S-61N G-ATFM at Edinburgh 1970?

[Mike]

One that I'd forgotten about, G-ATFM taxies onto Stand 6 at the old terminal at Edinburgh in 1970(ish), apologies for the quality - my slide scanner is awful !

This was long before the new terminal and runway were built, it shows how quiet Edinburgh was in those days - how things have changed !

[Uuoret]

Again great picture - note no wx radar on the nose - so would concur with 1970..

Thanks Mike

J

[Nighthawke]

I must say they do look nicer without the radar and combined with the neat lines of the BEA scheme a quite attractive machine.

Keep 'em comin' chaps!

[Uuoret]

See what I found......



J

[Peteski]

Thanks for the memories - I liked both of those paint schemes. These two images tell the tale of two aircraft.

G-ASNM - First flight end 1963 start 1964 and joined British European Helicopters Ltd. 4th February1964. On 15th November 1970 at about 20 minutes past midnight the main gearbox suffered a total oil loss, while 50 nautical miles from Aberdeen. The aircraft ditched into the North Sea and floated long enough for all three onboard to escape uninjured into a life raft, subsequently to be rescued by a passing ship.The aircraft capsized and sank.

GATFM - First flight May 1965. In a joint venture between Okanagan Helicopters and British European Airways Helicopters Ltd. (named International Helicopters Ltd) they were selected to provide offshore support to Shell in the UK and introduced the very first Sikorsky S-61N helicopters to support offshore oil and gas exploration in the North Sea. A decision was taken to ferry fly G-ATFM to the UK and thus became the first helicopter to fly unescorted across the Atlantic. The aircraft was registered as CF-OKY for the flight and left Longueuil, Quebec on 14th May 1965 and arrived at Gatwick on 29th May having flown 37 hours 11 minutes and covered 3720 nautical miles. G-ATFM has remained on the UK register ever since flying in the colours of BEAH Ltd., BAH Ltd.. British International Helicopters Ltd., Brintel Ltd., Veritair Ltd., Newquay Helicopters Ltd. and British International Helicopter Services Ltd., completing 43105 flying hours on 29th October 2017. It has recently returned to the UK having completed a contract In the Falkland Islands.

[Sussex to Devon]

Hi,

On a slight tangent G-ATFM is still active in the Cornwall / Devon area. I saw it overflying along the coast near Exeter , 06/12 as G-ATFM S61N (BWY09)