Shrieking Gazelles

[Zishelix]

I found it a little difficult to define the shape of the antenna ..

Maybe this could be of help:

[Savoia]

Hmm .. really not sure what type of antenna that is. I would also be interested to know!

Will find-out what I can.

Looks like Aviafora is becoming a reference place for Gazelle helicopters!

Lol .. maybe (in a small way)!

Perhaps you can assist in compiling a list of European Gazelle Service Centres:


FRANCE

Aerotech Group
Valencia Airport, Chabeuil
http://www.aerotecgroup.com/index.html

Hélidax
Dax, Cedex
http://www.helidax.com/

Microturbo SAS
Toulouse, Cedex
http://www.microturbo.fr/


ITALY

Elite Aviation Services
Bresso, Milano
http://www.eliteaviation.it/

Eurotech Helicopter Services
Caiolo, Sondrio
http://www.eurotecheli.com/it

Helicopters Italia
Trento, Trentino
http://www.helicoptersitalia.it/comp...sentazione.htm


UK

MW Helicopters
Stapleford Aerodrome, Essex
http://www.mwhelicopters.co.uk/

Turbomeca UK
Fareham, Hampshire
http://www.turbomeca.co.uk/

[xbdt]

BELGIUM:

I offer complete C1 and C2 inspections, maintenance and overhaul of components. Also paintwork interior/exterior, gearbox .. for FAA N-registered aircraft. I can also convert any Gazelle onto the N-register.

Only civil 341G with Astazou IIIA can be used in standard category. All other airframe variants or engine variants can be used for restricted, experimental or exhibition category.

xavier.detracy@telenet.be

[Zishelix]

I'm not so familiar with EU Gazelle Service Centers. Maybe this one in Hungary as well: http://www.hidroplannord.hu/english/oktatas.html?

Although not strictly in EU, there's also this company: http://www.as-ikar.com/en

[Savoia]

Thanks guys!

An updated list:


European Gazelle Service Centres:


BELGIUM

Detracy Helicopters
xavier.detracy@telenet.be


BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA

IKAR
Poslovna Jedinica, Banja Luka
http://www.as-ikar.com/


FRANCE

Aeromechanic
Marignane, Cedex
http://www.aeromecanic.com/Maintenance_FR.html

Aerotech Group
Valencia Airport, Chabeuil
http://www.aerotecgroup.com/index.html

Hélidax
Dax, Cedex
http://www.helidax.com/

Microturbo SAS
Toulouse, Cedex
http://www.microturbo.fr/


HUNGARY

Hidroplan Nord
Szentkirályszabadja Airport, Veszprém
http://www.hidroplannord.hu/


ITALY

Elite Aviation Services
Bresso, Milano
http://www.eliteaviation.it/

Eurotech Helicopter Services
Caiolo, Sondrio
http://www.eurotecheli.com/it

Helicopters Italia
Trento, Trentino
http://www.helicoptersitalia.it/comp...sentazione.htm


UK

MW Helicopters
Stapleford Aerodrome, Essex
http://www.mwhelicopters.co.uk/

Turbomeca UK
Fareham, Hampshire
http://www.turbomeca.co.uk/


UKRAINE

Av-Tech
Dnepropetrovsk Airport, Jubuleyniy
http://www.avia-technologies.com/services/gazelle

[Savoia]

Just to advise that I have added a further incident to the Loss of Fenestron Effectiveness Post (aka Gazelle Tail-Swing Bite!).

This one from 1984:

8) SA341G G-SFTA MAR 1984

Pilot Experience
Total Hours (Helicopter): 6,000
Total Hours on Type: 120

Comments from Accident Report

"The helicopter took off from Carlisle Airport at 0800 hrs on a navigational training sortie which was to simulate the pick-up of troops at various points on the route. About 18 mins after take-off the student had identified a pick-up point near a barn and was told by his instructor to look for a suitable landing area. They flew past the barn at 40-50 kts with a slight left bank at about 100-150 ft agl. The helicopter started to yaw to the left at an increasing rate with the airspeed reducing. The instructor reached for the controls and asked the student what he was doing. The student replied that he had lost control. By now despite the full right pedal and forward cyclic applied by the instructor the helicopter was rotating to the left and descending. The instructor raised the collective just before the helicopter hit the ground nose down and right skid low. The helicopter, after contacting the ground., rolled over onto its right side."

Injuries from Accident

No serious injuries.

AAIB Accident Report

Regarding G-SFTA:

BTC8183 wrote:

7th March 2014

G-SFTA ended its flying career exactly 30 year ago today, when it encountered fenestron stall in the vicinity of Alston Cumbria. It made one futher 'hop' when it was underslung to carlisle by a BAH S61.

It had previously been HB-XIL with Air Zermatt and prior to that was G-BAGJ.

Of the dozen or so SA341G's with the Specialist Flying Training school, G-SFTA was different in that it was built by Westland.

The photo (below) shows G-SFTA at the back of the Carlisle hanger with a few other wrecks. The helicopter was subsequently dismantled to see if repairs were feasible. It turned out not to be. G-SFTA then made a movie prop appearance and subsequently found a good home at Sunderland.

[xbdt]

Where is Sunderland? Does G-SFTA still looks like onto the pic above?

[Savoia]

Where is Sunderland? Does G-SFTA still looks like onto the pic above?

AFAIK the author BTC8183 (if you click on the username it will take you to his post) is referring to the North East Aircraft Museum in the UK.

If that's the case then she may look like this now, although there is some debate:


XZ345 at the North East Aircraft Museum .. possibly ex-G-SFTA

There is another possibility .. which is that G-SFTA's airframe is not on display but stored at the museum. If you click here you can read the debate.

Btw .. does anyone know what has happened to the Swiss Gazelle HB-ZEU?

[Zishelix]

HB-ZEU was seen on a car-towed trailer at Stuttgart-Echterdingen in October last year, so I assume she's in Germany now.


Photo by Dominik Burger

[Savoia]

Grazie Zis!

Does this mean there are no more Gazelles in Switzerland?

[Zishelix]

Well, it seems so

[Savoia]

This appears to be one of the last published photos taken of her while flying, from 2007, also in Germany:


SA341F HB-ZEU as seen at Kassel-Calden Airport in Germany on 18th December 2007 (Photo: Jan Plümer)

Perhaps she will revert to her former Germany registration? Either way it should be easy enough to track with such a memorable construction no. 1111.

[Zishelix]

And, interestingly, she had a same paintwork as D-HAAF.

[Savoia]

Yes, from what I've seen .. this can happen when aircraft share the same serial number!

[Zishelix]

Most times the new owner wants a new paint scheme!

[Savoia]

Indeed!

Seeing as Switzerland's Gazelle population is now extinct .. perhaps it is time to remember some of the craft that once graced the Swiss skies:




Air Grischa's Westland-built SA341G HB-XFW (cn WA1124) engages in load-lifting operations in the southern canton of Ticino in 1977 (Photo: Michele Ceresa via Markus Herzig)

[Zishelix]

Since HB-ZEU & XFW have already been posted here, three others to be hommaged:

HB-XMU


HB-XIL


and HB-ZFD

[Savoia]

Ah yes .. XMU:


Air Zermatt's SA324J Gazelle HB-XMU c. 1986 (Photo: Anton Heumann)

Word is that this aircraft has (this year) been placed on the US register?

[Zishelix]

I wouldn't know about US register, last info I have about this one is G-IBME for the Gazelle Management Services since 2011 (sadly, no photo yet)

[Savoia]

'Twould seem now (according to the FAA registry) to be in the possession of a certain Walton Lynn and flying as N342WF.

US Airworthiness Certificate issued just some days ago.

[Zishelix]

Interesting... thanks for info! Now there are three SA.342J in the States!

N342WF c/n 1470 (as mentioned) plus N65AR c/n 1602 and N342J c/n 1708.

[Savoia]

Now there are two SA.342J in the States!

Okay. Do you know how many 341's there are in the US?




Gazelle No. 1136 (formerly G-KANE) was cancelled from the UK register on 26th March 2014 and is being placed on the Serbian register.

(Gaz News has been brought to us by Jos Stevens, owner of that most useful online resource .. Rotorspot - Jos, many thanks ).

[Zishelix]

I think there are about 20-25 Gazelles in the US (counting those in airworthy condition only).

[Savoia]

Wow! Okay.

For some reason I imagined there were just a small number, like 5 or so.

One doesn't seem to hear too much about the American Gazelles - I very rarely see images or stories posted online for example.

[xbdt]

According to current rotorspot registry, there are 34 Gazelles in the United States. Of course, these are not all physically there. Someone should filter one by one and if the tail number is registered to a trust, then probably resident outside the US.

[Zishelix]

And yet, some of the Gazelle registrations are "visible" in official databases, but in fact the machines aren't airworthy...

[Savoia]

Ukrainian SA341C Gazelle UR-PRIV (cn: WA1148) re-registered to the shorter UR-RIV on 2nd April 2014.

Gaz News courtesy of Jos Stevens owner of Rotorspot

[Savoia]

XB, would you mind sharing with us what sort of normal cruising speed you get from your Gaz (IAS kts) and what power setting you use to achieve this.

Also, I would appreciate knowing the approximate fuel consumption per hour. Am assuming its the Astazou III-A engine?

[xbdt]

Normal cruise is 120-130kts. Torque is about 65% then. Fuel burn is about 150 liters/hour with the Astazou IIIA. I cannot tell you the exact fuel burn as I have only about 20 hours on it since I have it.

I went to 145kts, but I have a vertical vibration then that I need to address first. I'll fix this in the next couple of days, I just made a trim tab bending tool for it. Once smooth, I can go to 160kts with no problems :-)

[Savoia]

Wow! That's a fair lick for the Gaz!

Actually even 140 kts is good going for a light single, especially of 70's vintage, but then the Gaz does have a reputation for being 'quick'!

Great stuff.