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**Zishelix** · 5th November 2015, 15:45

These are covers of Gazelle promotional booklets I'm looking for a long time now. Some occasionally pop-up up on auction sites, but I had no luck in so far attempts to buy any. So in case some of you guys (and gals

) might have any of these, I'll be more than grateful for the help to get at least their scans!

**Rotorspot** · 5th November 2015, 15:54

In the past few days 4 Gazelles have been cancelled from the Ukrainian register, being:

UR-ABBA c/n 1102
UR-ALMA c/n 1078
UR-CSAG c/n 1272
UR-RIV c/n 1148

I have not found a specific reason for this.

Cheers,
Jos.

**Zishelix** · 5th November 2015, 19:46

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing this info Jos!

**Savoia** · 6th November 2015, 18:49

Grazie Zis!

The First Crabtree Gazelle
So .. can we assume then that this is the craft responsible for sparking Steve's Gazelle addiction?

SA341D G-BZYB (cn WA1272) formerly XX382 (unknown date and location)

**Savoia** · 7th November 2015, 09:26

Hungarian Gaz ..

SA341H Soko Gazelle HA-LFP (cn 008)

**Savoia** · 7th November 2015, 18:47

Exercise 'Joint Warrior' 2015

We captured this craft landing at Oban a couple of pages back, so it seems only fair to post her departure too:

SA341B ZB665 (cn 1932) departing Oban Airport in Scotland during Exercise 'Joint Warrior' October 2015

**Savoia** · 8th November 2015, 21:23

F-GBMC

This craft has appeared before on 'Shrieking Gazelles' but .. I think this may be a new perspective:

SA341G(S) F-GBMC Westland Gazelle (cn WA1065) as seen in France c.1979 (Photo Chris McKee)

This particular shot reveals what appears to be some unique tail 'branding' however, when I try and enlarge the photo it breaks-up. Will keep trying.

**Savoia** · 9th November 2015, 08:57

RAF GAZ

SA341D Westland Gazelle XW862 (cn WA1104) as seen during a visit to Blurton Primary School in Stoke-on-Trent in 1983
(Photo: Martyn Ford)

With the photographer's father, Mr Ford Senior, and the Gazelle's copilot

Getting ready to depart (All photos by Martyn Ford)

Now flying with William Pitcher as G-EZZL .

**Zishelix** · 9th November 2015, 10:20

ZB666/G sitting at London Luton in 1986 (Photo: Adrian Batchelor)

Seems "triple six" serial brought nothing but bad luck to this one. The machine crashed at Mount Kenya in February 2000, luckily just slightly injuring the two crew.

The remains were donated to the North East Aircrafts Museum at Sunderland back in 2007 and became as a spares source for WA.341G G-BAGJ restoration project.

**Savoia** · 9th November 2015, 21:20

Montenegro Policija

SA341H Soko Gazelle 4O-HFB (cn 005) as seen at Podgorica Airport in Montenegro on 6th May 2012 (Photo: Phil Adkin)

This craft evidently assigned to the Montenegrin Police (Montenegro Policija).

**Zishelix** · 10th November 2015, 09:13

We already have this in the post #428, but here's another look at a Gazelle featuring one of the original colour schemes and on which 4O-HFB (above) might be loosely based.

D-HOYE in 1975

**Savoia** · 11th November 2015, 09:00

3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron

Royal Marines SA341B Westland Gazelle XX413 (cn 1309) c.1978

**Zishelix** · 11th November 2015, 09:19

I assume this is the same one (XX413). Anyone able to confirm?

Photo taken in Belfast, Sydenham in February 1977.

**md600driver** · 11th November 2015, 11:31

Originally posted by Savoia View Post

Quite possibly. (Nice shot). So what do you suppose the 'CZ' lettering represents?

It' the fleet number from the regiment it is based with - slightly easier to remember than XZ413.

**Rotorspot** · 11th November 2015, 15:35

Originally posted by md600driver View Post

It' the fleet number from the regiment it is based with - slightly easier to remember than XZ413.

It is definitely easier to remember than the serial, which you incorrectly quoted as XZ413 (in fact it is XX413).

In addition, XX411 was coded CX.

**Zishelix** · 12th November 2015, 11:24

A couple of shots of a stretched Gazelle N123TY (s/n 1264) which appeared in "The Best of The Best II" movie filmed in 1993.

Sadly she crashed near West Harsley, Northallerton, in Yorkshire, in November 1998.

See accident report here.

**Savoia** · 12th November 2015, 21:48

Exercise Prairie Storm 4

Photo released today from the British Army:

29 BATUS Flight Army Air Corps Gazelle as seen in November 2015

The British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) is situated in the province of Alberta, Canada. Each year thousands of soldiers from the UK train at BATUS between March and November. The prairie is seven times the size of Salisbury Plain Training Area in Wiltshire and experiences weather which ranges from 30°c in summer to -40°c in winter.

**Zishelix** · 13th November 2015, 09:49

Ah, good old ZB671! She's been with BATUS all her life.

Seen below at Middle Wallop during last "face lifting" (overhaul) in February 2010.

(Photo: Mike Freer, Touchdown Aviation)

**Adrian Batchelor** · 13th November 2015, 21:42

Originally posted by Zishelix View Post

Super! Any chance to surprise us with any new or old Gazelle photos?

Dear Zishelix, to get you going here are a couple of photos of cn: 1155 which began life as N62406 before becoming G-BLAP and then G-SFTH when I first photographed her. She then became G-OAFY and G-PAGS (when I again photographed her) and then became YU-MMY and finally HA-LFC.

I shall try to post what I can from the Gazelles in my collection as I come across them.

SA341G G-SFTH (cn 1155) Bournemouth Hurn Airport 1986 (Adrian Batchelor)

I took this photo while visiting an old paint shop manager who worked for Mike Carlton of the Brencham Group.

Btw, I was thinking of a caption for this photo - what about "Press here to start"?

SA341G G-PAGS (cn 1155) North Weald Airport 1996 (Adrian Batchelor)

I worked at North Weald for a time and which is when I took this.

PS: This is the first time for these photos to appear online, and I am very pleased for them to make their fist appearance on Aviafora.

**GazEngineer** · 14th November 2015, 09:48

**Zishelix** · 14th November 2015, 11:32

Dear Adrian, must say you made my day by these nice s/n 1155 images! So glad you decide to join Aviafora.

GazEngineer, welcome as well! Thanks for posted this small but lovely Gazelle photo. G-BAGJ, I assume?

**Savoia** · 14th November 2015, 19:05

GazEngineer .. a warm welcome to the forum, we are glad to have you aboard!

Originally posted by Adrian Batchelor View Post

Btw, I was thinking of a caption for this photo - what about "Press here to start"?

Or .. "I'm sure I removed the exhaust cover!"

**xbdt** · 14th November 2015, 20:22

Originally posted by Savoia View Post

Or .. "I'm sure I removed the exhaust cover!"

Or .. "I'm sure I removed the pitot cover."

**GazEngineer** · 14th November 2015, 21:10

Thank you for the welcome. I'm sure there will be more pictures when I get time between working on them too.

**Gary Gazelle** · 14th November 2015, 23:48

Hi all - just joined the forum.

I've been lucky enough (?) to work on the UK Army aircraft at different levels for many years so I know them fairly well

GG

**Savoia** · 15th November 2015, 07:39

Gary, a warm welcome to the forum!

You appear to be the second Gazelle engineer to have made their first post within the past 48 hours .. its obviously contagious!

A couple of questions (please) for you and also GazEngineer if either of you are up for it:

Firstly, could you indicate your top two 'likes' and 'dislikes' about working on the Gaz?

Secondly, in the videos I've seen of Gazelles, the blades seem to start moving after an increase in engine rpm. My assumption was that as you released the brake the blades would immediately begin to move, but perhaps this is not so. Maybe the blades remain motionless after the brake is released and it requires the application of some throttle to get them going? If that's the case then I'm guessing this is to do with the Astazou's single-stage axial design, but the truth is, I really don't know! Would you be able to explain a little about this please.

Many thanks.

**xbdt** · 15th November 2015, 08:42

No, there is a clutch in between. Engine idle is about 25k rpm. Once you advance throttle, the clutch comes in at about 28k (new clutch) to 30k or even 34k (worn clutch). The clutch is like on the Alouette, inside there are 10 shoes that will contact the outer surface once the centrifugal force comes in. The brake needs to be released before applying throttle or you could wear, glaze or burn the clutch. The brake is only a rotor brake nothing more.

**Savoia** · 15th November 2015, 20:54

Zis, I remember you posting a photo of N101CL on page 23 .. and wondered whether you have seen this clip of her taking-off?

https://vimeo.com/2319281

**Zishelix** · 15th November 2015, 22:10

Please does anyone know why UK Gazelles (military machines mainly) have this "patch"?

It can be seen on the right side of tail boom, near rear part of the fuselage. I assume it's kind of service access door?

**Zishelix** · 16th November 2015, 11:55

Some nice shots of The Gazelle Squadron Display Team's machines from the first Bourne Park Nightshoot!

"Gordon" (G-ZZLE / XX436) & "Ginger" (G-CBSK / ZB627)

Beside them, G-CBSI / XZ934 and G-CBSH / XX406 also appeared at the event:

All above were taken in October 24th, 2015 by Mark Kwiatkowski. Well done Mr Kwiatkowski!

Looking these quite foggy windshields, I wonder how effective is cabin air-condition in such intense condensation?

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