The Rotary Nostalgia Thread

[Hoveratsix]

G-BFVW winch training off Peterhead with the RNLI lifeboat James and Mariska Joicey in 1981

[Helipixman]

for Hoveratsix G-BFVW



I am almost certain I have shots of G-BJKA and do have G-PLMI in fact I seem to have most Dauphins operated in UK. Will post them next week.

Helipixman

[Hoveratsix]

The first Dauphin I flew was F-WMHI which became G-BGKM in 1979. Two aircraft had been registered in 1978 ( G-BFVV and G-BFVW). Don Macdonald and I flew these in to retirement back at the Marignane facility March 16-19 1992. Previously, between Nov 1- 3 1991, I returned G-BJKA to France as Bond were replacing the 365C with the 365N. I ferried VW to Nouadhibou, Mauritania and worked there between Jan 20 to March 6 1980 and then flew VV to Asturias (Gijon), Spain and was there between May 25-July 28 1980. Unfortunately, I cannot find any pics of VV but will keep looking!

The oldest 365C airframe is G-PLMI, S/N 5001.

[Savoia]

Ha ha .. ah signore Elipix .. you've done it again .. yet again!!! LOL! Bravo, this is wonderful. Hope you're seeing this 'HAS' as these are (to the best of my knowledge) the very first photos of G-BFVV to appear online! Great stuff Elipix - fantastic as always!

Love the mounting arrangement of what appears to be an HF antenna (clearly visible in the top photo) behind the fenestron!

Hoveratsix wrote: 'The control runs were in a pillar in the middle of the cabin' - Clearly visible in Elipix's bottom shot.

[Helipixman]

G-BFVV

Here are some apparently elusive images of G-BFVV from the Helipixman collection.



F-WXFG on display at Farnborough Airshow 1978 before becoming G-BFVV



G-BFVV with its Management Aviation titles



G-BFVV with Bond Helicopters titles



Finally G-BFVV left the UK register 23.3.92 and became F-ODJI

all photos are from the Helipixman collection

[Savoia]

HAS, a warm welcome to Aviafora!

Thank you for your feedback on the Dauphin, most interesting as I have never read any comments about the operating characteristics of this aircraft.

I am glad to hear that the fenestron performed well, for it seems that in certain configurations on the early Gazelles there 'may' have been issues (it is however a subject of debate). It seems as though the Starflex may have been developed for the Dauphin? This of course would be incorporated to great effect in the Ecureuil.

Thanks again and welcome aboard.

Regards

Sav

~ ~ ~

I think the first Dauphin in the UK may have been G-BFVV, a Management Aviation bird delivered in the first half of 1978. Sadly I am unable to track down any images of this craft but .. there is a painting of her by Peter Dennis from her time with Bond who apparently operated her until 1992.


SA365C Dauphin 2 G-BFVV (cn 5011) depicted offshore while flying with Bond Helicopters (Painted by Peter Dennis)

[Hoveratsix]

I started flying the SA365C in April 1979 and from the beginning it just felt "right". Apart from the blades turning in the opposite direction (from American/German types) making the first autorotation interesting, it flew like a dream.

It had a good single-engine performance, in fact better than the later 365N models. The fenestron tail rotor was very effective, if a little noisy. Again, the N models improved on this by replacing the 13 blades with a larger diameter 11 bladed asymmetric design and eventually a 9 bladed design. The Starflex rotor head was trouble free and combined with the fenestron gave a very smooth responsive ride. Range and endurance (about 1:50) were a weakness and mostly we flew with a cabin mounted auxiliary tank (~2:45).

Foibles: a few annoyances! The normal fuel fillers were very sensitive to attitude as they ran almost horizontally in to the tanks. The higher mounted aux tank was ideal for a "splash and dash". The 365C mounted its hoist on the port side, so for SAR work it was flown by the aircraft commander in the left seat, necessitating different line/base checks. The control runs were in a pillar in the middle of the cabin, making air ambulance a bit tricky, again ironed out in the N models. We had a dedicated aerosled stretcher available for such work. All in all a good all round workhorse.

[Savoia]

Helicopteros Marinos SA365C LV-AID (cn 5017) as seen at Río Grande Airport, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, winter 1987
(Photo: Carlos Garcia)

Hoveratsix wrote: Without doubt, the nicest helicopter I ever flew albeit on skids with pop-outs. 1979 to 1994.

HAS, would you be willing to expound, just a little, on these early Dauphins. What was it about this craft which enamoured you, compared with other types for example? Also, did she have any foibles?

[Hoveratsix]

Normally based on the Forties Field, I had a winch cable break doing a SAR job at the Tartan Platform a couple of days before this photo was taken. This resulted in damage to the cabin roof necessitating a repair back at base.
I flew VW back to the manufacturer in Marignane between 16-16 March 1992 when it was retired from Bond

[Hoveratsix]

Badly damaged in 2002 after suffering engine failure.

[Hoveratsix]

G-ASNM ditched in the North Sea in November 1970. Captains Dave Creamer and Keith Gregson + 1 passenger were rescued uninjured.

[Hoveratsix]

Pilot standing is possibly Mike Wood. Middle front is Dick Drake. I recognise the other two but cannot remember names. I worked briefly at Manston in early 1971 on this contract.

[Hoveratsix]

Inverness Airport.

[Hoveratsix]

I think this could be Don Macdonald...he was at Inverness the same time as me in 1974, I was flying a Bristow JetRanger at the time.

[Hoveratsix]

Without doubt, the nicest helicopter I ever flew albeit on skids with pop-outs. 1979 to 1994

[Hoveratsix]

I think this photograph is pre-1974 as I believe all S61Ns had radomes fitted by then. BEAH became BAH in March 1974. Another one in my logbook from 1977!

[Savoia]

HAS many thanks. Yes, it seems to be John, also confirmed by William Ashpole on page 3.

[Savoia]

Grazie HAS! I didn't realise that 'AZOM' came to an unhappy end.

[Hoveratsix]

Captain John Millward, I believe.

[Hoveratsix]

Although registered to BEAS, this aircraft was being operated by Management Aviation when it suffered a tail rotor failure and ditched off the Lincolnshire coast on 24 July 1984. 3 POB, no injuries but a/c destroyed.

[Savoia]

Dear Velar

A warm welcome to Aviafora!

Thank you for this information. I have sent a note to John advising him of the location and which I am sure he will appreciate.

Once again many thanks and welcome aboard.

Regards

Sav

[Velar]

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.

The photo was taken at Inverness (Dalcross) between its two hangars.

[Savoia]

Agusta-Bell 206B JetRanger III G-BHXU (cn 8595) as seen at Guernsey Airport on 1st September 1990

[Savoia]

G-OASP


AS355F2 G-OASP (cn 5479) as seen at Kemble Airport on 27th July 2001 (Photo: Peter Davis)

Owned jointly (at the time) by Avon and Somerset and Gloucestershire constabularies.

[Savoia]

I am pleased to be able to post this beautiful photo of John Laing's Bell 222A taken by Aviaforan Adrian Batchelor:


Bell 222A G-OJLC (cn 47031) as seen at Luton Airport in 1991 (Photo: Adrian Batchelor)

This craft was photographed fresh from a repaint by HPB Aviation.

Previously G-NOIR and G-BNDA.

See more G-OJLC (and other John Laing craft) here.

[Savoia]

A novena of Aussie Navy Wessex

Sadly, no further details for this photo but what I can say is that the Aussie Navy received their first two Wessex (from a batch of 27) in 1963 and which flew with 817 squadron. Other Aussie squadrons which operated the Wessex were 816, 723 and 725. The serials for these craft were numbered from WA200 to WA226. From what I can determine, these Wessex were withdrawn from active service with the RAN in 1989.

[Savoia]

The Magnificent Mi-8

A two part documentary:

[Savoia]

Agusta-Bell 206B JetRanger II G-BGGY (cn 8565) as seen over the Houses of Parliament during the filming of the 'Professionals' c.1980

Tragically this craft was involved in a fatal accident on 13th September 1984 near Leadbury in Herefordshire claiming the life of the late great John Ackroyd-Hunt.

[Savoia]

G-WIZZ


Agusta-Bell 206B JetRanger II G-WIZZ (cn 8540) as seen at Leavesden Aerodrome in 1981 (Photo: Adrian Batchelor)

See more WIZZ here.

[Savoia]

Dick Smith's Round the World Flight