had an impact. I do recall having a photo of G-OBIG soon after it was repainted for the Big Brother work so I believe that deserves a showing!!

Regards to all

registrations marks
 

Thank you so much, Savoia, for the wonderful aviation history:)

FYI, in Canada once a mark has been deregistered it can immediately be used again - and there are a few old Okanagan Heli reg's I would love to get back!

Airmail: Look forward to any photos you may dig up. :ok:

O'Leary: Welcome aboard. As you've seen, there isn't much by way of North American nostalgia on the thread and that's because there's simply too much of it! I do plan however to cover aspects of North American rotary-wing history but .. not here and not now.

However, we have showcased a few Canadian aircraft across the pages including those photographed by Steve Aubury some of which you can see on page 71 and which includes the 'Ed Darvill Helicopters' Gazelle C-FEDG.

A couple more here beginning with this early 70s' CCG Bell 206 and which photo I absolutely love. (Note the paddles tucked into the top of the floats):

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-h...russell%29.jpg
Canadian Coast Guard Bell 206A CF-CGO as seen at Toronto Island Airport in August 1971 (Photo: Mide Ody courtesy George Trussell)

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-g...Maurice%29.jpg
Okanagan Helicopters Bell 206B C-GOKC in Nunavat, Northern Canada on 3rd August 1978. Pilot Larry Cotter has finished re-fuelling while Paul MacKay loads equipment into the [Jet] Ranger's rear compartment (Photo: Yvon Maurice)

Received today, More BEWY:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-v...arrison%29.jpg
Bristow Bell 206B G-BEWY as seen at Redhill in August 1980 (Photo: Martin Harrison)

Regestired to Bristows in June 1977 and remained with them until May 1984. Then a rural life for the red Ranger as she went on to Copley Farms Ltd. of Babraham, Cambridge and then to Farm Helicopters of Ropsley near Grantham in Lincolnshire.

In 1988 she seems to have gone to Ireland for a year and in '89 to Dollar who renamed her G-CULL (perhaps another 'salute' to one of the Dollar staff in the trend of G-NEEP which we looked at earlier in the thread?).

From Dollar she went to PLM having regained her G-BEWY registration and then to Helicopter Support of Gloucester.

The record states that she flies to this day, now under the banner of Polo Aviation of Bristol.

G-BEWY
 

Sav,

And as of 31/12/11 has 20,756 hrs under her belt,for a 44 year old.

Wiggy

Wiggy: That's a good innings for the little red Ranger! :ok:

Classic 47

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_...avidson%29.jpg
Autair Bell 47G G-ARXH as seen at Fairoaks in 1969 (Photo: Geoff & John Davidson)

This 'G' model 47 imported from the US in 1962 when she was sold to Air Couriers of Biggin Hill. In 1966 she went to Autair at Luton and in 1969 was bought by Alan Mann.

Old 47, ......
 

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...BCranfield.jpg

Operated and owned by Trent Helicopters, Cranfield 1988.

Plank Cap

Sav, that bolkow above is G-BGKJ, it operated along with G-BEZJ in the lighthouse support role for North Scottish

Bolkow: Grazie mille!

We were talking about G-AZOM on the previous page and just today did I receive the following from Bob Woolnough:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8...nough%2529.jpg
BEAS/Bristow MBB Bo105D G-AZOM as seen at Inverness airport on 3rd October 1983 (Photo: Bob Woolnough)

Bob has promised another shot of AZOM wearing NLB titles soon.

I'd love to see any more pics of AZOm Sav, she spent some six years with Irish Helicopters doing lighthouse releif as EI-AWB, initially all yellow but then painted in green and white, somewhere on the internet there is a clip of her picking a guy up from the roof of a moving train in a Pink panther film when she was in the green and white scheme with Irish helicopters.

Sav

Thanks for the pic of G-AZOM. I flew her in ABZ for a while while mainly flying the 332 as well. Moved onto the S-76 after that.

Bolkow/I.I. - Great stuff!

While we await a further photo of G-AZOM from Bob Woolnough .. on the previous page we saw G-BAMF in her Management Aviation colours. Here she is while with Bond:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X...F+Shetland.png
Bond Helicopters MBB Bo105DM G-BAMF in the Shetland Isles in 1995

Evidently ferrying technicians to the isles to repair felled power lines.

Can you identify this 206?
 

I took this (rather poor quality) photo on 6th June 1979 on the occasion of the 200th running of the Epsom Derby. I have other photos of the heliport operations from the same day.

Among my snaps are two JetRangers (of which this is one) which, despite my best efforts, I have been unable to identify.

As can be seen, she is an overall pale olive colour with a broad white stripe covering the lower portion of her fuselage. Her registration is just for'ard of the horizontal stabiliser and painted in gold but .. is unreadable.

The distinguishing feature of this craft is her tail which carries either the French Tricolour or .. as I think more likely, an RAF 'fin flash' and would put the craft (perhaps) in the proximity of a Crab, or an ex-Crab.

Anyone who can cast their mind back to the late 70's and who may recall seeing this craft .. please do let me know!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-K...902/6.6.79.jpg
An unidentified JetRanger attends the 200th Epsom Deby at Epsom Downs race course on 6th June 1979

mystery J/R
 

Savoia, it's G-BAZN, c/n 124 ex ZS-HCJ, 9J-RIN, sold to Star Aviation & repainted red/w/blue, re-registered G-HELO, repainted all black with gold stripe & sold to Germany as D-HAFA & active in Ireland as such a few years back.

9J-RIN
 

I think remember her. Autair (Zambia), that'll be the late Link Lord, then. And I also think I completed a 100hr check on her (and left the oil filter to last, only to find it FULL with metal :sad:. Never again after that, what I was called is :mad:!)

Was this machine part of the Tazama pipeline contract? 9J-RIX certainly was, done a few hours in that machine too. :zzz:
Such VERY happy memories, when I was younger and had hair (and that was a LONG time ago) TRC are you monitoring this, djinn & tonic included? :O
VFR

Afterthought - particularly for TRC, didn't we have this machine as part of the AMH responsibilities? A private consortium owned it?