Visitor Comments

Guest contributions: Recent posts on aircraft and squadron history





412ep
36659

VT-UPK
36659 VT-UPK Vtupk spotted on Gorakhpur
aw139
31497

G-LAWA
31497 G-LAWA landed at Battersea heliport
US 70th TRANS 1978-1979, I was station B co Avionics shop US 70th TRANS 1978-1979, I was station B co Avionics shop
aw109sp
22236

G-NEWB
22236 G-NEWB 19:22 hs few over Aspull, Wigan
407gxp
54728

N108SC
54728 N108SC Santa Rosa, flying over the Sonoma Ave, Montgomery dr area
ec135p2
0472

N920NH
0472 N920NH replaced by N535MW
s-76c
760696

M-ONTY
760696 M-ONTY Wigan, over Aspull, WN2 Post code
md902
900/00134

-
900/00134 - transferred for Belgium before going to Austria sometime soon.
US 116th AHC 1969-1970, Joe Pullen, I was a Maintenace Supervisor with the BeeKeepers US 116th AHC 1969-1970, Joe Pullen, I was a Maintenace Supervisor with the BeeKeepers
US 20th SOS 1970-1971 crew chief UH-1N 69-6614 Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam US 20th SOS 1970-1971 crew chief UH-1N 69-6614 Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam
US HMM-764 1970-1976. MOS's 6042 and 6112 also Ariel Gunner Instructor Browning XM-218, K.E.(Robbie)Robertson S/Sgt HMM-764 US HMM-764 1970-1976. MOS's 6042 and 6112 also Ariel Gunner Instructor Browning XM-218, K.E.(Robbie)Robertson S/Sgt HMM-764
s-76c
760703

5N-DAE
760703 5N-DAE operated by Aero-Tak, Nigeria currently for sale
aw109sp
22444

G-TJPK
22444 G-TJPK 17:45 hs flying over Wigan, WN2 postcode
105cbs-4
S-895

FNH-101
S-895 FNH-101 to be confirmed
bk117c-1
7550

?
7550 ? noted in disassembled state at Ardmore, NZ
US HS-3 1961-1965 this is Roy Smith, I was sonarman (AX2) AC. I was aircrew training Petty Officer, Sonar QC Inspector and NATOPS Evaluator. We had just received the HSS-2, with twin 1250HP Turbo jet engines. It could fly and land with one engine but could not hover on one engine. It could float in the water although I never knew of anyone who deliberately tried this. We operated out of Chambers Field in Norfolk, Va. and deployed on the Intrepid and the Wasp when the Intrepid went in the yard. We did crash one in the water, and it floated for 3 hours but we lost it while they were trying to hoist it aboard ship. I was on board the Intrepid when we picked up Scott Carpenter. We had a specially trained Marine Corp crew on board to pick Carpenter up, but he overshot his landing site by so far, their Helos. didn't have the range to retrieve him. With no special training they sent HS-3 Helos out to pick Scott up. All of our pilots and crew had hundreds of hours of doing personnel transfers, mail drops to other ships and submarines, but no specific training for astronaut pickups. It went well, very few people knew the helo. developed a severe transmission fluid leak, which was not uncommon in these helos., but it made it ok. Went on to the Cuban Crisis and wound up counting the missiles and taking pictures of them for identification. Lot of tiring work at sea. Sometimes flight ops would go for several days. Flight time was typically 4 hours, but with ready room time and debriefing it was a 5-hour stint. Ships company worked 8 hour shifts, Air squadrons worked 12 hour shifts and flew in non work hours, making for a very long day. No A/C, racks that hung by chains, mattresses 2 inches thick, not like todays ships. WOULD ENJOY HEARING FROM SOME OLD SHIPMATES. US HS-3 1961-1965 this is Roy Smith, I was sonarman (AX2) AC. I was aircrew training Petty Officer, Sonar QC Inspector and NATOPS Evaluator. We had just received the HSS-2, with twin 1250HP Turbo jet engines. It could fly and land with one engine but could not hover on one engine. It could float in the water although I never knew of anyone who deliberately tried this. We operated out of Chambers Field in Norfolk, Va. and deployed on the Intrepid and the Wasp when the Intrepid went in the yard. We did crash one in the water, and it floated for 3 hours but we lost it while they were trying to hoist it aboard ship. I was on board the Intrepid when we picked up Scott Carpenter. We had a specially trained Marine Corp crew on board to pick Carpenter up, but he overshot his landing site by so far, their Helos. didn't have the range to retrieve him. With no special training they sent HS-3 Helos out to pick Scott up. All of our pilots and crew had hundreds of hours of doing personnel transfers, mail drops to other ships and submarines, but no specific training for astronaut pickups. It went well, very few people knew the helo. developed a severe transmission fluid leak, which was not uncommon in these helos., but it made it ok. Went on to the Cuban Crisis and wound up counting the missiles and taking pictures of them for identification. Lot of tiring work at sea. Sometimes flight ops would go for several days. Flight time was typically 4 hours, but with ready room time and debriefing it was a 5-hour stint. Ships company worked 8 hour shifts, Air squadrons worked 12 hour shifts and flew in non work hours, making for a very long day. No A/C, racks that hung by chains, mattresses 2 inches thick, not like todays ships. WOULD ENJOY HEARING FROM SOME OLD SHIPMATES.
Commando
wa 829

SL-01
wa 829 SL-01 preserved at South Wales Aviation Museum (SWAM) by Mar24
md902
900/00123

OE-XNM
900/00123 OE-XNM Most SAS MD902 aircraft are going to Heli Austria
UK 846 NAS 1964 we finished our tour since 1962 on HMS ALBION and our reliefs came out to Tawau;after serving in Brunei,Kuching ,Sarawak,Tawau and other Borneo places UK 846 NAS 1964 we finished our tour since 1962 on HMS ALBION and our reliefs came out to Tawau;after serving in Brunei,Kuching ,Sarawak,Tawau and other Borneo places
aw139
41270

G-PERD
41270 G-PERD CHC Scotia from 24apr23
ec155b
6575

N755MH
6575 N755MH Owned by Volare Aviation Ltd
US HC-1 1974-1978, My name is Mark Gardner, I was ADJ in HC-1. I spent time in HS-10 for training waiting on DET 3 to return from a WESTPAC. In early 1976 I was assigned to AIMD at Nurd Island and then in September of 1976 DET 3 was relocated to Mayport Florida to serve on a MED Cruise aboard the USS Franklin D Roosevelt. After our return from the MED I went back to AIMD until spring of 1978 where I spent my remaining time (6 months) in the Navy with HC-1 DET 3. Mike Chandler and Steve Jamieson were also part of DET 3 and we are all friends to this day. I got out of the Navy and got my A P license and have been in aviation maintenance ever since, Now days I take care of BNSF Railways corporate Gulfstreams. The time I did in the Navy was something that I will ever be grateful for. Four years was enough for me, but I learned a lot of life lessons...loyalty, work ethic and sometimes a GAF attitude. - US HC-1 1974-1978, My name is Mark Gardner, I was ADJ in HC-1. I spent time in HS-10 for training waiting on DET 3 to return from a WESTPAC. In early 1976 I was assigned to AIMD at Nurd Island and then in September of 1976 DET 3 was relocated to Mayport Florida to serve on a MED Cruise aboard the USS Franklin D Roosevelt. After our return from the MED I went back to AIMD until spring of 1978 where I spent my remaining time (6 months) in the Navy with HC-1 DET 3. Mike Chandler and Steve Jamieson were also part of DET 3 and we are all friends to this day. I got out of the Navy and got my A P license and have been in aviation maintenance ever since, Now days I take care of BNSF Railways corporate Gulfstreams. The time I did in the Navy was something that I will ever be grateful for. Four years was enough for me, but I learned a lot of life lessons...loyalty, work ethic and sometimes a GAF attitude. -
407
53553

N309LW
53553 N309LW Hovering over the California Highway Patrol Academy, West Sacramento
as350b
1953

F-MJCK
1953 F-MJCK Based training aircraft at Briançon with the Gendarmerie CVM, or Centre de Vol en Montagne (mountain flying centre). Photo collection of FlyHigh Aeromedia with Police Aviation News to be published 01mar24
uh-60a
70-148

79-23331
70-148 79-23331 This aircraft was repaired by SSSI in Troy after it was crash landed on purpose into a courtyard in Grenada during Grenada Action if My memory of tail numbers is correct
has.2
070

XZ246
070 XZ246 portland, conducting trials on HMS Broadsword (not 1979 as stated) we then returned to HMS Amazon and acted as guardship on Charles and Dianas honeymoon. 1982 we deployed to the gulf in Febuary then called down to the Falklands with HMS Illustrious and HMS Battleaxe. I named this airframe on the Amazon Erica
ch-47f
M.8757

08-08757
M.8757 08-08757 New Century Aircenter
US HS-11 1957-1959 aboard wasp and short tour tarawa. med school 59-63; interned balboa hospital san diego 63-64;i ntensivist good samaritan hosp,portland, oregon. aviation medical examiner at present; email jerrybass44 at gmail. would love to hear from contemporaries. thanks. Jerry Bass,md US HS-11 1957-1959 aboard wasp and short tour tarawa. med school 59-63; interned balboa hospital san diego 63-64;i ntensivist good samaritan hosp,portland, oregon. aviation medical examiner at present; email jerrybass44 at gmail. would love to hear from contemporaries. thanks. Jerry Bass,md
US VMO-6 1961-1963 supply clerk for vmo-2 in Futenma, Okinawa. We had oe-1 and hok helicopters. Put in for re-up in 1963. was denied transfer to da-nang (one of few liberty capitals of the world). Had to be of e-5 rank or higher to transfer there. Discharged in 1963. Finished college on gi bill and baseball ride. Followed squadron activities and still look back to great friends and times serving vmo-2 and vmo-6. LCPL Dick Irvine 60 US VMO-6 1961-1963 supply clerk for vmo-2 in Futenma, Okinawa. We had oe-1 and hok helicopters. Put in for re-up in 1963. was denied transfer to da-nang (one of few liberty capitals of the world). Had to be of e-5 rank or higher to transfer there. Discharged in 1963. Finished college on gi bill and baseball ride. Followed squadron activities and still look back to great friends and times serving vmo-2 and vmo-6. LCPL Dick Irvine 60
ch-47f
M.8719

06-08719
M.8719 06-08719 Quick touch and go, heading north, Sanford Airport, Florida
407
53653

N932SF
53653 N932SF used by St. Mary's Regional Medical center, Russellville, AR 72801
II
13416

ZK-IWT
13416 ZK-IWT flying out of Paihia for pleasure flights, operator is SALT
aw139
31229

N139
31229 N139 now N139 owned by Eurotec Vertical Solutions
uh-12b
496

G-ATKG
496 G-ATKG aircraft is in Dorset still under restoration
ec135p1
0129

N841LF
0129 N841LF Medford, OR






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