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At the Marrakech Air Show last fall--Bell's second annual appearance--the company displayed an AH-1Z attack helicopter and an H-1 cockpit demonstrator. Morocco has been examining a recapitalization of its fleet of Gazelle utility and attack helicopters.
Hard to guess about condition of their Gazelle fleet but the fact is they have few quite rare examples of 'stretched' 342s. Let's hope we'll see some of them demobbed soon!
I think Morocco obtained over 25 Gazelles between 1976 and '83.
SA341G 1278 N47315 was on the FAA as being cert expired 14 October 2014 with the last owner being shown as Horizon Helicopters of Texas. Now however it has sold from Luigia Bertolino to International Air Services (Trustee) on 8 January this year.
Has anyone seen anything of this aircraft in recent years?
As it happens, signore Elipix mention this aircraft a couple of pages back when we were investigating which Gazelle had been in single ownership the longest. However, I don't think we have any further information on this craft at present.
SA341G 1278 N47315 was on the FAA as being cert expired 14 October 2014 with the last owner being shown as Horizon Helicopters of Texas. Now however it has sold from Luigia Bertolino to International Air Services (Trustee) on 8 January this year.
Has anyone seen anything of this aircraft in recent years?
International Air Services won’t be the actual owner, they are simply a trust company. The aircraft could even have the same owner.
When I changed my trust company from Southern to International, it showed the aircraft as being registered to a new to trust, but it was still the same owner in the UK.
SA341B ZB666 (WA1933) as seen at AAC Middle Wallop on 11th May 1992 (Photo by Simon Bullimore)
The somewhat unfortunately registered 'ZB666' seen here at Wallop. Eight years later, on 24th February 2000 and while serving with 664 Squadron, she would be written-off on Mount Kenya after hitting a tree with her main rotor at night.
However, behind this regrettably registered Gazelle, can be seen a delightful Antonov Aи-2 'Annushka'. Click here to see a Hungarian Annushka starting up.
Can anyone identify the pre-production Gazelle pictured on page 3 of this report? Very little to go on but some of the experts here might know this machine. Thanks.
I have been in contact with the chairman of NELSAM (North East Land, Sea and Air Museum, Usworth) who informs me that ZB666 was donated to the museum circa 2008 to be stripped for spares to rebuild XX380 for display at Wattisham. What was left of ZB666 was disposed of.
Also to report is that G-BAGJ is going to return to civilian markings in the future. Can't wait to see that, this is the first helicopter and only Gazelle I have flown in.
Very interesting about BAGJ, especially given your connection with the bird. Will this be the first civilian static display Gaz in the UK?
I don’t think this will be the first civvie Gaz to be displayed in the UK.
The Duke of Westminster had an ex-German civilian Gazelle at his museum at Eaton Hall in Cheshire, although the same as BAGJ, ie. dressed-up in military colours.
Also, from memory, didn’t BAGJ have a military registration before she became civilian?
Correct MD600driver ......G-BAGJ was issued military markings XW858 prior to becoming civilian but never went into military service, so never wore the markings. She was with Westland Helicopters 26.10.72 - 14.2.74 and then United Marine (1939) Ltd 14.2.74 - 11.4.79 (operated by Point to Point Helicopters).
'The Gazelle' by David Oliver is due to be released on 15th April:
The Aerospatiale/Westland Gazelle is one of the longest serving and most successful reconnaissance and light attack helicopters.
The Gazelle soon made an impression with its high speed, smooth looks and design innovations such as the Fenestron-ducted tail rotor and composite main rotor blades.
In this readable book, aviation expert David Oliver tells the full story of the development of the Gazelle as well as its various air force, military and naval roles and deployments.
Once Westland joined the French helicopter project, the Gazelle was adopted as a trainer by the RAF, as a battlefield reconnaissance and attack helicopter by the Army Air Corps and Royal Marines and as a training helicopter by the Royal Navy. It carried out similar roles in the French armed forces and those of other nations.
As this book shows, armed variants of the Gazelle have taken part in conflicts in the Falklands, Northern Ireland, Lebanon, the Gulf War, former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Mali and Syria. It has also been adapted for civilian roles.
As a testament to its success, Gazelle helicopters will continue in service with the British and French armed forces beyond 2020. Illustrated with lavish colour photographs, this book is an essential guide to one of the world's most successful military and civilian helicopters.
Can anyone supply a link to a set of accurate scale drawings of the Gazelle (standard length cabin)? A scale model manufacturer is working on a new 1/48 scale kit of the Gazelle and any scale plans and component drawings will assist in ensuring the kit will be as accurate as possible. Thanks.
I don't think any the existent Gazelle scale kits on the market deserve mark A. Fujimi's product is the closest when looking overall but they quite missed fenestron shape.
Let's hope the announced one will avoid mistakes of predecessors
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