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Eddie Dalton, e-mail, 02.12.2023 00:34 Hallo Dave. Just stumbled on this post! A big thanks, as I thought I was the only one left. Do you still do the cartoons. Regards and keep smiling. 66 Sqn ace rigger ! Edd

Michael KEAYES, e-mail, 28.08.2023 21:13 Hello Olly I hope this reaches you. We were at Hullavinton around same znd when you married Sue Quinton. Would like to get in touch have a proper chat andnupdate. Michael (Mike) Keayes

Elizabeth Addison, e-mail, 25.06.2022 01:53 GET RICH WITH BLANK ATM CARD ... Whatsapp: +18033921735 I want to testify about Dark Web blank atm cards which can withdraw money from any atm machines around the world. I was very poor before and have no job. I saw so many testimony about how Dark Web Cyber h a c k e r s send them the atm blank card and use it to collect money in any atm machine and become rich.(DWCHZONE@GMAIL.COM) I email them also and they sent me the blank atm card. I have use it to get 250,000 dollars. withdraw the maximum of 5,000 USD daily. Dark Web is giving out the card just to help the poor. H a c k and take money directly from any atm machine vault with the use of atm programmed card which runs in automatic mode. You can also contact them for the service below * Western Union/MoneyGram Transfer * Bank Transfer * PayPal / Skrill Transfer * Crypto Mining * CashApp Transfer Email: dwchzone@gmail.com Text & Call or WhatsApp: +18033921735

Norman Greed, e-mail, 19.06.2022 17:45 Hello Reg, I have just come across this site. It made my day to hear from some one from the past. I hope you are keeping well, the last time we meet was I think at Jack Boffey funeral.Seeing your name brings back many happy and not such happy memories. I still remember Raul Hafener standing on a desk in the design office, saying we could look forward to the sky in Weston being black with Helicopters then Westlands took over and the site at Weston became a satellite site.

BRIAN JAMES higgins, e-mail, 22.02.2022 18:27 I was on last Manufactures Course ,at a place Called Old Mixan went on to serve on the Beleverderes at at RAF Seletar on (Helecopter Engineering flight), as a Airframe fitter. until the end of the Belverdere, and then went to Changi working on the whirlwinds also in HEF. Fond memories of Singapore. I lived at Seleter Hills Estate. I once flew up country when one A/C hit over head power lines, we fixed it situated on a nice beach, changed the front Blades and Gearbox.

Mike Ottewell, e-mail, 06.01.2022 14:07 Hi Barry my brother Dennis lost his life in the crash of XG 465 at Gurttersloh in July 1962. We are planning a memorial service this years. I am looking for any photos or details of this aircraft Thanks

Mike Ottewell, e-mail, 06.01.2022 14:01 My brother Dennis lost his life when XG 465 crashed at RAF Guttersloh in July 62. We are planning a memorial service this year. I would be interested any back ground information in sites on the operation of this aircraft. Best Wishes Mike Ottewell

Mike Ottewell, e-mail, 06.01.2022 13:54 Hi Alison - my brother Dennis was on on the same aircraft. We are planning a 60 th anniversary memorial/dedication service for this year 2022. We are reaching out to families of all the crew involved this tragic accident. It would be great to make contact.

Mike Ottewell, e-mail, 06.01.2022 13:42 My brother Dennis Ottewell lost his life when XG465 crashed in Germany. We are planning a 60th anniversary memorial service. I would appreciate details of the RAF Seletar Association and any invites of this air aft and operation. Thanks

Lewis McRitchie, e-mail, 23.05.2021 23:23 Hi Mick Lew here brings back great memories of our times on 66 Hope to hear from you Lew

Alan C. Langford, e-mail, 09.05.2021 22:58 Hi, Ken, are you the same guy I met at Raf Colerne and then Dishfofth? I ENDED up at El Adem on Sycamores - also dangerous: sand in the cyclic system. Lost two: no fatalities . Best regards, Al.

Mick Hewitt, e-mail, 15.04.2021 18:15 I was posted to RAF Odiham 72 Sqn in mid 1962 after training.A very sad time as a belvedere had crashed coming back from an exercise in Germany with no survivors some ground crew also on board.Soon learnt about the belvedere and enjoyed my posting,which included some "aircrew"time as most trained up aircrew were sent out to Borneo.New "choppers" were quickly serviced/tested then again sent to Borneo.With a short break on Vulcans,posted to Singapore(66sqn)in late 65.Did line servicing and "inflight blade tracking"that made a change.Moved into the hangar on 2nd line servicing with promotion.Stayed there until Feb 68(posted home)one belvedere had become a "Christmas tree"the writing on the wall"very sad.

David Hardiman, e-mail, 10.02.2021 15:48 Did you ever finish the Belvedere book? If so can you send me details please. I worked on them for two years in Aden, Singapore and Borneo 1964 to 1966 Regards David

Kenneth B.Potter, e-mail, 14.03.2017 19:03 26 squadron aden The Belvedere this A/C had many tech issues it was the most dangerious a/c I have ever worked on. And Jan G if you want to talk please get in touch.

francis drake, e-mail, 19.01.2017 22:35 i was at the filton air display in 1956 when a twin rotor helicopter crashed i had a very clear view of the crash which was due to it taking of behind a heavy cargo plane and its associated turbulence not in my view due to pilot or the aircraft

Bill Newton, e-mail, 15.01.2017 13:30 I did the blade tracking course at Odiham and went to Singapore during confrontation. I am writing a small piece about my experiences in Seletar and Borneo. I made some good friends and thought the aircraft was a masterpiece of design and only spoilt by MOD lack of commitment.

David LLoyd, e-mail, 13.12.2016 18:37 I am Archivist for RAF Seletar Association and I am trying obtain photo of the 12 Belvederes formation in Singapore.

Jan G, e-mail, 09.06.2016 14:34 I am trying to contact any one who knew Fl Lt William (Bill) Smith who died in a Belvedere crash while part of 26 Squadron at Kormasher in Oct 1963. I was only 1 year old so would love to hear any stories etc about his time in the RAF

barry saxton., e-mail, 24.01.2016 01:22 I was serving hm forces germany 1960/62.one of myself tasks was photography. In Jun 62,at paderborn I was recording picture's of J Belvedere,lifting large rocket cases.The exercise was a completely success.A trip round in it was with out event and enjoyable.I was Very upset by it crashing. B.

John Pattinson, e-mail, 16.09.2015 22:00 I was one of the first members on the BTU at Odiham. I have read many comments on the Belvedere but i wonder in 1961 we did an attachment to the USAF Station, Weathersfield nr Stansted,we were engaged onflying dignatorys during the CND demos. The yanks looked after us all quite wee.Good attachment

Richard arnold, e-mail, 05.08.2015 20:47 I was known as "dago" and served on 26 Sqdn at Odiham and Khormakser 62 -65 . Many memories of the the "flying locust" . Happy to share. Get in touch. Clive Leach if you read this you owe me a fiver!

Ronald Jones, e-mail, 30.07.2015 08:35 I wonder if anyone can help me with the Serial No of a Belvedere that was carried on passage on the Deck of HMS EAGLE, I served on the EAGLE 1964 to 1966, it would be during this time. Sorry for being so vague, I have managed to record the Serial Nos of all the other Aircraft on board during my time on her, I am only too happy to help anyone who requires any info during this time period.

Nina duncan, e-mail, 10.02.2015 15:53 My dad Ken halls..known as noddy to some was flight set on these.we were stationed at seleter and lived there for 3 wonderful years.my father sadly passed away 3 years ago..can anyone remember him?

Ian Wilson, e-mail, 27.08.2014 17:32 See earlier message, however e-mail address has changed. If Alex Crawford reads this and is still looking for info concerning maintenance at Kuching or in the field on ops eg.Simmangang and Sibu during the Confrontation. Putting fires out during engine start Avpin and cartridge system. Looking back thank goodness a war with no bbc or cnn around. We got on with the job in hand, non of the - please sir can we shoot back. Never had use my skills with the SLRs etc. Ian

Reg Austin, e-mail, 25.03.2014 14:03 I was a member of the design team under Raoul Hafner at Bristol Helicopters. People confuse the Type 173 and Type 192, Belvedere. The Belvedere was of almost twice the 10,000lb All Up Weight of the 173. The 173 was scheduled to have 2 Bristol Janus, 800 bhp engines but UK government stopped their development. With the temporary installation of two Alvis Leonides piston engines of only 550 bhp, the aircraft was underpowered and so, understandably, BEA cancelled their order for them. The Belvedere was initially designed to use a Rover Neptune APU to start the engines and run ground services but the government again interfered and insisted, much against our advice, on our using the Av Pin starters for the 1,650 shp Napier Gazelles. It was these which caused the explosions which caused the two crashes of the Belvederes and loss of life. Sadly inept interference by technology-ignorant government officials finally killed off the British Industry and resulted in so many of our experienced aircraft people joining USA, French and German companies from whom we now import our aircraft!

Montgomery, e-mail, 02.12.2013 00:40 Was only in this chopper once.think 1965/66 Borneo argylls,,what really put me of that one comment was mad,o that is the widow maker.fk.crapping myself but where we were toning we made it,

Alex Crawford, e-mail, 15.09.2013 14:16 I am gathering material for a book on the Belvedere HC1 helicopter. I would like to hear from anyone who flew or maintained these helicopters in the field. Any help would be appreciated.

Dodger Noonan, e-mail, 29.01.2013 04:42 During an exercise in Malaysia in 1966-67, Belvederes were tasked to move Landrovers and guns of 'A' Field Battery, RAA. One of these Belvederes had an engine blow up (literally, quite a loud bang). I was doing air traffic control liaison at the time and heard the pilot say "We've lost an engine, have to drop the load", and he released the underslung Landrover which pancaked from about 200 feet onto a flat piece of ground. The Belvedere landed safely, but the Landrover was flattened down to about 2 feet high. Wheels were horizontal, radio batteries were through the floor, radios were through the top of the batteries, not much was salvageable. We told the driver it was a "Member To Pay" event as he was responsible for the Landrover. Wish I could have recorded his response.

Chris Bousher, e-mail, 23.10.2012 11:46 I was in Aden between '63 and '65 where my dad (M.Plt Stan Bousher) was a Belvedere pilot on 26 sqdn. He was injured in an avpin explosion at Khormaksar in 1964. There is an authoritative book on the introduction of helicopters into the RAF, including lots of stuff about the Belvedere - 'RAF Helicopters - the first twenty years' by W.Cdr John Dowling (isbn 0-11-772725-3). Out of print now but I got a copy via Amazon. Well worth tracking it down if you're an anorak about these things like me.

Shona Berrisford, e-mail, 15.07.2012 14:34 My father M/plt AT Davidson flew these in both Singapore and Aden. I have never forgotten the day I watched one drop out of the sky from the swimming pool at Khormaksar. Awful!

Sandra (Chidgey) Arthur, e-mail, 07.02.2012 12:58 My father, Ron AK Chidgey was a radio technician with 66 Sqn from 64-67 He served one year unaccompanied tour in Borneo and then a further 18 months in Singapore . I have a photo of 5 belevderes in formation taken on 12 April 1965. I writing a junior fiction book based on my days experience in Borneo and would love to hear from anyone that may have known my Dad or perhaps has any photos or photo of him. Have a number of stories that can share - will post later. Warm wishes

Mike Brundle, e-mail, 04.02.2012 17:58 My only brother was killed in July 62 along with 5 others, seems just like yesterday

Dave Branchett, e-mail, 23.01.2012 18:42 I served on 66 Sqdn as a sergeant Engine fitter from 1967 to 1969 when we disbanded. Best tour I ever had, from my first flight I was hooked, and loved the whole thing. Very tricky aircraft to maintain but we revelled in it because we were the only people in the world who had them and the morale was the highest I ever experienced. Any ex 66 from that time please contact me, I'll be chuffed to hear from you.

Brian Mitchely, e-mail, 18.01.2012 15:34 Hello all, I am really enjoying reading your stories. It sounds like I am surrounded by my Grandfather. Thank you all for your service, and your stories.

Sim Morrison, e-mail, 19.11.2011 23:01 Anyone recall Belvedere Poem? Around 1965 there was a poem written about the Belvedere and it was in either Air Clues or the local MEAF equivalent. I remember I cried laughing when I read it in Aden, wish I had kept a copy. It was a ditty relating the noise and the way things used to fall off the machine. Anyone got a copy?

Michael Maylor, e-mail, 12.11.2011 00:01 I remember the crash near Gutersloh in '62 I was 14 back then.It was a lovely day (I was at the the camp outdoor swimming pool) when two Belverdere aircraft passed low over us having just taken off. Minutes later sirens were sounding and RAF chaps running.. My friend and I jumped on our bikes and headed to the crash site not far away.. We could'nt take it in.. everything destroyed of one and the other helicopter parked closeby.A Very Sad Scene.

kevan stewart, e-mail, 02.08.2011 22:14 I travelled aboard the last belvedere to fly in singapore at the disbandment fly-past of 66 squadron at R.A.F Seletar. This aircraft is the one on display at the R.A.F museum Hendon. I managed to srounge many flights on these aircraft while I was a member of the Air Training Corps based at Seletar until I left in 1970

Vic Moulder, e-mail, 27.05.2011 09:13 My experience with the Belvedere was back in 1962 or 3 whilst being extracted from an operation on the Malay Thai border area by a RAF Belvedere as an Infantryman with 2ND Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, we the best part of our platoon borded and were flying at night over thick jungle in extremely bad weather when we had to make a emergency landing, the skipper to his credit found a clearing, unfortunately it was occupied by a small Kampong [village] we came down pretty hard doing some damage as I can recollect, eventualy we found trucks and were extracted back to base, the word we had back was that the aircraft had run out of fuel, and that the Flt Sgt had not refueled ? anybody out there have any recollections of this incident ?

Jimmy Scott, e-mail, 01.04.2011 01:12 72 Sqdn at RAF Odiham was my 1st posting after Boy/Entrant training at RAF St Athan. It was a very exciting time in my life. A brand new aircraft and a chance to be a real mechanic. Jesus, we learned fast!! This was no easy task, even a blade change required team work. I learned a lot, very quickly, and thank the Belvedere for giving me an excellent 'foundation' in Airframe skills.

Alison Armes, e-mail, 25.03.2011 20:08 My dad was killed in the crash on 30/7/62 his name was Roy Mitchell. I am doing a bit of research on it as it is 50 years next year. If anyone has any information please contact me. Is it true the helicopter had metal fatigue after lifting the spire on Coventry Cathedral?

Ian Wilson, e-mail, 24.02.2011 14:54 Finally found more on 66 based at Kuching. I served with 66sqdn exactly the same period as Bill France. 12 months in Kuching was something else. Must have flown on more than 60 flights, blade tracking etc due to vibrations, flights to Bau Lake, Kapit, Sibu, Simmangang etc. Even put 2 fire out on start up lovely stuff Avpn and carts starting system. Even flew down to the docks took the blades off and 3 days at sea (again) Singapore blades on and flew to Seletar. Final trip was in a DH Heron FM-1024 I think 3,5 to Singapore VIP flight. How time flies,finally stopping work in 2012 after 46 years in aviation. Last asignment is here in the Netherlands working for Martinair Engineering. ps Several test flights to 5000feet now that Belvedere flying Bunny Austin was our CO thru thick and thin with him. Years later whilst at Odiham we met again I ended up on 230 sqdn Pumas he was now a WC. Ian

mike wallace, e-mail, 14.01.2011 21:54 I agree with M Winslow;I have a photo of 11 Belvederes in formation over the Malacca Straits, probably in early 1967.I was on 26 sqdn at Khormaksar(4/4/65 to 15/12/65)then 4 Belvederes were taken to Seletar on board HMS Bulwark arriving shortly before christmas 1965, to join 66Sqdn.I left 66 Sqdn in July 1967 for the UK, after many happy times and a spell in Kuching to boot!!

john lewis, e-mail, 15.10.2010 16:00 I served with 29 commando in borneo and looked after the pad at gunung gajak had many a belvadier ,s aeriel sitting above my head as it only just fitted onto the pad with its tail hanging over the edge of the hill great times

John Edwards, e-mail, 30.08.2010 22:50 I can go back a little further than you service men. I first met the Belvedere when it was still a pile of parts on the bench in Westlands at Weston super Mare. My first task, together with my companion fitter, was to construct the most complex piece, known as station 0, that was the main mounting for the front undercarriage and the nose joint. It took a few months and numerous trips to the drawing office but as it was the prototype that’s not surprising. I went on to do lots of different parts including I put the floor in every single one of the 26 aircraft that’s a lot of rivets. I moved then to the development department and built the first pilots bubble door, I don’t think it was put into production though. I went on loan to EDL (Electronics Development Laboratory) and built there the slip rings which were mounted on the rotor head for rotor blade strain gauge work and I also mounted instrumentation on the hydraulic jacks in the flying controls to monitor valve movement. When I joined EDL permanently I balanced all the Rotor synchronizing prop shafts, Spent many hours watching over the flying controls fatigue rig and doing calibration runs on de-icing jets for rotor blades The Belvedere was known in the workshops as the Bevelgear

Mike Brown, e-mail, 11.04.2010 17:04 In Aden (1963/1964) the Belvederes had the next block of buildings to my Shackleton squadron and we provided volunteers to man the waist gpmg's. It was always said that if you saw a Belvedere starting up you watched closely so that in the event of an avpin fire you could be a witness at the inquiry rather than on the Board. Sadly we lost one Belvedere in the Mukeiras area, the others were shipped out to the Far East on one of the carriers.

Owen O'Mahony, e-mail, 10.02.2010 14:40 I flew the Belvedere with 66 Sqn at Seletar as a first tour pilot from 1967 to disbandment in March 1969. I was also Sqn Adjutant. It was indeed a "widow maker" but I do remember some very interesting and challenging jungle flying particularly taking the RAAF Nurses from Butterworth for regular "Dinghy Drill" to some isolated beach. Several search & rescue missions, the last was finding the 34 Sqn Beverley which crashed on a hilltop in bad weather. The only clue was a broken branch and hole in the tree canopy no more than 6 feet diameter. That was very poignant for me since I knew some of the crew and had flown on Belverleys as an Air Signaller some years earlier. Sadly, there wasn't any well organised Squadron association and everybody disappeared into the "ether"; there were also a few that we didn't need to stay in contact with. There are not many of us left now - I know how to contact three other pilots. Overall - fond memories

Mick Winslow, e-mail, 22.01.2010 16:22 I served with 66Sqn until disbandment in 1969. Just to put the record straight we did manage to get all 12 aircraft in the air at once, this happened after the 2 belvederes in Kuching returned to Seletar to rejoin 66 Sqn. Just prior to the Sqn disbandant in 1969 we had 11 belvederes in formation flying around Singapore, we should have had all 12 but one let us down with starter problems. It was quite a sight to see, I was a passenger on one of them. The only two places to see a real one are in the Science Museum in Manchester and the RAF Musueum in Hendon. I have quite a few photos of Belvederes during my 2 year time spend on 66 Sqn.if any one is interested. Mick Winslow

Ken Anderson, e-mail, 10.01.2010 13:42 I served with the Army in Borneo 1965-66. We were reliant on the Belvedere for tasking our Green Archer Radars and Silent Generators around the 1st Div Sarawak. I've a nice photo if someone can tell me how to post it.

Richard Knight, e-mail, 23.12.2009 14:49 My dad was a prototype fitter at BAC Weston working on the original 171's (rigs and fliers) then worked on the 192. He was proud to have been a part of the project. He regularly put in 16 and 18 hour days just filing rivets by hand for the first rigs. I still have a few old photos in my attic somewhere

LES LUCAS, e-mail, 23.12.2009 14:48 I was posted to RAF Odiham to Belvedere Trials Unit before we got the pre prodution aircraft.We flew in the lord Mayor of London show. put steeple on Coventry Cathedral . before going to Singapore. i flew as crewman many times over MALAYSIA . 4 good years with this aircraft

maurice gibson, e-mail, 03.11.2009 19:10 I was stationed at R A F Seletar from feb,66 to Christmas and was priviledged to a flight with 66 sqn Belvederes ,Bless em. I was at Kuching At the time only for about 60 days I had a great time also at 389/390 m u.I was an acc room waller. GRD/ELECT.I have some slides .

Bill France, e-mail, 14.09.2009 23:23 I had the pleasure of working on Belvederes at the SRTCU, RAF Odiham in '65 and on 66 Sqdn at Kuching from Dec '65 thru Dec '66. The occassion for getting 6 into the air was for a fly past to commemorate the squadron's 50th anniversary. The ensuing party was on 2nd July, which was by coincidence my 21st birthday - so a party I remember very well, most of it at any rate. The Belvedere may have been a bit of a dog to work on and it certainly had a reputation, mostly earned from its travails in Aden, but when it was working it was a good solid workhorse. I have many fond memories of those days.

Olly Holbrook, e-mail, 06.07.2009 16:07 I served with 26 sqdn. detachment at RAF Kuching.Please can we set the record straight.Despite what the RAF says,we were the main body of Ground and air crew @ Kuching in 63/4 with a few 66 and 72 sqdn wallahs.The Belvedere I loved one of 'em even had my last 3 as reg No.476

Colin A J Bain, e-mail, 05.07.2009 20:04 I flew on the Belvedere helicopter as crewman and managed to complete over 287 flying hours. All the flying was carried out in, Brunei, Labuan and Borneo from 62 to 64. It was a great experience with blades breaking etc. I did loose a few friends especially Johny Williams those whose memorial is in the jungle in North Borneo. I remember fondly of Denise Ottwell who lost his life in Germany. It was an experience to remember especially on ambush positions with the Ghurkas, SAS and 41/42 Marine Commandos at libving at simbang camp in Kuching. Our main task in order of priority when suppliyng the troops in the field were mail first, beer second and food if possible. Anyone out there during 62 to 64?

Carl Gavin, e-mail, 02.06.2009 05:27 My Dad, Vincent was aircrew on these aircraft in Aden, Mum always said his hair went white overnight because of them. Stories about of pilots starting them with their legas out of the cockpit in case they had to runa away, something to do with the starte cartridges and Magnesium airframes!

Robbie Burns, e-mail, 03.03.2009 00:29 I served with 22SAS in Borneo and we did not hold "The Widow Maker" in very high esteem due to the fact that one of them crashed in Borneo killing all the command group of a Squadron. It was also persistantly broke down & there were always maintainance problems and we were left hanging about DZs after long ops when it failed to appear. Thank god for the Wessexes and the Whirlewinds...even the occasional Scout. Their performance in Aden wasn't too great either. I usualy tried to position myself at the door or an escape hatch for a quick exit if things went pear shaped, but having said all this it was a Belvedere pilot who performed an amazing bit of airmanship, flying front on into a rock outcrop at right angle on top of a Gunong (mountain) in Malaya he then inched that big machine almost parrallel to the rock with the door facing us where we literaly threw our sick trooper into the arms of the medic and winchman. Our guy was suffering from Leptospirosis and Malaria and had lost about half his body weight it was touch and go survival wise and I believe the Belvedere was the only plane available at the time.He was flown to the nearest local hospital given appropriate treatment and survived...It was a course in slimming I wouldn't recommend, I was his troop medic. Diagnosing his condition confirmrd the quality of medical training we recieved in Hereford.

Terry B, 08.02.2009 04:53 I was on 66 sqdn in 1966 and I was amused to read Mike Winslows comment, we may have had 12 aircraft but the best we ever managed in the air at the same time was six, if I remember rightly it made local headlines ,six out of six for sixty six or some such nonsense, all that said 66 sqdn was good fun and I was sad to leave.

Jan Czumaj, e-mail, 17.01.2009 00:40 I lived at Seletar in the 60's ,My Father worked at 390 MU on these Aircraft.From our house no1 Swallow street Seletar we have cinefilm of this helecopter flying near our house as we were near the threshold of the main runway.I remember seeing the shell of one that had caught fire on the runway.Didn't they have problems with the cartridge starter? Happy days with also the Blackburn Beverly that also seen as they approched to land at Seletar.We came home in 1964 by Comet , I later went back to Singapore an served with 103 Squadron as their medic when they went on exercise from Tengah.Happy days.

Terry Garmonsway, e-mail, 03.01.2009 06:47 I served in Malaysia with 1RNZIR Band based at Terendak Garrison (near Malacca or Melaka) from Dec 1967 to Dec 1969. We also filled the roles of infantrymen, specifically forming a part of what was known as "Headquarters Defence Detatchment" in our Battalion. It was in this capacity that we came into contact with 66 Sqn's Belvederes on "Exercise Crown And Glory" in 1969. We were ferried from a footy field within "Wellington Lines" at Terendak to our destination in these flying sausages. Climbing into a Belvedere with full battle kit, 7 days rations and SLR was a mission in itself with the entry at head height and only a narrow ladder to use in this endeavour. Exiting at our destination in a jungle clearing was another matter after a very uncomfortable flight on a bare, slippery flat floor. The chopper, already perched atop high wheel struts, landed with its forward and aft wheels on small rises in the terrain, but straddling an indenture between the rises. With all that heavy gear we had no option but to jump to the ground, a jump of somewhere around eight to ten feet. That doesn't sound like much when you're looking up but that distance begins to look fearful when you're looking down! Thankfully long grasses helped to cushion our impact with the ground on exiting. This, I am pleased to say, was our only experience with Belvederes. Several months later, in South Vietnam, we flew from Luscombe Field, Nui Dat to a forward firebase, Firebase Discovery, aboard a US Forces Chinook. Although the Belvedere and Chinook both were in development phases around the same time comparisons between the two help to explain why Britain's aero industry ground almost to a halt. But... to your credit, 66, you flew us safely. And I thank you sincerely for that!

tony p, e-mail, 25.11.2008 22:21 Need help my dad was flying on belvedres in borneo in the 62,63 John Pattinson, With Eddie Lewis. 66sqn Looking for special xmas present,Dad has loads of photo's and will share.

Mike Ottewell, e-mail, 22.10.2008 18:28 Well to my knowledge this helicopter had some issues. My elder brother lost his life in the accident at RAF Gutterslough, Germany in July 1962. There was another Belverdere lost in Borneo, about the same time.

Sgt.KAR98, 17.08.2008 07:15 Looked to be as amazing (or even more) as the CH-47. If they had go ahead with it,the RAF and the UK Army would be less dependent of USA technology.

Richard Walker, e-mail, 05.11.2007 21:54 I saw the Belvedere prototype in operation at the BAC airfield at Filton Bristol, and also in subsequent Air Shows at the airfield. Was the Belvedere the first twin rotor helecoptor of this type?

Derek Hale, e-mail, 22.09.2007 23:36 Working with the Whirlwind Sqn at RAF Kuching as an MTD often went out to Whirlwinds which had made emergency landings normally because of gearbox problems. After the techs had stripped the aircraft of everything possible engine,gearboxes, rotorhead, etc the Belverdere would be able to pickup the stripped aircraft and carry it back to Kuching quite a sight to see a Flying Longhouse as we called them with a Whirlwind as an underslung load.

leslie frank windsor, e-mail, 24.04.2007 17:43 i flew many times with 66 aircraft at seletar during my time there i was known as the flying rockape as i used to scrounge flights all the time i loved flying in the belvederes and have many happy memories of this brilliant helicopter it never got the recognition it deserved best wishes and thankyou for the memories les w. ex 15 field squadron raf regiment.

Mick Winslow, e-mail, 19.01.2007 14:31 I served as groundcrew on 66 Sqn, RAF Seletar, Singapore on the last operational Belvedere Sqn from 1967 to its disbandment in 1969. This aircraft was a very difficult aircraft both to maintain and to fly, but proved to be very successfull with the army in Malaya and supported the army on all there major excerices.This was the only heavy lift helicopter in service at that time and 66Sqn operated 12 aircraft until its final disbanbment.

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