The Rotary Nostalgia Thread

[Savoia]

Not a lighthouse .. but a light ship!


A Bristow Westland Wessex engaged in crew transfer trials with the Smith's Knoll light vessel located off Great Yarmouth on 4th October 1972

[Savoia]

Staying with lighthouses, 105's and Ireland ..


MBB B0105D G-AZOM in 1978 (Photo: John Law)

In Bristow livery though registered to BEAS (which had been bought by Bristow) and wearing Northern Lighthouse Board titles. This aircraft flew with Irish Helicopters as EI-AWB from 1972 until 1978 and doubtless landed on one or two Irish lighthouses during that time.

The owner of this photo is keen to discover the location of this shot so, if anyone has an idea, please chip in.

[Savoia]

Nice one Shane!

More Irish nostalgia ..


Irish Helicopters MBB Bo105C EI-BDI atop a lighthouses c. late 70's

[Shane101]

This may be of interest.

Bell 47 EI-BKG with Irish Helicopters from 1977 to 1981.

[Savoia]

Former Ferranti-managed Bell 206B G-BBBM as seen during the filming of 'The Legacy' in 1977

Owned at the time by 'Keluma Ltd' of Woodhall Farm, Bands Hatch and which, if I remember correctly, was also the location of Shawline Helicopters.

[Savoia]

British Airways S-61N Mk II G-BCEA as seen at the 'Beehive' at London Gatwick Airport on 9th September 1982 (Photo: Derek Ferguson)


Capt. Mike Evans flying G-BCEA onto the Staflo Rig c. 1975 (Photo: ExxonMobil Archives)
This image was originally published in 'Esso Air World' and is reproduced here courtesy of ExxonMobil's Public Affairs Department

With thanks to William Ashpole for the above photo which was sourced through his website.

Ah .. those were the days, 'proper' uniforms and not an immersion suit in sight!

Note the Decca Danac atop the panel.


The Staflo Rig

Do you remember this BA S-76 from page one?



In response to my query regarding the driver, William says:

"As far as I can make out, it looks like Captain John Millward. He was based at Beccles and the photo may have been at Beccles where BAH had it based."

[Savoia]

Staying in the Highlands ..


Bell 206B G-BNIT lifting core samples 'somewhere' in Scotland c.1990

This craft belonged to Black Isle Helicopters of Dingwall, Ross-shire and was previously been owned by Dollar Air Services who had imported her from the US in 1987.

Sadly, G-BNIT came a cropper when on 3rd June 1993, during a power line survey, she struck the lines at Fourdoun near Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire. Three people were on board two of whom (one being the pilot) were seriously injured.

G-BNIT Accident Report.

[Savoia]

More G-AZNI ..


BEAS SA315B Lama G-AZNI as seen 'somewhere' surrounded by wooden crates! c. mid-70's

[Savoia]

Lama Memories ..

One of the UK's first Lamas, if not 'the' first:


SA315B Lama as seen at Greenness in Aberdeenshire in 1976 (Photo: Norman Davidson)

The craft in question is G-AZNI (cn 06) which was imported by BEAS at Kidlington in 1972. BEAS were of course associated with Sud Aviation (later Aérospatiale) as also they were with the Brantly Helicopter Company. The craft was sold to Dollar Air Services in 1978.

On the day of the photo, BEAS had accommodated a visit by a small group of school children (pictured inside the cab) while the aircraft was employed by the Forestry Commission to spread rock phosphate onto the plantations in Greenness, in the Forest of Deer in Aberdeenshire.

Captued in the photo are (L-R): Emslie Wilson, Head Forester Jack Christie, the pilot and children (inside the cab), two BEAS ground crew (sitting and crouching by the skids), Audrey Wilson, Mrs Edith Wilson and Bill Scott.

Sadly, as with the photo in post #62, the pilot's name is not disclosed.

Here is an enlargement of the driver (although very blurred):



Do you know who this driver may be .. or indeed the two BEAS ground crew?

Answers please on the back of a postcard to:

'I have an aversion to posting on Aviafora'
London Weekend Television
PO Box 57994
W4 4QG

[Savoia]

From 'The Graphic' magazine, Leicester, June 1969:

"The first jet-engined helicopter service in the Midlands is being launched by Mr Anthony Everard, of Ratcliffe Hall.

Mr Everard is an enthusiastic helicopter pilot and has on many occasions proved a popular opener of various charity functions in his machine.


Tony Everard

He uses an aircraft of this type for business purposes and was the founder chairman of the Helicopter Club of Great Britain, which numbers among its members the Duke of Edinburgh.

As further proof of his belief in the capabilities and potential of these aircraft, Mr Everard had recently acquired a five-seater jet-engined machine which can travel at 150mph and has a range of about 400 miles.

His pilot will be Captain T S MacDonald, a Royal Naval helicopter pilot, with 5,000 hours experience.

Mr Everard hopes that eventually Leicester might agree to having a helicopter landing ground within the city. He suggests machines could be made available to the police for observing traffic from the air, searching dense countryside and probably for emergency medical missions.

"I understand a site that has been suggested as a possibility for a helicopter landing ground is near to the proposed Leicester Museum of Technology, at the old Abbey Pumping Station" said Mr Everard.

[Savoia]

G-AWUC

Some may recall Kestrel Helicopters' Bell 206 G-AWUC which featured in the old Nostalgia Thread:


Kestrel Helicopters Bell 206B G-AWUC at Inverness in the Summer of 1974 (Photo: Peter Nicholson)

And now a 'new' image to add to AWUC's history:


G-AWUC at Dalcross Airport, Inverness, in July 1974 (Photo: Dave Conner)

In the photo are shown Constable Evelyn Morrison and Sergeant William MacKenzie, who were part of the Traffic Department of Inverness Constabulary. Also in the photo is Kestrel's pilot (who, sadly, is not identified). The photo was taken at the conclusion of one of the regular Trunk Road Traffic Observation Patrols which the Inverness Constabulary made use of in the early 1970's.

During the summer these patrols surveyed the major roads across Scotland which were prone to clogging-up with heavy slow-moving vehicles such as caravans and tourists who tended to drive slowly in order to admire the scenery. The lack of dual-carriageway combined with small twisting roads gave little opportunity for safe overtaking and which resulted in congestion and the odd collision.

Air observation 'Police Patrols' enabled actual and potential problems to be identified quickly and the information relayed to traffic patrol vehicles (mostly motorcycles) which could be deployed accordingly.

[Savoia]

SA365C1 Dauphin II F-GVIP as seen at Grenoble's Le Versoud Airport in the Rhône-Alpes region of France on 25th April 1999 (Photo: Capt Fluo)

Ah .. the delightful tail-dragging Dauphins!

[Savoia]

And the rotary-wing-Citroën connection doesn't end there ..

In 1957 the Royal Navy was preparing to send two aircraft carriers, HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion, to take a detachment of Royal Marines to deal with the rebels in the Malaysian jungle. Ground transport was needed and the vehicles had to be sufficiently robust and reliable to cope with jungle tracks and worse and had to be light enough to be taken ashore by helicopter from the aircraft carriers.

An admiral on HMS Bulwark had seen a 2CV pick-up at a Citroën dealer near Portsmouth, borrowed it to take it on board for his next voyage, put it through many tests and returned it to the dealer. The Royal Marines Commanding Officer on board HMS Bulwark was so impressed that he ordered four more.

The first helicopter lift tests involving the 2CV pick-up were made on-shore in the UK by the helicopter company Westland Aircraft of Yeovil sometime in 1957 using a standard civilian version of the pick-up bearing the registration number 33CPP. This vehicle was then taken aboard HMS Bulwark on the aircraft carrier’s second commission (voyage) during 1957 and 1958 for sea tests in the West Indies and the Indian Ocean with the Westland Whirlwind helicopters of 845 squadron RNAS.

The tests were judged a success and as a result HMS Bulwark was converted from a fixed-wing aircraft carrier to the Navy’s first helicopter commando carrier and equipped with a batch of pick-ups ordered from Citroën Cars Ltd in early 1959, to serve as motor transport with the 42nd Commando regiment of the Royal Marines.


A Royal Navy Whirlwind lifting a modified Citroën CV aboard HMS Albion c. late 1959


A Royal Navy Wessex on the 2CV lifting assignment

Who knows, perhaps even Baston was involved!

[Savoia]

Nostalgia from France!

Citroën made the hydro-pneumatic suspension famous, they designed icons such as the Traction Avant and the Citroën DS and innovated 'swiveling' headlights! But did you know that in the 70's they built a helicopter?

At about the same time that Frank Robinson was doodling on the back of paper napkins .. and some thirty years before the first flight of Bruno Guimbal's Cabri .. Citroën had their own designs on small helicopter production.

It was called the RE-2 and was powered by a Wankel engine, producing between 170 and 190 hp, depending on fuel and setup. The engine was the same as in the GS Birotor car introduced in 1973, an ill-fated but innovative project with only 850 units sold. However, the helicopter used larger rotors and a fuel injection system.


The Citroën RE-2

Weighing 700 kilograms (1543 lbs) when empty, it could reach speeds of 205 km/h (127 mph) and had a range of 430 km (267 miles).

The idea of the RE-2 was to compete with the American-made Bell 47, which was widely used in France. Citroën wanted to diversify its business and manufacture something that would be used as a marketing tool as well.

Work began in 1973 and only two years later, the first prototype was airborne. After many months of development, the RE-2 obtained a temporary flight permit from the French government. Eventually, Citroën stopped rotary engine development and with 38 test flight our, their helicopter project was also scrapped. The machine made its last flight in May 1979, after which it was sent for display to the Citroën museum.

[Savoia]

The Mil which never flew!

Originally designated as the Mi-2, the Mi-20 was a prototype designed by Mikhail Mil with the intention of replacing the Mi-1.

The initial powerplant considered for the Mi-20 was the Russian GTD-350, an engine which was evidently both under-powered and troublesome. With a lack of small turbines available domestically and with seemingly improved Soviet-French relations, the Mil factory entered negotiations with Turbomeca during which the Oredon III was identified as potentially 'suitable' for the Mi-20. Later the Astazou XII was 'assigned' to this project.

However, relations between the West and the Soviet Union deteriorated in the early 70's and Turbomeca were no longer permitted to meet Mil's requirement and which sanction precipitated the shelving of the project.

Commentators believe that Mil's 'dash 20' project was a Soviet response to Western light helicopter developments at the time and which included aircraft such as the Bell 206, Hiller 1100 and Hughes 500. Indeed there were plans drawn-up by Mil for a more futuristic 'sleeker styled' Mi-20 which, on paper, looked like a cross between the Brantly 305 and the FH-1100!


The Mi-20 mock-up in Moscow in 1966

[Savoia]

Ah Denissimo .. I think you must have been involved in almost every craft that has ever cropped-up in our nostalgic reminiscences! And quite right too as a veteran connoisseur of the skies!

And yes, how well I remember advising the new owners at WAP that the second helipad they had laid out adjacent to the original building was a tad too close for comfort.

Quite so, I seem to recall it was possible land within a few feet of the sliding doors .. and which was most convenient!

Savoia regaled us with pictures and stories of my batting prowess for the village cricket team of Ripley in Surrey.

Ah yes!






Great to hear that you went back to visit the club!

[Dennis Kenyon]

Ah .... memories of my old friend, G-BUZZ. I owned her in the period around 1993 ish to 1996 during which time I operated her on my Starline Helicopters AOC at Redhill. Out of interest, I'm sure many of you will have seen the film work of Arena Aviation. Michael Portillo's Bradshaw train journeys etc, and many others.

Around 1994, a certain Richard Yeowart approached me for Jetranger hire and had decided he didn't want to follow in his father's national business of Steel Stockholders and instead wanted to fly. I taught him on G-BUZZ and as he completed the course he purchased her for his new business. By then I had sold the business to a Welsh gentleman and moved on by returning to Shoreham Airport ... where I began my rotary flying! Richard either hired her out to my old business of Skyline Helicopters at Wycombe (Booker) or perhaps sold her on. And yes, how well I remember advising the new owners at WAP that the second helipad they had laid out adjacent to the original building was a tad too close for comfort. Dear Buzz promptly proved the point later by touching blades with G-BZLN! The Virgin suits immediately ordered the Virgin Logos on the two wrecks to be covered up and the sale of the whole business.

In those days I must have had a preference for the ZZ registrations as I also operated G-SHZZ and G-BZZZ. I seem to recall having a similar problem when I registered my Wycombe Air Park fleet as G-A, B. etc and SKY.

Please can I tell another small story. In the original 'Nostalgia' thread ... (another place - another time!) Savoia regaled us with pictures and stories of my batting prowess for the village cricket team of Ripley in Surrey. The Hon CS Hughesdon (RIP God bless him) used to hold his annual helicopter party just over the wall from the village green at Dunsborough Park to the detriment of my batting concentration. Just a couple of weeks ago, I found my flying at nearby Shere cancelled so I drove up to the period cottage that serves as the clubhouse for the Ripley team ... just to see the place where I last played forty years earlier. I parked the Jag in the same old spot and walked up to the cricket square to reminisce. I recall my very last score there ... 54 not out as I walked back to the clubhouse cottage.

PS. I plan to go back to see if they still hold the score books for those days ... please make allowances for we COFs.

Safe flying to all!

Dennis K.

[Savoia]

Tally Ho!



Not G-TALY .. but her sister (in spirit) G-BUZZ .. as mentioned above.


Agusta-Bell 206B G-BUZZ on Michael Somerton-Rayner's 'Barge William' on 6th September 1983 (Photo: Pierre Gillard)

Originally delivered to Austria in 1969, G-BUZZ was purchased by Western Air of Glasgow in 1978 having been imported from France where she had previously flown as F-GAMS. Seen here in 1983 and apparently operating with 'Bristol West Helicopters' who (presumably) had leased her to 'Summertime'.

Seen here posing as G-TALY on Summertime Reindeer's Thames barge.

The only noticeable difference to TALY's scheme is the red piping within the rear portion of blue on the main fuselage.

Again, our great thanks to Pierre Gillard!

[Savoia]

Some will recall previous discussion 'elsewhere' regarding Major Michael Somerton-Rayner, a friend to my late godfather, who operated a heli-barge (which he named 'Barge William') along the Thames in the early 80's. The barge was situated not far from Blackfriars Bridge:


Two 'Rayner Rangers' G-BAML and G-BAZN (the latter wearing DHL livery and being loaded for departure) upon Barge William in 1982

In our discussions I pointed-out that Mike (to whom my godfather gave the nickname 'Summertime Reindeer') had a penchant for converted 'A' model 206's.

So, imagine my surprise (and delight) when I recently discovered that Canadian-based photographer Pierre Gillard added a photo of G-BAML to his album!


G-BAML and a 'surprise' Rayner Ranger on Barge William on 6th September 1983 (Photo: Pierre Gillard)

Well, not only was I elated by this 'new' image of some 80's Rayner Rangers but (and as you can see) there is a very interesting 'mystery Ranger' sitting alongside BAML!

At first glace .. you guessed it .. she appears to be none other than G-TALY but .. cast your eye over her air intake and you'll see that 'Summertime' has maintained his passion for converted A's!

The craft is in fact none other than G-BUZZ which began life with Western Air in Scotland and was the subject of some nostalgic discussion we had at another time in another place when we cited her appearance in the movie 'Death Watch'.

At the time of Pierre's photo BUZZ was registered to 'Adifer Ltd' of Macauley Road in London but, in his photo notes, Pierre has the craft listed under 'Bristol West Helicopters' - an organisation I should like to learn some more about.

In the late 80's BUZZ would wear the Virgin livery while operating from Booker and on 29th June 1998 was involved in a 'blade-connecting' incident with another 206 G-BLZN where the latter landed a little too close to BUZZ.

Pierre has said that at some point he will scan his photo of BUZZ and which should reveal the extent of her colour scheme. I was aware of one additional 206 in the UK with a similar scheme to TALY's and also one in Holland so, this will be interesting to see.

Our thanks to Pierre for the above photo.

[Savoia]

More R-4 ..

The R-4 was the first helicopter recorded in my godfather's logbook.


The driver of a Church Army mobile canteen hands over a cup of tea to a Sikorsky R-4 crew member at RAF Andover in 1945 (Photo: NA Archives)

[Savoia]

Igor Sikorsky with Orville Wright and Frank Gregory in front of an XR-4 at Wright Field, Ohio, in 1942


The late great Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky in the H-5 c.1945

[Savoia]

More Classic Ecureuil ..


Valley of Gleneagles Helicopters AS350B G-BGCV as seen at Glasgow International Airport in c. 1979 (Photo: Ian Oswald courtesy of Martin Stephen)

One of the first Ecureuils in the UK and which ended-up being exported to New Zealand in 1985. The very first was Tommy Sopwith's G-GINA delivered in March 1978.

[Savoia]

Heliavia's AS350B Ecureuil CS-HAY as seen at Faro International Airport in Portugal in 1990 (Photo: Pedro Aragão)



Oh, one tidbit .. this aircraft won first place in the 'European Individual Helicopter Colour Scheme of the Year' competition in 1990.

(I am of course completely joking, for I have never seen such a horrid colour scheme!)

[Savoia]

Shane, thank you for this news. Will add this to our obituaries page.

Sad indeed, although at 104 I think one can say that he had a good innings!

RIP Charles.

[Shane101]

Sad news.

The Telegraph reports the sad death of Mr Charles Hughesdon 2 days ago.

Mr Hughesdon was 104 years old and started flying in 1930. In his long career in aviation and aviation insurance he traveled the world and became an experienced helicopter pilot, first owning a Hiller UH-12 in the mid 1960's followed by several Bell JetRangers.


The late Charles Hughesdon

His Helicopter Garden Partiess became a fixture for many years (see posts above). He is survived by his wife Carol Elizabeth and his son Michael from his first marriage. RIP

This link is for the Telegraphs Obituary to Mr Hughesdon and also coincidentally features a short audio feature about Bristol test Pilot Lt Sox Hosegood.

Telegraph obituary: Charles Hughesdon was an amorous aviator who married a film star and crashed in the African bush during a 1930s air race.

[Savoia]

Bristow Helicopters AS332L Super Puma (aka Bristow Tiger) G-TIGP as seen at Aberdeen's Dyce Airport on 20th September 1983 (Photo: John Boardley courtesy of Ray Barber)

Seen here on contract to BP.

[Savoia]

Canadian Coast Guard SA316B Alouette III C-FCAZ as seen at Vancouver International Airport in July 1980 (Photo: Gary Vincent)

After being decommissioned, this aircraft was donated to the Calgary Aerospace Museum.

My thanks to Gary Vincent for his permission to post this image and for his support in providing some fantastic helicopter photos over the years!

[Savoia]

AS365N Dauphin G-TRAF belonging to Trafalgar House Group lands at Farnborough in September 1988 (Photo: Mick Bajcar)

Trafalgar House were the owners of companies such as the Cunard Line and Heavylift Cargo Airlines and were additionally engaged in a diversity of investments in property, construction and engineering.

Also in the shot are what appear to be the tails of a Bond Puma and an American registered Bristow 412.

[Savoia]

More Milk!

If the Sikorsky G-AYOM (see above) was known as 'Add Your Own Milk' then the craft below must surely be .. 'Bring Your Own Milk'! 😆


S-76C+ G-BYOM formerly owned by Starspeed
(Photo by Ned Dawson)

G-BYOM was of course used for several years as a support craft to the Queen's Helicopter Flight although owned and operated by Starspeed.


And as seen at Anglesey in 2012 when C&C visited William at RAF Valley

[Savoia]

BEA S-61N MkII G-AYOM as seen at Aberdeen's Dyce Airport in April 1974 (Photo: Richard Vandervord)

Formerly N94565, JA9506 and N4585 prior to her delivery to BEA in December 1970. From BEA (and later BA) she went to British Caledonian, British International and then Bond Aviation in 1998. Later that year she was sold to CHC and was supplied by them on a SAR contract flying for the Irish Coastguard as EI-SAR.

On 17th January 2006 the craft was involved in a routine winch training exercise with the Conningbeg Lightship when the hoist cable snagged, then sheared and finally recoiled under load back towards the helicopter where it impacted the main rotor and the cockpit canopy. The craft was however able to fly back to Waterford Airport without further incident - a testimony to the resilience of the 61!

The word is that the mechanics/engineers at Aberdeen referred to this craft as 'Add Your Own Milk'.


BEA pilot's cap badge