Announcement

**Savoia** · 1st April 2019, 09:44

SA341H RA-05702 (cn.058) as seen at Gostilitsy Airfield near St. Petersburg on 28th March 2019

Maintaining the Russian theme, be sure and check out Heli-Dog 'Belyi' seen resting in front of a Russian Lama some days ago. You can see Belyi on Heli-Dogs!

Anyone with photos of their canine companion together with a blitterblat (it doesn't have to be a Gazelle specifically, any helicopter will do) please send your photos to: aviafora1@gmail.com

Grazie mille!

**Savoia** · 2nd April 2019, 10:27

SA341F2 N9334W (cn.1575) as seen Stateside in 2018

**Zishelix** · 2nd April 2019, 21:59

A Gazelle at warp speed…

**Savoia** · 3rd April 2019, 09:27

SA341B G-HSDL (WA1227) as seen at Gloucester Staverton on 31st March 2019 (Photo by Donna Gibbs)

It looks as if Howard has had his company titles re-painted.

SA341G(S) (cn.1509) N340SM as seen at North Weald on 2nd April 2019 (Photo by Ronnie Macdonald)

**xbdt** · 4th April 2019, 08:36

Gazelle F-ZWRL with Arriel engine in-flight test:

**Savoia** · 5th April 2019, 09:05

SA341G G-WDEV (WA1098) as seen at Stapleford Airfield in the 2000's (Photo by Michael Rice)

On last week's Flashback we featured G-IZEL at Weston-super-Mare and which was the same craft, 1098, now seen above as WDEV (so registered from her time with Wickford Development) and wearing the same scheme, albeit in different colours.

Not sure of the craft behind her, but she is sitting on high skids.

**md600driver** · 5th April 2019, 19:35

Originally posted by Savoia View Post

SA341G G-WDEV (WA1098) as seen at Stapleford Airfield in the 2000's (Photo by Michael Rice)

On last week's Flashback we featured G-IZEL at Weston-super-Mare and which was the same craft, 1098, now seen above as WDEV (so registered from her time with Wickford Development) and wearing the same scheme, albeit in different colours.

Not sure of the craft behind her, but she is sitting on high skids.

The one at the rear looks like a 342J. I would guess G-TOPZ 1473.

**md600driver** · 5th April 2019, 22:44

Originally posted by Savoia View Post

I've tried enlarging the photo and it looks as though the reg on the maroon bird 'may' contain a 'C' and a 'Z' but I'm by no means certain.

YU-HEV used to be that colour.

**Savoia** · 6th April 2019, 08:49

SA341B RA-05709 (WA1184) as seen at an abandoned village in Russia's Taiga forest on 5th April 2019

SA341G N37UP (cn.1224) as seen over Viareggio, Tuscany in March 2019

3/3 Squadron Les Félins are offering a 50% discount on all their Gaz merchandise for a limited time.

Check out their merchandise here.

In other news ..

Sécurité Civile EC145 Strikes Power Lines in Martinique

**Helipixman** · 7th April 2019, 18:29

Gazelle in background of G-WDEV......

If Savoia is correct and there is a C and Z as part of the registration then that would make it F-GCCZ which MW imported and then re-registered it as YU-HEV

See photo below

Photo Helipixman Collection

**Zishelix** · 7th April 2019, 19:09

Well done, Elipix!

**Savoia** · 8th April 2019, 09:47

Qinetiq SA341C XZ939 (WA1750) (Photo by Laurie Hughes) NFI

2019 Gazelle Squadron Display Team drivers as seen at Bourne Park on 5th April 2019

Elsewhere .. Check out Gendarmerie EC145 fly-by here.

**Zishelix** · 9th April 2019, 08:40

Teddy Bears Paratrooping in Russia!

RF-00383 at Kubinka in March 22nd, 2008 (Photo: Dmitry A. Mottl)

By the way, anyone able to help about serial number of the specific machine?

**md600driver** · 9th April 2019, 08:43

Just to advise that David Oliver's book 'The Gazelle' has now been released.

I've been told that my copies are being sent to my local Waterstones shop.

The Gazelle by David Oliver

**Zishelix** · 10th April 2019, 08:27

Soko's SA.342L RA-0682G interior

**Savoia** · 11th April 2019, 08:42

SA341B XW847 (WA1011) as seen at Oban in Scotland on 14th March 2019

Gazelle airframe as seen at Stapleford on 9th April 2019

Gaz tail as seen at Stapleford on 10th April 2019

Gaz with minigun, March 2019 NFI

Zishelix wrote: but I don't expect it will come even close to the yet unbeaten aircraft monograph in terms of quality: John Wegg's 'Caravelle – The Complete Story'

Ah .. the Caravelle, another Sud Aviation classic!

I have fond memories of flying aboard the Caravelle with my late father.

The Caravelle was Alitalia's first jet liner

**Zishelix** · 11th April 2019, 15:47

G-ONNE WA341D #1089 at Duxford in February 24th, 2019 (Photo: Vinny Halls)

**md600driver** · 11th April 2019, 20:46

Originally posted by Zishelix View Post

Oh dear, thoroughly stripped cabin section so can't 'catch' on anything to identify it. One of demobbed UK machines? Assumption based on the wiper spindles still mounted on the windshield. Long shot I know

Looks like an ex-UK mil ship, although they normally have windscreen wipers. Some civilian ones also have wipers, especially 342's. The thing that gives it away are the rear door catches, as Army Gazelles have an extra fastener which locks it top and bottom. I’ve never seen a civilian Gazelle with that mod. Also, this Gaz has the extra fuse board as fitted to Army Gazelles, as well as the UK military full-length skid shoe mod.

**Zishelix** · 12th April 2019, 08:52

XX456 WA341B #1465 resting on English countryside in June 8th, 2006 (Photo: Peter Nicholson)

Does anyone know what happened with this Gaz after beng demobbed back in 2010?

**9Aplus** · 12th April 2019, 12:15

Montenegrin Gazelles

According to Jeremy, some of Montenegro Gazelles may hit the market soon:

Bell already has a relationship with the eastern European country following the delivery of three 412s to Montenegro last September. In a post on Facebook, the Montenegran military indicated that they realised their current fleet of Gazelle helicopters were approx 30 years old, and would need replacing within the next five years.

https://helihub.com/2019/04/09/bell-...egro-military/

**Savoia** · 13th April 2019, 08:35

SA342J I-PTEC as seen in Strevi, Allesandria in March 2019 (Photo by Marco Bonelli)

**Savoia** · 15th April 2019, 10:11

SA341B G-CDNO (WA1385) as seen at Fenland Airfield in Lincolnshire on 13th April 2019

Gazelles for sale in France, April 2019

SA342 as seen over the Meuse River in France, April 2019

Tiger Meet begins on 13th May 2019

SA341G N37UP (cn1224) con 'Arianna' in Italia on 12th April 2019

**Savoia** · 15th April 2019, 22:53

L'armée de Terre Gazelle over Notre-Dame de Paris

**Savoia** · 16th April 2019, 09:42

SAF Gaz over the Suva Planina mountain in Serbia

**Helipixman** · 16th April 2019, 17:43

Just picked up my copy of The Gazelle by David Oliver, had a quick flick through, plenty of photographs including a few from a well known web forum called Aviafora ! Fame at last for the forum...

**md600driver** · 16th April 2019, 20:18

Originally posted by Helipixman View Post

Just picked up my copy of The Gazelle by David Oliver, had a quick flick through, plenty of photographs including a few from a well known web forum called Aviafora !

I received mine today, good book. Just a shame they didn’t proof read it, as there are some errors.

**md600driver** · 17th April 2019, 00:32

Originally posted by xbdt View Post

Example, SA342G instead of SA341G, also they say N341GG was present at 50th anniversary in Middle Wallop (also untrue).
I got my copy last week ;-)

Yes I saw those also.

Some additional observations:

SA342C and 342L should be 342L1
HA-LFH identified as 341J but should be 342J
G-CDNO is not owned by Falcon
HA-PPY has been converted to 341G not 341H
ZU-HBH was not donated to South Africa's anti-poaching unit by Paramount. It’s never been owned by Paramount

**Savoia** · 17th April 2019, 10:35

SA341D ZB627 (WA1914) as seen at RAF Odiham on 3rd August 1990 (Photo by Glyn Ramsden)

This craft became G-CBSK.

Avia Comments
Grazie per i vostri commenti Stefano e XB!

Anyone else wanting to write a Gaz book, please contact us and we'll connect you with a couple of proof readers.

Also for Stefano and XB, thank you for your comments on the Army frame at Stapleford further up the page:

Stefano wrote: Looks like an ex-UK mil ship, although they normally have windscreen wipers. Some civilian ones also have wipers, especially 342's. The thing that gives it away are the rear door catches, as Army Gazelles have an extra fastener which locks it top and bottom. I’ve never seen a civilian Gazelle with that mod. Also, this Gaz has the extra fuse board as fitted to Army Gazelles, as well as the UK military full-length skid shoe mod.

Never knew about the door latches. I suspect the full-length shoes were because of all those run-ons!

XB wrote: Certainly an ex UK mil ship as it has the pitot support bracket and external 3x115V-400Hz connection port.

Ha ha, only you would know such a thing, but I'm afraid I can't pick it out, not unless it is perhaps highlighted in a photo!

Avia Traditions!

Now I can't mention British Army Gazelles and run-ons without making reference to Mark's run-on in Flying Soldiers.

Go to 7:30

**Zishelix** · 17th April 2019, 13:58

Fits perfectly for me, it says 'for ages 3 and above'

This remind me on a joke: Jim and Joe arguing which one is smarter. I'm very smart, said Jim, I can talk and write at the same time. Oh that's nothing, replied Joe, I can put together a jigsaw puzzle 'for 3 yrs & above' just in two weeks!

If it's not funny blame my English

**Savoia** · 18th April 2019, 09:42

SA342 as seen at Valence-Chabeuil Airport in April 2019

Plus .. a little something for Zishelix!

Announcement

Shrieking Gazelles

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