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A quick check on companies house shows MW Helicopters as being in Administration. MW Helicopters (Serbia) Ltd was dissolved on 28.1.20. It seems Excel Charters/Helicopters may have changed ownership on 18th June 2020 with new directors and the old one resigned ! Does this signal the end of a long relationship for MW Helicopters and their Gazelles !
One of our readers is searching for a 'value' Gazelle in flying condition priced between Β£200-250k. (He has seen the aircraft offered on the GazMart).
If you have such an aircraft available please contact James at james@jbs.co.uk
I don't think this has been published on this Forum before. An interesting book (in English) detailing 80 years of aviation history at the Marignane site. The book includes sections on the Gazelle helicopter as well as the Fenestron tail rotor.
A pdf version of the book can be downloaded for free here.
I have seen a few Air & Space 18A, I remember one covered in dust in a hangar at Biggin Hill - G-BALB. There were only 7 on the UK register. Also saw G-BOBW at Cranfield, have got photos of them in my collection, which one popped into your garden ?
I thought that the 'jump start' and ultra short landing roll of the 18A were not only innovative developments but were going to be game changers in the appeal of autogyros, but .. that obviously didn't turn out to be the case!
It was indeed G-BALB from Biggin which came to our home, owned at the time by a gentleman called Chris de Vere.
Gazelles belonging to Avia members Carlo and Stefano met-up yesterday without informing their owners of the arrangement; you know .. a bit like how one's dog may run down the road to rendezvous with a fellow canine!
Herewith some shots of the meeting:
SA341B G-BZYD (WA1648) former XZ329 with SA342M HA-HSG (cn.3615) as seen at Shoreham Airport on 18th August 2020
Top two photos courtesy of Carlo bottom two courtesy of another Avia supporter!
Jakub, I don't have details as to the date or location of this shot. Obviously one of the shows, but I'm not sure which one. I hope you can add this to your collection though.
Fabricewrote: Does anyone know the story behind the Aussie roundel on XZ333?
Its a shame Zishelix isn't around because I am sure he would have answered this.
But, I think the the answer is that this aircraft is wearing Aussie roundels for the same reason the one below is wearing Bristow titles:
SA341B XZ318 (WA1609) almost certainly at Middle Wallop in 1990
I believe in the case of XZ333 the aircraft was lent to the Australian Army team who entered the World Helicopter Championships, and in the case of XZ318 above, that this was lent to the team from Bristow Helicopters but regarding 318 above I am sure Zis knows more.
Tomorrow, Monday 24th August 2020 is the day that Hill Helicopters are meant to be unveiling their new Helicopter the Hill Helicopters HX50. Not Gazelle related I hear you say. Well I for one cannot wait to see what it looks like. The hype says it is a game changing helicopter, possibly knocking its rivals for six ?
It is rumoured to be like a Gazelle in appearance, five seats, fenestron style tail rotor and a small turbine engine. They have kept the design very secret, no photos available as far as I know, so tomorrow I hope we can see what all the hype is about and if it does resemble the Gazelle in any way?
Here are a couple of photos of XX403 Gazelle AH.1 that we now know is in Belgium with xbdt. I am wondering if this has had a boom change at some stage as the paint is a slightly different colour to the cab ?
Both images taken at Redhill Aerodrome during Helitech shows.
Here is an image of the Hill HX50 rumoured to be like a Gazelle, more like an Agusta A109. I have not read through all the specs on their website, but what looks so game changing ? Also just CGI images, where is the prototype ?
Very interesting, in fact I found myself being more interested in this design that I thought I might be when I first heard about it.
But .. developing a new helicopter which is truly revolutionary means developing all the 'heavy' as well as dynamic components such as blades, rotorhead, gearboxes, drivetrain and their various suspension and mounting systems as well as their coupling/interface with the powerplant, and while this is all 'normal stuff' for an established manufacturer, doing this from scratch can be quite a big 'first bite' both in terms of needed experience as well as financial resources. Will be interesting to see where this goes.
I thought the exact same thing regarding the Fenestron ?
Looked online and it seems the concept of the fenestron was patented in Glasgow in May 1943 by G & J Weir Ltd with patent no 572417. They did not use the design on any of their many rotorcraft, so wonder if Sud Aviation did gain a patent for it ?
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