Announcement

**Zishelix** · 13th July 2020, 08:51

F-WTNA during one of her many public appearances in early 1970's when she was a demo machine.

**Helipixman** · 13th July 2020, 10:39

Here is a photo of the currently registered N876VJ ???? well according to the FAA anyway ? maybe there has been a change over but the FAA have not caught up on their website ? It has been advertised for sale with a location as Munich ? I have been informed that the 109C has been operated in Russia ?

**Rotorspot** · 13th July 2020, 18:10

New owner: as indicated before on this Forum, Gazelle AH.Mk1 N685ZB (c/n 1994) has changed hands; per 09-Jul-2020 she is registered to TRI INVESTMENTS LLC, AIR 1 LLC, NEWARK, DE (USA).

**Savoia** · 14th July 2020, 08:41

SA341H HA-LFK (cn.051) as seen at Gödöllõ Airfield in Hungary on 2nd May 2008 (Photo by Ferenc Kolos)

SA342J YU-HEV (cn.1393) as seen at Snetterton Race Circuit in Norfolk on 9th August 2015 (Photo by David Moth)

Snetterton race circuit was of course the site of RAF Snetterton Heath and once converted to a circuit was frequently used by Colin Chapman (Team Lotus) and Jonathan Palmer (MotorSport Vision).

While on the matter of civilian 342's .. I've got a 342 conundrum coming-up .. and which I hope someone may be able to shed some light on.

RA-0682G pre-flight inspection (Part 2)

Crabtrees Senior and Junior with the Crabtree Warrrior
at Breighton (perhaps on 12th July) with Crabtree Junior
flying the Warrior in the second half

**Helipixman** · 14th July 2020, 14:54

G-KEMH now registered to Tabby Manning, 13.7.20 at an address in Warlingham ! Base ? Redhill or Biggin Hill ?

G-VOIP now showing as a Potential change of owner, addressee deceased. It seems Eddie Coventry passed away in late March 2020 !

**Zishelix** · 15th July 2020, 10:23

SA.342M 4178/BPP and SA.341F 1215/BOV at ALAT Cognac in May 20th, 1990 (Photo: Graham Tiller)

**Savoia** · 15th July 2020, 12:06

SA341F2 ZU-RRW (cn.1369) as seen in Cape Town (no date)

For Jakub ..

SA341B XX439 (WA1409) as seen in 1992 (no location info)

For Jos ..

The owner of RA-0682G (an Avia member) does not wish to divulge the aircraft's serial number at present. As Zis has mentioned, this is most probably a re-build from Soko no. 123. As we know, there are a number of Russian owners who prefer not to identify their aircraft and so for now there is not much we can do about this but to observe that this too is part of the current 'Gazelle landscape' so to speak.

In other matters, the owner did suggest an Avia name for his craft .. namely .. 'The 342 Phantom!'

SA342 start procedure (Part 1)

SA342J N65AR (cn.1602) as seen at Telluride Airport in Colorado on 12th July 2020

*NB: Telluride Airport elevation is 9,000ft (reminds me of my days in PNG).
With our great thanks to 'Mr. Porsche' in America for these lovely photos and video of N65AR.

**Helipixman** · 15th July 2020, 14:08

The Gazelle Squadron

Apparently they have moved out of Bourne Park as of Sunday 14th June 2020. At present they want to keep their new location quiet.

All Gazelles have departed Bourne Park and they will advise when re-location is completed.

**md600driver** · 15th July 2020, 18:35

Originally posted by Fabrice View Post

Any idea why WA1510 is fitted with armoured seats? (see also post 4448)?

Gazelle seats are not that cheap to buy, plus .. you can buy brand new armoured seats on ebay in the UK for as little as £200!

**Savoia** · 16th July 2020, 10:21

SA341C G-ZELE (WA1007) as seen at Breighton on 22nd September 2013 (Photo by Alan Jessop)

SA341G N565F (cn.1182) as seen in Deauville, Normandie on 30th April 2005 (Photo by Stephane Pichard)

N65AR

I received a couple of PM's following yesterday's post featuring N65AR:

Q1: Wasn't this the Gaz which crashed in Nevada a couple of weeks ago?

No, that was N342J (also a 'J' model) but owned by Steve Hamilton, see post 4439 on page 148.

Q2: N65AR was for sale, do you know if this is still owned by Scott Seibold?

Yes, N65AR has been up for sale, but up until now she is still owned by Scott.

Anyone with Gaz queries, if possible please mail me at aviafora1@gmail.com rather than using PM's as Avia's mailboxes aren't so large. Grazie

**Rotorspot** · 16th July 2020, 15:54

Originally posted by Savoia View Post

For Jos ..

The owner of RA-0682G (an Avia member) does not wish to divulge the aircraft's serial number at present. As Zis has mentioned, this is most probably a re-build from Soko no. 123. As we know, there are a number of Russian owners who prefer not to identify their aircraft and so for now there is not much we can do about this but to observe that this too is part of the current 'Gazelle landscape' so to speak.

In other matters, the owner did suggest an Avia name for his craft .. namely .. 'The 342 Phantom!'

Mille grazie, Enrico. I understand the issue. Do you mean she was rebuilt after the hard landing with ensuing fire damage? In that case, I propose to name her 'The 342 Phoenix!'

**Savoia** · 17th July 2020, 10:21

SA341B as seen in Rhodesia in 1979

No further information just now on the above shot, but I am going to make some enquiries.

SA342L L812 as seen at Rayak Air Base in Lebanon on 16th July 2020

SA342MV F-MGBZ NFI

I am going to ask Fabrice if he knows where this was taken, but most likely in West Africa.

Part Two of the 342 Phantom's start

Interestingly, in this video (and the one before it) we see the 'automatic' nature of the Gaz start (and which I assume is the same for the Alouette) because usually the driver is holding the start switch the whole time (probably the recommended procedure) and so I wasn't sure whether the switch was perhaps spring-loaded and had to be held in place for the start.

The early JetRangers (typically in the 70's) were often fitted with a Ceco fuel control unit which required that you manually adjust the fuel flow throughout the start and there were several occasions (especially with newbie drivers) where a slip of the wrist resulted in unwelcome hot starts and in worst case scenarios, removal of the hot section. This improved when the Bendix fuel control was introduced but neither of them seem as efficient as the system which seems to have appeared from the very beginning on the Alouette and Gazelle.

**md600driver** · 17th July 2020, 12:07

Originally posted by Savoia View Post

Interestingly, in this video (and the one before it) we see the 'automatic' nature of the Gaz start (and which I assume is the same for the Alouette) because usually the driver is holding the start switch the whole time (probably the recommended procedure) and so I wasn't sure whether the switch was perhaps spring-loaded and had to be held in place for the start.

The SA342 has two engine types, the 14M and the 14H. The 14M only has two positions for start 'Off' and 'On', you start in the middle then switch to the top and leave it. On the 14H, the procedure is the same as for the 341.

**Savoia** · 18th July 2020, 08:39

Una piccola sorpresa!

First there was Glasnost .. but today we have GazNos!

SA342J(S) YV-228CP (cn.1616) manufactured in 1978 and seen here in Venezuela flying with Helicópteros Flamingo

SA341B XX413 (WA1309) as seen at RNAS Yeovilton on 29th July 1089 (Photo by Robert Nichols)

SA341F2 N341RD (cn.1501) as seen at Port Charlotte in Florida on 20th October 2018 (Photo by Robert Bourlier)

Is that an axe by the co-driver's door?

The Phantom Gaz as seen yesterday near St. Petersburg

More Phantom Gaz videos on the way.

**Savoia** · 20th July 2020, 10:21

SA341B ZA772 (WA1814) from 665 Squadron as seen at RAF Fairford on 12th July 2018

Egyptian Police SA342L (cn.1624) NFI

British Helicopter Champions at Broadlands in Hampshire on 22nd May 1983 (Photo by Graham Tiller)

SA342M F-MGEJ from 4e RHFS extrcting commandos from Pau in southwestern France

Over water flight with Anthony Chan in SA341F2 N918GZ in July 2020

The 342 Phantom taking-off near St. Petersburg over the weekend

**Savoia** · 21st July 2020, 11:17

SA341B ZU-RLH (WA1600) as seen at Nelspruit Airfield on 16th June 2017 (Photo by Christiaan Kotze)

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

SA341G VH-WLS (cn.1361) as seen as Bare Island, New South Wales, Australia on 23rd September 1977

The above shot of Australia's National Parks and Wildlife Service Gazelle may seem similar to one posted previously, but is in fact taken from a different angle.

**Savoia** · 22nd July 2020, 10:19

SA341B XX453 (WA1454) as seen at SPTA on 15th March 2017

SA342M as seen at Aéroport de Dole-Besançon-Dijon on 2nd July 2020

SA342L ZU-RMX (cn.1887) as seen at Margate Airport in KwaZulu-Natal on 21st July 2020

With our thanks to Esther Boshoff for these photos and video!

Plus, Esther says .. if anyone is visiting South Africa, then be sure to come to KwaZulu Natal's South Coast where she will hook you up with an unforgettable scenic flight!

The 342 Phantom near St. Petersburg in July 2020

The 342 Phantom recording 286kph/154kts near St. Petersburg on 21st July 2020

The 342 Phantom performing an over water flight near St. Petersburg on 21st July 2020

**Savoia** · 23rd July 2020, 08:39

SA341G(S) YU-HEY (cn.1320) as seen at Fishburn Airfield in County Durham on 30th September 2006 (Photo by Malcolm Clarke)

Royal Marines Gazelle as seen at Yeovilton in 2011 (Photo by Ray Bedford)

I am receiving messages that one of our members has something to share with us.

Perhaps 'XB' can help us to discover what that news is!

**xbdt** · 23rd July 2020, 12:29

New Arrival at Zomergem

New acquisition arrived yesterday. I have bought several SA342M's (ex-French military ALAT) and after overhaul they all go to the USA to happy customers!

**Savoia** · 24th July 2020, 08:27

Four Gazelles accompanied by Five Pumas arrive at Divulje Air Base on 26th November 1993 (Photo by Fabrice Henrard)

SA341B XZ312 (WA1581) as seen at Groningen-Eelde Airport in June 1992 (Photo by Jack Poelstra)

SA341C ZU-HBH (WA1418) attending the Heli-Games at Jack Taylor Airfield near Krugersdorp in 2019 (Photo by Andre Venter)

Documentary covering the downing of an Armée de Terre Gazelle
in Mali during Operation Barkhane last year (en français)

**Helipixman** · 24th July 2020, 13:27

With SAVOIA unearthing some truly astonishingly rare photographs of a Venezuelan Gazelle YV228CP, both Zishelix and myself feel the need to repay him with another very rare Gazelle not seen until now:- Being one of the moderators he probably cannot give himself an award so this is for him !

N9002Z c/n 1527 with titles of Caribbean Helicopter Airways Inc

Photos with thanks to the San Diego Air & Space Museum archive

**Savoia** · 27th July 2020, 09:56

SA341B RA-05709 (WA1184) in Russia (Photo courtesy of Avia member Kirill)

RA-1314G in Russia NFI

SA314G(S) YU-HVZ (cn.1295) as seen at Breda Airport on 25th July 2020

YU-HWF

SA341G(S) YU-HWF (cn.1407) as seen at Lisičji Jarak Airport in Serbia on 25th July 2020

RP-C77

SA341B RP-C77 (WA1208) as seen in the Philippines in 2008

A digital impression of N901B

Gaz Memorabilia

A set of Gazelle cufflinks are currently up for grabs on ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-WES...-/293624460229

**Savoia** · 28th July 2020, 10:23

SA341B ZB691 (WA2006) at SPTA in July 2020 (Photo by Philip Stevens)

Flying as 'Army Air 741'.

SA341F2 ZU-RNV (cn.1608) as seen at Centurion in Gauteng on 27th July 2020 (Photo courtesy of Jean-Pierre)

Serbian Air Force cadets with SA342 at Pasuljanska Livada training ground in July 2020

Lezioni di Gazzella DCS in Italiano

The 342 Phantom lifting-off near St. Petersburg on 27th July 2020

Gaz Gear

Phone cover available at: https://www.redbubble.com/i/samsung-...52934397.S4BK2

**Savoia** · 29th July 2020, 11:15

SA341G(S) G-BZLA (cn.1392) as seen at Silverstone on 5th July 2002 (Photo by Mike Kell)

SA342L 241 (cn.1854) as seen at Casement Baldonnel in August 1987 (Photo by Derek Gaynor)

Gazelles at Middle Wallop NFI (Photo by Michael Skinner)

**md600driver** · 29th July 2020, 14:30

Originally posted by Savoia View Post

The thing is there were six or more Gazelles in the Philippines including:

1) SA341G RP-C224 (cn.1490)
2) SA341G RP-C341 (cn.1249)
3) SA342J RP-C342 (cn.1663)
4) SA341G RP-C787 (cn.1363)
5) SA341G RP-C1110 (cn.1110)
6) SA341G RP-C5131 (cn.1775).

Number 6) is a 342J not 342G.

**Savoia** · 30th July 2020, 10:11

Monenegrin Air Force SA342 as seen in July 2020

SA341G G-SFTF (cn.1262) as seen at Glasgow Prestwick Airport on 5th October 1985 (Photo by John Allan)

SA341H HA-LFK (cn.051) as seen in Hungary NFI

**Savoia** · 31st July 2020, 09:55

SA341B as seen near Mt. Ararat in eastern Turkey in June 1983
With our thanks to Philip Amadeus for the use of this photo and who also features in the above shot!

SA341F cn.1372 being Christened NFI

Per Fabrizio ..

A Philippine Air Force Puma being Christened in the early 80's by the 'Shoe Lady'

Lebanese Air Force SA342L's as seen in Beirut NFI

SA342L RA-0682G's under bridge pass in St. Petersburg in 2018

And just in case the Avia member who performed the above flight feels alone ..

Savoia .. a few seconds away from taking Bell 206B N2917W beneath San Francisco's Bay Bridge in February 1989
(Photo courtesy of Sav's brother Carlo)

**Savoia** · 1st August 2020, 09:13

The five Gazelles formerly operated by the Helicopter Service of the Republic of Srpska have been bought by the Helicopter Unit of Serbia's Ministry of Interior.

The first of these Gazelles SA341H cn.037 landed in Serbia on 31st July 2020 wearing the temporary registration YU-HFO.

SA341H (cn.037) as seen at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport on 31st July 2020 (Photo by Petar Vojinović)

SA341B XX439 (WA1409) as seen at RAF Wildenrath in Germany on 21st October 1981 (Photo by Jonathan Verschuuren)

Note the cargo hook and Union Flag on the belly.

SA341G N37UP (cn.1224) flying over Marta on the edge of Lake Bolsena on 1st May 2017
(Video courtesy of Avia member Liberio)

**Savoia** · 3rd August 2020, 10:15

SA342M HA-HSG (cn.3615) as seen at Breighton on 1st August 2020 (Photo by Steve Blee)

SA341G ZU-ROO (cn.1301) as seen Rand at Airport on 1st August 2020 (Photo by Bruce Perkins)

SA342L ZU-RHH (cn.1787) as seen at Rand Airport on 1st August 2020 (Photo by Bruce Perkins)

ZU-RNV

SA341F2 ZU-RNV (cn.1608) during a visit to Durban on 1st August 2020 (Photo courtesy of Jean-Pierre)

**Rotorspot** · 3rd August 2020, 13:58

Originally posted by Savoia View Post

The five Gazelles formerly operated by the Helicopter Service of the Republic of Srpska have been bought by the Helicopter Unit of Serbia's Ministry of Interior.

The first of these Gazelles SA341H cn.037 landed in Serbia on 31st July 2020 wearing the temporary registration YU-HFO.

Great find, Enrico.

Two of these will become operational, while the remaining three will be used for spares recovery. I have not yet found their identities.

Announcement

Shrieking Gazelles

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