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After being imported from Spain (EC-EET) by CM CIC Bail SA as F-GKYC, 9.7.87 it was sold to Eurl Helios, 14.10.91. During this ownership it suffered an unknown accident at Pont de St. Nazaire on 10.7.91 operated by Heli Ocean.
I cannot find any details as to the severity of the accident. It was then sold to Sarl Formule 1 Aviation, 7.1.92 ? So was it rebulit ? After this it had two owners both with addresses in the same area, Vitrolles. First was Textron Finance SA, 19.5.92 and then Exmat SA, 7.9.97 (the current registered owner)
There have been no reports of this helicopter anywhere, I believe it to be stored possibly at Toussus Le Noble. I have visited Toussus numerous times and have not seen it. Having said that, there was one large hangar crammed full of dismantled/stored helicopters, Alouettes, Gazelles etc. Access was never allowed to this hangar but annoyingly that was what I was told was in there by an airport employee.
'.. 𝒂 𝑷𝒊𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝑵𝒂𝒗𝒂𝒋𝒐 𝑬𝒍𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑳𝒖𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝒋𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒚!' — As opposed to the Piper Navajo G-OLLY! 😆 Sorry, couldn't resist that.
Given that the flight was from Elstree, I'm supposing that you arranged this for him, and I'm sure he must have enjoyed it.
As it happens, today's 'BAG' shot incorporates a Navajo!
It's just a hunch, but I'm guessing that Papà Elipix would have loved the Gaz!
Yes it would have been good being G-OLLY which I saw many times at Biggin Hill mainly. The jolly was with myself, brother and father and was done by a German ferry pilot Hans Niby. The day before I met him at Elstree where he was taking a Cessna 310 to Ireland and bringing back a Piper Seneca. I went to Luton with him in G-BAKE to clear customs, none at Elstree in those days. He said the following day he would be doing the same trip in D-IHFD so he said come along, so Dad also went. Happy days! My father was sadly not really into helicopters, liked to look at them but never a fan ! He actually knew the directors of Medminster and Air Gregory which he did not tell me until I started fixed wing training, maybe if he had I would have gone into helicopter training instead. Oh how things could have been so different !
You mention G-BAKE and it is making me think of a story I shared with Stefano about my father's secretary in Yorkshire who used to make the most delicious Parkin cake and which was traditionally eaten around this time of year. She was very strict however about baking this outside of Hallowtide (ie. during the church feasts occurring within the first half of November, notably All Saint’s Day, All Souls Day and the Feast of St. Martin). One year though she very graciously prepared it for my birthday, even though it fell outside of this time. I showed my appreciation by demolishing (as in ravenously eating) as much of the cake as I could in record time! 😆
Medminster .. its been a while since I heard that name! They took over Alouette II G-AVEE from Gregory's, but I don't know whether they operated under their own name as a charter company?
Ghanaian president Nana Akufo-Addo has announced that three helicopters, two Gazelles and one AS350 Ecureuil, will be delivered to the Ghanaian national police in November.
Six pilots have recently completed their training in South Africa [at the Paramount Training Acedemy in Polokwane]. President Akufo made the announcement at the graduation ceremony for the 50th Class of Cadet Officers at the Police Training Academy in Tesano, Accra.
First time I have seen G-UTZY with the logo on the tail, difficult to see what it says - possibly peter Walker but cannot read the part at the bottom ?
To me it appears to read Brent Walker (as per Michael's comment of Avia's FB page) and the name at the bottom seems to begin with Fali .. or Fari .. or something similar. However, the image breaks up when magnified so it could be something entirely different!
Great stuff, would be lovely to see one of the earlier Lynx flying again. Do you happen to know if his Lynx is the AH7 recently delivered to North Weald, ie. XZ678?
"Sure, this is briefly what I have about #1057: Produced as SA341G; 1973 CF-GCE ; 1979 N9042U; 1987 C-GEJE; upgraded to SA342J; 1989 EC-EQU; 2003 F-GOSO & 2004 YU-HES."
A couple of additions to this history:
Firstly, while being N9042U, there was a reservation for N341NA, but this was not taken up, exact date unknown.
Secondly, before becoming EC-EQU, she was temporarily registered as EC-309, exact date unknown. This probably has to do with the conversion.
SA341G ZU-ROO (cn.1301) as seen at Mossel Bay Airfield in October 2021 (Photo by Rudie Barnard)
SA342L ZU-RMW (cn.1427) as seen at Warmbaths Airfield in Bela-Bela, Limpopo in October 2021
With thanks to Avia reader 'DG' for the above photo of RMW. Grazie amico!
French Forces Complete Exercise Cormoran 21
The two-week military exercise involving cooperation between the French armed forces has been completed.
The exercise involved 1,500 personnel and employed six Tiger attack helicopters, six NH90 and two Puma transport helicopters as well as ten Gazelle reconnaissance helicopters.
I have somewhere the exact seat configuration like the one displayed in the second picture. I think these came from Canada. The rear seat is very comfy and there is a built in slot below (like a storage compartment for documents).
SA342L 241 (cn.1854) as seen in Bray Co. Wicklow on 21st August 2005 (Photo by Frank Grealish)
SA341B ZA728 (WA1797) NFI
N341ZL Sold to Australia
SA341G N341ZL cn.1262 which has featured on the GazMart and was sold earlier this year, has been shipped to Australia, presumably to her new owner.
ZL was one of the lowest time Gazelles available with just over 3,000 hours on her frame and is fitted with a custom panel to accommodate an array of additional instrumentation.
SA341C HA-HCD (WA1102) as seen at Hajmásjkér Airport in Hungary on 4th September 2021 (Photo by Attila Groszvald-Groszi)
With our thanks to Zishelix for the above photo!
SA341B XZ314 (WA1595) as seen at Middle Wallop on 26th July 1979 (Photo by Lewis Grant)
SA342M F-MGET (cn.4225) as seen in Satory, France in October 2021 (Photo by Timothée Savouré)
SA341B XW850 (WA1019) as seen at Biggin Hill on 20th May 1973 (Photo by John Law)
Zis, I remembering you saying that the UK navy Gazelles had a double antenna arrangement fitted behind the landing light. Do you know why this 'BAG' also has such an arrangement? Also, would you happen to know what the double stripes at the bottom of the windshield are for?
SA341C G-BZDV (WA1150) as seen at Newtownards Airfield on 12th June 2008 (Photo by Gavin)
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