Westland WA341G Gazelle HT Mk2 , c/n 1299 , first flew on 25-03-1975 and was delivered as XX391 to the Royal Navy on 10-04-1975. It served with 705 Squadron as "CU 56". It was withdrawn from service placed into storage at Shawbury on 23-10-1997. It departed Shawbury on 29-06-2001 bound for New Zealand where it became
ZK-HTB3 on 06-11-2001 with Aero Enterprises Ltd of Christchurch. It was one of three imported at the same time. Its registration was revoked in March of 2003 but was restored on 07-11-2003 on being listed to North Park Property Ltd of Timaru. Ownership changed to Helicopters South Canterbury Ltd on 09-09-2009. It was noted in the Heli Maintenance hangar at Christchurch on 24-08-2010 being readied for export. Part of this process involved removing the skids and installing even shorter legs to permit this helicopter to be placed into a container. |
ZK-HTB3 in its Royal Navy XX391 "CU 56" markings in the Aero Enterprises yard at Christchurch on 08-11-2001. |
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As seen on 11-11-2001.
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Now marked as "TB" 28-03-2002. |
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HTB in its all black scheme at Rangiora on 14-01-2004. |
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HTB at Heli Maintenance, Christchurch on 20-12-2005 with its fern marking. |
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ZK-HTB's manufacturers plate.
[A strange way of spelling Westland !] (actually "Usine De" loosely means Factory. So it was assembled by the Westland Helicopter Ltd at Yeovil).
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Closer view of that fern. |
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Above is the standard skid and legs with the short version sitting alongside. Below : the long and the short. |
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