The Helicopter Museum Latest News


 


Rare Helicopter and Aircraft Demonstration at Weston Helidays

Following discussions with the United States Air Force based at RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall, and a successful request to the US Embassy the United States Air Force will conduct an Aerial Re-fuelling Demonstration at the 20th Anniversary “Helidays” event.

The demonstration will take place on Friday 23 July 2010 at 1200 midday local time when a Lockheed MC-130P “Combat Shadow” tanker aircraft and a Sikorsky HH-60G “Pavehawk” rescue helicopter will demonstrate the in flight re-fuelling capability of both aircraft.

The MC-130 will be provided by the 67th Special Operations Squadron, 352nd Special Operations Group, RAF Mildenhall and the HH-60 will be provided by the 56th Rescue Squadron, 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath.

Following the demonstration, the HH-60 will break off from the tanker and land on the beach lawns for the duration of the “Helidays” weekend.


Rare Russian Helicopter for The Helicopter Museum

The Helicopter Museum (THM) at Weston-super-Mare in Somerset has secured another rotary-wing coup with the acquisition of the first Russian Mil Mi-8 transport helicopter to go on display in the UK.

The 18m (60ft) long aircraft, previously in service with the Polish Air Force, arrived at the museum by road on 5th February.

The THM example is a rare Mi-8PS VIP variant, initially delivered to the Polish Air Force in the 1970s for government use and eventually retired by 2005. 

Transporting the Mi-8 to the UK however has seen the Museum invest almost £10,000, a cost that it now needs to recover. Sponsors or donations will be gratefully recorded and can be sent to the Treasurer, British Rotorcraft Museum, Locking Moor Road, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, UK, BS24 8PP.

The Mi-8PS acquired by THM is serial 10618, delivered to the Polish Air Force in the 1970s for service in a VIP configuration with 36 Special Air Transport Regiment, based at Warsaw – Okecie.

‘618 was one of 11 painted in a smart red/white national colour scheme for service with 36 SPLT, subsequently ‘618 was modified for a military Command and Control role and reallocated to 37PST assault regiment at Leznica Wielka near Lodz. Here it was repainted into a camouflage colour scheme and later reverted to a military transport role before being finally retired by 2005.


West’s Largest Helicopter represented in
World’s Biggest Helicopter Museum

The Helicopter Museum has taken delivery of parts recovered from the Boeing XCH-62 Heavy Lift Helicopter (HLH), cancelled as a project in 1975. Designed to carry external loads of up to 20,000 kg (20 tons) around the battlefield, the HLH featured a 27 m (89 ft) long fuselage with tandem rotors each spanning some 28 m (92 ft), and stood around 12 m (38 ft) high.

Helicopter Museum Chairman Elfan ap Rees managed to salvage some key components including the 5.5 m (18 ft) long main landing gear and nose wheels for display in the museum, all of which is now on display.

Shipment of the parts was organised and sponsored jointly by manufacturer Boeing and Columbia Helicopters, with support from the UK Museum, Libraries & Archive Council PRISM fund and Helicopter INTERNATIONAL and HeliData News publisher Avia Press Associates.

In November 2009 Mike Kurth, MD of Boeing Defence UK, visited The Museum to unveil the new exhibit which exhibit includes the landing gear components.