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An unusual scheme on this bird, owned by Century Aviation at Sandtoft so not too far from its base. It was in the same scheme as its previous identity OO-SOO which I am sure I photographed at a Helitech event.
Nice to see G-AXEJ again, flew in this one from Battersea to a farmers field about 6 miles North of Bedford. I was with my brother and a friend who then had to try and get to Bedford. We started to thumb a lift (safe to do so in those days). A chap stopped and gave us a lift asking how we were in the middle of nowhere. Thinking he would'nt believe we had just landed further up the road in a helicopter., he said yes I saw it take off. Great memories
Lovely story Elipix, and just wonderful how you have these connections with so many of the UK's classic rotorcraft. This 'C' model truly is a classic among the UK's early 500's and I suppose one of Davide's earliest examples?
Thinking this must have been during ownership of David Richards Autosport ? Seem to remember when Ken Stokes had it, it was red and white, unless he painted it before sale. It then became G-ITUP still with David Richards Autosport before sold to Turkey as TC-HMC and then to South Korea as HL9139. It was cancelled there and not heard of since ?
G-BFAY Hughes 369D (67-0148D) seen here during ownership by Sloane Aviation Ltd.
History:-
Sloane Aviation Ltd, 31.10.77
Yewlands Engineering Company Ltd, 10.3.81 (They also owned G-PENI another 369D)
Sold in the USA 22.6.81 becoming N29707
Suffered a landing accident at Porterville, California 24.9.85
G-PENI was also owned by Yewlands and replaced G-BFAY. Registered to Yewlands Engineering Co Ltd, 29.2.81 the registration was for Penny Sutton This also finished up in the USA as N2734X. It has been cancelled form the US register but no explanation why ?
Prior to being sold in America G-BFAY was roled over in a running landing. What was sold to America was the sad remains.
Somewhere I have a photo post accident.
G-PENI was to be a replacement for G-BFAY however after 'FAYS accident PENI was sold on and never operated by Yewlands.
G-BDFP Hughes 369HS c/n 45-0728S seen at Cranfield showing Sloane Aviation titles.
Never actually registered to dealers Sloane Aviation it was owned by Hughes of Beaconsfield who went on to own more of the type. They sold it to John Clarke who decided to re-register her as G-OAIM.
I think lack of any type expertise did not help the cause. On one occasion they had been underslinging and damaged the bottom of the fuselage. I received an odd phone call asking how close to the belly was the fuel tank. They admitted to holing the tank with a drill!! They also suffered an engine failure not long after taking delivery of it. Probably down to bearing coking.
The C20B was prone to coking on Aeroshell 500, they were delivered with Mobil JetII, but AS500 was a more common oil in the U.K at the time so some operators changed oils.
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