Announcement

**Savoia** · 23rd January 2018, 07:48

D-HAAF

SA341G D-HAAF (cn. 1111) as seen at Stuttgart Airport on 10th September 1993 (Photo: Ray Barber)

Hopefully this craft will re-emerge in the times ahead.

**Savoia** · 24th January 2018, 08:17

ZU-RZR

SA342L ZU-RZR (1854) in flight in South Africa

705 Squadron

Royal Navy Sharks at RAF Chivenor in July 1984

**Savoia** · 25th January 2018, 08:13

Marines & ALAT

SA341B XX412 (WA1362) as seen at RAF Chivenor in August 1984

SA341F BDK (1388) as seen at Liège-Bierset on 12th May 2007 (Photo: Alex van Noye)

**Savoia** · 26th January 2018, 07:24

SA341G(S) F-GEQA (1274) NFI now flying as N71FR (Photo: Zishelix)

Go to original post.

**Savoia** · 27th January 2018, 07:51

SA341G(S) N901B (cn.1410) as seen at Breighton Airfield on 7th January 2018 (Photo by Jez)

SA341G 2-WMAN (cn.1277) as seen at Breighton Airfield on 5th November 2017 (Photo by Jez)

With our great thanks to 'Jez' for these supa shots from Breighton! Grazie mille Jez !!!

Some will notice that I have assigned the Avia-name 'Jenni' to 2-WMAN. Given her registration (which could be read as an abbreviation for 'two women') I wanted to find something that might represent this. Other factors were that this 'girl' (1277) has French connections and that her owner is domiciled in the UK. The obvious choice therefore seemed to be the British comedy duo French and Saunders. Jenni being taken from Saunders' first name!

**Savoia** · 27th January 2018, 11:15

Treat yourself to a copy of Filippo's highly informative book ..

Helicopter Principles of Flight

Available today from the FlightStore

Check out other great helicopter training resources via the button below

**Savoia** · 29th January 2018, 07:36

SA341B over San Carlos in the Falkland Islands NFI

Possibly a 3CBAS Marines bird?

**Savoia** · 29th January 2018, 07:40

SA341B XX449 (WA1443) with Chinook ZH904 as seen at Salisbury Plains Training Area on 18th January 2018

SA341B ZB692 (WA2007) as seen at Salisbury Plains Training Area on 18th January 2018

**Savoia** · 29th January 2018, 08:09

Iraqi 342

The date I have for these shots is 2016 NFI

**Savoia** · 30th January 2018, 10:14

SA342J 2-WILD (1695) as seen at Brasschaat Air Base on 17th September 2017 (Photo: Luc Barry)

SA341B G-HSDL (WA1227) as seen at Ysgol Glan Clwyd school in Denbighshire, Wales (Date unknown)

SA342M as seen in Sevare, Mali on 28th January 2013

Iraqi Defence Forces SA342 Iraq NFI

**Zishelix** · 30th January 2018, 18:19

G-BAZL at Greenham Common in July 7th, 1974

Photo courtesy of Aviaforan XB.

**Savoia** · 31st January 2018, 08:07

Nice one XB/Zis!

A flashback from page 15:

Twyford Moors Helicopters SA341G Westland Gazelle (cn WA1073) G-BAZL as seen at Southampton Heliport in 1974
(Photo: Barry Friend)

"Bazil" seen here receiving some pre-flight maintenance!

**Zishelix** · 31st January 2018, 09:55

SA-341F c/n 1337 as Gate Guard at ALAT base Pau in January 2015 (Photo: Philippe Boulay)

**Savoia** · 31st January 2018, 16:35

UK MoD Hastens to Abandon the Trusty Gazelle

Initial work is under way to replace the British Army's active fleet of 22 elderly Aérospatiale Gazelle AH1 helicopters, as the venerable type nears retirement.

"We do have plans to replace the Gazelle," says Air Commodore Al Smith, who holds the post of Capability Air Manoeuvre at the UK's Joint Helicopter Command. "It hinges on operational outputs so the customer gets the same or better product," he adds, noting: "I think we can probably do better than we do today."

Smith, speaking at the Defence IQ International Military Helicopter conference in London on 31 January, declined to reveal the platform under consideration, or the timeline for any acquisition. The latter is driven by the out-of-service date for the Gazelle, which could be accelerated from a current target of 2025 if the type becomes more costly to support due to a shortage of spare parts.

The UK's MoD are seeking to hasten their abandonment of the Army's Gazelle helicopter despite her sterling service record

Employed by the Army Air Corps in the reconnaissance and battlefield liaison role, the Gazelle also relies on a pool of what Smith describes as "really highly trained" flightcrew, who are used to operating as a single pilot in "quite challenging weather conditions".

"How much longer do we want to rely [on those crews]… and at what point do we want technology to reduce that workload?" asks Smith.

A replacement programme is unlikely to be a like-for-like acquisition: thanks to advances in technology, Smith believes that a similar or better capability could be provided with a smaller number of platforms.

"Looking at the number of Gazelles, we think we can deliver a customer product with significantly fewer than we have today," he says.

An acquisition process has also begun for the Royal Air Force's Boeing CH-47 Chinook fleet. This is "still in the assessment phase" says Smith, but stresses that the UK armed forces "need heavy lift".

Any future purchase will be a "manned platform", he says, with the Ministry of Defence likely to wait until the arrival of the enhanced Block II version of the Chinook in 2023.

While no decision has been taken on whether to acquire more Chinooks or another type, Smith notes: "There are not that many competitors out there."

In addition, a part of any future Chinook purchase could include the MH-47G variant for special forces operations, Smith confirms.

"If Block II were the answer… then the MH is an attractive option, because it offers some capabilities that some of the others don't," he notes.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...effort-445376/

**Savoia** · 1st February 2018, 08:42

SA342L KAF-523 (1379) as seen at Kuwait International Airport on 19th January 2018 (Oleksiy Naumov)

Syriac SA342L as seen at Kweres Airbase, Ayria on 16th October 2017

Gazelle Viviane departure

**Savoia** · 2nd February 2018, 07:36

The X-Craft is for Sale!

The sale of the X-Craft represents a rare opportunity to acquire a truly spectacular example of the Gazelle, one which possesses a fine pedigree and is offered in pristine condition.

The X-Craft has been maintained to the highest possible standards and with outstanding care and attention to detail. This stunning helicopter is being offered with a comprehensive specification package.

To find out more about this unique acquisition opportunity, visit Gazelles for Sale.

Gazelle for sale Gazelle helicopter for sale sa341 for sale sa341g for sale sa341 gazelle for sale sa342 for sale gazelle helicopter for sale sa341f for sale

**md600driver** · 2nd February 2018, 08:42

Originally posted by Savoia View Post

Anyone care to offer any opinions on the comments in bold?

NEWS TIPS REQUEST: Last year Aviafora was informed that there were potentially three consortiums, one in Russia, one in South Africa and one in the UK, who were positioning themselves to bid for the acquisition of the upcoming disposal of Gazelles from the British Army. So far it appears as if the UK and South African rumours may be correct, but we would appreciate any additional information that any of our readers may have to offer. If you do not wish to post your comments in person online then you can email your news tips to: aviafora1@gmail.com
Grazie

I think you will find quite a few potential buyers for ex-UK MoD helicopters. It will all depend on how the UK government want to dispose of them; piecemeal or in one lot.

The UK government have a history of not wanting to make a profit out of selling ex-military Gazelle assets, and so they sell them in one lot at a far lower price per item than if they were to sell them separately.

**Savoia** · 2nd February 2018, 10:04

GAZELLES DOWN - SOUTHERN FRANCE

Two SA342M Gazelle helicopters from the French School of Light Army Aviation (L'École de l'aviation légère de l'Armée de terre - EALAT) collided at approximately 07:30 GMT this morning over Lac de Carcès near Brignoles in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southestern France.

The accident claimed the lives of all involved, an instructor and student in one aircraft, together with an instructor and two students in another.

Helicopters from EALAT's Cannet-des-Maures base (from where the Gazelles departed) as well as from the Gendarmerie and Sécurité Civile, were involved in the response together with numerous ground-based emergency service personnel.

Four of the deceased were recovered from the wreckage of the aircraft, while a fifth was found among nearby trees. Debris from the accident is said to be strewn across two areas. Unconfirmed reports suggest the Gazelles were on a training exercise which involved flying in formation.

AN.

Crash site location

A Gendarmerie EC135 attending the crash site this morning

The EALAT base at le Cannet-des-Maures from where the Gazelles were tasked

Scenes from the crash site

News report (in French)

**Aviafora Newsdesk** · 3rd February 2018, 08:15

French Army Begins Definition Work on Gazelle Replacement

The French army has begun early definition work with Airbus Helicopters on the H160M's it will obtain as part of its tri-service procurement.

In March 2017 the developmental H160M was selected to form the basis of France's hélicoptère interarmées léger (HIL) programme, splitting 160-190 rotorcraft between the air force, army and navy to replace a sizeable fleet of aged types. Deliveries were due to start in 2024, but this is likely to be pushed back when France publishes its defence spending plan later this year.

In the army's case, the H160Ms will be used to replace around 80 Aérospatiale SA342 Gazelles, which are employed in an armed scout role.

The exact split between the three services is yet to be determined, but Lt Gen Michel Grintchenko, head of French army aviation, says he is "confident that we will get a like-for-like replacement".

In addition, Grintchenko, speaking at the Defence IQ International Military Helicopter conference in London on 31 January, said he had a "box full of ideas" for how to employ the new aircraft, which will be bigger than the Gazelle, and take advantage of the greater range and endurance offered.

Potential roles include medevac, armed scout, and command and control, says Grintchenko.

Col Pierre Verborg, head of operations at French army aviation, says the H160M will be able to carry five to six troops.

It will be armed with two 7.62mm door-mounted machine guns, as well as a larger 20mm gun and TDA Armements Aculeus laser-guided rockets.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...ed-sco-445463/

**Savoia** · 3rd February 2018, 08:58

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

**Savoia** · 5th February 2018, 08:22

RAF & Army Archives

RAF SA341D ZB627 (WA1914) as seen at RAF Brize Norton in 1993

Now flying with the Gazelle Squadron as G-CBSK.

AAC SA341B XX383 (WA1268) as seen at Groninger Airport, Eelde, Netherlands in April 1984 (Photo: Marnius Tabak)

**Savoia** · 5th February 2018, 10:39

G-SFTH, most likely at the SFT hangar in Cumbria, date unknown

I have received this blurry image of G-SFTH (cn.1155) which shows her with pop-out floats fitted - and I am wondering whether the bags on the left are a set of inflated pop-outs?

No details with this photo, but from the cache posted by Nosco earlier in this thread, it looks to be the SFT stable at Cumbria, for it seems they built that hangar without skylights?

Hopefully Nosco will be able to confirm some details as well as the approximate year of this shot.

I am wondering about the circular sticker on this craft and whether perhaps she was being leased out by SFT?

This Gaz evidently became HA-LFC.

**Savoia** · 5th February 2018, 19:38

SA341G(S) N901B (cn.1410) as seen at Breighton Aerodrome on 4th February 2018 (Photo by Jez)

**Savoia** · 6th February 2018, 07:55

AAC & AdT

ZB665 and at unknown location with what appears to be an interesting panel modification

SA342 Viviane ground run in Mali

**Zishelix** · 6th February 2018, 08:03

Nice drawing of JA9098

More pics of the same Gaz here

**Zishelix** · 7th February 2018, 07:07

Another view of N901B from her visit to Breighton Aerodrome on February 4th, 2018 (Photo: Dave Marshall)

**Zishelix** · 8th February 2018, 07:17

The Importance of Proper Maintenance!

**Zishelix** · 8th February 2018, 17:10

A door sign courtesy of HAI!

**Zishelix** · 9th February 2018, 07:02

ZU-HBH crew training for Anti-Poaching missions

Great jobs guys!

**Savoia** · 9th February 2018, 07:50

SA341G RA-2520G (cn. 1034) ex-I-LDAV hover and landing in Vladivostok

Announcement

Shrieking Gazelles

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