Shrieking Gazelles

[Zishelix]

Xbdt, excuse my curiosity, does Mr. Tercier replied on your e-mail regarding those old photos of his Gazelle?

[Savoia]

SA341G N565F (cn 1182) as seen at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (during their Air Day) on 5th July 2008 (Photo: Paul Johnson)

Zis, can you confirm if this is the same craft Denissimo used to peform his pilot review? Also, the FAA records are saying that this aircraft's registration certificate expired in August of last year .. there is also reference to a sale .. possibly to Ireland. Do you know anything about it?

[Zishelix]

Zis, can you confirm if this is the same craft Denissimo used to peform his pilot review?

Affirmative.



Last info I have about N565F is from June 2012 - regd to the owner in Northern Ireland.

The helicopter was advertised for sale since January 2010 by Rotor F/X LLC.

[Savoia]

Grazie!

While on Gaz sales .. do you happen to know if ZB682 was sold? (Btw I thought the UK MOD sold them in batches as opposed to one-by-one?).

And .. do you remember the Gazelles at this year's Heli-Expo, well here's some footage taken a few days ago of N341SH:

[Zishelix]

ZB682 was seen few days ago stored at Deighton, York as G-CIEX. Waiting for more info...

[xbdt]

Yes, ZB682 has been sold and I know who has it now ;-)

It is still in the UK and will be refurbished to flying condition and used for display purposes.

[Savoia]

One cannot see anything (yet) allocated for G-CIEX but, hopefully, it will become clear soon.

The 'Gazelle Squadron' did mention last year that they were looking to add an additional aircraft to their team but, I think they may already have this.




More F-WTNA to compliment those images already displayed on page 2.

A poor copy I'm afraid, and as with the other shots of 'NA', no date or location is recorded with this image:


SA341G Gazelle cn. 1001 F-WTNA (Photo: Sud Aviation Archives)

[Zishelix]

It is still in the UK and will be refurbished to flying condition and used for display purposes.

Good to know one more Gazelle got a chance for a new life!

Since you know the owner, hopefully you can post a photo in it's new livery... when she gets it?

As a demo machine, F-WTNA was a frequent flyer and visited may different airports in those days.

[Zishelix]

A little bit trivia: You'll be surprised how many Gazelle pin badges there are to be found! I have discovered over 35 of them so far.

Here are some examples:

[Savoia]

Great stuff Zis!

I used to have a quite a collection of different helicopter badges and tie pins but, alas, over the years the leather box in which they were kept managed to 'disappear' between moves.

* * *

With Easter fast approaching I am sure there are some who may be considering the menu for Easter Sunday.

If this is the case than may I recommend the following Roast Lamb dish ..

Easter Sunday Roast Lamb Recipe

1 Leg of lamb (Approx 2.5kg)
2 Whole heads of garlic, cut in half horizontally, plus 8 cloves, sliced
5 Sprigs of fresh rosemary
8 Carrots, peeled and cut in half lengthways
2–4 Tbsp olive oil
Salsa verde (optional)
4 Fresh anchovies in vinegar
2 Tbsp capers
2 Tbsp cornichons
½ Bunch parsley, leaves only
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
Salt and black pepper

Preheat the oven to 220C/gas mark 7.

Make slits all over the lamb with the point of a sharp knife. Place a few slices of garlic and a few rosemary needles in each cut. Season the lamb all over.

Pour the olive oil into a large roasting tin. Add the garlic bulbs, remaining rosemary and carrots and toss to coat in the oil. Sit the lamb in the tin and roast in the oven for 15 minutes. Then turn the heat down to 180C/gas mark 4 and cook for a further 45-60 minutes (basically it's 20 minutes per 450g, plus another 20 minutes, depending on how pink you like your meat).

Remove the lamb from the oven, transfer to a plate or draining tray and allow to rest for 10–15 minutes. With a spoon, take out any excess fat from the roasting tin and discard, then stir in the juices from the resting lamb. Carve and serve with the carrots and juices poured over.

You can also serve with salsa verde: blend the garlic, anchovies, capers and cornichons in a food processor. Add the oil and parsley, then blend until smooth. Add the vinegar and stir, and more oil if too thick. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

* * *

Ah well, all this talk of lamb reminds me of a little story ..

In the year 1900 an Englishman called Thomas Henry Lamb (who had emigrated to Canada in the late 1800's) left his teaching career and started-up a fur trading business on the shores of Moose Lake in Manitoba.

One of Thomas' sons, Tom Jnr, ended-up leaving school before completing grade 3 whereupon he engaged himself in his father's business. At the age of 10, Tom Jnr had assembled a team of horses together with a sleigh, and began competing with grown men in the business of hauling fish across Manitoba's frozen expanses.

Transport and logistics became a growing enterprise within the Lamb family business and it wasn't long before they were hauling fish, lumber, trees, fur and other supplies by all and any means including dog teams, horses, boats, trucks and tractors!

In the late 1920's a small transportation revolution was taking-place across Northern America and which was led by developments in air transport. When Tom Lamb saw an aircraft for the first time he would later say of the moment: "I knew instantly that this was going to change everything."

In 1930 Tom Lamb bought his first aircraft, a Stinson SR-8, and travelled to Winnipeg to learn to fly. During his flying training he lived in a tent behind the Winnipeg Flying Club in order to keep his costs down. Upon completion of his flight training he checked himself out on the Stinson and immediately offered the aircraft for hire.

In 1935, Tom incorporated Lamb Airways Limited, although the airline would encounter several name changes over the years.

Tom Lamb went on to became one of the most celebrated Manitobans in Canadian history with his adventures being documented in book, film and song.

Lambair existed from 1935 to 1981 and employed a diverse fleet of aircraft which was eventually to incorporate helicopters including a Bell 47, Alouette II, JetRanger .. and oh yes .. a Gazelle!


Tom Lamb Jnr (extreme left) with his six sons, Greg, Donald, Dennis, Jack, Doug and Conrad. Taken at the Grace Lake seaplane base c. 1960




The Lambair Gazelle CG-VIT (cn 1137) lifting Cessna 180 CF-UGI in Manitoba (Photo: Lamb Family Archives)


The Lambair Gazelle would later become C-GVIT as seen here at Moose Lake in Manitoba (Photo: Todd Lamb)

[Zishelix]

Something for everybody there! I'll try your recipe one of these days and let you know how it was.

Re CG-VIT/C-GVIT: it became N47308 during late 1970s, had an accident in 1983 or '84 and probably w/o.

[Savoia]

Lol! Okay.

There are a number of 'personalisations' one can make while preparing this dish. For instance, I like to grind the rosemary needles in a mortar and also to crush (not too much) the garlic cloves (this helps to bring-out the flavour of both while being cooked). I then add the rosemary powder to the crushed garlic and insert this paste into the slits made in the lamb. This really helps in 'boosting' the flavour of the meat.

Also, at about the half way point (during roasting) a small glass of red wine poured over the lamb works wonders!

And .. to add baby tomatoes (on the vine) to the roasting dish. They only need about 15-20 mins but they benefit from the meat juices and wine 'aroma' and are a tasty accompaniment to the meal.

* * *

XB, another SAS question!

Have you tried taking-off and landing with the SAS on and off and, if so, is there a noticeable difference in the aircraft's handling characteristics?

[xbdt]

Taking off and landing with SAS on or off is about the same. Without SAS it is more responsive so less stable. SAS is very handy in gusty conditions. Also when switching on the magnetic brake you can leave the controls alone for several minutes.

Below is our latest compilation:

I made a 360 (SAS ON) pedal turn at about 0:36.

[Savoia]

Fantastico XB!

Most enjoyable.

[Zishelix]

Just comparing the door handles between the Renault 4 and the Gazelle. Although they don't look exactly the same, I think both factories probably had the same supplier... or so I've been told.

[Jed A1]

In 1966 Aerospatiale engaged on a program of simplifying their helicopter design and production. They adopted light aircraft structural techniques and & value engineering!

A variety of car parts such as filters , radiators, fans etc. we're utilized mainly on their new product the squirrel. So much so that the squirrel's oil cooler is from a Citroen GS along with its fan.

Ultimately this all led to the Squirrel having 50% less parts than its predecessors. Innovations like the starflex rotorhead etc. are all a result of this program.

So it's no surprise that handles and other components made their way into other designs. It would be interesting to know what other car parts are on various machines.

[xbdt]

The Gazelle door handles and door locks are exactly the same as for the Renault 4L. Luggage compartment lock is the same as on Peugeot 304. Key cylinder is from Neiman.

[Zishelix]

Well it's always good to get firsthand confirmation about these Gazelle myths, thanks!

It's also good to know that if you own a Gazelle you can always find one or two needed 'bits' from a second-hand car shop!

[Savoia]

Hebrew Gazelles are something of a rarity (like Gazelles in Switzerland at the moment) but, there was a time when they were seen:


SA341G 4X-BHG 'Medizell' flying for Natalie Medical Services


The medical Gazelle taking-off in Israel


4X-BHG involved in a patient transfer at Atarot Airport just north of Jerusalem

Just a brief note about Atarot Airport which was a small airport located between Jerusalem and Ramallah. When it was opened in 1920 it was the first airport in the British Mandate for Palestine. It was closed during the Second Intifada in 2001.

No confirmed dates for these photos but am assuming (from peripheral information) that they are from the 80's.

[Zishelix]

Oh yes, 4X-Gazelles... interesting story.

* 4X-BHG was G-BLAO until 1987 when sold to the owner in Israel and leased to the company which provided MedEvac transport to the people with hart disease. This one is HA-LFA now.

* The second one visible in your photo is 4X-BHH, an SA.342L originaly delivered to Syria but captured by Israel after being shot down in Lebanon during 1982. Rebuilt and tested by IDFAF. Stored after about 3 years and sold on civil market. Mainly used for powerline maintenance and chemical spraying. HA-LFG since 2008.

* Beside these two, there was also 4X-BHI (ex D-HAIR), dismantled after the crash in 1993 (sold in spare parts), and this one below (more like a statue) which is still at the IDFAF Museum at Hatzerim:

[md600driver]

I bought 4X-BHH, 4X-BHG and parts of 4X-BHI in Israel, brought them back to UK then sent them off to Hungary for rebuild.

[Savoia]

.. an SA.342L originaly delivered to Syria but captured by Israel after being shot down in Lebanon in 1982.

Many thanks.

This goes some way in explaining a Star of David which was seen on a Syrian Air Force Gaz. A combination which, under any other circumstances would be .. well, let's just say .. incongruous.


A captured Syrian Air Force Gazelle sporting a Star of David behind the Syriac roundel

[xbdt]

Some history relating to 4X-BHG:

Brought to the US by Vought Helicopters who operated by it as N37748 from 1974 until 1980 when it was then sold to the American Helicopter Corporation. This company then operated it until 1983 when they sold it to Specialist Flying Training (SFT) of Carlisle in the UK when the helicopter became G-BLAO. In December 1986 SFT sold the aircraft to Norman Kramer of London who sold it to Israel in August of 1987.

The helicopter was operated in Isreal for some time on the British register and served in various jobs for IEC Merom and was then engaged in washing high voltage power lines for an electric company.

Achsancgerah Merom owned a helicopter flight services compnay, Chimauer, who re-registered the helicopter as 4X-BHG.

Chimauer, in cooperation with Natalie Emergency Medical Services then converted the helicopter for medical evacuation flights and the helicopter was painted in the colors of Natalie Medical Services. However, the venture did not last long due to the operating expenses associated with the helicopter. Afterwards the helicopter continued to fly with Chimauer.

In 2008, after being stored for many years, it was sold to a customer in the UK who then transported the helicopter to Hungary where it became HA-LFA. The helicopter is now for sale.

I know this one for long and it has now so many military parts that it will be not possible to put it onto any other registry.

According to my papers, all gear boxes are yugo parts and engine is a IIIB.

[Zishelix]

Very informative, thanks!

If I may just add that Vought Helicopter Inc. (VHI) was Aérospatiale's subsidiary set up in 1969 to market Aérospatiale helicopters in North America.

VHI changed its name to Aerospatiale Helicopter Corporation (AHC) in January 1976. So, technically speaking, neither VHI nor AHC imported Gazelles from France.

[Savoia]

The helicopter was operated in Isreal for some time on the British register ..

G-BLAO landing in Herzliya, in the northern part of Tel Aviv, in Israel c. 1988

It is unusual that Specialist Flying Training registered this as G-BLAO as most of their Gazelles were prefixed with G-SFT ..

Zis, do you have a photo (in your famous Gazelle collection) of this aircraft when it was N37748?

[Zishelix]

Zis, do you have a photo (in your famous Gazelle collection) of this aircraft when it was N37748?[/COLOR]

I somehow happen to have missed that one so far... well, seems my collection isn't so "famous" as you said.

[Savoia]

I think your Gazelle collection is still famous; just that is doesn't contain every single Gazelle ever produced .. yet !!

Not Belgian Gazelles .. but Gazelles in Belgium!


L'armée de Terre SA341F Gazelle ANG (cn 1416), displaying United Nations titles, as seen at Kleine Brogel Air Base in the north east of Belgium, on 8th September 1995 (Photo: Mark van der vliet)

[Zishelix]

After some ten or so years of my Gazelle project, I have collected 1,923 images/prints/slides of civilian Gazelles, 2,298 of military ones and about 248 miscellaneous and, as you can see, I am still missing some specific machines.

[xbdt]

Not bad! I think there are about 1700 airframes built; how many % are documented with your pictures?

I have not so many, but from some airframes I have about 200 pictures, like the N901B and UR-ACCA.

[Zishelix]

I'd say I have one or more pics of 70-75% of all (1425) Gazelle airframes produced.

[xbdt]

I thought there were more (about 1775), or does this number also includes the Soko and Abhco ones?

[Zishelix]

Aerospatiale & Westland = 1262
Soko = 163

ABHCo Gazelles used Aerospatiale's serial numbers.