Announcement

**Savoia** · 3rd February 2021, 12:24

SA342L1 12943 (cn.163) + 1 over Montenegro NFI

SA341B G-KEMH (WA1284) as seen at Redhill on 2nd February 2021 (Photos by R&R Detailing)

G-KEMH has how finished with her comprehensive paint correction work and has been covered with a protective coating in the form of PX10 from Titan Coatings.

BAG ship departure NFI

**Helipixman** · 3rd February 2021, 16:14

X-300: The Gazelle Forerunner

Have we mentioned this project on here before - believed to be the forerunner of the Gazelle. It is the X300 a development of the Alouette II and has a distinct Gazelle look. I do not think it got past the drawings stage.

**Savoia** · 4th February 2021, 12:26

SA342M F-MGEC 4207 (cn.2207) as seen at Base aérienne d'Étain-Rouvres in January 2021

SA342J(S) G-TOPZ (cn.1473) as seen at Wellesbourne Airfield on 8th October 2007 (Photo by Graeme Lovell)

Elipix wrote: Have we mentioned this project on here before - believed to be the forerunner of the Gazelle. It is the X300 a development of the Alouette II and has a distinct Gazelle look. I do not think it got past the drawings stage.

Fabrice wrote: In fact the so-called X-300 was the true forerunner of what eventually became the Gazelle, and was designed as a replacement for the Alouette II for the French and British armies. From its very inception it incorporated the shrouded tail rotor, it was originally a 4-seats design of 1200kg MTOW belonging to the LOH (Light Observation Helicopter) category. It later on evolved into a somewhat bigger design, 5-seats with a MTOW of 1450, then 1600kg.

Zis wrote: Another artistic view on the subject.

Bravo la team!

Looking at Zis's artistic impression, instead of X-300, the tail is advertising a number beginning with 'SA'. Is this SA300 or something else?

**Savoia** · 5th February 2021, 12:07

SA341F2 (cn.1082) assigned to 4e EHA and as seen in 1984 (Photo by François Bouvier)

Aérospatiale ad promoting the 'Hot Gaz' saying: 'Destroys tanks up to 4000 metres'

Perhaps Zis can help us with a year for this ad.

Zis wrote: Correct, the SA340-001 differed from the earlier drawings not only in having smaller back door windows and side panels but in being without the fenestron and rigid rotor. Neither of these innovations were considered sufficiently developed at the stage to allow installation on the machine and so both were replaced by standard Alouette II components.

Nice reply Zis!

N341AS flight from December 2013

**Savoia** · 6th February 2021, 11:18

SA341G(S) YU-HVZ (cn.1295) as seen at Deventer-Teuge Airport in the Netherlands on 11th September 2015 (Photo by Johan Warringa)

SA341B G-ZZEL (WA1152) as seen at Bourne Park on 27th October 2018 (Photo by David Stevens)

So, you know how XB registered his 'J' model 2-WILD, well .. now we know the reason why!

SA342J 2-WILD (cn.1695) as seen in lower Austria in February 2021

**xbdt** · 7th February 2021, 09:27

C-GOCA in Alaska

**Savoia** · 8th February 2021, 11:07

SA341B XZ317 (WA1600) as seen at Middle Wallop on 5th September 1993 (Photo by Roger Richards)

SA341B XZ344 (WA1704) as seen at Teeside Airport in 1983 (Photo by Aidan Williamson)

SA341G G-UZEL (cn.1413) as seen at Popham Airfield on 29th June 2008 (Photo by Ray Barber)

**Savoia** · 9th February 2021, 12:29

SA341C HA-HCD as seen at Budaörs Airfield in Hungary on 20th January 2021 (Photo by Keller Tamás)

Elipix, you commented recently on the Ukrainian Gazelles; this is formerly UR-ABBA and now on the Hungarian register.

SA341D XZ936 (WA1743) as seen at Middle Wallop on 7th July 1984 (Photo by Paul Thallon)

Cameroon Air Force

SA342L TJ-XBF (cn.1874) NFI (Photo by D. Liron)

**Helipixman** · 9th February 2021, 20:35

Stapleford Tawney Gazelle store

I wonder if anyone knows what is going to happen to the remaining Gazelles stored at Stapleford Tawney ?

The 30 Gazelles sold by Witham at Colsterworth were all transported to Stapleford for initial storage, owned by Kemet Global (Paramount) and looked after by MW Helicopters ?

Of the 30 the following have emerged as follows:-

XW909 to G-HSDL
XX371 to G-CHLU and now in South Africa
XX383 to ZU-RMU
XX386 to G-KEMH
XX409 to G-CHYV now VH-OIX
XX439 to G-CHLW and now in South Africa
XZ291 to Gabon Parcs
XZ296 to ZU-RMT
XZ338 to G-CHZF and now VH-OIZ
ZB688 to G-CHMF and now ZU-RNO

So that leaves:-

XW848, XW913, XX394, XX398, XX416, XX437, XX438, XX445, XX455, XX456, XX462, XZ292, XZ304, XZ314, XZ324,
XZ344, ZA726, ZA728, ZA776 and ZB673 all thought to be still in storage at Stapleford. I wonder what is going to happen to them all ? I have heard that some may not be capable of being made airworthy. Any ideas ?

**Savoia** · 10th February 2021, 11:44

SA342L KAF 521 NFI (Photo by Remy Bertrand)

SA341B ZA728 (WA1797) as seen at RAF Fairford on 26th July 1998

SA341B XX380 (WA1268) as seen in 1995 NFI

Avia member Jakub is seeking information on Gulf War Gazelles which have crashed, and is currently looking for details on the following aircraft:

SA-342M 4173/138/AEH

SA-341F1 1296/124/BOT

If anyone has any information on these aircraft, Jakub would be most grateful.

**Jakub Cikhart** · 10th February 2021, 14:56

Thanks. Also, looking for info for my friend. Any idea when the Kuwaiti Gazelles were painted overall grey ? I know that some were repainted before Gulf war, but when it all ended ? When they lost the sand/brown camouflage ? Thanks !

**xbdt** · 10th February 2021, 20:29

Are the Snow Gazelles over already? If not, OK then.

N341DT SA341G c/n 1110 at Zomergem on February 10th 2021

**Savoia** · 11th February 2021, 11:25

SA341C RA-05708 (WA1045) as seen in Abkhazia on 9th February 2021

SA341B RA-05709 (WA1184) winter flying at Bratsk in Russia (Photos courtesy of Avia member Kirill)

Russian puppy with 709 at Bratsk in February 2021

Featured above is the as yet unnamed puppy of 'Lama', the Mostovoy Airfield mascot who has featured on Shrieking Gazelles in times past. Kirill has promised to let us know once the puppy is named.

To see 'Lama', as well as other heli-dogs including today's addition of heli-dog 'Guinness' in the Rhône-Alpes, visit Heli-Dogs.

**Helipixman** · 11th February 2021, 11:49

I have the following:-

They were both damaged on 24.2.91 which was the first day of Ground attacks in Kuwait.

1296 F-MBOT was stripped of all useful weapons which were used on another Gazelle, it was then put on a low loader and returned to France presumably by air ! It the went to Phalsbourg for storage and used as an instructional frame marked as "FPN"

4173 as above and became an instructional frame at ESAM, Bourges marked as "CXM"

Photo of F-MBOT with thanks to Martial Dauphin

**Helipixman** · 11th February 2021, 12:04

XW870

This Gazelle has recently moved from the Defence Fire Training and Development Centre at Manston and can now be found at Jet Art Ltd at Thorpe Wood in North Yorkshire. Currently they are not sure what they might do with it, it could become a movie prop or sold - circa £10k

**Savoia** · 12th February 2021, 10:06

MTS hélicoptères SA342J F-GFDG (cn.1204) as seen at Aeroport Annecy Meythet on 1st July 1992 (Photo by Paul Denton)

SA341G(S) G-BXJK (cn.1417) as seen at Thruxton in 1999

**Zishelix** · 12th February 2021, 15:07

Since we're still in 'Snow Gazelles' mode

F-HGUN at Courchevel in February 10th, 2015

**Savoia** · 13th February 2021, 10:03

SA341B RA-05709 (WA1184) at Mostovoy Airfield in November 2020 (Photo courtesy of Avia member Kirill)

SA341G(S) YU-HOT (cn.1390) as seen over Syrmia in Serbia on 12th February 2021 (Photos by Aleksandar Zubac)

SA341C RA-05708 (WA1045) on heli-skiing duties in Abkhazia on 12th February 2021

**md600driver** · 13th February 2021, 20:55

Originally posted by Zishelix View Post

More pics of the subject and some more UK mil Gazelles: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/...ation-gazelle/

899 is a Crabtree Gaz.

**Rotorspot** · 14th February 2021, 17:03

New Gazelle in North America

N342RP, SA342M, c/n 4123; ex ALAT 4123; registered 09-Feb-2021 to Walton Farms Inc. (was reserved on 08-Jan-2021).

**Savoia** · 15th February 2021, 11:55

SA341G G-GAZA (cn.1187) as seen at Sywell on 31st May 2014 (Photo by David Moth)

SA341B XZ333 (WA1622) as seen at North Weald on 14th May 1988 (Photo by Roger Richards)

SA341B's from 29 BATUS Flight as seen in Canada in February 2016 (Photo by Simon Longworth)

SA342M F-MCWC (3864/1864) as seen at Greenham Common on 23rd July 1983 (Photo by Ray Barber)

**Helipixman** · 15th February 2021, 20:03

N341MG changes owner... now registered to Neue Kinetik LLC as of 13.2.21 (Kentucky address)

**Savoia** · 16th February 2021, 12:12

SA341G(S) HA-PJB (cn.1392) as seen at Kemble on 30th November 2012 (Photo by Graham Wasey)

SA341B XZ290 (WA1489) NFI

SA341C XZ939 (WA1750) as seen at SPTA on 12th April 2011 (Photo by Neil Brant)

XZ939 is recorded as a 'C' model, however it seems to be missing the dual antenna array beneath the nose which Zis has pointed out in the past was a feature of the UK's Navy Gazelles.

**md600driver** · 16th February 2021, 20:52

Originally posted by Helipixman View Post

Which is of course G-CLSA, nice registration for you !

You possibly won’t believe this, but I had not noticed this!

**Savoia** · 17th February 2021, 12:23

SA341B XX412 (WA1362) as seen at RAF Fairford in July 1994 (Photo by Phil Rawlings)

The above craft first flew on 16th January 1975 and delivered to the Marines on 12th November 1975. Loaded on board RFA Sir Galahad on 5th April 1982 and was shipped to the Falklands where she served during the campaign. Flew with 847 NAS Royal Marines. Sent to RAF Shawbury on 9th June 2005 for storage, then to DCAE Cosford on 7th January 2009 and to Gosport in December 2018.

SA341B XZ340 (WA1691) as seen at Calgary Airport on 11th June 2016

Commemorative Gaz sticker

**Savoia** · 18th February 2021, 13:24

SA342M F-MGCF (4164) as seen at La Ferté-Alais (Photo by Ismael Jordá)

SA342MV F-MGBB as seen at Phalsbourg-Bourscheid NFI

SA342L as seen at Aéroport de Marseille (Marignane) (Photo by Maxence Lombard)

For delivery to the Niger Air Force.

SA341B XZ305 (WA1543) as seen at RNAY Fleetlands in Gosport on 11th April 2012 (Photo by Richard Flagg)

**Savoia** · 18th February 2021, 18:13

Gaz Down in Lichtenburg South Africa

South African Gazelle SA341F2 ZU-RLD (cn.1659) has crashed this morning while taking-off from Lichtenburg Airport in the North West province of South Africa.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that this accident may have been caused by a handling issue resulting from an inexperienced pilot with limited hours on the Gazelle. The aircraft is thought to have lost control while manoeuvring between hangars ultimately resulting in the mainrotor severing the tailboom.

Another theory being considered is the possibility of widespread fuel contamination as the cause behind a recent spate of accidents across South Africa (see comment by XB below).

Video depicting take-off immediately prior to the crash

CCTV footage taken immediately after take-off

The same aircraft attempting a take-off from the same location on 16th January 2021

**Rotorspot** · 18th February 2021, 19:31

Originally posted by Savoia View Post

SA342L as seen at Aéroport de Marseille (Marignane) (Photo by Maxence Lombard)

For delivery to the Niger Air Force.

I have learned the following about the 3 Niger Gazelles. All three have been/will be overhauled at MRS by Aeromecanics:

5U-MHG (3547) in the past year
5U-MHF (3531) seen in recent days
5U-MHE (3477) will be ready next month

**Rotorspot** · 18th February 2021, 19:58

Rotorsport commented
I have her as having been converted from 341C Gazelle HT2 to 341D Gazelle HT3 standard, which may explain the lack of those antennas.

Helipixman commented
Hi Rotorspot when did that happen ? As you know this is now G-CLGO with the Gazelle Squadron and the CAA website are showing it as a 341C HT.2

I have the history of Gazelle XZ939 as:

First flight 20-Sep-1978
Delivered 02-Nov-1978
Converted to HT3
Transferred to RAF Dec-1979
Withdrawn Boscombe Down Dec-2018
To Bourne Park
To G-CLGO Jun-2019

I am aware that the CAA website is showing her as HT2, so she may have been converted back(?)

**Savoia** · 19th February 2021, 11:59

SA341G G-BAGJ (WA1039) as seen at Cirencester Park in Gloucestershire on 13th June 1973 (Photo by Trevor Bartlett)

The lovely G-BAGJ seen attending a balloon meet in 1973, and just visible behind BAGJ .. the equally lovely G-AWGU which I had the pleasure of flying many times in the late 70's and early 80's.

SA341G HA-LFA (cn.1097) as seen in Hungary NFI

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