Shrieking Gazelles

[Savoia]

Francesco .. the Frenchman in Italy!

(But for how much longer .. we do not know!)


SA341G F-GFCI (cn 1206) as seen at Voghera-Rivanazzano Airport, Lombardy, on 24th August 2013 (Photo: Bianrobi)

[Savoia]

Past times ..


SA341G Westland Gazelle G-BCHM (WA1168) at an undisclosed location, c. late 70's

One of two Gazelles my late godfather flew, and the Gazelle I was most familiar with in my youth.

Sadly, she came a cropper in 1997, as a result of an encounter with the notorious tail-swing-bite (see accident report here).

I've never been able to find out exactly what happened to "HM", but from what I can gather her salvageable parts (which I imagine were many), were used in the 'compilation' of another machine, but which one, I have yet to discover.

[Helipixman]

G-BXTH at Helitech Duxford... just doing this to test being able to upload images ... success at last!

[Helipixman]

Here are some pictures of Westland Gazelles G-BBSI, G-BBSJ and G-BBSK:



G-BBSI Westland SA341G Gazelle (WA1138) at Luton Airport - force landed at Plaistow, East London 27.4.77



G-BBSJ Westland SA341G Gazelle (WA1141) originally test registered as G-17-11 and after G-BBSJ went to Qatar Police as QP-1. Eventually came back to the UK as G-HAVA but sadly crashed at Gamston 28.7.97



G-BBSK Westland SA341G Gazelle (WA1156) initially test registered as G-17-12 and after G-BBSK went to Qatar Police as QP-2.

Where is it now ?

Helipixman

[Zishelix]

Wow Helipixman, rare images of BBSJ & SK ... where did you find them?

[Savoia]

These are great shots Elipix, bravo!

Thank you too for persevering with the photo posting!

G-BBSI was of course Kenneth McAlpine's personal craft and a member of the Air Squadron (in fact she is wearing the Air Squadron logo on her tail in your photo). To see a photo of her at Battersea Heliport in 1977, go to page 14.

The photos of G-BBSJ and G-BBSK, where we these taken please?

Yes, it was sad about G-HAVA's accident .. yet another victim of the Gazelle's notorious tail-swing-bite (see accident report here).

Regarding G-BBSK, she seems to have gone off the radar so to speak, perhaps with some assistance we might be able to track her down!

... where did you find them?

This is like asking a Frenchman from where does he get the numbers that he puts in his little black book (I suppose today it would be Black-berry as opposed to black book!). It has long been known by collectors of nostalgic helicopter photos, that Elipix has a special chest in his house, out of which he retrieves rare and interesting examples of otherwise impossible-to-find classic rotorcraft!

ps: For anyone having difficulty with photo-posting issues, I have now re-written the photo-posting tutorial.

[Savoia]

SA341G N700SH (cn 1154), aka the Kurtcraft, as seen at Kortrijk-Wevelgem Airport in Belgium on 4th January 2015 (Photo: Geertdiopere)

[Helipixman]

Hi Zishelix/Sav

The photos of BBSI, J & K were given to me by a friend (just part of my huge collection). So to answer Sav I don't know where they were taken ? Maybe some eagle eyed viewer will recognise the hangar. Next post will be some even rarer shots of G-BLAN, O & P just after being imported into the UK. They have the registrations written in marker pen on the tail fin. So lookout for these.

I have so many Gazelle photos to show here in the future.

Helipixman

[Zishelix]

I have so many Gazelle photos to show here in the future.

Dear Santa, you're late, but I forgive you.

[Savoia]

Read about Aviafora's co-founder, who has just been appointed an EASA exam question writer.

Phil Croucher Joins EASA's Examination Team

[Zishelix]

Congrats to Phil!

F-BVRU at Le Bourget Salon international de l'aéronautique et de l'espace 1975:

[Savoia]

Nice shot Zis!

I think you mentioned before that she crashed in 2005 when registered as F-GEST?

[Zishelix]

Correct, I mentioned about F-BVRU on page #15.

[Savoia]

This is almost certainly an ex-Toho Air Service Gazelle but, she seems to be wearing non-Toho titles, and I have no further details.

Perhaps Zis has some additional info?

[Zishelix]

Sure, on the foto you found is JA9164 (pic already posted at 4th page, post #91) while she was with Toho Airways Ltd. This machine wearing reg N505HA since 1994 and I believe Steve can ad some more info about.

[Savoia]

Oh, so she is '505' .. a Benegaz!

Do you see something 'unique' about her rear door?

[Zishelix]

You're right, it has a slide-door which is quite unusual for Gazelles. The doors was probably mounted because of the operational tasks she used to do.



Note the extended navigation light as a result of the modification.

[md600driver]

Yes the door was a special modification fitted for camera work. The door itself does not slide, but the large window does, and enables a cameraman to sit in the rear seat and push his large [old fashioned style] camera out of the window. When finished he would then slide the window shut. The sliding mechanism for the window went rearwards along the fuselage into the area where the nav light usually goes, so they had to move it.

[Zishelix]

Oh I see... very interesting, thanks for explanation! Any chance you might have some picture of that window open?

[Savoia]

Perhaps if '505' still has this same door/window arrangement fitted, XB could speak to the owner and one day he can take a photo?

[xbdt]

I'll do that for you. He landed here yesterday.

[Zishelix]

Much appreciated!

[Savoia]

'Hugo' and Bosni Gaz ..


SA342L Soko Gazelle A-2301 (Photo: Federico Grattoni)


SA342L Soko Gazelle A-2801 (Photo: Federico Grattoni)

Btw, maybe A-2801 is not a 342, because I have noticed that that the oil cooler pipe attaches to the bottom of the engine cowling in a different way on the 342 than on the 341's.


SA342L Soko Gazelle 12932 'Yugo' markings (Photo: Federico Grattoni)

Of this last example '12932' the notes say "The RViPOV RS had stripped the sight and pylons of some HN-45M to convert them to HO-45 ambulance versions."

Not sure what the RViPOV is, and assume that the HN-45M is a local designation for the aircraft. Hopefully Zis will know more.

[md600driver]

2801 is a 341.
The 342 does not have a latch in the middle face of the engine fairings like 12932 and 2301.
Afaik, the rear cooler pipes are the same except that the different engine cowlings hide them, but I will take a closer look when I go over to my hanger.
Also, pictures taken from the other side are easier to check, as the 342 has a grill for the dump valve on the pilot's side.

[Savoia]

Afaik, the rear cooler pipes are the same except that the different engine cowlings hide them ..

Thank you Steve, actually this is what I meant, that the engine cowling seems to cover the oil cooler pipe on the 342, whereas on the 341 you can see a separate arrangement.

[xbdt]

Yes, but the exhaust cone is different. The connection of the venturi hose (from oil cooler) enters at a different angle in the cone.
On the side of 2801 there is an inscription SA341 :-)

[Savoia]

On the side of 2801 there is an inscription SA341 :-)

Ah well yes, I missed that!

The connection of the venturi hose (from oil cooler) enters at a different angle in the cone.

I'm not quite sure where the 'cone' is?

Here is a 342 showing the oil cooler pipe arrangement:



I think this next photo may show the grill Steve mentioned:



And this one a close-up of the latch:

[Savoia]

Brit Gaz ..

Still getting photos from last month's visit to Church Fenton, this one of the 'Gerbil' just in:


SA341D G-RBIL (cn 1199) as seen at RAF Church Fenton on 4th January 2015 (Photo: Andy Crossley)

[Savoia]

A sea of Gazelles at Army Air Corps Middle Wallop on 15th June 1996 (Photo: Paul Thallon)

[Zishelix]

A sea of Gazelles at Army Air Corps Middle Wallop

It's even more impressive to see them in the air!

[xbdt]

Here a pic I just took of the exhaust cone. Upper is for a Astazou XIV H (SA342) and below for a Astazou III series (SA341).

Note the different input angle for cooling hose:

[Savoia]

Ah yes .. I see! Grazie mille XB! (I see that the Astazou XIV exhaust has a slightly different shape also).

[Helipixman]

UK Gazelle Imports



G-BLAN SA341G (1063) ex F-WTNT, N6958 imported by Specialist Flying Training and registered to them on 16th November 1983. Became G-RIFF and crashed at Hall Lane Farm, Runcorn on 7th March 1990.



G-BLAO SA341G (1097) ex N37748 imported by Specialist Flying Training and registered on 16th November 1983.
Became 4X-BHG then HA-LFA.



G-BLAP SA341G (1155) ex N62406 imported by Specialist Flying Training and registered on 16th November 1983.
Was re-registered in the UK as G-SFTH, G-OAFY, G-PAGS then to YU-MMY and HA-LFC.

(All photos Helipixman Collection)

[Zishelix]

Well done Helipixman!

[Savoia]

Great stuff Elipix!

I wonder if these shots were taken at Carlisle Airport?


Astazou III on British Army Gazelle

[md600driver]

To be picky that is a astazou 111N2 and also notice in the uk military ones that the oil tray on the airframe has been removed leaving a lot cleaner lines

[Savoia]

Gaz History Files ..

On June 11, 1982, an F-16 Fighting Falcon No.107, had a historic day when Colonel Eitan Sativa shot down two MiG-23's, a Sukhoi Su-17, and an Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopter.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7...625569,00.html