Announcement

**Savoia** · 23rd December 2017, 18:04

Read about Siberian artist Evgeny Alyokhin and the 'Russian Robinson' on the R44 Thread. Watch Evgeny re-paint this aircraft and see his post-repaint video of the Russian Robinson in flight over Siberia.
See an Irish Air Corps AW139 in snow near Athlone earlier this month on our Movements thread.
Did you know that the RAF had Hawker Hurricanes stationed within Russia's arctic circle during the Second World War? Find out more on our WW2 thread.
Avia member 'Nosco' has posted a lovely wintery shot from his photograph collection of a Swiss Alouette III from 1988. Check it out on Alouettes & Lamas.
See some lovely shots of a Hiller Soloy in British Columbia, a great shot by Gilles Paccalet of French JetRanger F-HUBA at Courchevel as well as a North American 'Astar' captured in Alaska at the end of last month. All on our Winter Flying thread.
See Italian Hughes 500D I-SHRA in snow at Corvara, wearing 'C' model paintwork and check out the 'Christmas Hughes' on the Classic Hughes thread.

And last, but by no means least, no Christmas could be complete on Aviafora without visiting the Courchevel Citation!

It is a Christmas tradition among Aviafora's members and readers to watch (at least once)

the 'Courchevel Citation'

Enjoy!
.

Click here for The Courchevel Citation

**Zishelix** · 24th December 2017, 08:51

...............................

**Savoia** · 27th December 2017, 08:10

SA341G N341AS (cn 1042) in flight over Zomergem in Belgium

I don't have a date for the above air-to-air clip of the X-Craft, but hoping XB can assist.

SA342L KAF 523 (cn 1379) as seen in Kuwait City on 13th December 2017 (Photos by Alexander Melnikov)

Seen attending the 2017 Gulf Defence & Aerospace Exhibition.

SA342M GEX as seen at Étain-Rouvres Air Base on 30th November 2017

**Rotorspot** · 27th December 2017, 12:14

Kuwaiti Gazelles

Many sources report the Kuwait Gazelles as SA342K models. Some pictures (including the above of KAF-523, as well as one of KAF-517 (below) show these two labelled as SA342L models. Have these always been SA342L's, or can they have been upgraded from K to L models?

**Rotorspot** · 27th December 2017, 12:22

Russian Gazelle Cancelled

According to the latest Russian aircraft register (dated 26-Dec-2017) Soko 341G Gazelle RA-05702 (c/n 058) has been cancelled. This happened somewhere in the past 4 weeks.

Anyone having an idea about her fate? She was for sale in 2016.

**Savoia** · 28th December 2017, 09:34

A New Gazelle .. for a New Year?

Find out soon .. on SG!

**Savoia** · 29th December 2017, 08:24

SA341G C-FEDG as seen in Latornell (south of Grande Prairie), Alberta, Canada on 14th December 1978 (Photo: Steve Aubury)

**md600driver** · 30th December 2017, 00:01

Originally posted by Rotorspot View Post

Found some more pictures of this beauty (N247CK) at
https://shootaviation.com/aircraft/f...lle-helicopter
The exact identity is still a mystery.

I remember when she was painted in those colours. The owner wanted her overall white, very similar to mine. However, he always wanted a 342 stretch with autopilot, and which he eventually got.

**Savoia** · 30th December 2017, 08:12

Originally posted by md600driver View Post

I remember when she was painted in those colours. The owner wanted her overall white, very similar to mine. However, he always wanted a 342 stretch with autopilot, and which he eventually got.

Great stuff Stefano!

I don't suppose you happen to know her identity?

I've heard two suggestions so far, G-EHUP and G-OLDH. I suppose GazEngineer would know seeing as she seems to be an MW bird.

In 2014 Zis posted the photo below of the same craft being displayed (minus rotorhead) at the Excel Centre:

More Snow Gaz ..

SA342L1 E7-ABI (cn 139) as seen refuellling (perhaps near Sokolac in Bosnia in 2012, to be confirmed)

**Zishelix** · 30th December 2017, 14:35

A nice vintage postcard showing 705 Sqdn Navy Sharks Gazelles flying over St. Michaels Mount in Cornwall.

**Zishelix** · 31st December 2017, 17:32

I wonder if we will brake the record from January 1st, 2017 (most users ever online on Aviafora) this evening!

**Zishelix** · 31st December 2017, 19:35

N341WC, a Gazelle with 'a licence to kill' taken at Kissimmee, FL in 1991 (Photo: Sid Nanson)

**Savoia** · 1st January 2018, 08:14

Elipix wrote: I'm convinced its G-OLDH the photo on MW helicopters website matches perfectly and is listed for sale although not giving registration. Thats my thoughts until proven otherwise.

That this is the same bird that MW is offering up for sale is beyond doubt (see photo below), she even carries the Excel branding.

I am fairly sure that she isn't ex G-EHUP as she is now flying as YU-HWF which we have seen around the UK at various times in recent years.

Of G-OLDH, her CofA seems to have expired in 2011/12 and her insurance received a 'No Flight' declaration in 2016, and indeed we've seen no airborne shots of her anywhere.

As Stefano mentioned, she has a similar finish to '901' in that she appears to be coated with pearlised paint (compare with another MW white stretch G-CDJT below).

MW's pearlised white stretched 341 at Stapleford

MW stretched 341 G-CDJT in plain white at Stapleford (Photo: Elipix)

**Savoia** · 1st January 2018, 08:17

SA341G G-BAZL (WA1073) as seen at Southampton Heliport in 1973 (Photo: Ron Smith)

**Savoia** · 1st January 2018, 20:42

Sav wrote: I am fairly sure that she isn't ex G-EHUP as she is now flying as YU-HWF which we have seen around the UK at various times in recent years.

Speaking of YU-HWF, would you like to fly over Jostedal Glacier in Norway in a Gazelle?

Alexander with YU-HWF over the Jostedal Glacier in Norway

Alexander with YU-HWF by Lake Trollfjordvatnet in Norway

Alexander with YU-HWF in Tromso, Norway (with commentary)

**Savoia** · 2nd January 2018, 08:04

RA-1347G in Russia February 2017

**500 Fan** · 2nd January 2018, 18:06

Originally posted by Zishelix View Post

Does anyone know the RAL number for the green colour in the Armee de Terre colour scheme? Info requested for a modeller on a scale model forum. Thanks.

500 Fan.

**Zishelix** · 2nd January 2018, 18:55

Olive Drab TS5 or TS28
Matt Black TS6
Red Brown TS1 or Nato Brown TS62

**Savoia** · 3rd January 2018, 08:15

SA341B XX390 (WA1298) as seen at RAF Leuchars on 16th May 1979 (Photo: Ian Howat)

I wouldn't mind getting hold of a photo of one of the British Army (or Marines) Gazelles in flight with the handling wheels mounted on the skids (as above), if indeed they flew with them in this configuration. If so, I wonder whether there were any related vibration issues?

Judging by the colour of her exhaust, she looks to have been newly delivered, but the records have her as manufactured four years earlier in 1975.

Unfortunately, this CBAS bird decided to take a swim in a lake in Northern Ireland (Lough Foyle) a year after this photo, thankfully though the three on board survived her aquatic adventure!

**Zishelix** · 3rd January 2018, 09:17

Cyprus AF's SA.342L1 marked '354' sitting at Paphos International on November 8th, 2017 (Photo: Fred Willemsen)

**md600driver** · 3rd January 2018, 15:43

Originally posted by Savoia View Post

SA341B XX390 (WA1298) as seen at RAF Leuchars on 16th May 1979 (Photo: Ian Howat)

I wouldn't mind getting hold of a photo of one of the British Army (or Marines) Gazelles in flight with the handling wheels mounted on the skids (as above), if indeed they flew with them in this configuration. If so, I wonder whether there were any related vibration issues?

I have these same brackets in stock for mounting the wheels if anyone needs any in future!

**Savoia** · 4th January 2018, 07:31

Juba Joubert flying Victor Picoto's SA341B ZU-RLH (cn WA1600) at the Kishugu Lowveld Air Show at Nelspruit Airport on 16th June 2017 (Photo: Anton Nel)

SA341D ZU-HGZ (cn 1728) as seen in South Africa on 18th December 2017 (Photo: Bruce Perkins)

Wash day for a 3/3 Squadron 'Les Félins' Gazelle on 27th October 2017

Had any of the staff at Ferranti used any sort of brush (no matter how soft the bristles) on any of the aircraft's surfaces, my late godfather would have thrown an absolute fit!

Storm in a Herzegovinan Tea Cup!

The Helicopter Service of the Republic of Srpska has found itself in the midst of a political debate following the delivery of a pop singer to a venue in Bosnia on New Year's Eve.

Apparently the opposition party are questioning whether it was appropriate for the government to make the Gazelle (E7-ABI) available for this purpose, and to which all Aviaforans replied with one voice ... YES!

https://www.rtvbn.com/3891459/pdp-tr...r-od-vlade-rs-

**Savoia** · 4th January 2018, 19:28

More YU-HWF ..

Gaz Camping, Norwegian Style!

Alessandro demonstrates how to turn a Gaz tailboom into a tent ridge beam!

Alessandro with SA341G(S) YU-HWF (cn 1407) in Norway

**Savoia** · 5th January 2018, 08:17

1307 & 1509

Following on from post 3006 above:

The pearl white Gaz seen is Zis' photo of 2014 and in the photo/s posted more recently, has now been confirmed as 1307 G-OLDH. We are also informed that 1307 is presently undergoing overhaul, which presumably means she may have a new owner this year?

Unconfirmed reports suggest that the recent photos of this craft (an example of which is below) were in preparation for her appearance in a film, possibly from the Kingsman franchise.

SA341G(S) 1307 on location during her recent photo shoot for appearance in a movie later this year

We also showed another white MW stretched Gaz G-CDJT, and here is a shot of her when she was Stateside:

SA341G(S) 1509 Stateside

**Savoia** · 5th January 2018, 18:02

More Snow Gazelles ..

SA342J D-HOPP (cn 1695) in Germany (Photo: Detlef Böntgen)

D-HOPP of course now being a member of Benegaz.

HA-LFA in Hungary in January 2011

**Savoia** · 6th January 2018, 08:24

While no longer as popular (especially in the UK) as it once was, the Epiphany is a significant Christian celebration
which remains a public holiday in numerous countries.

To learn more about the Epiphany, click here.

**Zishelix** · 6th January 2018, 16:36

HELIATICA LLC is a Russian privately owned company supporting general aviation, commercial and state helicopter operators. The company core competencies are supply of spare parts, distribution in Russia and CIS of STC mission equipment, maintenance and training solutions from Western providers.

I wonder what's this box on the skid of their Gazelle?

See post #33 on this page: http://www.aviafora.com/forums/forum...for-sale/page2

**xbdt** · 6th January 2018, 17:53

Compressor Wash Day!

**Savoia** · 7th January 2018, 07:34

~ Merry Christmas II ~

Wishing all of our Russian readers a very Merry Christmas!

To find out why Russia celebrates Christmas Day on 7th January, click here.

**Savoia** · 8th January 2018, 07:38

Elizabeth Ann (one of the greatest names in the world!

) Flies Aboard G- VOIP

Also, another clip from Alessandro's Norwegian expedition:

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