The Rotary Nostalgia Thread

[Savoia]

Bristow Whirlwind and crew on HM Coast Guard duty at RAF Manston in Kent in 1967

[Savoia]

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Irish Helicopters S-61N EI-BLY as seen on the grounds of University College Dublin in February 1988 where it was being used to transport journalists covering the visit of President Francois Mitterrand

[Savoia]

More Everard

Some may recall a few comments which were posted on the previous page about the late Tony Everard.

And here is a little more:

The roots of the high-flying Everard dynasty were very much grounded in Leicestershire, as Leicester Mercury reader Bill Shooter reveals and he should know – he was born in the family’s stables!

“Your article concerning Mr Anthony Everard, of Ratcliffe Hall, was most interesting,” writes Mr Shooter, of Western Park, Leicester.

“As you explained, he was one of the county’s helicopter pioneers. What can be added, however, is that he was carrying on a family aviation tradition. It really began at Bradgate House, where Anthony Everard’s grandfather, Thomas Everard, was in residence and where my grandfather, William Henstock, was his head groom and coachman.


Sir Lindsay Everard, who developed Ratcliffe Aerodrome in the 1930's

“My grandfather and his family lived at the stables, where there was some very acceptable accommodation. It would seem that I am the last survivor of Bradgate, having been born at the stables back in 1925!

“Mr Thomas Everard had two children, Lindsay – father of Anthony Everard – and Phyllis Everard. It was Mr Lindsay Everard who developed an important aerodrome at Ratcliffe in the 1930s.

“In 1949, to commemorate their 100 years, Everards Brewery produced a book which describes the aviation history at Ratcliffe in some detail. I quote from this book: “On September 6, 1930, Mr Everard opened his own private aerodrome in a field near Ratcliffe Hall.


Bradgate House stables, where Bill Shooter was born in 1925

“The inauguration ceremony was attended by over 5,000 people and 100 light aircraft. The guest of honour was aviator Amy Johnson, who had achieved worldwide fame by flying solo to Australia only three months before. A flight of Siskin aircraft performed a stunt flypast – in formation and tied together!

“During the 1930s, the airfield had regular air shows and competitions, including annual meetings of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (The World Air Sports Federation).

“Sir Lindsay often used Parliamentary recesses to undertake air tours in Europe and the Near East. His was one of three planes which visited Cairo, Venice, Cannes and Paris, in 1932.

“Air races were extremely popular in the 1930s. They were great social events, and during one race in 1932, a house party at Ratcliffe flew in five aeroplanes to Skegness, had a picnic and a dip in the sea, before flying back to the house in time for dinner!

“Sir Lindsay’s 1930s air tours also took him into Adolf Hitler’s Germany. The Treaty of Versailles at the end of the First World War had laid down precise limits for the German armed forces, including strict controls on its government, which was circumventing these restrictions. On his return, Sir Lindsay presented questions in the House of Commons which revealed the disturbing fact, that while in Britain there were 1,000 amateur flying club members, Germany had 50,000.”

Mr Shooter continues: “History tells us that when war was declared in 1939, we had only a relatively few trained pilots compared with Nazi Germany and clearly, some would have been involved with Ratcliffe.


Tony Everard skiing in Switzerland with Bell 47 HB-XAY

“Let us therefore not underestimate the vital and outstanding contribution to the final winning of the war by Mr Lindsay Everard, later Sir Lindsay Everard, at Ratcliffe, throughout the 1930s and the war itself, when the aerodrome took on a different but important role.”

Mr Shooter says: “Turning again to Mr Anthony Everard and quoting from the book: “He took a regular commission with the Royal Horse Guards. Serving as a captain, he was wounded in action in 1944 while serving in Normandy after the D-Day landings, but rejoined his regiment the same year. In 1947, he resigned his commission and joined the family company on October 14.

“Tony inherited his father’s love of flying and earned his fixed-wing pilot’s licence in 1947. “He was to become better known, however, for his passion for a new form of aviation — helicopters — and acquired his helicopter licence in 1963.

“In 1966, he founded the Helicopter Club of Great Britain, opening a heliport at Ratcliffe, which hosted the first ever ‘hover-in’ the year after.”

Mr Shooter adds: “Leicestershire and the Everard family can be rightly proud of the enormous contribution to aviation by Sir Lindsay Everard and his son, Anthony.”

[Savoia]

Ciao Shane!

Yes, it is quite true and your query is timely given that I've had some photos of XJ729 sitting in my 'To Post' folder since August!

As you say, "29" was bought by Jim Kelly from Brian Austen in 1999 but last year Andrew Whitehouse of Crewkerne, Somerset bought her from Jim and as a result of his efforts the craft had her CofA Permit to Fly re-issued on 5th December 2013.

The photos I have are taken by Rick Ingham who's fine photography I featured on several occasions on that 'other' site. Rick's webpage on XJ729 records the following:

XJ729 started life as a Westland Whirlwind HAR2 (cn WA100) built at Yeovil and first flew on 18th January 1956. It was flown to RAF St. Mawgan on 3rd March 1956 but later returned for adjustments before being re-delivered to 22 Squadron at RAF St. Mawgan on 9th March 1956.

The craft returned again to Westlands to be upgraded to HAR10 taking to the air on 22nd February 1962 for her post-upgrade test flight and on 16th March 1962 "29" was returned to 22 Squadron at St. Mawgan.

In 1964 she was transferred to RAF Leconfield where she served with 202 Squadron ‘B Flight’ from 1964 until 1971. In subsequent years she went to RAF Leuchars with 202 Squadron ‘C Flight’ (1971), RAF Coltishall, 1972 to 1974, RAF Chivenor, with 202 Squadron ‘C Flight’, from 1974 until 1978 and with 22 Squadron ‘A Flight’, and finishing her career at SARTU (Search and Rescue Training Unit) RAF Valley.

In 1981 "29" was withdrawn from use and transported (under-slung by a Sea King) from RAF Valley to SAREW (Search and Rescue Engineering Wing) at RAF Finningley where it became an instructional airframe registered as 8732M.

When SAREW closed, "29" was left outside and deteriorated to such an extent that it was put up for disposal. Luckily she was purchased from a scrapyard by a Brian Austen who rebuilt her in a yard in Cricklade, Wiltshire before before moving the craft to Oaksey Park Aifrield near Kemble. After Brian's restoration work "29" wasplaced on the civil register as G-BVGE in 1993. The craft appeared in the static display of the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in 1995.

And here are a couple of Rick's photos:


Westland Whirlwind HAR Mk10 G-BVGE/XJ729 as seen at Dawlish in South Devon on 22nd August 2014 (Photo: Rick Ingham)


Westland Whirlwind HAR Mk10 G-BVGE/XJ729 as seen at Dawlish in South Devon on 22nd August 2014 (Photo: Rick Ingham)

To see more photo's of "29", check-out Rick's website here.

With sincere thanks to Rick Ingham for these photos and for the many terrific photos he has given permission to post over the years. Rick .. you are a star!

A video of "29" departing the Weston Air Festival in June 2014:

By the way, at the beginning of the video one can (just about) hear the igniters ticking away .. lovely! Also .. I didn't realise that the Gnome arrangement in the Whirlwind operated (I am assuming) in similar fashion to the Gazelle so that one starts-up with the rotors 'braked'!

[Shane101]

Speaking of Whirling winds, what's happened to Whirlwind HAR.10 XJ729/G-BVGE?

Was bought for scrap in 1992, restored to flight that year and flew regularly until its departure to Ireland in the late 90's. She was a regular airshow performer during the mid 90's including RIAT in 1995.

Currently owned by James Kelly in Ireland, her permit to fly expired late 2008 and was not renewed. According to the CAA website she was declared "No Flight" as of 16/12/2010.

I heard she is flying again in the UK. True?

[Savoia]

Armstrong-Flint were one of the world’s pioneers in civil helicopter operations.

Knute Flint was a former Commander of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) first Helicopter Rescue Squadron which operated in Burma in 1944. After returning from Burma Flint formed a commercial helicopter company located in Burbank, Los Angeles, together with business partner Harry Armstrong. The company was registered in 1946.

The inaugural meeting of what is today the Helicopter Association International, took place at Armstrong-Flint’s Burbank offices two years later on 13th December 1948 and was originally named the ‘Helicopter Council’. In 1949 the organisation changed its name to the California Helicopter Association and in 1951 to the ‘Helicopter Association of America’.

In their early years of operations Armstrong-Flint pioneered numerous applications of the helicopter including postal delivery, police observation, fire-fighting, crop spraying, power line patrol, seismic survey and aerial filming to name but a few of their exploits.

In 1952 Knute Flint was asked by the Royal Dutch Shell Company to provide helicopter transport and survey services in Dutch New Guinea (now Irian Jaya) and which led to the formation of Bahamas Helicopters Ltd. In 1956 a contract for work in the Papua Province of Dutch New Guinea necessitated re-equipping with S-58's. and, to finance this, the first public offering of company stock was made.

In 1957 Armstrong and Flint re-named their company World Wide Helicopters Ltd. to better reflect the company's diverse operations. World Wide went on to operate in multiple locations globally including South America, Europe, Africa and Asia as well as throughout the United States.


An Armstrong-Flint Bell 47-B conducting a 'ladder stunt' at the Santa Anita Race Track in Arcadia (to the north-east of Los Angeles) at a fund raising air show for US veterans c. late 1940's


An Armstrong-Flint Bell 47-B, possibly at Burbank Airport c. late 1940's

[Savoia]

A brief look at some of the former John Laing & Co. company craft; courtesy of Elipix's collection!

All photos by Paul Kelsey (Helipix) and all photos taken at Elstree Aerodrome.


AS355F1 G-JLCO owned by John Laing from 1983-87



Agusta A109A Mk II G-JLCY owned by John Laing from 1989-91


Bell 222B G-OJLC owned by John Laing from March to August of 1991

[Savoia]

The last of the Antarctic Whirlwinds (for now):


Westland Whirlwind HAR1 XA866 (920) as seen in the Antarctic Peninsula in February 1964 (Photo: Joe Barr)


Whirlwind 940 in the Southern Atlantic c. 1960's

[Savoia]

Memories of the freezing winter of 1962 ..


Stranded families cut off by deep snow in the Lammermuir Hills in Scotland, greet an RAF Whirlwind delivering supplies to isolated farms

[Savoia]

Another stamp (just in case there are any philatelists reading):

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Royal Navy Westland Whirlwind HAR1 aboard HMS Protector in the Bransfield Strait in 1959. Here seen sporting some 'Penguin Patrol' nose art (Photo: Jeffrey Stokes)

(The Bransfield Strait is a body of water about 100 kilometres wide extending for 300 miles in a general north-east - south-west direction between the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula).

The Westland Whirlwind was the first naval helicopter to fly over South Georgia and was assigned to the Antarctic Patrol Ship HMS Protector in 1955. The ship carried two Whirlwinds which were specifically allocated from the Fleet Air Arm’s main inventory of aircraft for Antarctic duties. The aircraft carried out a range of survey and support tasks and on several occasions were involved in the rescue of explorers and scientists who had been stranded on the southern Atlantic icefields.

In 2009 the Fly Navy Heritage Trust hosted the launch of a series of 'Fly Navy' postage stamps commemorating aviation in South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands. The event took place at HMS President in London and additionally marked a century of naval aviation.


L-R: Lieutenant Mansfield Spong (RN), Flight Commander from HMS Protector in her first commission to the ice in 1955. It was Lieutenant Spong who piloted the first Helicopter to fly over South Georgia; Admiral Sir Desmond Cassidi, GCB, Executive Officer of HMS Protector in her first commission to the ice in 1955 who also flew 911 from HMS Protector; Rear Admiral Terry Loughran CB, Chairman of the Fly Navy Heritage Trust


The 2009 issue 'Fly Navy' commemorative stamps

[Savoia]

More Whirling Winds .. and the case of the flying bench!

In March 1970, 22 Squadron (who were based at RAF Chivenor) presented a seat to the people of Braunton (a village 5 miles west of Barnstaple in North Devon). The bench was presented "In recognition of the kindness shown by the people of Braunton towards the airmen of RAF Chivenor".

The RAF delivered the 'bench of gratitude' to Braunton Beacon courtesy of a 22 Squadron Whirlwind.


An RAF Whirlwind from 22 Squadron RAF Chivenor delivers a token of appreciation to Braunton Beacon in March 1970



"My lords, ladies and gentlemen (and people of Braunton); I stand atop this here bench of to verily proclaim that No. 22 Squadron are truly kings of the castle and every other squadron something of dirty rascals!"

(You may need to have attended school in England to appreciate the above remark so .. my apologies to our non-British readers).



Brauntinians gather at the 'lowering of the bench ceremony' on Braunton Beacon in March 1970! The lady in the rear right of the photograph (wearing a headscarf) is Monica Huxtable and the boy in the foreground (looking at the camera and wearing a patterned jumper) is Graham Norman

[Savoia]

Bristow Agusta-Bell 206B Jetranger II G-AWMK as seen at Sandwich in Kent in 1993 (Photo: The Helipix Collection)

A lovely photo from The Helipix Collection!

"MK" was the 23rd JetRanger registered in the UK. This craft eventually became G-GAND and is still flying albeit with over 12,000 hours on her frame. While with Bristows she performed a tour of duty in Trinidad c. 1976.

I shall be posting some more images from Helipix's collection and which you can see in full here.

Behind 'MK' is Bristow S-76A+ G-BIEJ.

[Savoia]

Ciao Steve!

Nice photo.

As Aviafora has still to attract some more regular contributors .. you will have to put up with me for now. Sorry!

Royal Navy Antarctic Whirlwinds cropped-up on the old Nostalgia Thread and I've posted a couple of photos of them below. To me it would seem 'highly probable' that the lower half of the craft was over-painted with orange with the base colour being the midnight/navy blue you mention. Having said that .. I have no way of actually verifying this.


Royal Navy Westland Whirlwind WS55-1 HAR1 XA868 from the Ice Patrol Ship HMS Protector over Speedwell Island on the Falklands in December 1963 (Photo: Joe Barr)


Royal Navy Westland WS55-1 Whirlwind HAR1 aboard HMS Protector as seen off the coast of Beauchene Island (in the Falklands) in 1959 (Photo: Jeffrey Stokes)

Caption: "I didn't have my finger anywhere near the float inflation button .. honest!"


Westland WS55-1 HAR1 XA870 as seen at Lee-on-Solent on 29th July 1972 (Photo: Ray Peltit)

Here I think one can see the 'regular' blue livery of Whirlwind '518' in the background and with XA870 (in the foreground) one might presume that the orange was simply painted atop the blue!

Between 1954-56 my late godfather served as Chief Pilot for Christian Salvesen flying Whirlwinds on whaling duties in the southern Atlantic.

And this is one of the craft he flew .. although while aboard the whaling ships the Salvesen Whirlwinds were fitted with fixed floats (see bottom photo):


Westland Whirlwind Series 3 G-AOHE belonging to Christian Salvesen & Co. as seen at Newcastle Airport on 19th October 1960 (Photo: Ian MacFarlane)


Christian Salvesen Westland Whirwind Mk3 becmoing airborne on whale spotting duties in the Antarctic c. early 50's departing either the MV Southern Harvester or MV Southern Venturer. The aircraft were fitted with fixed-floats while based aboard the ships

[Steve]

Found this great photo of a Royal Navy Whirlwind in Antarctic colours.

I've seen a couple of these in museums painted in a Black and Orange scheme but I was wondering whether it was Black or were they originally painted in Midnight Blue and then had the Orange painted over it, can anyone help please.

Many thanks

Steve

[Savoia]

Memories from 72 Squadron RAF Aldergrove:

Wessex from 72 Sqn on exercise with Mourne Mountain Rescue Team, no date given but suspect it to be c. 1990's



Plus .. Wessex retiring from 84 Squadron RAF in Cyprus in 2003:

[Savoia]

More Delightful Dragonflies ..


Westland Dragonfly HR4 WG664 533 from 705 Squadron at seen at Chatham Docks in August 1957 (Photo: Malcolm Clarke)

[Savoia]

Westland Dragonfly HR.3 alighting aboard HMS Warrior in 1951


A pair of HR.3's with HMS Warrior in 1953. Seen here delivering the ship's mail


Westland Dragonfly HR.3 WG665 rises from the deep aboard HMS Warrior in 1953


HMS Warrior c. 1950's

[Savoia]

Lesser-known Rotary-Wing Pioneers: Emilie & Henry Berliner

Emile Berliner, known for his invention of the flat gramaphone record, was a rotary-wing pioneer who experimented with intermeshing and contra-rotating helicopters as early as 1907. As with most of the designs of the time, his early prototypes were underpowered and struggled with control problems.

In 1919, Emile Berliner's son, Henry Berliner, left the Army Air Service as an aerial photographer to work with his father on helicopter designs. By 1922 Henry had founded the Berliner Aircraft Company with a focus on conventional aircraft development. At the same time Henry continued to develop helicopter concepts and the 'Berliner Helicopter' was successfully demonstrated throughout the 1920's although interest was lost due to its limited control and poor autorotational qualities.

One of Berliner's first helicopters (which he referred to as gyrocopters) had two contra-rotating propellers, a four-wheeled chassis, engine, shutter-like vanes, rudder, a seat for the pilot, and little else.


Josephine Berliner (wife of the eminent engineer, inventor, and pilot Henry Berliner) poses with the new family obsession, one of Berliner's first experimental helicopters (then referred to as a gyrocopter) as seen at College Park Airfield in Prince Georges County, Maryland (now the world's oldest continually operated airport) c.1920

[Savoia]

The Barclaycraft ..


S-76A++ 2-BYDF as seen at Guernsey Airport on 23rd July 2014 (Photo: Bill Teasdale)

The Barlcaycraft (formerly G-BYDF) sporting her new Channel Islands registration of 2-BYDF on a stop-over from Brecqhou Island.

[Savoia]

Captain Willis P. Kuay pilots a US Air Force H-19 Chickasaw (S-55) assigned to 66 Air Rescue Squadron at Manston in Kent on 3rd August 1954 and is seen lowering a crew member into a waiting Volkswagen during rehearsals for the Squadron's display in the Royal Artillery Searchlight Tattoo at Woolwich Stadium, London and which was the first occasion for American troops to participate in the tattoo

[Savoia]

Something for 500 Fan:

OH-6 Cayuse from 1964

[Savoia]

More from the Emerald Isle ..

Although on the British register, this craft was owned for a number years by Jim Kelly.


Jim Kelly's Bell 47J-2A G-BFPP as seen at Weston Airport in Eire on 28th August 1993 (EI-AMD Photos)

Weston was also home (in the early 80's) to Brendan O'Mahony's 206 EI-BHI ..


Bell 206B EI-BHI as seen outside the Shannon Repair Services hangar at Shannon Airport in 1980 (Photo: Sav)

Took this (somewhat grainy) photo with a little instamatic camera during the middle of 1980 while flying EI-BHI over a period of about a month.

EI-BHI was formerly G-BAKX which was purchased by Ferranti in 1977 on behalf of their client, a certain Mohammed Al Fayed, and managed on his behalf for about 18 months when an order was placed (for the same client) for G-BFAL (the UK's first LongRanger). G-BAKX was Fayed's second helicopter and his first turbine helicopter.

In 1978 G-BAKX was sold to a Roy Flood of Cornwall, this also being his second helicopter and his first turbine helicopter. The aircraft initially flew with 'Castle Motors' titles (and of which I have an unscanned photo) until the formation of Castle Air.

Castle Motors then sold 'KX' to Brendan in 1979.

[Savoia]

Great stuff Shane!

Another perspective of G-STRL:


De Beers AS355N G-STRL departing Héliport d'Issy-Les-Moulineaux on 14th April 2011 (Photo: Olivier Cabaret)

How accurate this is I don't know but .. it is rumoured that this craft sometimes flies under the callsign 'Diamond 1'.

[Shane101]

More rooftop, more Ecureuil.

I recently saw the only remaining private rooftop helicopter pad in use in London, the DeBeers Ecureuil II on top of 17 Charterhouse Street.


View from helipad with visiting Ecureuil


The DeBeers Ecureuil G-STRL on the roof pad

[Savoia]

More classic Ecureuil ..

Back in the days when police helicopters were not 'Police State' black and yellow!


West Midlands Police Authority AS355 F2 as seen in 1989

[Savoia]

Gear change ..


The late Robert Maxwell atop the Mirror Group building (aka Maxwell House) in Holborn, London, with AS355F1 G-RMGN in 1986

[Savoia]

Piasecki gathering ..


A Piasecki H-21 lands at Philadelphia International Airport alongside an H-16 and a US Navy HUP-1 c. late 50's (Photo: Charles Kessler)


Another view of the H-16 c. 1953 (Photo: Piasecki Archives)

The H-16 was designed by Frank Piasecki in 1951 and made it first flight on 23rd October 1953. Two Piasecki H-16's were built, the first with two Pratt & Whitney R-2180-11 radial engines producing 1,800shp. These engines were the result of splitting the Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major. The R-2180 had 4 rows of cylinders commonly referred to as the 'Corn Cob'. The result was an engine with 2 rows of cylinders. The second H-16 prototype was fitted with two Allison YT-38 gas turbines.


The H-16 in-flight seen here with two Curtiss C-46 Commandos in the background (Photo: Piasecki Archives)

[Savoia]

More Piasecki ..


US Army Piasecki CH-21C Shawnee 52-8634 in the hover at the Pentagon Heliport in Arlington, Virginia in October 1965 (Photo:SM Reeves)

Seen here holding for a US Air Force Shawnee to complete its arrival to the heliport.

[Savoia]

A Swedish Navy HkP1 Boeing-Vertol 44A rests its front wheel on a lighthouse
helipad in the Baltic sea off the Swedish coast in 1961 (Photo: NA Archives)

This aircraft was of course the Piasecki H-21 Shawnee prior to Piasecki's purchase by Boeing in 1960.