The Rotary Nostalgia Thread

[Savoia]

Summary of Scottish Helicopter Companies: 1960 - 1980's

I have more in depth info on each company/individual, but here is an initial list. (I have excluded the oil-related offshore companies which we all know about).



Airgo Ltd (Glasgow)
Air Service Training Ltd (Perth)
Airwork Services Ltd (Perth)
Burnthills Plant Hire Ltd (Glasgow)
David McKenzie Carnegie (Laurenckirk) Agricultural spraying
Francis Fitzralph Chamberlain
Christian Salvesen Ltd (Edinburgh)
Dickson Motors (Perth) Ltd
Dollar Air Services Ltd
Fife & Kinross Motor Auctions Ltd
Forfar Potato Co Ltd
Fras-Air Ltd
Alexander Muir Simpson Gilmour (SAGIL Helicopters)
Walter Glen
Gleneagles Helicopters Ltd (Edinburgh)
Heliscot Ltd (Inverness)
Jack Tatties Ltd
Mackan Group Ltd (Aberdeen)
Management Aviation Ltd (Aberdeen)
Daniel Simpson McGillivray (Heli Highland/ Wasp)
Alexander George Norrie (Turriff)
North Scottish Helicopters Ltd (Aberdeen/Inverness)
PLM Helicopters Ltd
Sims Automatics Ltd (Glasgow)
Taxicabs (City) Ltd (Glasgow)
Thistle Metallics Ltd (Motherwell)
Valley of Gleneagles Helicopters Ltd
Western Air (Scotland) Partners Ltd (WASP) (Glasgow)

I'm sure more will be added.

There were a few companies with helicopters before the 60's and hundreds more between the 80's and current date... but that's another list!

Helipixman

Mamma Mia Elipix .. this is unbelievable!

I thought there were just a handful from that period - but it is great to see so many more! Grazie mille!

It would be wonderful to find out more about some of the lesser known operators in the times ahead.

[Savoia]

Identity Parade!

Any takers on identifying the Castle Air driver flying G-BHXU c.1980 in the TV series To the Manor Born?


Unknown Castle Air driver flying G-BHXU in 'To the Manor Born' c.1980

(Skip to 6min 18sec in video)

To see Roy Flood's first helicopter, click here

To see Roy's second helicopter (after it was sold to Brendan O'Mahony in Ireland), click here

To see Roy playing 'football' with G-SPEY, click here

[Savoia]

Quantel's AS350B G-MAGY (cn 1486) as seen in Tewkesbury on 9th December 1987 (Photo courtesy of Zishelix)


AS350B G-MAGY as seen at Leavesden Aerodrome in September 1981 (Photo: Adrian Batchelor)

'Magy' seen above at Leavesden six years prior to the top photo, during the brief time that she was registered to Micro Consultants. Photo taken by Aviafora member Adrian Batchelor.

[Savoia]

Terry Wogan as seen at North Denes Airfield in 1978 during a promotional visit to 'Currys' electrical store in Great Yarmouth

Almost certainly Andrew Walters' G-BBEU, given the year and the lack of an Agusta badge on the nose.

Ah Terence .. Britain's adopted Irishman!

[Savoia]

More G-BBEU ..


Bell 206B JetRanger II G-BBEU (cn 1121) as seen in the TV series 'New Avengers' in 1977

[Savoia]

Master Mariner Robert 'Bob' Arnott boards G-TRAF upon his retirement as the longest serving Captain of the QE2 in 1985


AS365N G-TRAF (cn 6074) as seen at Farnborough in September 1988 (Photo: Mick Bajcar)

[Savoia]

AS365N1 G-POAV (cn 6309) as seen at McAlpine's Hayes Heliport on 21st August 1989 (Photo: Derek Heley)

In 1988, four years after Trafalgar House bought their Dauphin, contemporary P&O also acquired a Dauphin, G-POAV.

While Trafalgar House were understandably proud of their flagship the ‘QE2’ (operated by their Cunard division), my affections have generally been attached to the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O), not least of all because of the SS Uganda.

The SS Uganda was a 14,000 tonne passenger liner built at Barclay Curle’s Clydeholm shipyard in Glasgow in 1951. She was commissioned for the British India Steam Navigation Company (BI) who were acquired by P&O in 1914, but who continued to operate under the BI name until 1972.

Uganda’s initial passenger route in the early 50’s took in a number of ports which were to have personal significance for me many years later, and in the early 70’s I was to travel aboard her during a memorable school cruise. Having been a passenger liner, then cruise ship, Uganda was to become a hospital ship during the 1982 Falklands War.

Uganda received her call to serve in the Falklands while in Italy, resulting in her passengers being disembarked in Naples. When she arrived in port, all that could be heard from the docks was a chorus of nearly a thousand children singing Rule Britannia!

In 2014 P&O launched the 144,000 tonne Britannia cruise ship (Christened by HM in March this year) and which was built by Fincantieri in Monfalcone.

Regarding G-POAV, I got to meet her and her then driver (David Sale) in 1990 while visiting McAlpine’s Hayes facility when carrying-out an evaluation of the Dauphin on behalf of a client.

[Savoia]

More POAV ..


AS365N1 G-POAV (cn 6309) as seen at Brussels Zaventem Airport in April 1991

[Savoia]

All photos of AS365N1 G-THGS (cn 6319) as seen at Cirencester Park Polo Club on 20th June 1993 (Photos: Stuart Axe)

In 1989, a year after P&O acquired G-POAV, the Trafalgar House Group (owners of the Cunard shipping line) purchased a new 'N1', G-THGS.

So what happened to the craft engaged in the 'corporate heli wars' between Trafalgar House and P&O?

Having been replaced by G-THGS, G-TRAF went on to serve offshore with Schreiner Airways in Holland and Nigeria. In 2001 she returned to the UK and was bought by PLM Dollar who still operate her. She is now known (to me at least) as the 'Pigeon' being registered as G-PDGN. She remains a straight 'N' and has over 14,000 hrs on her frame.

G-THGS also flew offshore in Nigeria (with Aero Contractors) as well as in Norway (with Airlift) and additionally spent some time in Romania flying with a company called Special Air Services. She was then shipped to the US where she became N614AD and is currently owned by EuroTec Vertical Flight Solutions who specialise in Eurocopter spares.

For her part G-POAV went onto the US register (as N111EP) in 1992 but since 2006 has been registered as G-OLNT spending much of her time in the north of England. She is currently owned by Leeds-based LNT Aviation and has over 5,000 hrs on her frame.

[Savoia]

S-76B G-POAH (cn 760399) as seen at Amsterdam's Schipol Airport on 21st July 1994 (Photo: Henk Geerlings)

In 1992 P&O purchased an S-76B, G-POAH, which replaced their AS365N1 G-POAV. This craft was to remain with P&O for the next nine years.

[Savoia]

More POAH ..


S76B G-POAH (cn 760399) as seen at Biggin Hill Airport in June 1995

In 2001 G-POAH was sold to Lynton Aviation who continued to operate her as G-POAH until selling her to Premier Aviation in 2003 when she became G-VONB. In 2013, a decade later, she was bought by Dearborn Aviation of Oregon in the United States and now flies as N2TS (see below):


Dearborn Aviation's S-76B N2TS (cn 760399) as seen at Van Nuys Airport in California on 7th September 2015 (Photo: Mark Ollier)

[Savoia]

Westland WS-51 Series 2 Widgeon, G-ALIK (cn WA/H/3), most probably over Somerset, c. 1958

The Westland Widgeon was an enhanced version of the WS-51 Dragonfly, which was itself an 'Anglicised' version of Sikorsky's S-51. For what it's worth, the S-51 was (perhaps somewhat unbelievably) also known as the R-5, HO2S-1, HO3S-1, YH-5A and VS-327!

The development of the Widgeon was prompted by the availability of more powerful variants of the Alvis Leonides engine which allowed for the redesign of the Dragonfly's for'ard fuselage enabling it to accommodate an additional passenger. Although the thirteen aircraft produced were all registered as WS-51 Series 2, they were commonly known as 'Widgeons'.

The Dragonfly's gearbox was modified by substituting the upper section of the Westland Whirlwind gearbox which enabled the use of the Whirlwind's rotorhead and main blades (albeit in slightly shorter form) which provided greater efficiency. Metal main rotors and a three-blade wooden tail rotor were also fitted. The additional weight of the Whirlwind rotorhead and blades was offset by the lighter forward fuselage section, and meany that some 200 lbs (90 kg) of additional payload could be carried.

A prototype Widgeon was converted, as a private venture, from a Dragonfly (originally built in 1949) and was registered as G-ALIK. The craft made its first flight on 23rd August 1955. This craft had a modified gearbox and rotor system, but retained the standard Dragonfly fuselage. Two further Dragonfly airframes were converted to Widgeons, namely G-AKTW and G-ANLW.

The first prototype, G-ALIK, was brought up to full Widgeon standard and on 3rd November 1958 and was re-registered as G-APPS. This craft was subsequently operated by Bristows (in 1958) and by British United Airways (1960-1961), being used (among other things) for pipe laying tasks.

On 6th November 1961 G-ALIK was again registered to Bristow, and a year later, on 5th December 1962, she was sent to Nigeria and registered as 5N-AGA. Later on she was transferred to the Nigerian Air Force where she bore the designation NAF-10. Sadly, she was written-off in Nigeria on 1st February 1968.

[Savoia]

Prefer the truth?

Check out the latest at ..

[Savoia]

Agusta-Bell 206A G-AVZH (cn 8022) as seen at Luton in 1969 (Photo: Graham Tew courtesy of Adrian Batchelor)

Air Hanson's first JetRanger as seen at Luton in 1969.

Many thanks to Aviafora member Adrian Batchelor for this photo.

[Savoia]

Agusta-Bell 206A G-AVII (cn 8011) as seen at Redhill on 30th December 1967 (Photo: Chris England)

The well-known G-AVII seen here nine months after her delivery to the UK and already flying for Plessey.

She was the third JetRanger to be registered in the UK, while the fourth was Ferranti's G-AVSN. As it happens .. in the mid-70's Ferranti took over the Plessey contract. I think Manfred Mann had it at one point too.

[Savoia]

Having posted Air Hanson's first 206 G-AVZH (two posts above) it seems 'rude' not to take a glance at her sister-ship, G-AVZG:


Agusta-Bell 206A G-AVZG (cn 8017) as seen at Oxford Kidlington on 7th September 1970

This craft was delivered to Tommy Sopwith's Endeavour Aviation in December 1967.

And, having shared shared a shot of 'ZG', it would be remiss of me to prevent us from taking another look at the prettiest of all photos taken of her:


Agusta-Bell 206A G-AVZG (cn 8017) as seen with her owner, Tommy Sopwith, at AAC Middle Wallop in 1968 (Photo: Ambidextrous)

With our special thanks to 'Ambidextrous' for his permission to post this lovely shot of Tommy's first 206.

[Savoia]

G-WIZZ

Very pleased to be able to post a photo of G-WIZZ from the year that I first encountered her, and this indeed was precisely how she appeared:


Agusta-Bell 206B JetRanger II G-WIZZ (cn 8540) as seen at RNAS Yeovilton on 5th August 1978 (Photo: Ray Barber)

To learn about the delivery of G-WIZZ, to see a photo from the day that she first set skid in the UK, and to read the tribute 'Wizz the Bizz', go to page 6.

[Savoia]

S-61N G-BEWM (cn 61772) as seen at Zhuhai Heliport, Guangdong Province, in China, c.1984

A somewhat rare photo of a British Airways S-61 as seen in China in 1984.

In 1983 BP were appointed by the Chinese Government to search for oil in the China Sea. The Chinese national airline CAAC were tasked with servicing the rigs but lacked the helicopters to do so. British Airways Helicopters won a contract to lease two S-61’s to CAAC and to train a number of Chinese pilots and engineers to participate in this assignment.

In August 1983, 4 pilots attended the BAH training school at Aberdeen, while 6 engineers received instruction at both Gatwick and Aberdeen.

In October, two S61’s, namely G-BEOO and G-BEWM, were shipped to China and began flying in November from Zhuhai Heliport, located to the north of Macau.

[Adrian Batchelor]

This is my first post - and I wish to say a thousand thanks to Savoia for all of his help, encouragement & understanding over the past months. I hope that I can bring some interesting aviation facts & photos to Aviafora.

Here we have a the very early days of G-EJOC; its previous registrations were G-BIVP, G-SKIM, G-HMAN, G-GEDS, with the first three registrations being featured below:


AS350B G-BIVP (cn 1465) Leavesden 1983


AS350B G-SKIM (cn 1465) Luton 1986


AS350B G-HMAN (cn 1465) Luton 1986

(All photos by me).

This helicopter currently belongs to CK's Supermarkets in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire in Wales and is registered as G-EJOC and now has some 5,600 flying hours.

She was first delivered to the UK in 1981 to Slea Aviation as G-BIVP. We then repainted her at Leavesden in 1983 when she became G-SKIM with Ernest George Aviation. Then in 1986 we returned her to a white base coat (as per the last photo) when she became G-HMAN.

The middle photo (as G-SKIM) was taken after the aircraft had been sold to Ged Hughes & Noel Edmonds Helicopter Management (in fact their names are written beneath the rotor mast) but which was registered to 'Direct Produce Supplies'. Hughes & Edmonds also owned another AS350B, G-NOEI, as the same time this photo was taken.

[Zishelix]

Welcome aboard Mr Batchelor.

We look forward to seeing more of your interesting helicopter photos!

[Adrian Batchelor]

Many thanks for the welcome Zishelix.

As I said in my first post, I hope I can bring some interesting facts - and hopefully even a few surprises!

[Zishelix]

Super! Any chance to surprise us with any new or old Gazelle photos?

[Savoia]

Dear Adrian - A warm welcome to Aviafora and congratulations on your first post!

Thank you too for your kind words.

We look forward to your contributions and will do all we can to make posting your photos as painless as possible!

We're a small group with more readers than contributors .. but .. we are 'keen' on aviation and keen on photos, so hopefully you will feel at home!

Brgds

Sav

~ ~ ~

While Adrian is new to Aviafora his photos have appeared on both the old and new Nostalgia Threads and have been a source of much enjoyment. We may well reprise some of Adrian's photos from the old thread in the months ahead depending on the topics which crop-up!

[Adrian Batchelor]

Sav, many thanks for your warm welcome - am glad to have been able to sign-up at last!

No problem about being a small group, often small means better quality!

IIRC from reading the old Nostalgia Thread, you had a special interest in the JetRanger G-CHOC and, again, IIRC you were having difficulty finding photos of her.

You may already have this, but just in case you don't, here is a photo of her. Its not mine, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.


Bell 206B G-CHOC cn: 1125 Blackbushe Airport September 1978 (Dave Morris )

[Savoia]

È magnifico Adriano, Grazie Infinite!

As with Elipix's picture of G-BGGX on page six, this photo has brought a tear to the eye!

My late godfather was friends with Peter Cadbury (who was known in my godfather's parlance as 'The Cad') and flew G-CHOC a number of times.

Sadly, some photos I took of this craft in the same year (1978) seem to have gone astray along with their negatives. The misplaced photos I can (sort of) understand, the negatives less so. It's as if the photo-thief-gremlins have sorted through the negatives and specifically singled-out the shots featuring this craft. Well, there is probably a more rational explanation, but that's how it seems because I have the other strips from the same roll of film, but the one on which G-CHOC appeared .. that is missing!

So, I am enormously grateful to be able to add this to the one which Elipix posted on the old Nostalgia Thread in September 2010.

Many thanks, and again, welcome aboard!

[Helipixman]

Hi Adrian

I would also like to welcome you to Aviafora.

It seems while you were clicking away at Leavesden I was a few miles away at Elstree, where I photographed everything I could between 1975 - 1991 before moving to Scotland. I remember Leavesden being like Fort Knox (depending who was on security). My best way of getting in there was to fly in which I did regularly. Happy memories and photographs.

Helipixman

[Helipixman]

More British Squirrels and more photos of G-BIVP G-SKIM G-HMAN G-GEDS and G-EJOC


G-BIVP probably at Hayes


G-BIVP at Shoreham with Southern Air titles


G-SKIM at Brands Hatch with Ernest George titles


G-HMAN with Helicopter Management/Adidas titles


G-GEDS at Sandwich with Starflight titles... Ged Hughes is a director of Starflight.


G-EJOC showing off its wonderful colours at Duxford.

All photos Helipxman Collection

[Zishelix]

Grazie Sav, we already have G-BBHW photo in 'Shrieking Gazelles' post #520 !
http://www.aviafora.com/forums/forum...=2018#post2018

[Adrian Batchelor]

Many thanks for the welcome Helipxman ,again i am stunned into almost silence with what pictures are around , stunning!!!i thought we had painted G-BIVP to G-SKIM this is obliviously not the case with your pictures at Shoreham and Hayes,We carried out the main paintwork but could not have re registered it!!As for Hayes i went there three or four times ,an excellent place to work ,you could eat your dinner of the floor it was that clean!!!As for Leavesden i have many fond memories and lived very near to it ,Elstree i also have many memories and still have friends who work there ,i will have to come back to you in both these areas if this is ok.

[Helipixman]

Adrian

It would be great to see each others photos from our time around Elstree/Leavesden. I flew all over the UK and always took my camera. Still take camera and have amassed a huge collection. Main passion is helicopters but have just as large a collection of fixed wing shots.

Helipixman

[Savoia]

Classic Dauphin


SA365C Dauphin 2 G-BFVW (cn 5014) as seen Aberdeen Airport on 3rd April 1981 (Photo: Derek Heley)

A nice little 'blast from the past' in the form of this Management Dauphin which was delivered to their Bourn Aerodrome base in Cambridge in 1978.

[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

[Savoia]

More 'obscure' BA 61's ..


Sikorsky S-61N Mk II G-BFPF (cn 61490) as seen at Beccles Heliport on 4th August 1979

This craft, seen here in 1979 sporting BA titles, was on lease from Court Helicopters of South Africa having arrived in the UK in 1978. She was transferred (still on lease) to BCalH in 1981 before returning to South Africa in 1989.

S-61N Mk II G-BFPF as seen in 1979 (Unknown location but possibly still Beccles)

Here's a shot of her in South Africa six years prior to departing for the UK:


S61N ZS-HDK (cn 61490) as seen at Court Helicopters Cape Town base in December 1972 (Photo: Steve Aubury)

[Helipixman]

G-AZZB

Photo for Sav to jog the memory.

I took this photo at the Ferranti hangar, Gatwick 1975/76 do have exact date somewhere. Quality not great taken on an old Polaroid camera !!

Just wonder do you recognise the person washing ZB ?



Flew into Gatwick a few times in Ferranti machines.

[Savoia]

This is a lovely surprise Elipix, grazie!

The gentleman's name doesn't spring to mind but I have a fair idea of who it is, I think I even have a photo of him somewhere!

As a youngster I spent many-a-weekend at the Beehive cleaning these aircraft, usually their bellies, because (being small) I could more easily access this area, and for which the engineers seemed genuinely grateful. Before my first episode of cleaning 'Wee Johnnie Froud' (as the Colonel would call him - one of the Ferranti engineers) gave me a briefing on what to watch out for - mainly the antennas.

Again many thanks. Always wonderful to see any of the Ferranti craft.