Del'd: 212 - 1973 to 2023

Aerospatiale SA341B Gazelle AH.1
in
united kingdom Army Air Corps









Army Air Corps SA341B Gazelle AH.1

In July 2016 was announced that the current 34 AAC Gazelles AH.1 ( 19 in use and 15 in routine maintenance ) will remain in service until 2025 under new support contracts to be signed with Cobham Aviation Services, Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo Helicopters and Safran Helicopter Engines.
Built by Westland at Yeovil (up to XZ337, c/n 1677) and Weston-super-Mare (XZ338, c/n 1682 onwards).
Also used by Royal Marines.
A farewell flypast for the Gazelle in AAC service was conducted by 3 examples (XZ320, ZA772 and ZA775) from 5 REGT, AAC on 23 Oct 2023, starting at FS Aldergrove, via Barton, RAF Shawbury, Hereford, Abbey Wood, Army HQ at Andover, Middle Wallop to Fleetlands.




I was a member of an Air Sqn namely 16/5l ,with this aircraft nos xx384 to xx389. From 29 june 1976 flew one back as nav to wolfenbuttel from b/Kelly , N.Ireland. Dont understand why AAC do not recognise us, as were attached to 653 Sqn and 657 Sqn AAC.

I also served at Wolfenbuttel with these Gazelles. The REGN nos were xx384, xx386 and xx388.

An interesting read.I was also attached to the 17/21 and 16/5 Lancers Air Squadrons from Apr 1972 until Jun of 1975 as a REME Aircraft technician.Have flown in all of those aircraft as Tech/Observer and was also part of the crews that flew the delivery flights of XX384 and XX388 to Wolfenbüttel from RNAY Wroughton in late April 1975.The Gazelle felt like an F1 racer compared to the Sioux which was flown with the 17/21st.I have been a keen military aircraft historian since my school days and in the majority of books I have about the AAC there is very little recognition of the Independent Air Sqdns/Troops and Flights that operated from the mid 60,s to the late 70,s.Only those that served with these types of units know the truth.The two best postings that I ever had. Steve Szrama. -

I served with several independent Air Squadrons/Troops as an Aircraft Tech starting with the Royal Scots Greys as well as Wolfenbüttel with Steve Szarma The Gazelle was a very simple aircraft to look after and reliable. It transformed what could be done for reconnaissance with its speed and maneuverability and later, with the Ferranti sight and teamed with Lynx, what was possible in HELARM. It was also very survivable and hit the deck at close to VNE in Canada once with the crew "walking away". In several other crashes I knew of its composite structure seemed to absorb/attenuate shock well so while the aircraft might almost disintegrate many severe crashes were survivable. I would love to see its service with 17/21 and 16/5 Lancers added in to the historical record, for example besides taking our aircraft to NI for Op Banner we took it to Berlin from Wolfenbüttel (flew from Hanover) in an RAF Belfast, before 7 Flt had them, and were up and running within the hour after arriving at RAF Gatow. We flew completely around Berlin indeed I believe the photo on the web attributed to 7 Flt hovering in front of the Brandenburg gate is actually our (Lancers) aircraft, we certainly took photos like that. Our Gazelle also visited the Olympic stadium there but I have not seen any photos since. Michael Thomas -




@ (optional)     Send



  News


UK Gazelle Support Contract Through 2022

UK Gazelle Support Contract Through 2022

08-Mar-18 - Vector Aerospace, a StandardAero company, to provide maintenance support for the 26 UK Army Air Corps Gazelle at Fleetlands between April 2018 and June 2022
Gazelle 40 years training British military pilots

Gazelle 40 years training British military pilots

15-Jul-14 - Farnborough, UK – The important role of Airbus Helicopters in the ab-initio training of British military rotorcraft pilots is being marked by Airbus Helicopters during this week’s Farnborough Airshow.



  Units


YearsUnitsBase
2001-    29 Flt CA CFB Suffield
1994/09666 Squadron (Volunteers)AAC Netheravon closed 2012
1993/093 FltAAC Netheravon closed 2012
RAF Leuchars
Edinburgh
1993/??6 Flt
1989/94UNFICYP FlightCY Nicosia (Lefkosia)
1988/0316 FltCY Dhekelia Strip
1986-    665 Squadron Aldergrove
1985/04662 SqIQ Basrah International Airport
AAC Wattisham
DE Soest
1983/001 REGTDE Gütersloh
DE Hildesheim
1980-    Historic Aircraft Flight AAC Middle Wallop
1979/0325 flt BZ Philip S W Goldson International Airport (PGIA)
1978/91655 Sq Aldergrove
AAC Ballykelly
Omagh closed 2007
RAF Topcliffe
1977/01AAC Flight BATUSCA CFB Suffield
1977/00661 SquadronHR Divulje Barracks Helipad
DE Gütersloh
DE Hildesheim
Long Kesh closed 1979
DE Detmold
1977/80662 SqDE Waterloo Barracks, Münster closed 1994
1976/0912 FltDE Elmpt Station
DE RAF Wildenrath closed 1992
1976/913 FltRAF Topcliffe
Omagh closed 2007
1975/05656 SquadronHR Divulje Barracks Helipad
AAC Dishforth
Murray Heights
AAC Netheravon closed 2012
Port Stanley
ZW Harare International
ZW Gweru
Farnborough
BZ Philip S W Goldson International Airport (PGIA)
HK Sek Kong
1975/947 FltDE RAF Gatow closed 1994
1974/78660 SquadronHK Sek Kong
DE Soest
1973Gazelle IFTFAAC Middle Wallop
??/07654 SquadronAF Camp Bastion
YU Pristina Kosovo
AAC Wattisham
SA Al Jubail
DE Detmold
DE Soest
Enniskillen St Angelo
Long Kesh closed 1979
Long Kesh closed 1979
DE Herford
DE Hildesheim
??/058 FltYE Khormaksar / Aden International
YE Falaise
Credenhill
??/05663 Squadron AAC Wattisham
DE Soest
AAC Netheravon closed 2012
671 SquadronAAC Middle Wallop






Helicopters for sale
Accidents
Acronyms
Airshows
Future helicopters
Flying a helicopter
Helicopter stories
TV and movies

Helicopter books
Helicopter patches
Helicopter model kits


az