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On 10, 11 and 12 October 2023, three-ship farewell flights are planned by Army Air Corps (AAC) 665 squadron (JHC FS Aldergrove) across the United Kingdom. It is planned that Gazelles XZ320, ZA775 and ZB690 will be used for these flights.
SA341B ZB690 (WA2003) as seen at ManBart on 16th June 2023 (Photo by Simon Willson)
Upon completion of these flights, the three helicopters will head for Fleetlands on 12 October 2023. There they will join other former 665 squadron Gazelle helicopters, including ZB665 and ZB693 which arrived on 3 October pending disposal.
Once 665 squadron has retired its Gazelle helicopters, only 7Regt Conversion Flight at AAC Middle Wallop will operate a handful of Gazelles. About half a dozen Gazelles are used by this unit for pilot training, a sad number compared to the total of 212 of this type which were delivered to the Army Air Corps.
Wendy Wills with SA341B VH-OIX (WA1351) former XX409 as seen at Wilkins Airfield in Jamestown, South Australia on 8th October 2023 (Photo by Sandy Horne)
Serbian 50 Year Gazelle Anniversary
This commemorative Serbian Air Force '50 Year Gazelle Anniversary' patch is available to order via email: aviation.icarus@gmail.com
Nice one Zis. I don't think this can be Baldonnel though, as I have flown past Baldonnel many times and it is located to the west of Dublin (ie. not next to the sea) so this must be somewhere else.
Today the final AAC Gazelle fly-by takes place to celebrate the retirement of the type:
To celebrate the distinguished service history of the Gazelle helicopter, and mark its withdrawal from service at the end of this month, 5 Regt AAC will be conducting a final fly past through the UK next Monday 23rd October 2023.
The farewell flight will be departing from, stopping at or overflying, UK locations that have played an important role across the Gazelle’s service.
The Aérospatiale/Westlands Gazelle entered service 6 July 1974 and has provided valiant service to UK Defence in the UK including Northern Ireland; Germany, Hong Kong, Falklands, Iraq, Kosovo, Canada, Kenya, Belize and Cyprus.
The Gazelle has, at one time or another, served in every arm of the UK Armed Forces in training, reconnaissance, battlefield communication, direction of artillery fire, casualty evacuation and anti-tank roles.
With all the AAC 665 Squadron Gazelles from Aldergrove having been retired to Fleetlands, this leaves only AAC 7 Regiment Conversion Flight, Middle Wallop operating the type with the following cabs ...
The last serial used by the military was ZB693 on an AH.1 for AAC, construction no. WA2009 so a very likely candidate. Will have to check with my records, as always not with me so a weekend check to be done. I do know it was taken to Fleetlands way back in 2021. The one before this ZB692 I believe is with Mr Crabtree ?
The only comment I would add is that some records show that ZB693 was only demobbed this month to Fleetlands. We have featured her on the forum (flying) as recently as August at ManBart (Manchester Barton).
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