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The Heliport,
Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, BS24 8PP, England |
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Press Release
08th May 2007 Messerschmitt joins The Helicopter Museum The Helicopter Museum at Weston-super-Mare in Somerset takes delivery of its newest exhibit on 2nd May, a helicopter built by the former Messerchmitt Bolkow Blohm (MBB) company in Germany. The aircraft, a Bo105M, is an example of the world’s first light twin-engined helicopter and the first German helicopter design to enter large scale production, when aircraft manufacturing in Germany resumed after the Second World War. Donated by MBB’s successor company, Eurocopter Deutschland, the Bo105 was handed over to THM Chairman, Capt. Elfan ap Rees, on 19th April in a ceremony at Donauworth, where more than 1400 were built between 1970 and 1997 for both military and civil customers. Popular with many Police and Air Ambulance operators, as well as Military Air Arms, more than half the Bo105s built are still flying today, including 16 in the UK. “We are very grateful to Eurocopter for their continuing support of the museum, represented by this generous donation”, said Capt. Ap Rees. “The Bo105 was and still is the world’s only truly aerobatic helicopter, a tribute to its pioneering “rigid” rotor head, manufactured in titanium and requiring neither the flapping nor drag hinges of its contemporaries. It was a “first” in many ways and a fitting addition to our world-wide collection.” The helicopter going on display at THM is serial 81+00, the last of 100 Bo105M ordered by the German Army for the observation and communication role and originally delivered exactly 23 years ago in May 1984. it was retired from service in 2002 and is the first complete example to go on display anywhere in Great Britain. Transport to the UK has been sponsored by McAlpine Helicopters whilst refurbishing the two Allison-MTU Model 250-C20B turboshaft engines has been sponsored by H & S Aviation of Portsmouth. For further information contact Elfan ap Rees on 01934 822524
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