The latest Aeroplane magazine has an article about Westland Widgeon G-ANLW which was used in the 1971 film ‘When Eight Bells Toll.’ I presume this was the main ‘hero’ aircraft used for all the flying sequences. I have also read that Widgeon G-ANLW was also used in the film. Was she used for the sequence in which the heli crashes on rocks and then goes underwater? Any information would be welcome.
By: Aerotony - 29th June 2021 at 13:04
Sorry, no other pictures of PWK.
By: H.M.S Vulture - 28th June 2021 at 22:23
Nice photo of Widgeon G-APWK ,do you have any more photos of this helicopter?
My Son is restoring the Cockpit from G-APWK and would be interested in seeing any photos of this Helicopter!
By: Aerotony - 26th June 2021 at 09:53
Not one of the Widgeons in the film, but this may be of interest. Taken by me at Bembridge IOW on 16/7/66. My first use of an old Ensign camera with what turned out to be a very inaccurate view finder. Hence the bad side to side cropping.
G-APWK registered to Westland Aircraft Ltd and it a very smart corporate colour scheme.
By: TonyT - 17th June 2021 at 17:48
The lot operating the Wessex….. Sea King…. and Whirlwind are hoping to put one back in the air
By: Prop Strike - 9th June 2021 at 22:46
here is the crash https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzeRdcjyTSc&ab_channel=vincentyeo88
G-ANLW was also in Eye of the Needle. There were efforts to fly it, but I think it ultimately remained static.
Filmed at Blackbushe, I think.
By: plough - 9th June 2021 at 13:43
You seem to have quoted the same serial twice. Did you mean G-APTW as the second Widgeon used in the film; it is located at NEAM and they certainly describe it as having been used in the film. I can’t find anywhere that gives a reliable definitive answer though.
G-APTW was (I think) built as a Widgeon, but G-ANLW was converted from a Dragonfly in 1957/8 according to helis.com. That site mentions ANLW as being used in the film, but doesn’t give any such reference for APTW though?
I don’t know what was used for the ‘crashed’ example – possibly a specially built mock up as both ANLW and APTW had a subsequent life and are both still around. The descent part of the crash scene was actually filmed with the Widgeon lifting off and played backwards (if you look carefully, you can see the smoke disappearing back up the gun barrels!), and the actual point of impact was not actually shown.
It was a very good film at the time, and I think is still very watchable today 🙂
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June 9, 2021 at 7:05 am