Shrieking Gazelles

[Zishelix]

SA342M 4183/BLF in the French Alps 2009

[Savoia]

SA341G F-WTNV (1006) as seen in the French Alps, c. 1970's

[Savoia]

Polizei Niedersachsen SA342J D-HOPP (1695) as seen in Germany in the 1980's (Photo by Detlef Böntgen)


SA341D G-BXTH (WA1120) as seen at Thruxton in 2012

[Zishelix]

SA342J c/n 1602 N65AR at Crested Butte Airport, Coloradao in February 2015

[Zishelix]

............

[Savoia]

Grazie Zis! 👍 Buon Natale anche a te.

[Savoia]

Serbian Snow Gazelle


ALAT Snow Gazelle




SA341C RA-05708 (WA1045) in Abkhazia


SA341G RA-05706 (WA1802) as seen near St. Petersburg


Russian Gazelle RA-05706 snow departure


Russian Gazelle RA-05714 snow departure

[Savoia]

As 2023 draws to a close, so too comes the opportunity to recognise those who contribute towards our little community.

My great thanks as always go to wingmen Zis and Elipix for their regular contributions which are so encouraging. I want to say an especial thank you to Zishelix for having taken over my daily contributions in recent months and which has allowed me to focus on developing the Bell 206 Group, grazie amico! My thanks also go to Jos for keeping us up-to-date with the latest Gazelle registration news. To see Jos’ constantly updated Aérospatiale Gazelle production list click here and for his latest Soko Gazelle production list click here.

Thank you to XB and Stefano for your ongoing contributions, and to all who contribute to Shrieking Gazelles, I extend my great thanks.

As in recent years, our 'Christmas Gazelle' (above) was created by Predrag, to whom we offer our great thanks. Predrag is the 'P' in MP Design Studio and if you would like to support those who support us, then why not consider buying a Gazelle simulator this Christmas. Click here to see the range of simulators on offer.

While considering supporting those who support us, it is my pleasure to commend to you Aviafora’s co-founder Phil Croucher, better known to me as 'Filippo' and who in his generosity continues to host this site, grazie mille Filippo! Filippo has authored several pilot training manuals and aviation books including the highly commended 'Helicopter Pilot’s Handbook'. Recently, Filippo has up-dated and republished his acclaimed 'Bell 206 Book' and which is a must read for anyone flying or planning to fly the 206.

Click here to see a selection of material on offer from Filippo, including the Helicopter Pilot’s Handbook, the Bell 206 Book and more.

Pursuing a PPL, CPL or ATPL? You can obtain all the necessary coursework through Filippo’s online training school, Caledonian Advanced Pilot Training. Click here to find out how Filippo may assist you.

For now, all that remains is for me to extend warmest wishes to each of our members and to all of our readers and visitors. My prayers are that you may be blessed with a peaceful Christmas and a year ahead which is filled with hope and opportunity.

Buon Natale!

Savoia

~ ~ ~
...

This Christmas Night

This Christmas night while angels sing, sweet hosannas to our King,
let us with them in heart rejoice, with loving-kindness as our voice.

For family, homes and health, the truer forms of wealth.
For precious moments of the year, for everything that we hold dear.

And so, with gifts beneath the tree now stored,
let us with thankful hearts proclaim, that Jesus Christ is Lord!

[Savoia]

Remembering Avia Members Departed

[Savoia]

This Christmas we have a feast of material for you to browse, including:

• Winter Flying — SnowRangers, an Apache snow take-off and a winter Bölkow on the current page and on previous pages a host of items including Japanese Snow Squirrels (also known as 'Yuki Risu'), MD900's in snow, a beautiful classic 47 in snow as well as a lovely Hiller in snow and much more!
• Westland Scouts — Check out this year's posts on the Scout thread including G-SCTA's new livery and for the rarest of all Scouts, the Snow Scout, check page one.
• Alouettes & Lamas — Here you will find 'Snowlouettes' (Alouette II's and III's in snow) as well as 'Lamas in Snow' together with our general offering of Alouette and Lama related news and information.
• Snowliners — Watch a 747 take-off in falling snow from Hokkaidō in Japan, check out an Airbus A319 in a lovely BEA retro livery in falling snow at Birmingham in the UK, see a truly beautiful photo of an All Nippon 747, also in Hokkaidō, as well as a snow landing and more.
• Snow Jets — Watch an F-18 (EA-18G) Growler releasing flares over snowy hills, watch the Swedish Air Force 'jet sledding', find out why a US Navy Lear Jet has her nose up in the air and more.
• Heli-Shots — A selection of photos for helicopter photography lovers.
• Milshots — For lovers of military helicopter photography including our latest offering, a US Air Force Snowhawk over Idaho.
• Russian Aviation — A selection of aircraft from Russia photographed in snow.
• Snow Trains — Time to go 'off-piste' now with a lovely collection of trains in snow. Hear the sound of diesel motors, the classic North American train horns and crossing bells (and sometimes an awful claxon too) and then watch a plough-train cast a delightful 'V' of freshly ploughed snow!
• Heli-Dogs — Dogs love helicopters too, and here's the place to appreciate them, including our latest canine companion Russian Heli-Dog 'Puma' courtesy of Avia member Kirill.
• Horses in Snow — Watch a Friesian enjoying the snow, horses on Pendle Hill in England and some horses who are less appreciative of the snow!
• Facebook Groups — Aviafora is affiliated with a number of Facebook groups including the Global Gazelle group, the Bell 206 group, Scottish Rotors for those with a passion for helicopters in Scotland and for die-hard Scout fans, the Westland Scout group.
• Sav's Sunday Post — Looking for something a little more meaningful? Then check out Sav's collection of Scripture quotes and sayings from Italian monks paired with photos of churches from around the world. And if you visit these pages then be sure go to page#1 post#1 and find out the reason for this thread.
• Last, but by no means least, Aviafora's longest-running Christmas tradition .. that of watching (twice mind you) the Courchevel Citation!

Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful Christmas!

[Savoia]

Heli Cap SA341G F-BVUI (1122) as seen in the French Alps in 1978 (Photo by Frédéric Rolland)


RA-1347G as seen in Russia in February 2017

[Savoia]

SA342J F-HGUN (1058) as seen at Courchevel in March 2016 (Photo by Patrick Gisle)


SA341C RA-05708 (WA1045) as seen in Abkhazia

[Savoia]

SA342J SE-HUN (1095) as seen at Nyköping Skavsta Airport in 2003


Royal Marines Gazelles in Norway in 1979 (Photo by Avia member Warty)


SA341C RA-05708 (WA1045) as seen in Abkhazia NFI

[Zishelix]

Sav, as soon as you praised me for regular posting I failed... so please stop doing that

[Savoia]

Ha ha, no problem Zis! 👍

[Savoia]

Russian snow dog as seen with RA-05709


SA341G(S) I-OLLY (WA1065) as seen in Sestiere, Torino in 1997 (Photo by Mauro Cini)


SA341B XX450 (WA1449) as seen in Norway

[Savoia]

SA342J(S) F-GJGT (1094) as seen in France


Serbian Air Force departure of Gazelle pair


SA342L1 E7-ABI (139) as seen refuellling in Sokolac, Bosnia in 2012

[Zishelix]

SA342J F-HGUN at Courchevel in February 2019

[Savoia]

SA341G C-GSHL (1200) as seen at Edmonton Municipal Airport in Alberta, Canada in the late 70's


SA341G C-FEDG (cn.1181) as seen near Latornell, south of Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada on 14th December 1978


SA341G C-GEPX (cn.1262) as seen in Canada in the 1980's


Jean Boulet with N62406 in Alaska performing cold weather trials in February 1975

[Zishelix]

An SA342M in Bosnia 1993

[Savoia]

Nice one Zis! 👍

[Savoia]

SA341H (046) E7-SHA as seen at Ikar Air Service base in Banja Luka, Bosnia on 8th February 2012 (Photo by Phil Adkin)


SA342L1 E7-ABI (139) with SA341H (046) E7-SHA in Bosnia


SA342L1 E7-ABI (139) refuelling in Sokolac, Bosnia in 2012

[Zishelix]

SA341H ex-12611 at Tushino Airport in February 2003 (Photo: Ignatiy Savranskiy)

[Savoia]

SA342J F-HGUN (1058) as seen at Courchevel in March 2016 (Photo by Patrick Gisle)


Gazelles at Crab Tree Farm in 2016


SA341C RA-05708 (WA1045) as seen in Abkhazia

[Zishelix]

A pair of ALAT Gazelles cruising over snowy plain in 2017

[Savoia]

SA341G HB-ZEU (1111) as seen at Samedan in Switzerland on 11th January 2009 (Photo by Thomas Schmid)


Air Grischa SA341G HB-XFW (WA1124) as seen near Mount Pizzo Tambò in the Lepontine Alps on the Swiss-Italian border in 1977

[Zishelix]

SA342M 4192/BLD as seen in the French Alps 2009 (Photo: Andre Bour)

[Savoia]

SA341G G-ORGE (WA1108) as seen at Cranfield on 27th February 1989 (Photo courtesy of Elipix)


SA341G G-LOYD (1289) as seen an unidentified location (Photo courtesy of Graeme Lovell)


SA342J F-GCCZ (1393) as seen in the French Alps in the 1970's


Air Grischa SA341G HB-XFW (WA1124) as seen in Switzerland c.1977 (Photo by Anton Heumann)


F-ZWRL as seen in the French Alps in the early 1970's. One of the first Snow Gazelles
(Photo from the Jean-Marie Potelle Collection)


SA341-04 F-ZWRK another early Snow Gazelle (Photo courtesy of Zishelix)

[Savoia]

~ Wishing our Members and Visitors a Happy Epiphany ~

SA341G F-WTNV (1006) as seen in the French Alps in the 1970's


SA342J F-GFDG (1204) as seen at Courchevel on 13th January 1989 (Photo courtesy of Zishelix)


SA341G HB-ZEU (1111) as seen at Samedan in February 2004


SA342J(S) F-HGUN (1058) as seen at Courchevel on 11th March 2016


Serbian Police SA342L1 YU-HFF (155) as seen in Serbia (Photo by Igor Salinger)


Serbian Air Force SA342l 12901 (111) from 204th Air Brigade as seen during winter operations near Batajnica Air Base in 2022


Shirley Helicopters SA341G C-GSHL (1200) as seen in the Ogilvie Mountains of Yukon in June 1979 (Photo by John Biczok)


Royal Marines SA341B XX450 (WA1449) as seen on exercise in Norway


ALAT Snow Gazelle


Serbian Snow Gazelle

[Savoia]

~ Wishing our Orthodox Members and Visitors a Very Merry Christmas ~



To find out why our Orthodox brothers and sisters celebrate Christmas Day on 7th January, see here

With our thanks to Avia member Kirill for using his time (and his Gazelle) in creating this image.

Спасибо Кирилл!

[Savoia]

Avia member Kirill 'snow flying' with SA341B RA-05709 (WA1184) in Bratsk, Russia on 7th March 2021


SA341B RA-05703 (WA1524) snow landing in Russia


RA-05706 snow departure from St. Petersburg Bay

[Zishelix]

..........

[Savoia]

SA341B ZB690 (WA2003) as seen at RAF Fairford on 17th July 2023




ZU-RLD and ZU-RLEas seen in South Africa (Photo by Wayne du Plessis)


Unidentified Gazelle

Zis, any clues?

[Zishelix]

I wonder if it's still in one piece there...

[Rotorspot]

UR-ALGL did become UR-VDM in 2013, which in turn was cancelled about a decade ago. No more info since then.
According to PlaneLogger.com she has been scrapped.

[Savoia]

Grazie Jos! 👍