Announcement

**Helipixman** · 29th December 2020, 21:02

Witham Specialist Vehicle Sales, Colsterworth

Help needed !

The first 30 Gazelle to pass through Witham were:-

XW484, XW909, XX913 (G-HSDL), XX371 (G-CHLU), XX383 (ZU-RMU), XX386 (G-KEMH), XX394 (Private owner Brighton), XX398, XX409 (G-CHYV), XX416, XX437, XX438, XX439 (G-CHLW), XX445, XX455, XX456, XX462, XZ291 (Gabon), XZ292, XZ296 (ZU-RMT), XZ304, XZ314, XZ338 (G-CHZF), XZ344, ZA726, ZA728, ZA776, ZB673, ZB688 (G-CHMF)

Other than those with subsequent registrations all those highlighted in bold are still believed to be stored at Stapleford Tawney ?

Then there was a further batch going to them around 1.20 ( it is believed these are the ones that had the fenestrons cut off and a couple of photos seem to prove that.

XX378 Where did this go ?
XX403 Lot No 3 sold on 10.1.20 for reported hammer price of £6,000 (fenestron noted cut off)
XX447 Where did this go ?
XZ303 Lot No 182 sold 1.2.20 to where ? (fenestron noted cut off)
XZ311 Where did this go ?
XZ337 Where did this go ?
XX442 Where did this go ?

Another batch known to go to Witham was :-

XW897 Believed sold to a private owner in Bulgaria/Italy
XW899 Became G-CLSA
XZ322 Where did this go ?
ZA771 Believed sold to a private owner in Bulgaria/Italy

Lastly another batch of Gazelles were noted road running on the M40 on the 8.9.20 ex AMSU Shawbury to an unknown destination ?
They were:-

XX460, XZ294, XZ328, XZ341, XZ343, ZB667

Reports for these say they were destined for reduction to produce, but the MOD has said that before and they turned up at Witham, so anyone know where these went ?

any help appreciated
Helipixman

**Zishelix** · 30th December 2020, 08:53

Air Grisha's HB-XFW

SA341G HB-XFW (WA1124) seen in Switzerland c. late 70's (Photo: Anton Heumann)

And computer graphic by MP Design Studio of the same machine:

**Savoia** · 30th December 2020, 11:50

SA341B XX398 (WA1318) as seen in Bardufoss, Norway on 3rd March 2006

Attached to 4 Regiment AAC.

And seeing as Elipix showcased F-HGUN ..

F-HGUN start and depart from Courchevel in October 2013

**Zishelix** · 31st December 2020, 11:57

SA.342J cn.1393 F-GCCZ in the French Alps

N2FW Sunset Departure

**Savoia** · 31st December 2020, 12:32

SA341H RA-1347G as seen in Russia in February 2017

Serbian warfare training, short Gaz segment at 2:50 mins

**Helipixman** · 31st December 2020, 16:41

A few images from the USA (Rotorleasing) N341SH and N931XZ

Helipixman

**Savoia** · 1st January 2021, 11:57

SA342J F-GCCZ (cn.1393) as seen in the French Alps in the 1970's

Air Zermatt's SA342J(S) HB-XMU (cn.1470) as seen in Switzerland c.1986 (Photo by Anton Heumann)

Polizei Niedersachsen SA342J D-HOPP (cn.1695) as seen in Germany in the 1980's (Photo by Detlef Böntgen)

**Rotorspot** · 1st January 2021, 20:19

Originally posted by Helipixman View Post

Witham Specialist Vehicle Sales, Colsterworth

Lastly another batch of Gazelles were noted road running on the M40 on the 8.9.20 ex AMSU Shawbury to an unknown destination ?They were:-

XX460, XZ294, XZ328, XZ341, XZ343, ZB667

Reports for these say they were destined for reduction to produce, but the MOD has said that before and they turned up at Witham, so anyone know where these went ?

any help appreciated
Helipixman

These 6 are reported as "RTP 9/20, ex AMSU Shawbury". I believe this stands for "Reduction To Parts Sep-2020".

Happy New Year to all!

Cheers,

Jos.

**md600driver** · 2nd January 2021, 10:28

Originally posted by Rotor-spot View Post

These 6 are reported as "RTP 9/20, ex AMSU Shawbury". I believe this stands for "Reduction To Parts Sep-2020".

Happy New Year to all!

Cheers,

Jos.

There were 7 of these I believe. I have photos of seven anyway at Middle Wallop after the Spares reduction.

Plus, my annual contribution to the Snow Gazelles:

Gazelles at Crab Tree Farm

**Savoia** · 2nd January 2021, 12:56

SA341G C-GSHL (cn.1200) as seen at Edmonton Municipal Airport in Alberta, Canada c.1977

SA342J SE-HUN (cn.1095) as seen at Nyköping Skavsta Airport in Sweden in 2003

Perhaps the only ever Swedish Snow Gaz.

SA341B G-KEMH (WA1284) engine start at Redhill

**Jakub Cikhart** · 2nd January 2021, 18:02

Happy New Year from Prague!

Here is something for modellers, first sprues of 1:48 AMP Gazelle. Enjoy

**Helipixman** · 3rd January 2021, 16:24

Mini Gazelle and in the snow in Scotland at last ! (one I built many many years ago and amazed it has survived)

**Helipixman** · 3rd January 2021, 16:28

G-BAGJ

I have just received from Holland (via ebay) a photograph of G-BAGJ over Central London, the one and only Gazelle I have flown in so far ! It was this helicopter that started my love of the Whistling Chicken leg. My flight was from Battersea Heliport to Leavesden in 1974 !

**Savoia** · 4th January 2021, 11:33

Philip Amadeus with a British Army Gazelle at Hardangerfjord in Norway in January 1983 (Photo courtesy of Filippo)

SA342L1 E7-ABI (cn.139) as seen refuelling at Sokolac in Bosnia in 2012

SA342J F-GFDG (cn.1204) as seen at Courchevel on 13th January 1989 (Photo courtesy of Zishelix)

No season of Snow Gazelles would be complete without Zis' photo of 'DG'.

**Helipixman** · 4th January 2021, 20:58

First time to obtain a shot of this Gazelle CF-BBO c/n 1053.

Was wondering whether it was owned by Totem Air or just operated by them?

**Savoia** · 5th January 2021, 12:01

Heli Cap SA341G F-BVUI (cn.1122) in the France Alps in 1978 (Photo by Frédéric Rolland)

SA341G C-FEDG (cn.1181) as seen in Alberta, Canada on 14th December 1978 (Photo by Steve Aubury)

**Helipixman** · 5th January 2021, 14:43

As Rotorspot mentioned, C-GXQE miraculously re-appeared as N341CF ?

On checking, two Canadian Gazelles must have been hiding somewhere, maybe Triggers broom cupboard ?

C-GVHC c/n 1137 was cancelled in Canada 4.88 and then re-appered as N71PU with Qualitair LLC along with N341CF. N71PU then changed ownership to Fresh Heli LLC 1.8.20. This has now been cancelled on 21.12.20 to South Africa ? Fresh Heli have kept the registration N71PU and paid a fee for it.

C-GXQE c/n 1286 this is the one that caught fire, how badly ? The story goes it was picking up some firefighters from Fort Simpson and due to a missing fuel filler cap, fuel was sucked out and the rest is history. That was on 22.6.81 but was not cancelled until 4.9.84 It then re-appeared as N341CF with Qualitair 31.1.20 but currently the registration is in question. It also has a change pending to International Air Services Inc dated 4.11.20

For the same company (Qualitair) to acquire both Gazelles were they stored together somewhere ?

**Savoia** · 6th January 2021, 11:30

With our thanks to Predrag for assisting us with the Epiphany Day Gazelle.

If you would like to support those who support us, then feel free to order your Gazelle simulator here.

Shirley Helicopters SA341G C-GSHL (cn.1200) as seen in the Ogilvie Mountains of the Yukon territory of Canada in June 1979
(Photo by John Biczok)

And yes, according to John (the photographer) that date is correct. Evidently you can still get snow in the Yukon in the middle of the year!

SA341G(S) F-GBMC (WA1065) as seen in France

SA342J N65AR (cn.1602) as seen in Crested Butte, Colorado in January 2015

**Zishelix** · 6th January 2021, 19:14

Hi, sorry I'm late! I came across this one N-Regd presumably 'Snow Gaz', sadly no additional info

**Helipixman** · 6th January 2021, 19:36

I am wondering if this is the film that Zis and myself nearly purchased ?

It shows lots of Gazelle from the 11:30 minute mark !

**Savoia** · 7th January 2021, 11:32

Wishing all of our Orthodox members and readers a very Merry Christmas!

To find out why Orthodox Christmas Day is celebrated on 7th January, click here.

SA341C RA-05708 (WA1045) in Abkhazia

SA341G RA-05706 (WA1802) near St. Petersburg in 2018

SA341G RA-05706 (WA1802) snow landing in Russia

Avia member Vitaly Christmas Gaz departure

SA341G RA-05706 (WA1802) Russian snow departure

I wish to send out a very special 'Grazie' to Zis and Elipix for helping make this season's Snow Gazelles especially enjoyable with the addition of a number of new Snow Gazelles, as these photos are not easy to come by.

**Savoia** · 8th January 2021, 12:09

SA341G C-GSHL (cn.1200) as seen in the Yukon in the late 1970's

656 Squadron Gazelles over Sek Kong Airfield in Hong Kong in June 1977

**Savoia** · 9th January 2021, 11:08

SA341G F-GEHB (cn.1099) as seen at Aérodrome de Bourg - Ceyzériat NFI

**Zishelix** · 11th January 2021, 11:11

A few posts ago we mentioned Monsieur Roland Fraissinet. Below you can see him photographed in May 1980 with his family in F-GCCZ.

**Savoia** · 11th January 2021, 11:29

SA341F2 ZU-RNV (cn.1608) as seen at Lomas Creek Lodge in South Africa on 9th January 2021 (Photo courtesy of Jean-Pierre)

SA341G(S) YU-HEY (cn.1320) as seen at Stapleford on 9th January 2021

SA342L TR-KCQ (cn.5015) as seen in Nyonié, Gabon in January 2021

SA342M F-MGJQ as seen at Marseille Marignane on 18th December 2020 (Photo by Damien Fournier)

Soko production line

Zis, have you posted this before? Can you confirm whether this is Mostar or Marignane?

Syrian Air Force Gazelle NFI

**Zishelix** · 11th January 2021, 11:35

Originally posted by Savoia View Post

Zis, have you posted this before? Do you know whether this is Mostar or Marignane?

Mostar, mid 1980s

F-MGJO is c/n 4042. Nice finding, btw

**Jakub Cikhart** · 11th January 2021, 15:04

Hi, in these cold days, we need something warm.

Here is SA342L1/4222/125/BWH during Gulf war.

**Savoia** · 12th January 2021, 13:18

Montenegrin Air Force SA342 NFI

SA342J(S) N624EL (cn.1094) as seen at Issy les Moulineaux on 10th January 2021 (Photo by Nico Parsis)

SA341B G-CDNO (WA1385) as seen at Blackpool Airport on 15th December 2020 (Photo by Simon Waterhouse)

SA341H YU-HEI (cn.012) as seen at Wellesbourne Airfield (Photo by Graeme Lovell)

Zis/Elipix, do you happen to know whether HEI was the only Soko Gaz to operate in the UK?

**md600driver** · 12th January 2021, 18:08

012 YU-HEI was with MW Helicopters (leased to Mike Roberts t/a FCS - think he died in a Citation crash)

Yes he did.

021 HA-LFR re-registered as HA-PPY with private owner in UK maybe still owns it ?

Yes, he still owns it. It is based in Yorkshire.

**md600driver** · 12th January 2021, 20:13

Originally posted by Savoia View Post

HA-PPY is in Yorks? 😲

Yes, in the owners hangar.

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