Chinook British Airways

[LondonEye]

Was thinking of placing one of these old shots in SPOTM. A Chinook is a Canadian breed of sledge dog.
These taken about 1981-82 at The Beehive, Gatwick. A few years before, if you asked nicely, you could get in the hangar.
In 1974 we saw four American reg Sikorsky H-34G on delivery to British Airways. Then in 1975 A7-HAC Sikorsky S-62A of Gulf H/C, followed by Sikorsky S-61N ZS-HDK of Court Line in 1978.
Happy memories of freedom.
Pete.

Chinook BAW G-BJAC 3 Gatwick


Chinook G-BJAC Gatwick


Chinook BAW G-BJAC 1 Gatwick


Chinook G-BISO 5 Gatwick


Chinook G-BJAC 3 Gatwick

[Nighthawke]

Very smart and they've scanned well too.

[Mike]

Great shots Pete, the last time I was in that hangar it was full of AAC Lynx helicopters on maintenance, all the doors were open and no-one around to ask nicely !

[Uuoret]

BV234 Cormorant A by John Sinclair Morgan

Cormorant Alpha 1984

[Uuoret]

G-BISO demise 1984

G-BISO 1 by John Sinclair Morgan, on Flickr

G-biso 2 by John Sinclair Morgan, on Flickr

g-biso 3 by John Sinclair Morgan, on Flickr

[Uuoret]

Nobody was hurt whatsoever in the ditching, BTW!!

[Peteski]

LondonEye.............Super 'photo's of the Chinook, thanks for the memories. I worked for BAH at Gatwick for 13 years from 1972 - 1985, both in the new hangar, as pictured, and the old one. While I had little action with the Chinook I was heavily involved with the S.61 fleet. The S.61N ZS-HDK that you mention was being leased by BAH from Court Line as G-BFPF until 1981 when it was leased to British Caledonian Helicopters.

I also have a soft spot for the S.62A which was triggered by the Gulf Helicopters aircraft A7-HAC that you mention in your post. Do you have any 'photo's ?

Mike....................in your post you mention AAC Lynx helicopters on maintenence, what year was that ? The only miltary a/c that I recall in my time were Sea Kings on a contract to be re-painted.

[Mike]

Mike....................in your post you mention AAC Lynx helicopters on maintenence, what year was that ? The only miltary a/c that I recall in my time were Sea Kings on a contract to be re-painted.

I've checked my log and the date was 14/07/85, was that just after you left?

[Peteski]

Mike, that was around the time I transfered to Heathrow. Things were pretty chaotic around that time as BAH were moving their HQ from Gatwick to Aberdeen and those of us who wanted to stay in the South had to find new jobs. The older I get the less I remember !

[Mike]

I know what you mean about not remembering things ! My logs go back 53 years and I can't remember seeing half of the stuff in them...................
They also did Royal Navy Lynx HAS.2 servicing at that time as there was one in the hangar that day (XZ255) according to my log, I'm not sure how long they had the contract for - a couple of years maybe?

[FlyingColours]

Excellent shots mate, I always thought it rather quirky seeing Chinooks in BA livery.

Great shots Pete, the last time I was in that hangar it was full of AAC Lynx helicopters on maintenance, all the doors were open and no-one around to ask nicely !

The last time I was at that hangar they wouldn't let us in to see our own bloomin' aircraft

Phil
FlyingColours

[niallsaviation]

I read recently that G-BISO was recovered after the accident and sold to an American owner and its still active today