First helicopter to fly in Australia history

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sam 34
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First helicopter to fly in Australia history

Postby sam 34 » Sun Nov 27 2016, 12:17

Anyone know the history of the first helo in Oz? Google didn't give me much...
flyboy111111
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Re: First helicopter to fly in Australia history

Postby flyboy111111 » Sun Nov 27 2016, 21:40

I believe it was Lindsay Rose.
Oneplaneboy
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Re: First helicopter to fly in Australia history

Postby Oneplaneboy » Sun Nov 27 2016, 22:40

//www.atsb.gov.au/publications/1989/aust-helicopter-accidents/
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Yankee
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Re: First helicopter to fly in Australia history

Postby Yankee » Mon Nov 28 2016, 03:26

found on the RAAF website:

The RAAF purchased a Sikorsky helicopter under Order USA No. R5F S5-5127. This was the first helicopter ordered for the RAAF, although experiments had been carried out during World War II with a Cierva C30A Autogiro, VH-USR, at RAAF Base Laverton.

The Sikorsky S51, as it became known in RAAF service, was received at No 1 Aircraft Depot (1AD) on 3 October 1947
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Twistgrip
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Re: First helicopter to fly in Australia history

Postby Twistgrip » Mon Nov 28 2016, 07:31

As Yankees said, delivered to RAAF 1947-50

Image
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sam 34
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Re: First helicopter to fly in Australia history

Postby sam 34 » Mon Nov 28 2016, 11:27

Yeh I seen the RAFF stuff & wonderd if some crazy coined up person had brought one in themselves, thanks.....
godfather007
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Re: First helicopter to fly in Australia history

Postby godfather007 » Wed Nov 30 2016, 10:34

Hi Sam.
Private/commercial
Possibly Bob Ansett? (Legend)
Bristol 171 Sycamore. (Happy to be corrected)
I had the pleasure of flying his old jetbox a few times years ago that I still believe is AW.
The 171 is far from sexy, but is still a revolutionary bit of gear.
Love the history of what we get to do.
I may have to hook the old VHS up one day and watch some old videos from the past and re-live the dream all over again.

GF
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tinman
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Re: First helicopter to fly in Australia history

Postby tinman » Wed Nov 30 2016, 21:04

AFAIK the only Sycamore still airworthy is this one:

http://www.flyingbulls.at/en/events-sto ... -sycamore/
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Twistgrip
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Re: First helicopter to fly in Australia history

Postby Twistgrip » Wed Nov 30 2016, 22:45

AFAIK the only Sycamore still airworthy is this one:


That Sycamore is just stunning....wow :D
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sam 34
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Re: First helicopter to fly in Australia history

Postby sam 34 » Thu Dec 1 2016, 01:56

godfather007 wrote:Hi Sam.
Private/commercial
Possibly Bob Ansett? (Legend)
Bristol 171 Sycamore. (Happy to be corrected)
I had the pleasure of flying his old jetbox a few times years ago that I still believe is AW.
The 171 is far from sexy, but is still a revolutionary bit of gear.
Love the history of what we get to do.
I may have to hook the old VHS up one day and watch some old videos from the past and re-live the dream all over again.

GF



Should load thoes VHSs on to YouTube, keep the history form getting lost......
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Re: First helicopter to fly in Australia history

Postby jkeegle » Fri Jun 8 2018, 02:41

My father was part of the RAAF team that assembled the first helicopter imported from America in 1947.
There was a picture of the team in the Melbourne Age published on Friday October 3, 1947 assembling the Helicopter at the Laverton RAAF Base Victoria.
I believed it crashed and was destroyed shortly after this.
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Re: First helicopter to fly in Australia history

Postby Helical » Sat Jun 9 2018, 14:11

The Australian Army almost got their first, from Army aviation in Australia 1970-2015

"The need for Army’s own organic aviation assets was recognised as early as 1943. Army
developed a proposal to acquire helicopters to assist with engineer reconnaissance. The proposal
progressed to an advanced stage before the Defence committee of the day decided that RAAF
should take charge. RAAF pilots were trained and six Sikorsky R-5 helicopters were ordered,
but the war ended before they were delivered and the order was cancelled. "
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Eric Hunt
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Re: First helicopter to fly in Australia history

Postby Eric Hunt » Sun Jun 10 2018, 02:17

Possibly Bob Ansett? (Legend)
Bristol 171 Sycamore. (Happy to be corrected)


OK, I will make you happy and correct you:

It was REG Ansett, not Bob. Bob got into Budget rental cars when he came out here from the US. Lives up here on the sunny coast.
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Re: First helicopter to fly in Australia history

Postby The Grey Ghost » Tue Aug 27 2019, 01:06

I recall an S 51 on approach to Archerfield Aerodrome in 1951/52. Coming in over Beaudesert Road at about 200ft. I'll never forget it, I was 5 at the time.

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