Shrieking Gazelles

[Savoia]

SA341B G-HSDL (WA1227) as seen at Manchester Barton on 7th May 2017 (Photo: Simon Wilson)

[Savoia]

SA341F2 ZU-RLD (1659) as seen at Pretoria's Wonderboom Airport in South Africa on 30th June 2015 (Photo: Justin Kennerley)

Ex-mil bird now fitted with skid fairings, tail rotor driveshaft cover and fenestron hubcap.

[Zishelix]

Another one artistic Gazelle photo by Guy Brochot.



F-GDXX flying past the 'Porte d'Aval' on the coast of Étretat in Normandie.

See more F-GDXX here and here.

[Savoia]

SA341G(S) N901B (1410) as seen at the Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare on 23rd April 2017 (Photo: FOTHM)

Behind 901 is Bell 407 RA-01930, seen visiting the museum during her round the world flight.

[xbdt]

On 13th May 1971, an SA341 smashed three speed records in its category:

• Over 3 km: 310 km/h
• 15/25 km: 312 km/h
• Over 100 km in a closed circuit: 296 km/h

Developed and manufactured in cooperation with the United Kingdom at the end of the 1960s, more than 1,250 Gazelles have been delivered. Today 470 rotorcraft – more than a third of all Gazelles manufactured – are still in service, a hundred of which are operated by the French army.

The Gazelle was a major success in the military sector and nearly 80% of the rotorcraft in service are used by armies around the world.

By the end of December 2016, the Gazelle fleet had accumulated more than 7 million flight hours. The Gazelles (SA341 and SA342) that have accumulated the most flight hours (14,200 and 13,100 respectively) are currently operating in the United States.

Photo - Airbus

[Zishelix]

Affirmative, the aircraft used for these speed records was F-ZWRH and the crew were J.M. Besse and D. Prost.

http://www.aviafora.com/forums/forum...=5093#post5093

[Savoia]

Grazie Zis.

[Fene Strong]

Reference the most hours aircraft, not sure if these are still flying, SA341 (S/N 1198) hours last updated in 2011, and SA342 (S/N 1058) hours last updated in 2005. Would be good to know if they are flying and what their current hours are?

[Savoia]

Stefano on Saturday

Lovely to see a 'normal' and somewhat spirited departure (giving something to the spectators); instead of these ridiculous (especially in singles) 'reversing', max performance, confined area and CAT-A-style take-offs!

Bravo Stefano!

[Rotorspot]

New Gazelles in the USA

N281GZ, SA341F2, c/n 1281; 11-May-2017
N383GZ, SA341F2, c/n 1383; 09-May-2017
N419GZ, SA341F2, c/n 1419; 09-May-2017
N501GZ, SA341F2, c/n 1501; 09-May-2017

All registered to GAZELLE AERO LLC, SAN LUIS OBISPO (CA), and ex-ALAT.

[Savoia]

Grazie Jos! Do you suppose all these will go to South Africa too?

[Savoia]

N341L


Another take on N341L (1263) minus her blades

[Savoia]

Unidentified BAG


An unidentified SA341B as seen at Portrush, Co. Antrim, in 2005 (Photo: John Mooney)

[Zishelix]

I'd say it was ZB689 sunbath on the beach

http://www.aviafora.com/forums/forum...=4920#post4920

[Savoia]

SA342M 3664 'GAF' (cn 1664)

Seen departing Meuse in northeast France earlier today:

[Savoia]

Serbian Air Force SA341H 12835 (cn 079) (Photo: J. Darabos)

[Savoia]

L'armée de Terre SA341F 'BXW' as seen in Cambrai, Hauts-de-France, in July 2006 (Photo: Paul Schaller)

[Rotorspot]

Looking for Correct Egyptian Serial No.

The Almaza Air Base Museum in Cairo (Egypt) has a former Egyptian military SA342L Gazelle on display.

Its c/n is shown as 2057, but the serial is quoted as 3397, 2297 or even 2267.

Does anyone have an idea about the correct serial?

[xbdt]

Looks complete except for the engine.

[Zishelix]

Indeed. Who knows how come this one ended up in the Almaza museum.

[noscoavia]

The arabic script above the battery access panel and mid tailboom, could equate to the numbers 2267 or 3367!

nosco

[Savoia]

Gazelles (Mini-form) at Musée de l'Aviation, Saint-Victoret

See the mini X-Craft in action!

[Zishelix]

Such original way to mark the anniversary Well done St Victoret!

[Savoia]

SA341C G-ZZLE (cn WA1402) ex-XX436 (Photo: Warbird Aviation) NFI

[N48284]

Worth noting its not a Gazelle Sqn bird although they use it.

[Savoia]

SA342M Engine change NFI

This looks like a pretty useful piece of kit. A hoist which bolts onto the side of the fuselage. Ideal, one imagines, for field ops.

[Zishelix]

Ah, XB - one man show

[Savoia]

Very nice XB! Is this in France?

[xbdt]

No, in Belgium

[Zishelix]

An excellent photo of Ecuadorean SA.342L E-360 taken near Portoviejo in September 1999. (Photo: Rogier Westerhuis)

[Savoia]

Yes, very nice Zis!

[Zishelix]

Indeed, Mr Westerhuis is an artist of aviation photography!
http://www.aero-image.com/gallery-1/

Hopefully he'd consider to attend next Gazelle Fly-in

[xbdt]

I see 6 people on that picture, it can be done alone also :-)

[Savoia]

Very nice XB! Can we assume then that there are now more Gazelles in Belgium?

[Savoia]

SA342J I-PTEC (cn 001) as seen at Campo di Volo Castiglione del Lago on 23rd April 2017 (Photo: Aldo Bidini)

[Fene Strong]

Anyone know which aircraft this is and why it has 316 on it?

[Savoia]

Sold by an Aviaforan to South Africa. When Jos updates us with up-coming South African registrations we may pick up her serial no. Possibly painted in camo and with Army registration for display purposes. No doubt we will find out eventually.

[Fene Strong]

OK, Thanks Savoia

[md600driver]

Because that's how it was delivered to new owner and was painted by its last owner

[Zishelix]

A cozy place to take an afternoon nap!

[Savoia]

Ideal for camping!

[Savoia]

SA341F ZU-RLE (cn 1678) as seen at Pretoria's Wonderboom Airport on 23rd May 2017 (Photo: Justin Kennerley)

[Zishelix]

'Foxy' looks good

[Savoia]

Ah ha, so you've given her an Avia name, bravo! Foxy it is then.

Yes, she looking well, complete with skid fairings and brightly coloured seat belts.

[Zishelix]

AH.1 XX435 of 663Sqn while served in Germany (Herzebrock-Clarholz) back in 1986. (Photos: Christian Hölscher)

[Savoia]

Very nice. I imagine the Army lads had fun driving the Gaz in Germany.

[Helipixman]

XZ316 The plot thickens !

The real XZ316, ff 19.1.77 and delivered to AAC 8.2.77 In its early days it was coded "R" and changed to "B". Went into storage at Shawbury 10.5.06. Then became a ground instructional airframe going to DCAE Cosford around Jan 2009, Noted at Arborfield 2011 - 2015 and lastly went to DCTT Lyneham (is it still there ?)

Another Gazelle also quoted as XZ316 was seen at Eaton Hall, Chester as part of the Duke of Westminster's private army collection. So was it him that painted a so far unidentified Gazelle to represent a machine he flew ? If this is the Gazelle exported to South Africa the identity remains a mystery, but the info might help to track down its real identity.





Helipixman

[Helipixman]

The Gazelle was noted at open days at Eaton Hall in 2015 and at least one of the photos was taken on 29th May 2016 (By Jeff Buck). Also if you look at the bottom photo on post 2589 you can see scrape marks where the pole mount was attached to the skid frame. Surely the Aviaforan involved in its shipment can confirm it came from Eaton Hall, Chester and what its true identity is ?

[Savoia]

Elipix wrote: 'Surely the Aviaforan involved in its shipment can confirm it came from Eaton Hall, Chester and what its true identity is?'

Yes, obviously and easily he can (and would) only that he is not the only factor in this equation, leaving (by way of our immense powers of deduction, lol) only one explanation, that the specific identity of the craft (for now) remain a mystery at the request of the new owner (and which happens to be the case, hence our 'dance' around this issue). The Aviaforan involved is merely respecting his commitment to his client, and which I am sure we all agree is honourable.

However, once she crops-up on the SA register (made easier by the fact that she won't be an SA341F) she will be revealed, and in this regard we are asking Jos to keep an eye out for us.

[Helipixman]

I totally understand the position our Aviaforan member is in requiring silence until such times it will reveal itself.

I just hope I don't stumble upon it's identity before then or I might have the CIA, FBI MI5 or the South African equivalent knocking at my door. Even worse I might have a poison umbrella launched in my direction.

[Savoia]

Gaz on a truck in Serbia

[Zishelix]

Looks like one of Montenegro AF machines to me. So I'd say the photo was taken in Bosnia (Banja Luka, RS) and the airframe goes to/from Ikar Air Service.

[Savoia]

Grazie Zis!

[Savoia]

SA341F2 ZU-RED (cn 1285) as seen at Port Elizabeth in South Africa on 28th April 2017 (Photo: Matthew Rodgers)

[Zishelix]

'Gary' (XZ321/G-CDNS)



More photos from Bourne Park airfield, home to the Gazelle Squadron Display Team:

https://www.airfix.com/uk-en/news/ae...zelle-panache/

[Rotorspot]

N2TW, SA341F2 GAZELLE, c/n 1575 has changed ownership to ROSS TRANSPORTATION INC, Whitefish (Montana). The new owner has made a reservation of a new registration for this helicopter, being N9334W.

[Zishelix]

Thanks for info, Jos!

[Savoia]

Grazie Jos.

[Savoia]

Low Flying Gaz Ops

[Savoia]

SA341C G-IBNH (cn WA1033) as seen at Manchester Barton on 21st May 2017

Ex-RN XW853.



Steve at Wallop with 901 on 8th April 2017 (Photo: Phil Whalley)