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Aviafora Founding Member Zishelix reports that Croatia's only Alouette II 9A-HAT crashed this morning just before 11am while flying over Zlarin Island.
Two of the three persons on board sustained injuries, although these are reported not to be life-threatening.
While the cause of the crash remains unknown, initial reports are suggesting a mechanical failure of some sort.
SE313B Alouette II 9A-HAT (cn.1841) as seen this morning on Zlarin Island in Croatia following a crash landing
Information courtesy of Aviaforan Zishelix.
See a photo here which Zishelix posted in 2014 of 9A-HAT.
Update 1
Feedback from the pilot on the afternoon of 3rd July suggests he 'may' have hit something such as a bird or a drone.
A notorious gangster is on the run after escaping by helicopter from a prison in the Paris region.
Redoine Faid was helped by three heavily-armed men with assault rifles.
Two gunmen in balaclavas used smoke bombs and angle-grinders to break into the visitors' room where Faid was talking to his brother.
A third man in the prison courtyard guarded the helicopter and its pilot - a flying instructor whom the men had taken hostage.
The helicopter flew to the nearby Gonesse area, where it was found by local police.
Faid, 46, has been serving a 25-year sentence for a failed robbery during which a police officer was killed.
This is the armed robber's second prison break: in 2013, he escaped after seizing four guards as human shields and blowing several doors off with dynamite.
Alouette II F-AZYQ landed on this road in the Gonesse area north-east of Paris on Sunday 1st July 2018 following a prison break from Reau prison to the south of Paris
F-AZYQ being secured by investigators
F-AZYQ be readied for transportation
F-AZYQ loaded on truck to be taken away for examination
It seems as if Alouettes are the helicopter of choice for prison busters!
Alouette III Down in Austria
An Alouette III, 3E-KT, belonging to the Austrian Air Force crashed on Friday 29th June 2018 at Plöckenpass-Wolayersee in Austria.
The aircraft which had four persons on board reportedly encountered a 'freak' tailwind resulting in a heavy landing which caused the helicopter to roll over. The aircraft then caught fire and was destroyed. None of those on board were injured.
Alouette 3E-KT belonging to the Austrian Air Force
The Army Air Corp's former Historic Flight Alouette II XR379 (cn.1583) has made her first return to AAC Middle Wallop this past weekend when her new owner (a member of Aviafora) brought her to the Auster 80th Anniversary meet which was organised by another Avia member.
Congratulations to Stefano for rescuing this bird and making her available for the public to enjoy!
Avia member Stefano with SE3130 Alouette II 2-ALOU (cn.1583) ex-XR379 as seen at Middle Wallop on 7-8th April 2018 attending the Auster 80th Anniversary fly in
2-ALOU night shoot at Middle Wallop 7-8 April 2018 (Photo:Paul Varcoe)
The British Army's last surviving Alouette, XR379, an SE3130 Alouette II now owned by a member of Aviafora, is currently awaiting her Certificate of Airworthiness having returned to the UK after completing overhaul. Her new airworthiness certificate is due within the coming weeks.
In the meantime 1583 has become the first Alouette to be placed on the Guernsey register and now wears the designator 2-ALOU.
Again, we offer our great thanks to Steve for saving this craft and for keeping this wonderful piece of Army Air Corps history aloft!
SE3130 Alouette II 2-ALOU (1583) as seen at Crab Tree Farm on 23rd October 2017 (Photo: Stefano)
Steve has confirmed that this historic bird (the AAC's last Alouette) will be available to see at one or more air shows in 2018.
A Wucher Helikopter SA315B Lama OE-EXU MSN 2478 crashed yesterday in Austria while engaged in load-lifting operations. The pilot escaped without injury.
Rough translation: Flying logs, the helicopter returned to land to refuel the machine "the pilot had to make an abrupt control input" so the main rotor contacted the tail boom and the machine crashed.
I must say that the MOD no longer own the historic flight and they have needed to boost funds recently to pay for the winter maintenance on the flights airworthy Scout, Sioux, Beaver and Auster. The Alouette was not a historically important aircraft for the AAC so unfortunately it was decided that to increase funds it needed to be sold. At least Steve has plans to keep it original.
The British Army's last surviving Alouette, XR379 an SE3130 Alouette II, was rescued by a member of Aviafora earlier this year after the Army Air Corps Historic Flight announced that they could no longer afford to keep her airworthy.
We are pleased to report that this craft has during the past week completed ground runs following a major overhaul in Hungary. The aircraft is scheduled for post-maintenance test flights next week and is likely to be back in the UK in July.
Aviafora takes this opportunity to thank 379's new owner for his commitment to keeping alive this unique example of British rotary-wing history.
Bravo Stefano!
XR379 as seen in Hungary this past week performing post-overhaul ground runs (Photo: Crabtree Helistables)
The British Ministry of Defence have tragically denied funding to the Army Air Corps Historic Flight necessitating the flight to sell off the Army's only airworthy Alouette II.
This aircraft could have been lost forever had it not been for the goodwill of Aviafora member 'Steve' who has recently purchased the craft.
Not only has this aircraft been rescued, but Steve says that he will maintain the craft's original livery and that as his schedule permits he will enable the craft to be viewed at various public events.
While astonished at the MoD's lack of commitment towards preserving the AAC's Historic Flight, Aviafora are extremely grateful to Steve for rescuing this iconic aircraft and for his commitment to keeping what was the AAC's last airworthy Alouette in the skies!
Welcome to Crabtree's Army Air Corps Alouette ..
SE3130 Alouette II XR379 (cn 1583) as seen at Middle Wallop on 26th September 2008 (Photo: Kieron)
The Army's last Alouette II, XR379, having been abandoned by the UK's Ministry of Defence, is now in private hands and being cared for by a member of Aviafora.
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