Shrieking Gazelles

[Savoia]

SA342L ZU-RMY (cn.5011) as seen at Wonderboom Airport in South Africa on 2nd October 2019 (Photo by Bill Teasdale)




SA341G RA-07822 (WA1073) as seen at Oreshkovo Airfield in Kaluga, Russia in October 2019

For more details on these and other quality Gazelles, click on the logo below

[Savoia]

SA342MV F-MGAQ as seen during a live fire exercise in Djibouti in October 2019




SA341G G-WDEV (WA1098) as seen on 23rd August 2004




SA341F2 ZU-RED (cn.1285) as seen at Wonderboom on 8th October 2019 (Photo by Andre Venter)

[Savoia]

SA341G G-SFTH (cn.1155) as seen at Middle Wallop on 30th June 1985 (Photo by Keith Wilson)

One for Nosco this Friday. 'TH' was registered to SFT at the time of this photo, but appears to be carrying additional titles, perhaps on lease.




SA341F2 N981MH (cn.1419) as seen at Sacramento Mather Air Force Base on 6th October 2019 (Photo by Jamie West)

Low-level Gaz flight

[Savoia]

SAF SA342L as seen in Serbia in October 2019




SA341F2 F-MAEG as seen at Aérodrome de Compiègne in Margny in 1992 (Photo by Michael Fisher)

[Savoia]

SA342MV F-MGBZ during 'Exercise Marne' in Chaumont, France in May 2013

61e Régiment d'Artillerie ground forces liaising with 3RHC Gazelle commanders at a forward operating base.

Gaz flight October 2019 (Awaiting further info)

Elipix, any clues as to which Gaz this could be?




Check out the latest Gazelle for sale on the GazMart

[Helipixman]

That was an easy one the registration is above the moving map ! N497MM another clue was the large Experimental above the rear seats.

Its owned by Michael Campbell, Fayetteville but the picture below was taken in Florida.

[Savoia]

Nice work Elipix! We've seen very little of this Gaz, so nice to have some on board shots.

When you have a moment, check out the GazMart, because we now have a serial no. for the green and white Russian Gaz we were trying to track down some years back.

[Savoia]

SA341F2 ZU-RNV (cn.1608) as seen at Warmbaths Resort in Bela-Bela, South Africa on 14th October 2019
(Photo courtesy of Jean-Pierre Lombard)






SA341G(S) 2-PJBA (cn.1392) as seen at Breighton on 5th October 2019

2-PJBA seen here after completing maintenance with Crabtree Gazelles.

[Rotorspot]

N1433W Change of Ownership

N1433W, SA341F2, c/n 1433, changed ownership to TOWARDS 2000 INC, BURBANK (California) on 08-Oct-2019.

[Helipixman]

Towards 2000 Inc also own N341ZL which has now been repainted in a matt satin black scheme.

[Rotorspot]

Thanks. I made a quick check. They also own SA315B Lama N315NA (c/n 2506) and a Robinson R44-II.

[Savoia]

Thanks for the update Jos.

[Savoia]

SA342M HA-HSG (cn.3615) as seen in the Crabtree hangar at Breighton on 13th October 2019 (Photo by Mark Hall)




SA341G 2-WMAN (cn.1277) as seen at Breighton on 13th October 2019 (Photo by Mark Hall)




This Gaz airframe is used as 'climbing frame' by the French military, seen here in October 2019

BATUS Gazelle flight over Alberta, Canada in October 2019 (Video by Andy Boroughs)

[Savoia]

2-WMAN with 2-PJBA as seen at Breighton on 5th October 2019



SA342L Egyptian Police Gazelle NFI

[Savoia]

SA342J F-GEST (cn.1113) as seen in Albertville, France, date unknown (Photo by Christophe Gothié)

Original post.

[xbdt]

At picture date it was a 341G later converted to 342J.

[Savoia]

Grazie XB!

[Savoia]

SA341B XW908 (WA1217) as seen at RAF Mildenhall on 28th May 1995 (Photo by Ray Barber)




SA341G(S) N71FR (cn.1274) as seen under guard in the BVI on 18th October 2019 (Photo courtesy of 'Virgin Steve')

So I've given N71FR the Avia name 'Tin-Tin' what with her Thunderbirds hangar an all!




'Spanish Viviane' digital Gaz

[Savoia]

SA342M F-MGBC landing in France, October 2019




Satan's Gazelle in Russia in October 2019




SA342L1 12890 (cn.134) with escorts, as seen during 'Exercise Freedom 2019' at Batajnica Airbase on 18th October 2019

Serbian SA342's now operating alongside their replacement, the H145
As seen at Batajnica Airbase in Serbia on 18th October 2019

[Savoia]

SA341F2 F-MAWP as seen near Le Luc-en-Provence in October 2019


SA341F2 F-MAWU as seen near Le Luc-en-Provence in October 2019


N565F


SA341G N565F (cn.1182) as seen in Cork, Ireland on 24th November 2008 (Photo by Paul Daly)

[Savoia]

SA342J I-PTEC (cn.001) as seen at Montagnana on 5th October 2019 (Photo by Davide Olivati)




SA342L1 12880 (cn.121) as seen at Batajnica Airbase on 18th October 2019

[Savoia]

901 Repaint and Entry to Market

N901B (aka '901') has recently received a complete repaint, still in white, but now wearing an entirely new finish from nose-to-tail.

Some advance news for Avia readers, in that 901 is soon to be available for sale. Stretched Gazelles are rare, making this aircraft a unique acquisition opportunity for the discerning buyer. She is in excellent condition and will offer years of flying pleasure to the Gazelle enthusiast.

Look out for details on the GazMart in the weeks to come.




SA341G(S) N901B (cn.1410) as seen in Dewsbury, Yorkshire
in October 2019 after her recent repaint (Photos courtesy of Stefano)




SA341B XX403 (WA1333) with Westland Sioux and Wessex (Photo by Elipix)

Location unidentified, but quite possibly Middle Wallop.

[Helipixman]

Nice repaint, looks great. Just wonder if Stefano saw two other helicopters of interest there ? They have a Bell 47J (Yorkshire owner) and a Westland Bell 47G-3B1 destined for Scotland when completed.

[Savoia]

I should very much like to see the 47J. Is that G-USAI?

[Helipixman]

Yes its G-USAI (imported as D-HACK) and the other Bell 47 is G-BHAR

[md600driver]

Nice repaint, looks great. Just wonder if Stefano saw two other helicopters of interest there ? They have a Bell 47J (Yorkshire owner) and a Westland Bell 47G-3B1 destined for Scotland when completed.

Yes they were there.

[Savoia]

SA341G VH-VAS (cn.1527) as seen at Melbourne's Moorabbin Airport on 14th December 2007 (Photo by Christopher Roche)

Check out the unique (lengthened) passenger door window on the above aircraft.


SA341B XZ319 (WA1610) as seen at RAF Abingdon on 16th September 1978 (Photo by Lewis Grant)

[Savoia]

SA341D G-RBIL (WA1199) as seen at Elstree Aerodrome 23rd July 2019 (Photo by David Kelly)

Nice to see the Gerbil as we don't get to see her that often. Her owner had a bit of a 'parking issue' just south of the Lake District a couple of months back, but I think/hope the feathers have now settled in that matter. However, I am prepared to go on record (and also defend) my opinion that the official who reported the Gerbil's owner to the CAA was being a complete jobsworth!


Iraqi Gazelles




Gazelles still flying in Iraq

Avia member Liberio departing with '7UP' earlier in the week

[Helipixman]

Ah yes Jobsworths etc !

I remember a flight I was on (Jetranger) from Edinburgh to Mallaig with two newspaper reporters, who were reporting the deaths of crew members from the area in a very sad fishing boat disaster. On landing in a car park close to the town, the reporters went on their way and we decided to go for a cuppa before our return flight. A very angry and verbal woman came out from a house across the road and threatened to report us to the police and or the CAA. Shouting at us she said the locals did not want reporters there and the safety of the helicopter could not be guaranteed. We made a rapid exit and flew back to Edinburgh.

[Savoia]

SA341B XX453 (WA1454) as seen at SPTA on 6th June 2013 (Photo by Arjo Stok)




SA341C G-SIVJ (WA2012) as seen Middle Wallop on 8th April 2017 (Photo by Paul Langshaw)


SA341G G-WDEV (WA1098) as seen on 6th August 2006 (Photo by Kevin Bracken)

Elipix, do you have any ideas as to where this shot of WDEV may have been taken?

Mini HB-XIL

[Helipixman]

Yes the picture of G-WDEV was taken at Letterfrack - Connemara Golf Course. At the time it was owned by a Dublin company, Mentorvale Construction. I have seen pictures of other helicopters there.

[Savoia]

In Ireland .. you're a superstar! Grazie millie Elipix.

[Savoia]

Elipix wrote: I remember a flight I was on (Jetranger) from Edinburgh to Mallaig with two newspaper reporters, who were reporting the deaths of crew members from the area in a very sad fishing boat disaster. On landing in a car park close to the town, the reporters went on their way and we decided to go for a cuppa before our return flight. A very angry and verbal woman came out from a house across the road and threatened to report us to the police and or the CAA. Shouting at us she said the locals did not want reporters there and the safety of the helicopter could not be guaranteed. We made a rapid exit and flew back to Edinburgh.

The attitude some have towards helicopters is very sad, and its not just grumpy members of the public; do you remember the jobsworth at CHC who felt it was incumbent upon himself to suspend a driver for lobbing into a butcher's on the Orkneys at the end of a training sortie? Its all so small-minded and legalistic. One has to accommodate some liberties in this life, lest we make our existence wearisome and ultimately soul-destroying!


Of Britain, Car Parks and JetRangers

Here's G-TALY from the early 80's, having landed in the car park of the newly-built Cambridge Post House Hotel (now Holiday Inn).

We lobbed-in without notification (although we did know the GM). After landing I arranged for a section of the car park to be set aside for our use, no problems.


G-TALY at the Cambridge Post House in the early 80's

[Helipixman]

If the story is true, I recall someone from RAF Leuchars who went off to play golf....Forgot his clubs, so a Gazelle was sent off with his clubs. Nobody sacked and the tax payer paid for it !

Helis in Car Parks...
We used the car park at The Lord Daresbury Hotel, Warrington regularly (Called something else now). Shock horror we were on approach one evening and there was another Jetranger already there. Fortunately there was enough room for two. Sure I have pictures somwhere which I will dig out.

[Savoia]

Lovely stuff, that's how it should be .. not all this HSE overkill, mean-spirited jobsworths and control-freakery! But there we are, such (and sadly) have we made our world!

You could write a book about mil ops and how aircraft have been used for various 'unofficial' sorties over the years, and a highly interesting read it would make. Just about everyone I know who served in the UK mil from the 70's and earlier has stories. Of course there are some more modern ones, but it began to decline in the 80's, then sharply in the 90's .. and well, the rest is history.

[Savoia]

Egyptian Air Force SA342L's during a recent live fire exercise




SA342MV F-MGBE as seen at RAF Fairford in July 2019




SA341F2 ZU-RNV (cn.1608) as seen at Wonderboom Airport in South Africa in October 2019 (Photo courtesy of Jean-Pierre)

[Savoia]

BosniGaz




SA341H E7-VDH (cn.060) as seen in Bosnia in October 2019




Avia member Dalibor has kindly sent us a batch of Yugoslav Gazelle photos taken by Milan Majersky and which we shall be showcasing over the coming weeks. Some of these photos have appeared previously on the thread, but I think we can take another look at them. With our thanks to Dalibor for these photos!




Yugoslav Air Force Gazelles 935 and 825 (Photos by Milan Majersky via Dalibor Jovanovic)

[Savoia]

SA341G N552T (cn.1246) belonging to Anthony Chan

XB, have you ever seen a Gazelle with the beacon mounted below the top of the tailfin as per the above?





SA342L 12918 (cn.131) as seen at Belgrade Batajnica Airport in Serbia on 19th October 2019 (Photo by Mia Milinkovic)

[md600driver]

It brings the beacon lower so she will fit in the hangar as the trolley is high, although Anthony makes a set of novel 'moving skates' for the Gazelle which you can see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqSXdZS4ZY8

[Savoia]

Grazie mille Stefano, much appreciated!

[Savoia]

SA341G F-GEST as seen at Chambery Aix-les-Bains Airport on 24th January 1999 (Photo by Fabien Campillo)

Check out the snow skis — a prelusion of next month's Snow Gazelles!

[Savoia]

SA341C G-CBGZ (WA1915) as seen at Ashridge House in Hertfordshire in 2008




SA341B XZ338 VH-OIZ (WA1682) as seen at One Tree Hill in South Australia in October 2019

SA341F2 ZU-RNV (cn.1608) fly-by in South Africa on 1st November 2019

[Savoia]

Yugoslav Air Force Gazelles 815 and 825 (Photos by Milan Majersky via Dalibor Jovanovic)




N341ZL over Los Angeles in 2018 (Photo by Benedikt Grasl)




A new patch for 250 Squadron in Cyprus

[Jakub Cikhart]

Hi gents, a while ago I ask about UK Gazelles in Gulf. I was able to contact Middle Wallop Army Flying Museum and bought 6 pics from their collection. So far I was able to update my page with new airframe XZ338 and two airframes with "D" and "X" codes. But, when I was checking the pictures, I ran across one strange thing. The "X" coded machine looks like it had attached some kind of foldable (on hinges, two parts) armor plates on the outer side of atleast Observer seat. This is the first time I noticed that. Are there any other pictures/drawings for this ? Was this standard mod for Gulf ? I can not share the picture here, maybe a small cutout. And I know that this part is not included in the Air Graphics Gulf war conversion for 1/72 Heller Gazelle. Thanks a lot !

[Helipixman]

Gazelle Kevlar Seat

Hope this is what you are looking for Jakub

Its a Kevlar Seat used in AAC Gazelles and the one in the photo comes from an 654 Squadron Gazelle. It's for sale on ebay for £599



Helipixman

[Helipixman]

I have noticed that the registration N341AH was reserved back on 21.12.18 by a well known Aviafora Gazelle owner in Belgium. Just wonder which Gazelle this is reserved for.

It has been used twice before:-
1032 last reg F-GESG cancelled by DGAC 24.11.16
1208 last reg RP-C77

or is it for another airframe ?

Also ZU-ROF was cancelled 9.19 rumoured to be going to Jordan (for who.... Civil, military or Katie Price ?)

Helipixman

[Rotorspot]

Thanks. Hopefully that specific Aviafora member can tell us more. Please note that the FAA reservation does not mention any aircraft type, but I must admit that N341AH sounds like a Gazelle to me.

[Savoia]

A single Gaz going to Jordan? Wow okay, we shall keep a look out for that.

I think we may soon hear from XB regarding a new Gaz coming to the market.