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**Savoia** · 26th January 2015, 09:09

SA341G I-PNIC as seen departing Aeroporto di Verona-Boscomantico on 17th January 2015 (Photo: Davide Olivati)

**Savoia** · 26th January 2015, 09:30

SA341G N700SH (cn 1154) as seen at Halfpenny Green on 13th March 2014

**Savoia** · 26th January 2015, 10:26

SA341G(S) YU-HVZ (cn 1295) as seen at Rennes–Saint-Jacques Airport - date unknown (Photo: Maurice)

**Zishelix** · 26th January 2015, 14:39

Re I-PNIC s/n

"Special airworthiness certificates may be issued in the experimental category for:

Operating amateur-built aircraft: to operate an amateur-built aircraft in which the major portion has been fabricated and assembled by persons for their own recreation or education. ..."

So the owner marked it as 002 after rebuilding his first (also a home-built) Gazelle I-PJCG #001.

**Zishelix** · 27th January 2015, 08:51

Speaking of home-built Gazelles, it reminds me of this "Down Under Thunder" a full-scale (although not very accurate!) replica.

Despite its appearance on auction sites, the project apparently remains unsold. Pity because the legendary Blue Thunder could exist again at least as a static display, like the Australian version.

**Savoia** · 27th January 2015, 09:49

A friend of mine served as the chief training captain for the LAPD Air Support Division and I was able to visit him on several occasions during his time there. In fact I flew with him three times, twice on day sorties and once at night. It was a great experience - although (and especially at night) I did ask myself .. "where are we going to land if something fouls up?" .. and which raises the old 'single vs. twin' reliability question! Thankfully, given the number of hours they've flown, they've had remarkably few incidents.

On one occasion when I visited it was just some months after they had concluded the filming of Blue Thunder and there were still a number of mementos around the offices from the film crew as well as various 'gifts' from the film studio. Back then their roof-top pad was a sea a JetRangers .. plus one Huey which they used for SWAT training.

Hooper Heliport in Los Angeles, home to the LAPD's Air Support Division and where much of the movie 'Blue Thunder' was filmed

I-PJCG

There are very few photos of I-PJCG but .. I was able to 'recover' this from an article in an Italian aviation magazine, courtesy of Zishelix!

SA341G I-PJCG cn: 001 as seen in Italy c. 1989

Regarding the serial numbers .. all a bit confusing .. especially when you take into account the fact that the Soko Gazelles also commence with 001, as Steve mentioned the other day.

(Will try and 'recover' another photo of I-PJCG from the same article just as soon as I can clean it up a bit).

**Zishelix** · 27th January 2015, 10:19

Originally posted by Savoia View Post

... seen in Italy c. 1989

The photo was taken back in 1998.

Actually the first Soko's Gazelle was s/n 007 sine the first 6 ones was just re-assembled Aerospatiale machines.

**Savoia** · 27th January 2015, 18:53

Additional Gazelles for Lebanon

Lebanon is to receive a new batch of Gazelle helicopters from 'Airbus'.

Lebanon is set to receive more Gazelles

The procurement of these aircraft will be funded by Saudi Arabia.

http://www.defensenews.com/story/def...w149/22395597/

**Savoia** · 28th January 2015, 08:38

Crabtree .. ??

Steve, was this a Crabtree Gaz?

SA341G HA-LFT (cn 1413) as seen at Breighton Aerodrome on 22nd September 2013

SA341G HA-LFT (cn 1413) as seen at Breighton Aerodrome on 22nd September 2013 (Photo: Malcolm Clarke)

Originally registered as YU-HBO then became G-BRNH in 1989 and the same year was re-registered as G-UZEL. She also seems to have spent some time in Ireland before going onto the Hungarian register in 2012. Then last year she seems to have gone onto the US register to become N341GL.

She was manufactured in 1978, so I am wondering if she was in Yugo-land from then until being put on the UK register in '89?

**Zishelix** · 28th January 2015, 15:50

As G-UZEL s/n 1413 appeared in this music video:

**Savoia** · 28th January 2015, 17:17

UK Gaz ..

Unidentified Gazelle 'somewhere' in the UK seen with Beth Meyer and unidentified person in 2014

SA341G(S) N340SM (cn 1509) 'somewhere' in the UK in 2014

**Savoia** · 29th January 2015, 08:29

Black Pete's sister ..

SA342J(S) YU-HPZ (cn 1473) as seen at Edinburgh's Turnhouse Airport in July 2012 (Photo: Martin Third)

**Savoia** · 29th January 2015, 09:17

Q: What happens when you take-off without latching your transmission cowling?

A: See below ..

SA341G N565F (cn 1182) as seen at Deauville Saint-Gatien Airport in Normandie on 30th April 2005 (Photo: Stephane Pichard)

**Savoia** · 29th January 2015, 09:28

We recently mentioned the fact that the Gaz main rotor is notorious for its 'droop', and also how her tail gets dirty right across the fenestron .. and I think this photo captures both of these fairly well:

SA341C G-DFKI (cn WA1216) as seen at Dundee Airport on 24th August 2005 (Photo: Wallace)

**Zishelix** · 29th January 2015, 11:25

Originally posted by Savoia View Post

Steve - could you say what the artwork/design is on the stabiliser end plate?

I like this handwritten note on the sticker! Steve, was that Girls & Fun part true?

**Zishelix** · 29th January 2015, 15:40

Oh, fresh info indeed... thanks for sharing!

Any chance you know her new ZU-reg?

**Savoia** · 29th January 2015, 17:24

Steve, sorry about LFQ.

Sometimes people look at us askance when they see that we form emotional attachments to these assemblages of perspex and aluminium, but, for all but the most 'thickly skinned', it is near impossible not to!

The memories of people carried, places visited .. experiences encountered, are all intertwined with the fabric of the craft, which soon takes on a personality of its own. I realise though that some may never appreciate this.

Hopefully she's gone to a good home and the new owner will keep you informed of her 'progress' down south.

**Savoia** · 30th January 2015, 09:15

SA342J(S) F-GIBU (cn 1470) as seen at Val de Loire Airport (in the Loire Valley, central France) on 2nd May 1990 (Photo: Alphajet)

**Zishelix** · 30th January 2015, 09:40

Here is some footage of a crash involving a Serbian HO-42 (SA.341H) Gazelle which occurred on December 30th, 2003.

The helicopter was part of a New Year's celebration progam. All 4 escaped with just minor injuries. Beside the pilot and a co-pilot, there was a "Santa Claus“ and a child onboard delivering sweets to a couple of hundred children who were waiting inn a square just a few hundred meters away from the crash site. Thank God, they were not hurt.

The cause of crash – the helicopter hit a cable between the buildings!

**Zishelix** · 30th January 2015, 15:51

Nothing to say, just marking my 300th post here

**Savoia** · 30th January 2015, 18:26

Bravo on your 300th post Zis!

The Gaz crash is an astonishing video. Very glad that no one was seriously injured - amazing really.

It does throw up some obvious questions though, including .. did the driver perform any sort of pre-landing reconnaissance of the landing site and approach area?

A useful document for teaching students about such things can be found here.

**Savoia** · 31st January 2015, 08:48

SA341G HB-ZEU (cn 1111) as seen at Samedan Airport (St. Moritz) on 9th January 2005 (Photo: Marco Pianca)

You've got to love the construction number of this craft! Still no news as to what has actually happened to her?

**Savoia** · 1st February 2015, 09:36

Army Air Corps SA341B Westland Gazelle XX386 (cn WA1284) being refueled at an undisclosed location. Date unknown

Army Air Corps SA341B Westland Gazelle XX386 (cn WA1284) as seen in Luxembourg on 18th March 2005 (Photo: Emmanuel Perez)

I am sure those sheepskin seat covers are most comfortable!

I 'think' that this aircraft has been withdrawn from use, for sale when the MoD auction off the last of their remaining Gazelles.

**Savoia** · 2nd February 2015, 08:59

Girl in Gaz (with more sheepskin seat covers) - no further details

**md600driver** · 2nd February 2015, 10:21

Some of the Gazelles at Crabtree Farm

**Savoia** · 2nd February 2015, 11:18

Steve, lovely to see the Crabtree Gazelles!

Originally posted by md600driver View Post

Ex-Marine cab? Note the SAS.

This could get confusing, didn't the SAS use Army cabs - as in 8 Flight!

From what I've been able to find, XX386 seems to have spent her life with 12 Flight Army Air Corps. Another photo (below) states that the craft was demobilised from Germany on 17th March 2009 and was among the Gazelles auctioned off which, if so, begs the question to where was cn WA1284 sold or, perhaps. she has yet to be sold, as I understand from your past comments that there are still come cabs at Shawbury.

Army Air Corps SA341B Westland Gazelle XX386 (cn WA1284) as seen at RAF Shawbury in 2009

**Zishelix** · 3rd February 2015, 06:55

Originally posted by md600driver View Post

Some of the Gazelles at Crabtree Farm

And a very nice toy box it is too!

I'm interested to know how much time (and how many hands) it takes to fold/unfold the main rotor blades?

**Zishelix** · 3rd February 2015, 10:26

Oh, so it's not too complicated to "put the bird in the bed" this way.

Very handy!

G-ZZLE/XX436 WA1402 of The Gazelle Squadron Display Team over Kemble in May 2014. (Photo: Tom Houquet)

Re Sav's question about XX386 - it ended up with MW Helicopters back in 2012.

**Helipixman** · 3rd February 2015, 15:11

A Crabtree Gazelle from the Helipix Collection:

SA342 Gazelle HA-LFH

**Zishelix** · 3rd February 2015, 19:10

Welcome back Helipixman! Nice one, keep them coming.

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