Bravo November

[Mayfly]

Has returned from Afghanistan recently......

The most charmed a/c in the RAF IMHO

linky

[Xplumberlives]

Thanks for that M.F!

[Spitfire]

I've had this same broom 40 years ....and its only had 14 new handles and 12 new heads

Its like the Isles Of Scilly Sikhorsky S61 - all that's left of the original aircraft from the first registration in 1972 is the main body shell - everything else has been replaced - some bits many many times - but she's still registered as Echo Bravo - bless her



And in British Airways livery in the 80's - what a difference a coat of paint makes

[Mayfly]

Yes but BN has been in all the combat front line situations since the early 80's - she may have been updated but she seen some action too!!

[Nickolas]

Yes but BN has been in all the combat front line situations since the early 80's - she may have been updated but she seen some action too!!

............Makes me think of some others on here too.

[Xplumberlives]

Careful, she'll take offence!

[Spitfire]

Yes but BN has been in all the combat front line situations since the early 80's - she may have been updated but she seen some action too!!

Ah - does 'combat front line' and 'seen some action' mean she has suffered battle damage at some time then ?? If so a very different situation. I suppose one could then argue that she has 'survived' the risk in a sense or been lucky.
But if she's not been damaged then surely its just a question of hours flown and take offs and landings which must equate to the Sikhorsky since 1972 - 4 or 5 times a day 6 days a week to the Islands and back for 38 years - passengers and freight - all weathers - not dodging bullets and RPGs I know - but still a similar achievement for an airframe

Not arguing at all - BN's record is indeed a laudible achievement - but just expressing another point of view from a perspective of another chopper that has worked longer and maybe as hard overall.

[Xplumberlives]

Plenty of marks on the airframe!

And I would think that a MILITARY CAB is flown rather nearer the limit!

[Jigsaw]

I have a chopper that has worked long and hard too and in some very tricky circumstances as well as in the dark with a drunk pilot (almost ended up in the sh1t more than once)

[Mayfly]

You know your chopper only works on the odd occasion!!!!

[Jigsaw]

:-o

You know your chopper only works on the odd occasion!!!!

There has been the "odd" occasion indeed

[Mags]

[Checkflaps]

I think I read that in the Falklands Conflict, BN had a small issue when flying low in zero vis over the sea. She plowed into some waves and was very nearly lost. I'm sure someone will find the story somewhere on the web.

I would assume that Cosford or Hendon already have space earmarked for such a 'legendary' airframe. Although, with helicopters being non-stressed airframes (apparently), there is theoretically no FI issues and there is no real timeframe for the fleet to be retired any time soon. You essentially keep bolting on new bits when the old ones wear out (like engines and gearboxes).

Garry

[Xplumberlives]

I think I read that in the Falklands Conflict, BN had a small issue when flying low in zero vis over the sea. She plowed into some waves and was very nearly lost. I'm sure someone will find the story somewhere on the web.

I would assume that Cosford or Hendon already have space earmarked for such a 'legendary' airframe. Although, with helicopters being non-stressed airframes (apparently), there is theoretically no FI issues and there is no real timeframe for the fleet to be retired any time soon. You essentially keep bolting on new bits when the old ones wear out (like engines and gearboxes).

Garry

That rings bells way back in the back of my mind too!

[Checkflaps]

Having read the article in Pam's link - I see it is mentioned there . But I had heard it before and elsewhere.

Garry

[MadNaddy]

She's a beauty! And a tough one at that (dreamy sigh)