Austrian AB212 at Cambridge July 1988

[Jetbudgie]

Not strictly a serial tie-up request, as I know which one it was....on 25/7/88 I logged 5D-HA at Cambridge; but purely out of interest, would anyone know what it was doing there? The Gotech site states that it had trials with some kind of turret installation, were Marshalls involved in this?

Ta in advance Jb

[StevenR]

When I took a group of Air Cadets flying with 5 AEF, on 31 August 1988, it was in the corner of the smaller hangar with no rotors, all the doors off and various panels removed from tail section and cabin. It didn't have any form of turret at that time but looked like it was undergoing some major maintenance / overhaul.

[Jetbudgie]

Many thanks Steven!

[Weazel69]

I would just like to add a comment re said Heli.
whilst en-route home from a runaround Farnboro etc - 07.09.1988 a buddy & myself were confronted by this heli.overflying the road into Cambridge at a low level
we did not have time to get out and take any pictures which led to much cussin
so looking at stevens comments I make that to be about a week later

[mustang5861]

Some info from 'BAR':

The Austrian AB.212 5D-HA arrived at Cambridge on 31/5/88. It was flight-tested daily from 7/9 to 12/9, before departing to Wales on 13/9 for live firing of the gun that had been fitted. It retuned to Cambridge on 16/9 and departed on 20/9 or 21/9 (both dates are given in the same report).

Can't find any details on the gun that was fitted, nor anything on where in Wales 5D-HA was operating from - checks of movements at Llanbedr and Valley listings in 'BAR' drew a blank. Presumably its departure from Cambridge on 20/9 or 21/9
was back to Austria.

[Yammer]

Interesting - photo here of 5D-HA with a "mini gun" ( or similar ) gun in a pod fitted - maybe related to this thread


http://www.gotech.at/bell_agusta_ab212_ ... kanone.jpg

[mustang5861]

Good link, Yammer. That white building in the left background is the old main terminal from 1938.

[Weazel69]

And sadly after all that it was written off - 20.03.2000 circumstances ??? ( personally that is )