The longevity of one JetRanger....

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CharlieOneSix
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The longevity of one JetRanger....

#1 Post by CharlieOneSix » Mon Jan 07, 2019 4:17 pm

On 28 November 1967 the South Western Electricity Board registered Agusta Bell 206 G-AVYX, Serial No.8025 from new. I started flying YankeeX the following year and logged 808 hours in her before I left for another job. She is still flying - or at least the nameplate is - in Australia as VH-EXE some 51 years after she was delivered from the factory in Italy. Amazing! The rotary equivalent of the DC-3 perhaps?

G-AVYX at Cardiff Rhoose Airport in 1969:
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YX- Cardiff Rhoose Airport.jpg
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and as VH-EXE at Ballina, NSW, Australia in 2016...

The helicopter pilots' mantra: If it hasn't gone wrong then it's just about to...
https://www.glenbervie-weather.org

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Re: The longevity of one JetRanger....

#2 Post by Cacophonix » Mon Jan 07, 2019 6:56 pm

I learned to fly at Rhoos. It looked a lot quieter back in the 60's, if the scene from that great photo is anything to judge by.

Headcorn's R44 G-SAIG was sent off to effectively be rebuilt/refurbished in the USA over November and December at the cost of some +- £250,000 pounds (i.e. effectively the cost of a new aircraft). The recently returned pristine G-SAIG, was sitting on the pad on Saturday.

One does wonder about the philosophical conundrum as to whether these aircraft are actually the same as the original at all, nameplate/registration aside.

Caco

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Re: The longevity of one JetRanger....

#3 Post by FD2 » Mon Jan 07, 2019 7:34 pm

Caco - you mean a bit like Trigger's broom?


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Re: The longevity of one JetRanger....

#4 Post by Cacophonix » Mon Jan 07, 2019 7:42 pm

FD2 wrote:
Mon Jan 07, 2019 7:34 pm
Caco - you mean a bit like Trigger's broom?
:-bd =))

Caco

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Re: The longevity of one JetRanger....

#5 Post by om15 » Tue Jan 08, 2019 6:30 pm

Another ex SWEB Bell 206B is still in AOC service with Polo Aviation a couple of miles south of Lulsgate at Congresbury, built in 1969, G-BEWY S/N 348 has clocked up 21000 hours and is now used for filming, charter work into Glastonbury, Cheltenham Race course, bracken spraying and trips to Lundy. Still in great condition earning it's keep, I had several trips in BEWY when working with Polo.

Here she is dropping off Kim Kardashian and Kanye West at Glastonbury.
1435430010-08cf265cf82a2350690ac040ef8967fe-600x406.jpg
1435430010-08cf265cf82a2350690ac040ef8967fe-600x406.jpg (68.21 KiB) Viewed 542 times

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Re: The longevity of one JetRanger....

#6 Post by Cacophonix » Sun Jan 27, 2019 12:22 am

Was reminiscing about South African Radio Station Capital 604 and was reminded of this advert that featured the effervescent Court helicopter Bell. What is it about these old classics that they still look so modern and, dare I say it, avant garde, even today?





Caco

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