XM172Huey and Cobra
Well what can i say to the post by zishelix except that is EXACTLY what we are looking to do ….. WOW, comes to mind for sure! …… Now its my time to Drool here ……
Yes we hope to have them ‘just like that’ …. except in the UK and on the UK register!
Its only in the early paperchase stages at present but the ‘dream’ is realistic and attainable.
I want to emphasise that FULL credit goes to Phil and Jo Connolly for their vision/endurance/forsight/cash for without those two going for it, it wouldnt/wont happen!
The Huey, ‘Miss Jo’ is tucked up in Helicentre hangar here at Blackpool Apt for winter but we will be bringing her out for a fly about soon …every 2 weeks she gets a run and we fly as and when we get the chance..
Changing tack completely, refering to Dave T and his Harrier question … the T4 nose is currently at Spark Bridge and is my girlfriends Xmas presi !! …YES you heard correctly …im a luck guy to have a girl who WANTs her own Harrier cockpit to play and tinker with!…besides, that means she will leave my Lightnings alone ….those of you out there who know Heather can understand where im commimg from here …. future xmas presi’s are going to be easy …new harness/instruments/panels/ etc ….
Fly Safe, Neil
XM172Huey Cobra project
Hello all,
Glad you like our cunning plan to import a flying Cobra into the UK and yes, of course we are looking at a rare ‘double act’ on the airshow scene!
Where else outside the US would you see a Vietnam pair like this taking to the sky…?? Especially with our friends out there with their Texan’s/Tweety Bird’s/ Sky Raiders and Bronco’s …. watch this space!
Yes of course we will be going as original as we realistically can. G-UHIH was in service from 1972 up until 2000 where she went into the desert…we havnt retrograted her 2000 spec safety features/MOD’s for authenticity as that would be silly …bit like cutting modified seatbelts out of an old car that didnt have them! But she is as original as we can make her and her colour scheme is pretty accurate to the 129th Asslt Heli unit (yes we know the nose badge is the UNIT’s crest, not that of a slick)
As for the Cobra, the only ones for sale to the Civilian world are the ‘Twin stickers’ training versions and there were only EVER 13 built! …or so i believe!
Its a case of get what you can …..and go with it. Hope you like what we are trying to do here…. log onto http://www.huey.co.uk and tell us what you think!
ALL top tips and info on Hueys/Vietnam/etc WELCOME.
Fly Safe, Neil
XM172Flying Huey Cobra to the UK…..well, thats the plan
Hello Huey fans,
Just following on from this September 2006 COBRA thread…. take a look at http://www.huey.co.uk and look at the latest news section and scroll down to Cobra project! …. isnt she VERY pretty!
Phil Connolly is very seriously looking at buying a FLYING Cobra and bringing it over to the UK to fly with his UH-1H as a ‘pairs event’ at air shows etc….
There is one available and he is going through the CAA etc to get approvals to operate her on a ‘UK permit to fly’ .
Just thought id bring this to your attention.
Fly safe all,
XM172
XM172Huey’s FIRST flying display!
Hello all,
Im just back from Jersey Air Show and want to say a big THANK YOU to all those out there offering their best wishes for our FIRST public event flying display …. we do ‘fast flypasts pulling up into wingovers’ type display on ‘Huey 509’! …. it was fun to fly and i hope you enjoyed it! We did!
We were a bit gentle with her but we did get those blades ‘slapping’ nicely… practice makes perfect so we will be doing more of it around the Blackpool area…just listen for the noise…
The other Helis pulled out because of operational requirements which meant in my day, time to deploy away to some hot spot in the world and prepare for some aggro!! …but im only guessing!
I can also announce that we now have the legendary Rob Tierney on our books as our 4th pilot qualified on G-UHIH…. take a look at http://www.huey.co.uk sometime …
enough from me for now ..
Fly Safe, Neil
XM172Bruntingthorpe Aug 06
Sorry John, cant make Brunters this weekend as im on HEMS duty with my EC135 up here in Blackpool …. hope you all have a Grand Day Out for sure!
Fly Safe, Neil
XM172Lightning XM172 is now in residence at Spark Bridge
Hello all,
Just an update to say XM172 is now safe and sound and in residence in my garden at Spark Bridge. I will be posting pictures as soon as i work out how to do that!
I will be writing an article for Flypast fairly soon going into detail of the entire procedure.
At this stage i have to say Barry Parkhouse came up trumps assisting me with the road move and BAE Systems at Barrow in Furness, helped me with the crane/lifting work. I am extremely grateful to both parties for a job VERY well done!
Heather and i will be setting up a website soon entitled ‘Lakes Lightnings’ with details on my other 3 Lightnings ..ie XS922, XS932 and XS420 so watch this space..
Should anyone be interested in taking a close look at XM172, then thats fine so long as its by prior arrangement with me on 07799 275508 or email …xm172@hotmail.co.uk … “it is NOT a tourist attraction!” ..is one of the restrictions placed on me by the planning authority so please, go with me on this one.
Thanks to all out there for your support and it just goes to show that pipe dreams DO sometimes come true!
Fly Safe, Neil
XM172Barry Parkhouse’s B25
Hello chaps,
Following on from John’s comments, the Director of Booker is not Barry’s best friend and i dont hold out much hope for Barry being given permission to rebuild/restore her on site at Booker! I hope i am proved wrong here!
My having to move XM172 pretty pronto in order to save her from the real threat of being crunched up by a third party brought in by the Director did cause me some grief and at some cost!. I got caught up in the crossfire of the politics of Booker and it wasnt nice!
Good on Barry to save this lovely aircraft….
So, anyone got an update on whats going to happen now?
Fly safe, Neil
XM172My first cockpitfest!
Hello all,
Some interesting stuff out there as we approach this big event this weekend.
This will be my first time there and im bringing my Lightning F6 XS922 (warts n all) down early on Saturday morning from the Lake District.
Anyone got any ‘top tips’ on offer regarding the event, the day, the social, the access, etc …. Ive got the basic run down from Bill O’Sullivan but would benefit by info from ‘those in the know’!
I didnt know it was as BIG as it seems its going to be what with the aero bits stalls etc ….
Cheers, Neil
XM172Huey in the Lancashire sky this weekend:19/20/21/22
Hello All,
Just to say that Huey 509 will be thumping around the sky near Blackpool this weekend (in the evenings) weather permitting!
The owner and i will be carrying out flying training in the Fylde area . We are working up for a type rating flying test to be taken on Monday afternoon.
I did mine last week at Redhill so its Phil Connolly’s time to sweat ‘hydraulics off’.
Just thought id let you know.
Fly Safe, Neil
XM172Just to update you with some VERY GOOD NEWS for me as ive just received a letter stating that my Planning Permission application regarding XM172 has been granted! …… Wow! I guess its time to take a deep breath, a big sigh of relief and to move onto the next stage logisics of a BIG Crane lift in to final position.
A BIG THANK YOU GOES OUT TO THOSE OF YOU WHO WROTE IN TO THE CHIEF PLANNING OFFICER SUPPORTING MY PROJECT APPLICATION….. thanks everso!
Thats all i want to say for now but i will work on posting some jpegs …thanks for the advice on how to do that! ..watch this space! Time for a stiff drink or two.
Fly Safe ……………Yipee…….. Neil
XM172Huey is back in the sky and living near Preston
Hello Huey fans,
Just to re-kindle this thread with an update … ‘Huey 509’ also known from now on as ‘Miss Jo’… (named after Phil’s wife) …is back in the air after a LONG while on the ground at Redhill, undergoing transfer from a US ‘N’ reg to a UK ‘G’ reg …. she is now registered as G-UHIH and is now on the UK CAA aircraft type register …(as from YESTERDAY 11th) … i know as i was at Gatwick with PLD with all the paperwork!
Phil Connolly and i flew her back yesterday (11th) in the late afternoon/early evening (daylight) from Redhill, over Farnborough, Brize, to Wolverhampton for refuel…. (BIG THANK YOU to Wolverhampton for their ON SIDE/ CAN DO attitude … First Class place and we WILL be back)…
Then onwards over Tern Hill up through the Manchester corridor and into Phil’s place at Wesham, near Kirkham where she will now live!
We have been flying at Redhill over the last 4 days doing our flying training and type rating exams with Capt. Geff Connolly (no relation) of AV8 and Capt Fred Cross CAA head of Flt Exam.. so you MAY have heard us ‘thumping’ around that area …. everyone else did apparently !!!
We ARE going to be attending some UK Airshow events this year but initially as a static… now resplendent in FULL 128th Air Assault Company livery … i will be applying for a Display Authorisation VERY soon so we can ‘thump around’ at Airshows which is what we want to do.
So, thats it for now folks … some good jpgs sent to me today so i hope they will get posted on this thread …failing that, look at http://www.huey.co.uk for updates comming soon…. Cheers all, Fly Safe,
Neil
XM172Hmmmm … no pics???
Hmmmm … No pics?? Ive just had a look at them and i guess the files are too big to attach … any steers/prompts gratefully received on how i may reduce the file size for posting ????
Fly Safe, Neil
XM172XM172 has landed at Greenodd into temp storage
Hello All,
My FIRST attempts at attaching jpg’s so here (Hopefully) are 3 for your perusal…XM172 is now resident in a hauliers/landrover depot yard awaiting my planning permission application…. i wont go on here so enjoy the pics.
Fly Safe, Neil
XM172Hello again all and to Pete regarding his post above …Thanks again for the top tips.
I have already addressed the visibility/impact/screening issues BIGTIME so thanks for your offer of technical support but i think ive already got all that angle covered. XM172 will not be seen as my hedges and trees are taller than her by a significant margin.
Yes we will chat via PM and i will tell you what grounds ive already covered; the Parish Council meeting i had BEFORE submitting my application went well and i personally visited and presented to the Planning Officer of the Friends of the Lake District of which i am a member anyway … again, he seemed to think i had covered all the points that would have been raised and provided him with adequate solutions!
Never mind conservation area, we are talking National Park here!!!! Ive always been a realist and accept his may not happen BUT they have to come up with a good reason as to why not!
I have asked to see the field officers report BEFORE it goes to Committee and have offered to do whatever they suggest to rectify any issues that they should raise….cant say fairer than that!
Thats all for now as im making the most of this Bank Hol good weather…Fly safe and again, THANKS to you all…Neil
XM172XM172 in storage for now.
Hello All,
Heather and i say a big THANK YOU out there for your support. Now that the dust has settled and ive had SOME sleep, i feel ready to start tackling phase 3 of my project and that is the matter of planning permission.
Thanks Pete for your input above …points duly noted and thank you for your intimation of ‘professional assistance’….
As we stand, a planning permission verdict is due sometime around 27th May.
This is not a light undertaking on my part as you all well appreciate and ive done quite a lot of prep BEFORE i commited to the idea of purchasing XM172.
As i have said before, i feel its 60/40 in favour at present and i have addressed all forseen issues of concern BEFORE they have raised their heads… my biggest support is my local villagers writing in supporting my proposal! I held a ‘public meeting’ in Spark Bridge village hall well before i applied for planning permission and outlined my proposal to those who attended. EVERYONE within my immediate area of the Crake Valley had an outline plan flyer pushed through their letterbox and ive recieved no adverse reaction …thats not to say letters against havnt been sent in! My theory is if there were 5 against and 50 are in favour,then i stand more than a fair chance of success!
As to being on public isplay … most definately NOT! It will occupy 1/8th of my garden area and will be at the back screened for most part by my hedges. Yes their will be close in access but by appointment only and with a donation to the Spark Village Hall Restoration Fund a pre requisit for entry … my locals support me, i will support them and OUR village hall!
Enough wittering from me … i will try and work out how to post a site plan of my application so, watch this space ….
Thanks again to all, Neil
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