Shrieking Gazelles

[Savoia]

N342ET former F-HGUN


SA342J(S) N342ET (cn.1058) in the Rhône-Alpes on 28th May 2019

[Savoia]

SA342L1 12943 (cn.163) as seen in Podgorica in May 2018




SAF Gaz as seen at Ladjevci Air Base on 11th May 2013 (Photo by Dimitrije Ostojic)

ZU-RNE in South Africa

[Savoia]

SA341F2 N1198G (cn.1198) as seen at Simenstad Airport Wisconsin in 2017 (Photos by Tyler Hastings)

[Savoia]

Armée de Terre SA342M's at Yanbu Base in Saudi Arabia in September in 1990 (Photo by Pascal Guyot)

Seen above during pre-deployment for Opération Daguet in Gulf War I.


More North American Gaz ..


SA341F2 N341MG (cn.1482) as seen in Nevada on 30th May 2019

[Savoia]

SA341F2 ZU-RRW (1369) Matsieng Aerodrome, Botswana 25 May 2019 (Photos by Jonathan Laverick)




Check it out .. 10 Gazelles currently for sale in France — only on the GazMart!

[Savoia]

SA341F2 N9334W (cn.1575) as seen in Nevada in 2019





Check out the lastest Gaz on the GazMart!

[Savoia]

SA341G N341GG (cn.1181) as seen in Belgium on 1st June 2019

[Savoia]

A look at the painting process of this year's Tiger Gaz.













SA342M F-MGAB 3476 being repainted at Étain-Rouvres in May 19 (Photos by Régis Rocca)





SA342M F-MGAB 3476 during the Tiger Meet exercise in May 2019 (Photos by Anthony Pecchi)

[Savoia]

Members of the Gaz Squad at Old Warden on 2nd June 2019




SA341B XW847 (WA1011) as seen at Killymeal Barracks in Northern Ireland in the 1980's

[Rotorspot]

Crabtree Gazelles Transferred to Hungarian Register

The following Crabtree Gazelles have recently been transferred to the Hungarian register:

G-CIEX SA341B (c/n WA1987)
G-CLBC SA342M (c/n 1615)

Both were cancelled from the UK register on 15-May-2019.

I have no new registrations (yet).

[Savoia]

Grazie mille Jos! Perhaps Stefano will offer us some more info on the future of these birds.

Btw, are you able to shed any light on the registration/construction number of the latest Gazelle for sale on the GazMart because the owner is saying it is 1098 http://www.aviafora.com/forums/forum...0877#post10877

[Helipixman]

UR-ABBA c/n !!

Its interesting that the CAA have two different helicopters listed with the same c/n 1098... G-BZFJ and G-WDEV ?

This is what I think is correct:-

1098 is G-BBHW, G-IZEL, G-WDEV (The original paper document shows G-BBHW registered as WA1098)
1102 is XW861, G-BZFJ, UR-ABBA

The owner must have paperwork with the correct c/n or has the CAA told him its 1098 (because thats what they have it as) when it was exported from the UK ? Its over to the owner to show us the correct paperwork, and then we will know for real and problem solved !

Helipixman

[xbdt]

For me it is 1102 SA341C

[Savoia]

I have requested a photo of the ID plate, but why is the CAA listing 1098 as G-BZFJ?

[md600driver]

Crabtree Gazelles Transferred to Hungarian Register

The following Crabtree Gazelles have recently been transferred to the Hungarian register:

G-CIEX SA341B (c/n WA1987)
G-CLBC SA342M (c/n 1615)

Both were cancelled from the UK register on 15-May-2019.

I have no new registrations (yet).

G-CLBC was de-registered as sn.3615. The CAA confirmed this serial number after checking with Airbus.

No new registration details as yet.

[Savoia]

Grazie Stefano. We look forward to seeing these aircraft in the times ahead.

[Savoia]

UR-ABBA

Herewith is the CAA cancellation of registration document for UR-ABBA, but as mentioned above, we've also asked for a photo of the data plate.

The discouraging thing (for me at least) is when the national aviation authorities 'get it wrong' so to speak, by failing to confirm the facts, for as Elipix noted, how can both G-BZFJ and G-WDEV be allocated the same construction number?

[Savoia]

SA342J(S) YU-HPZ (cn.1473) as seen at Lee-on-Solent Airfield on 29th May 2019 (Photo by Chris Terry)




ZB627 with XX436 at Old Warden on 2nd June 2019




SA341D ZB627 (WA1914) as seen at RAF Fairford on 25th July 1993 (Photo by Graham Tiller)

[md600driver]

UR-ABBA

Herewith is the CAA cancellation of registration document for UR-ABBA, but as mentioned above, we've also asked for a photo of the data plate.

The discouraging thing (for me at least) is when the national aviation authorities 'get it wrong' so to speak, by failing to confirm the facts, for as Elipix noted, how can both G-BZFJ and G-WDEV be allocated the same construction number?

The photos of UR-ABBA show an ex-UK military bird whereas G-WDEV was a civilian bird I believe.

[Helipixman]

Correct MD600

UR-ABBA is a 341C HT.2 and WDEV was a 341G

Helipixman

[Savoia]

SA341D XW852 (WA1024) NFI (Photo by Rupert Kelley)




SA341B XZ334 (WA1673) as seen at RAF Wethersfield on 30th July 1983 (Photo by Robert Nichols)

[Savoia]

Gaz with Mil 8, probably 1980's

There is probably an interesting story behind this photo, but as yet I am not aware of it. Let us see however what information may unfurl in times ahead.

[Savoia]

Montenegrin Air Force SA342L1 12943 (cn.163) as seen at Cerklje ob Krki Airport in Slovenia in May 2019




SA341D G-CBKA (WA1746) as seen at Breighton Airfield on 22nd September 2013

Btw, does anyone know the current status of G-CBKA?




SA341F2 (cn.1541) at the RotorLeasing facility in Colorado

[Helipixman]

G-CBKA sadly the owner John Windmill passed away while on holiday in the USA on 1.4.17.

The permit to fly expired on 9.1.18 so probably stored at his private location with other helicopters he had. The last pictures I can find of KA are visiting a heli day at Breighton in 2013.

[Helipixman]

VH-PWS Gazelle c/n 1293

Having just read an aviation magazine from the 1980s, it seems this Gazelle (or at least the remains) was noted at Chalmington Manor Airfield in the late 80s.

This is the first I have heard of this Gazelle being in the UK and I doubt we may ever find out what happened to it after reading the following !

Brian Woodford owner of the Manor and airfield was and apparently is still wanted for smuggling military parts into Iran via his company Monarch Aviation.

He had another company in the UK Wessex Aviation & Transport Ltd and had a large collection of aircraft including: 5 X Dornier DO.27s, a Fox Moth, MS.500 Criquet, Westland Lysander, Antonov AN-2 and a 180hp American registered Cessna 152.

Anyone else heard of this Gazelle in the UK ?

[Savoia]

I think Zis once posted a shot of some tailbooms stored in the UK, were parts of 1293 among them I wonder?

[md600driver]

G-CBKA sadly the owner John Windmill passed away while on holiday in the USA on 1.4.17.

The permit to fly expired on 9.1.18 so probably stored at his private location with other helicopters he had. The last pictures I can find of KA are visiting a heli day at Breighton in 2013.

John's family are still discussing the issues surrounding the disposal of his assets.

I clearly remember when John and a few other Gazelle owners visited for the annual helicopter day at Breighton.

[Savoia]

Perhaps someone could support the family by going over there and running the engine once in a while?

[Savoia]

SA341H HA-LFW (cn.096) as seen at Graz Airport in Austria in June 2019




A Gaz Squad Gazelle flown by Mark Fairchild with Andy Foxley next to him (Photo by Greg)

If anyone has any further info on the above photo, please advise.




SA342L L815 at Beirut–Rafic Hariri Airport in January 2019




SA341F F-MCMA (cn.1131) as seen on 29th July 2009 (Photo by Philippe)

No location for the above shot, but this is ALAT's desert scheme, so somewhere hot!


SA341F F-MAFE (cn.1522) at the live fire site on Île du Levant, France in March 2004 (Photo by Brigadier Mangin)


SA342M 3458 (cn.1458) as seen off the coast of the former Yugoslavia in May 1995 (Photo by Christian Malcros)




A recently completed mini-Gaz

Elipix is this similar to the one you made?

[Helipixman]

Difficult to gauge the scale of the above looks like 1/72 going on the size of the typewriter label. The two models I purchased were 1/48 scale Alouette and Gazelle.

Have not completed them yet, working on the Alouette first then the Gazelle, will post pictures of each when complete.

Helipixman

[Savoia]

UR-ABBA

We have now received a photo of the data plate for the latest Gazelle advertised in the GazMart.



The data plate is a little worn (navy boots) but the outline of the numbers is still just visible.

Therefore, my understanding of this aircraft's history is as follows:

Construction No. WA1098

• 1973 Westland-built Gazelle delivered to the Royal Navy and initially registered as XW861
• Decommissioned from the military and placed on the British civilian register as G-BZFJ in May 2000
• Exported to the Ukraine in September 2006 and entered on the Ukraine civil register as UR-ABBA

The only thing which has thrown me out a little is that the data plate identifies the craft as a series 'G' instead of 'C'.

[Helipixman]

I am honestly amazed, what can you say with evidence like that. Every mention of G-BBHW/IZEL/WDEV shows the construction number as 1098 (even the CAA ?)

So as Sav has pointed out G-BZFJ being a 341C model, surely the data plate would show it as a C model not G ?

What would be great would be having a look at the data plate of WDEV if it still exists. This craft was a G model !

Still confused
Helipixman

[Savoia]

Looking to buy a Gazelle?

Then check out the latest offerings on the GazMart.

[md600driver]

I am honestly amazed, what can you say with evidence like that. Every mention of G-BBHW/IZEL/WDEV shows the construction number as 1098 (even the CAA ?)

So as Sav has pointed out G-BZFJ being a 341C model, surely the data plate would show it as a C model not G ?

What would be great would be having a look at the data plate of WDEV if it still exists. This craft was a G model !

Still confused
Helipixman

I have seen quite a few Gazelle data plates, but I have never seen one with series G written on it!

I think this could have been altered after it left the UK military.

[noscoavia]

The 'Yeovil dataplate' iillustrated, is also devoid of the Date of Manufacture and the factory quality control inspectors stamps, traditionally found on a aerospatiale/eurocopter/airbus helicopter 'pukka' dataplate.

[Helipixman]

c/n 1098 UR-ABBA

I contacted the CAA earlier today after seeing the photo of the data plate and received a very courteous reply from the head of aircraft registrations who basically admitted that there was an error, but that since the aircraft has been out of the UK for so long they will leave their records as they are.

Apparently this had been queried in 2004 by an Aviation Historian group and I have contacted them to see if there was a final outcome.

Having seen this reply I still believe UR-ABBA is actually 1102 but somehow has a data plate showing 1098 ?????

[Savoia]

Wow, great work Elipix!

I wonder where G-WDEV's airframe ended-up?

G-BBHW (also 1098) seems to have been a civilian bird from the beginning, so I agree that it doesn't make much sense for 1102 to be 1098 .. and yet .. this is what the CAA records show and now also the aircraft itself !!!

Motivation? Alright, we understand that there can be some advantages to owning/operating a civilian Gazelle compared with an ex-UK mil bird, particularly when that craft is operating outside the UK, so let's assume the worst for a moment, but if we do that we must ask the question .. 'How does someone 'feed' 1098 into the CAA's registration database while declaring that the aircraft was formerly XX861?' — and this being done 'before' G-WDEV was written off, ie. while another 1098 was active ???

[Savoia]

SA341G(S) YU-HHH (cn.1307) as seen at Stapleford on 10th June 2019

For some reason the photographer thought it necessary to remove the registration .. and to place a Honda CFR 1000L Africa Twin in front of it!




SA342L1 F-MBXG 4230 (cn.2230) as seen at Étain-Rouvres in September 2006 (Photo by A. Auguste)


SA342MV as seen near Mitrovica, Kosovo on 8th March 2006 (Photo by Stève Le Grall)


SA342MV F-MCXH dearting Kabul, Afghanistan on 15th October 2008

[Savoia]

Above: SA341B RA-05709 (WA1184) as seen at Bratsk Airport in Russia on 10th June 2019

Below: '709' on the banks of the Lena River in Russia on 5th June 2019






Avia member Kirill displaying the fruits of a recent fishing expedition

With our thanks to Kirill for these lovely shots!

[Helipixman]

New registration... G-TSTR

G-TSTR
Westland SA341D Gazelle HT.3
C/n: 1905
P/i: ZB625
Owner: The Gazelle Squadron Display Team Ltd, 11.6.19

This Gazelle is an ex Qinetiq machine and I assume the registration is to reflect the work they do... Tester !
She has 10,960 hrs as of the end of May 2019 and is awaiting permit issue.

Lets hope someone from the Squadron can post some images soon.

Helipixman

[Savoia]

Grazie Elipix! 'Tester' is the callsign used by the Boscombe Down Gazelles.

For a photo, see this post: http://www.aviafora.com/forums/forum...0846#post10846

[Savoia]

SA341B XZ345 (WA1705) as seen at Tintagel in Cornwall on 1st June 2017 (Photo by Peter)

Another reminder .. the days of seeing actively serving military Gazelles in the UK are drawing to a close. Enjoy (and photograph) them while you can!




SA341's as seen during Exercise 'Dam Tam' in Solenzara, Corsica on 25th April 1989 (Photo by Gilles Tariol)

[Helipixman]

Gazelle C/n 1098

I have had a reply from an Air Britain member who has stated:-

Two military Gazelle helicopters had their data plates stamped incorrectly !
They are:-

XW860 real c/n 1100 plate stamped as 1096
XW861 real c/n 1102 plate stamped as 1098

He also mentions that many Lynx helicopters received wrongly stamped data plates and some were changed two or more times ?

Hope this helps

Helipixman