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G-ORGE Westland SA341G c/n 1108 seen in the snow at Cranfield on 27.2.89. Owned at the time by Xanadu Aviation, one of the George Mountbatten companies.
Ah well Elipix .. you've done it again — what lovely shot! As you mentioned last week, 'G' reg Snow Gazelles are a rarity and this example from the 80's is a real treat, again .. bravo amico!
As you know, the Ferranti birds were sometimes to be seen at Cranfield, not only for the shows, but they had a contract for a time which involved fairly frequent visits to the field.
AFAIK, this was George's first Gaz, to which he added the stretched Gazelle G-BRGS which became your Scottish neighbour in the form of G-OGAZ now owned by an Avia member and flying as N71FR.
George's son Henry, better known as Harry (and by his friends as 'Hazza') is following in his father's footsteps and is the owner of G-HAZZ a photo of which (taken just some days ago) you can see here: https://postimg.cc/CnwWn1V7
Grazie mille Zis, this is a lovely shot and one of the few Italian Snow Gazelles we have showing snow skis, splendida!
The late 'I-OLLY' .. one of the few (perhaps only) Westland-built stretched Gazelles. She served in Italia for a time with Eli-Dolomiti and Heliwest and while here tragically went to the grave taking two people with her. This was as a direct result of a manufacturing flaw by Aérospatiale in their production of the Gazelle's torsion tie bars.
As another year draws to a close, the time has come to appreciate those who contribute towards our little community.
Great thanks as always to Avia-stalwarts XB, Stefano, Elipix, Jos and Zishelix, as well as to our less frequent contributors. Special thanks also to those members who send in photos and videos to be posted on the forum, including: Adriano, Kirill, Steve W, Liberio, Fabio, Julien and others.
My thanks also to Avia-member Joe, who for another year has 'liked' just about every post on our FB page. Grazie mille Giuseppe!
A big thank you goes to Miloš and Predrag who kindly assisted with this year’s Christmas Gazelle. Miloš serves with the Serbian Air Force, has many hours in the Gazelle and has recently completed his conversion on the H145M. Predrag is a skilled software designer, 3D modeller and animator; together they own MP Design Studio which produces a range of personal simulators including programmes for the Gazelle, Lama, Cabri and others. Because of the snowfall effect on our Christmas greeting, you can’t fully appreciate the detail of Predrag’s work, but take a look here and here for a better view of what he can do. This Christmas why not consider supporting those who support Aviafora and treat yourself and/or one of your family members to a Gazelle simulator? Click here to see the aircraft available from MP Design Studio.
As with MP Design, so too is Aviafora a partnership, between myself and Filippo (Phil Croucher). Indeed (and as mentioned in times past) it was Filippo who proposed the idea of setting-up our own forum and who graciously continues to host this site – Grazie mille Filippo! And this provides an ideal opportunity to remind our readers that if you have any pilot training requirements, please feel free to check out the various training manuals Filippo has authored, and if you are planning on taking any aviation exams, you may like to consider the services on offer via Filippo’s training school.
It only remains then for me to extend season’s greetings to each of our members and to all our visitors and friends, offering my best wishes to you and your loved ones with prayers for a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year.
Savoia
This Christmas Night
This Christmas night while angels sing, sweet hosannas to our King,
let us with them in heart rejoice, with loving-kindness as our voice.
For family, homes and health, the truer forms of wealth.
For precious moments of the year, for everything that we hold dear.
And so, with gifts beneath the tree now stored,
let us with thankful hearts proclaim, that Jesus Christ is Lord!
Taking a branch out of Stefano's tree, this year we are remembering departed Avia members
as well as those recently (and not-so-recently) departed from the Gazelle community
Grazie mille Zis! No competing on Avia, just lots of goodwill and humour .. plus .. I had a little help from a masterful 3D computer graphics modeller!
This Christmas there is much to see, watch and read on Aviafora, including:
If you didn't read it last year, then its worth a visit this year; the story behind Brian Losito's air-to-air shot of Air Canada's Dreamliner.
If you've never seen an A380 perform an exteme crosswind landing .. then this is for you.
All snow and winter related posts are 'of course' obligatory reading over the Christmas break, so be sure and check out the latest posts on Snow Jets. While there take a look at post #5 which involves 'Jet Sledding' to see how they occupy their time in Sweden during the winter!
If you would like to see a lovely shot of a MiG-29 on super-short finals to a snowy runway in Russia, then this post is for you.
And, maintaining the Russian theme, I highly commend a really lovely winter shot of an Antonov An-2 in Orlovka. This is one of my personal favourites.
This year there is really quite a lot to see on Winter Flying, beginning with a delightful shot of Eli-Fly's Scoiattolo plus photos of winter heli-dogs, a uniquely painted EC130, a Ka-52 and more! While on Winter Flying, be sure to check out our 'Yuki Risu' post. Yes, Yuki Risu! To find out all about Yuki Risu go to post #42 on Winter Flying .. oh and be sure to check out the Yuki Risu video! And .. before you leave Winter Flying, turn back to page one in order to see a really lovely photo of a AW109S in post #7 (made so because of the presence of two beautiful Labradors) and also post #10 to find out how the Russians keep themselves occupied during the winter!
In 1982 South Wales experienced heavy snowfalls, at the time the Australian national rugby team were visiting Porthcawl and ended-up being stranded by the snow. Visit the Rotary Nostalgia Thread to discover how they got out!
While in the realm of rotary nostalgia, Elipix has posted some really interesting information and photos on 'Personalised Registrations'. Look out for the back story on G-ROOT as well as numerous examples of Enstroms belonging to one of our members.
Scout fan? If so, then check out the latest Scout post showing G-SCTA at Manchester Barton last month, and for the rarest of Scouts, the 'Snow Scout', click here.
I've not had time to develop the 'Snow Trains' topic in the Departure Lounge, but .. there is one active video there which you may like.
And now that we are wildly off-piste, you may just as well check out Avia Animals, also in the Departure Lounge.
If you are looking for a little inspiration, then perhaps visit Sav's Sunday Post for some words of wisdom together with a collection of churches from some truly stunning locations. If you do visit, then also add page one post #1 to your tour and find out the reason for this thread.
And finally, no Christmas on Aviafora could possibly be complete without observing our longest-running tradition .. that of watching the Courchevel Citation .. at least once (better still twice) over the Christmas period!
Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful Christmas!
Avia member Denissimo has asked me to convey the following message:
Greetings to all Aviafora members for a warm and Happy Christmas and best wishes for the coming year.
I would like to offer a little Christmas gift to those Avia members and readers who may be interested in reading an aviation novel.
If you email me your name and address I will send you a free copy of my last novel 'Dangerous Appointment'.
Because of the postage fees, this offer is extended to UK members of Aviafora for now (although if there is anyone further afield who is keen to read this book email me anyway and we'll sort something out).
Once again, best wishes to all Aviaforans for a Merry Christmas!
Dennis Kenyon
Written in the style of Ian Fleming and James Clavell,
Kenyon maintains a fast pace and keeps your curiosity constantly tingling.
— Georgina Hunter-Jones
This is a very generous gesture by Mr Kenyon, thank you. I will certainly take up this offer as I have just purchased another of his books.... Appointment on Lake Michigan
Bravo XB, a lovely contribution, grazie!!AFAIK this is the first showing of this craft on the forum wearing this registration, great stuff!
Zis, if you're still around, then as Elipix mentioned, there has been quite a lot going on while you were away including .. a South African Gaz in the form of ZU-RNB recently painted-up in your favourite classic Aérospatiale scheme, see here: http://www.aviafora.com/forums/forum...1442#post11442
Not absolutely sure if they are connected they are about 2-3km apart. They have different directors Witham - Paul Southerington and G.I Joes is a John Rhodes. Interesting to note in the photos they look like thay are all missing their fenestron ? At £3,000 a piece I suspect they will be snapped up quickly.
I have often wondered if the owner has ever asked for or tried to get the registration HA-ELO for his Gazelle. Knowing most of the registrations are either HA-L** or HA-P** maybe they just will not allow it or it is already in use ?
Already suggested a while back to Avia member Adriano! Stefano may know if it is possible to order personalised Hungarian registrations, but I am guessing yes, based on HA-PJB.
I have often wondered if the owner has ever asked for or tried to get the registration HA-ELO for his Gazelle. Knowing most of the registrations are either HA-L** or HA-P** maybe they just will not allow it or it is already in use ?
At the time we enquired about this the Hungarian authorities didn’t want to release the HA-ELO registration.
Since then they have started another registration sequence HA-H.. as with my 342M1 (sn.3615) which as you know is HA-HSG.
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