Helicopter museum update ongoing…….

Don’t know if this of any interest for the museum, but at the German film studios in Babelsberg, there is a full scale mock-up EC135 sitting rather unloved. It was used in the German TV-Series Helicops 15years ago. Might be something neat until a real one can be found?
http://helikopterhysteriezwo.blogspot.be/2014/03/the-movies-and-tv-27-helicops.html

Trustee meeting last Friday has agreed to recruit new class of volunteer..”Helicopter Guadian” to look after aircraft on display and talk to visitors about the collection. No skills needed their than enthusiasm,elbow grease and reliability. Days available..Weds,Thurs,Friday, Saturdays and Sundays …choose your own days and hours and contact us at [email]helimuseum@btconnect.com[/email] r call 01934-635227 Weds-Sundays and ask for Miranda or Mark.

Sorry all but the H-21 being wrapped up today under tarps pending later reassembly and restoration…..really need a bigger hangar! Meanwhile new research has revealed more correct details of its history. It was actually built n early 1957, under a direct contract with France so was never allocated a US serial. In French service it began as F-MAAY with ALAT but was loaned to the Navy from mid 1958 to April 1960 as 31F-6 before returning to ALAT as F-MBEE and then F-MARB….the marks it carries now (‘ARB’).The one gap we still have is its Vertol build number.

Latest issue of online “Straight Up” newsletter published ….going on the museum website but available by email to helicopter friends if you provide your address.

The cn would help, we’d be able to compare that against known USA/USAF serials and cns and see if it was transferred.

It might also have a US military serial even though it might have never served in the American military if it was paid for by the US.

Moving aircraft around today to make space for Wessex 3 to come out from restoration bay. This machine ,XM328, almost finished,just needs struts for port torpedo pylon to complete. Skeeter and Haner R2 now relocated,and space being created to improve access to the Sycamores.
Decision now made to paint Belvedere in situ as too difficult to move outside….its like playing chess !
Meanwhile all of Piascki H-21 now in UK and due to be moved to Weston on or about 29th. This aircraft has an interesting history ,having been delivered to the ALAT in Algeria(then a French colony) in 1955 and flown there until 1962 in action against the Algerian rebel forces. It’s French serial is known to be FR41 but researching its original US identity as believed to be one of a number transferred from a US Air Force or Army order.
Any suggestions ?

Second half of H-21 loaded at Grenoble today for museum. Once both halves are together in UK they will be brought to the museum together,later this month. First Flying Banana in UK.

Expecting the n ew Piasecki H-21 to arrive at the Helicopter Museum before the end of January but much restoration needed before fit for display. Also a certain big cat arriving in December has taken up the last available indoor space so the museum will have to store it outdoors until it can get another building erected.Looking at a l-o-n-g Romney Shed for now.
Great photo exhibition unveiled today for the Winter period and new Play Area helicopter being readied as a fatigue test airframe….if the kids can’t wreck it,no one will!
Next challenge will be to extract the Belvedere from the main hangar annex ready for installation of rear main gearbox and head and painting. This should be a photo op as the Sycamore and Alouette at least will also have to be moved into the open air for a couple of days whilst we reorganise.
The museum will try and give warning on its website and here when that happens.

Where was the H-21 sourced?

Skeeter XL767 left the museum today enroute to Kraków and the Polish Aviation Museum. Meanwhile getting ready to welcome a replacement aircraft for display next week. The Museum is also preparing for the Belvedere move and the import of our Piasecki H-21 ,once we have a handle on the cost.

Latest acquisition…A Barnett JB4 gyrocopter now in the restoration hangar but missing a Lycoming 4cyl engine if anyone’s got a scrap one. Museum still working on two more additions hopefully before the year end!

I have a friend with a low loader -let me know if you get stuck.

Amazing how mention of France makes some people jump to conclusions about acquiring French helicopters! Try US helicopter from 1950s in France instead for our next acquisition,once we can shift it!

DB….not yet but established a 30ft truck bed plus a 30 trailer would do.
SM…thanks for the thought…will post here when move around taking place.Could be good photo opportunity too.

[QUOTE=heli1;2260672]
We could do with a few more younger volunteers though to assist with this work though.

.[/QUOTE]
Heli, if i could figure some way of getting there which is pretty hassle free and cheap etc, myself and one or 2 of the lads would be willing to help if required 🙂 i want to pop down anyway for a look around 🙂

Did you find a suitable low loader ?

After a good summer we are now preparing a major reorganisation of the Hafner Hangar which will see Belvedere XG452 emerging into daylight for the first time for several years.This will allow us to install the rear rotorhead and do other jobs on the airframe before moving it back in for final completion. During the same move we will reposition both Sycamores ,the Hafner RII and possibly the Skeeter to provide more space. Other autumn tasks include weatherproofing and overhauling the two Westland 30s and installing their tailplanes and main rotors .
We could do with a few more younger volunteers though to assist with this work though.

The museum is meanwhile making good progress on the restoration of the old control tower and pilots block,with two teams of new volunteers now carrying out much of the work and new people coming forward to record their memories as part of the Weston Airfield oral history project.

Anyone fancy a trip to the Continent with a long low loader? Something really interesting to collect but we need a man with a lorry !

Our heliport has been busy the last few days .Two Chinooks in on Monday,Wildcat and Chinook yesterday,Merlin this morning and JetRanger flying visitors all afternoon. Fancy a flight? We’re flying throughout August…trips around the bay.Tel:01934 635227

As an ex student of City of Bristols aero dept i’m glad she’s getting some love. Many first mistakes were made on that airframe.