Helicopters at Legends

As the Flying Legends is organized by some very sensible guys regarding the participating aircraft, I am very shure the decision is made if there will be helicopters or not. 😀

J Boyle

However if you, like me, attend events to see rare types, than an old helicopter should sustain your interest as well as any other historic type and perhaps more so, given the rarity of some types.

I would think at Legends if done as part of a co-ordinated set piece e.g. Vietnam or Northern Ireland (as the AACHF do) it would work for the average punter.

It’s the helo expo.

Which may be coming back…

The interest of a helicopter at an air display depends upon what you came to see.
Like most non-warbirds it’s more fun to fly a helicopter then watch it fly, given their lack of speed and acrobatic capabilities.
And I say that as a helicopter pilot, not meaning to disrespect the breed.

However if you, like me, attend events to see rare types, than an old helicopter should sustain your interest as well as any other historic type and perhaps more so, given the rarity of some types.

Phil’s Huey #509

It’s the helo expo.

Yes i have always wanted more Helicopters at any airshow. Legends could accommodate vintage helo’s within it’s remit.

They would be a great way of avoiding the traffic to get there…………

related: does anyone recall what this event was?

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Is there really anybody missing helicopters at Flying Legends?

There is the OH-6 Loach and a couple of Huey’s in the country too.
There was a UH-12 IIRC in US military colours too a couple of years back

SAR Whirlwind flying and was at Cosford last year, also Wessex due to fly this year, ex RN jobbie, HU5, see link and click on the facebook link

https://www.navywings.org.uk/aircraft/all-aircraft/wessex-5/

The Flying Bulls Bristol 171 Sycamore is down to appear at RAF Cosford this year.

https://www.facebook.com/rafcosfordairshowofficial/posts/1833321426680665

If you expect airworthy types, that does narrow the list.
Helicopters have a lot of time dependant systems, thus are more susceptible to support issues than many or most aircraft whose primary “overhaul at XX hours” is the engine. Add to that the calendar age (as opposed to flight hours) worries about some types with wood blades as previously mentioned, and you get an idea if the problem.

There are no Hoverflys/R-4s flying, no R-6/ Hoverfly IIs, no S-51/H-5/Dragonfly/Wideons regularly flying, and very few S-55/H-19/Whirlwinds. While there are some S-58/H-34/Wesex flying, primarily in heavy lift work, I don’t know of any in the UK.

If you’re looking for early types, the Bell 47 or Hiller UH-12/H-23/HT (f.f. 1948) are your only types still flying in quantity.
But many others…Bell Hueys (f.f. 1955), Sikorsky/Westland Sea Kings (f.f. 1959), SARO/Westland Scouts (f.f.1960) and Vertol/Boeing Chinooks (f.f. 1961) aren’t far behind.

“SARO Skeeter to the list. No sure that there are any airworthy??”

Weren’t they all grounded some years ago due to risk of delamination of the main rotor blades – IIRC that is why the AAC grounded their example?

It would be great to see some of the Army historic flights helicopters. Scout and wasps there is quite a lot of historic helicopters in the U.K.

Would be great to see. Vietnam style role demo. With the Hueys, Skyraiders, A26 invaders, bird dogs things like that.

Would add SARO Skeeter to the list. No sure that there are any airworthy??

Now how about a Cierva Air Horse ??!! Now that would be a sight !!! Definitely none extant….!!

Whirlwind, Wessex to fly this year and Red Bull Sycamore, cannot see a problem, we did a Static in the past with a Puma.

People mention post war, but it’s Flying LEGENDS not Flying WW2 and hasn’t the likes of the Connie displayed?

If post-war aircraft are welcomed, the Bell (or Agusta or Westland) 47 should welcome. It was the world’s first civil certified helicopter in March 1946.
You can’t get much more historic than that.

True, most of the UK flying examples are later 60s models and don’t look exactly like the later versions (especially the “cabin” 47B that looks more like a Jet Ranger or Huey than the MASH/Whirlybirds-era or UK military Sioux examples) but their basic design is carried over from the earliest post-war models.

The Fighter Collection decides, it’s their show really.

Who decides and what’s the criteria?