Greetings!
I have been reading Aviafora for about six months now, but this is my first post on the forum and I wanted to say how much I enjoy the site, especially ‘Shrieking Gazelles’.
I am amazed at the content on this thread and really appreciate the friendly atmosphere between the pilots/owners, engineers and enthusiasts who comment on here. There seems to be an acceptance of all people including ‘ordinary’ folks too, and this is really refreshing.
My background is that of having served with An tAerchór (the Irish Air Corps) and my first encounter with the Gazelle was with serial number 1772, Irish Air Corps registration ‘237’ an SA342L which arrived at Baldonnel’s Casement Aerodrome (where An tAerchór are based) in December of 1979. Although now retired from the army, I have kept in regular contact with the crews at Baldonnel.
Being a follower of Shrieking Gazelles I read with interest about the 50th Anniversary meet at Middle Wallop and, as a result decided to attend and to bring some of those who are learning to fly at the flying school with which I am now involved which is based at Weston Airfield just outside of Dublin.
To get to the event we flew from Dublin to Bristol on Friday the 7th, hired a car and drove to Andover to overnight at the local Premier Inn, then up early on Saturday morning for the drive to Wallop arriving there at 10am.
Dom White from the Gazelle Squadron spent a long time speaking to us about the Gazelle, and we were all suitably impressed. Congratulations to those who put this event together, we had a great weekend.
Visiting Middle Wallop was also somewhat nostalgic for me as in 1993 I met the Blue Eagles there and subsequently got to stay with them on several occasions and of which I have many happy memories.
I only recently found out that ‘Steve’ who bought our second Gazelle ‘241’ is a member of this forum. Sadly I missed him on the day that he took 241 away from Baldonnel, but I waited to see him on Saturday at the fly-in and finally got to meet him.
My congratulations to those involved with running this site and especially to those contributing and making comments, you’ve made it a nice place to visit and where people feel welcome.
Best regards
‘Joe Gazelle’
The 'crew' from Sky West flying school at Middle Wallop for the recent Gaz meet
http://www.skywest.ie/
ps: Based from what I have seen of his comments so far, I am guessing that member Zishelix may ask me if I have any photos from my time with the Air Corps, and of the Gazelles in particular. The answer is yes I do - and I shall be posting some of these in the weeks ahead.
I have been reading Aviafora for about six months now, but this is my first post on the forum and I wanted to say how much I enjoy the site, especially ‘Shrieking Gazelles’.
I am amazed at the content on this thread and really appreciate the friendly atmosphere between the pilots/owners, engineers and enthusiasts who comment on here. There seems to be an acceptance of all people including ‘ordinary’ folks too, and this is really refreshing.
My background is that of having served with An tAerchór (the Irish Air Corps) and my first encounter with the Gazelle was with serial number 1772, Irish Air Corps registration ‘237’ an SA342L which arrived at Baldonnel’s Casement Aerodrome (where An tAerchór are based) in December of 1979. Although now retired from the army, I have kept in regular contact with the crews at Baldonnel.
Being a follower of Shrieking Gazelles I read with interest about the 50th Anniversary meet at Middle Wallop and, as a result decided to attend and to bring some of those who are learning to fly at the flying school with which I am now involved which is based at Weston Airfield just outside of Dublin.
To get to the event we flew from Dublin to Bristol on Friday the 7th, hired a car and drove to Andover to overnight at the local Premier Inn, then up early on Saturday morning for the drive to Wallop arriving there at 10am.
Dom White from the Gazelle Squadron spent a long time speaking to us about the Gazelle, and we were all suitably impressed. Congratulations to those who put this event together, we had a great weekend.
Visiting Middle Wallop was also somewhat nostalgic for me as in 1993 I met the Blue Eagles there and subsequently got to stay with them on several occasions and of which I have many happy memories.
I only recently found out that ‘Steve’ who bought our second Gazelle ‘241’ is a member of this forum. Sadly I missed him on the day that he took 241 away from Baldonnel, but I waited to see him on Saturday at the fly-in and finally got to meet him.
My congratulations to those involved with running this site and especially to those contributing and making comments, you’ve made it a nice place to visit and where people feel welcome.
Best regards
‘Joe Gazelle’
The 'crew' from Sky West flying school at Middle Wallop for the recent Gaz meet
http://www.skywest.ie/
ps: Based from what I have seen of his comments so far, I am guessing that member Zishelix may ask me if I have any photos from my time with the Air Corps, and of the Gazelles in particular. The answer is yes I do - and I shall be posting some of these in the weeks ahead.
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