The Helicopter Museum | Flying Visitors

The Helicopter Museum Flying Visitors

Photos from our Helipad Photographer Steve Sullivan
Click on images to enlarge

Busy afternoon on 2nd March 2023 which included an R22 (G-GJCD) from Staverton, Gloucester which arrived first, just after 13:15 hrs. It stayed for about 30 mins before returning home.

Chinook Helicopter at The Helicopter Museum

The second visitor on 2nd March 2023 was a Chinook (ZH893) from RAF Benson, Oxfordshire which arrived about 14:10 hrs, putting down on the new part of of the airfield.

Dauphin Helicopter at The Helicopter Museum

The third and last visitor on 2nd March 2023 was a Dauphin (ZJ783) from Hereford which arrived about 16:30 hrs, landing on the Heli Pad before returning back to base.

Gazelle Helicopter at The Helicopter Museum

Gazelle HT.2 G-CBGZ from the Gazelle Squadron display team visited the Helicopter Museum on 12 February 2023. It was previously ZB646 705sqd/CU-59 with the Sharks RN display team whose anniversary is shown on the tail.

A rare visitor, a UK Special Forces AS365N-3 Dauphin (ZJ780) from Hereford made a brief appearance at the Helicopter Museum on 9 Feb 2023 afternoon before departing for destination unknown.

A rare visitor, a UK Special Forces AS365N-3 Dauphin (ZJ780) from Hereford made a brief appearance at the Museum on 9 Feb 2023 afternoon before departing for destination unknown.

Wildcat Helicopter at The Helicopter Museum

2 more Army Wildcats (ZZ395 and ZZ385, in that order) from Yeovilton dropped into the Museum late afternoon of 12 Jan 2023, arriving within 3 mins of each other. Both briefly hovered over the Helipad and the headed back to Yeovilton. At the moment this month is looking to be "Wildcat Jan"

Army Wildcats (ZZ395 and ZZ385, in that order) from Yeovilton dropped into the Museum late afternoon of 12 Jan 2023, arriving within 3 mins of each other. Both briefly hovered over the Helipad and the headed back to Yeovilton.

Army Wildcat (ZZ393) that made 2 visits to the Museum on the 4 Jan 23, our first visitor of 2023. This was in the morning. On both occasions (morning/afternoon) it hovered over the Helipad for about 2 min before returning to base.

Army Wildcat (ZZ393) that made 2 visits to the Museum on the 4 Jan 23, our first visitor of 2023. This was in the afternoon. On both occasions (morning/afternoon) it hovered over the Helipad for about 2 min before returning to base.

Squirrel Helicopter at The Helicopter Museum

AS350B3 Squirrel (G-DJSM) arrived at the museum on 14 December 22. It had flown across from Yeovil having dropped off a passenger at Leonardo's. It stayed until lunchtime and then departed back to Yeovil to pick up its passenger. Interestingly, its nose was fitted with mirrors for cargo operations.

A109 Helicopter at The Helicopter Museum

A109S (G-JMBS) arrived on 18 November 22 from Stratford Upon Avon on a business trip. This particular helicopter has now visited the museum twice this year, the last time being in September.

Empire Test Pilots School Squirrel (G-ETPE) from Boscombe Down arrived at the museum in the morning of 18 November 22 on a very brief visit before lifting for destination/s unknown.
Photo Bryan Groves

Chinook (ZH902) from RAF Benson arrived at the Museum mid afternoon on 17 November 22 setting down in the new part of the airfield before departing, presumably back to Benson.

Army Wildcat Helicopter at The Helicopter Museum

Army Wildcat (ZZ520) from Yeovilton dropped into the museum during the afternoon of 13 October 22 for a short stay before heading back to base.

Army Wildcat (ZZ520) from Yeovilton visited the museum for a short stay on 13 October 22.

A109S Helicopter at The Helicopter Museum

Agusta A109S (G-JMBS) arrived at the Museum late afternoon on 19 September 22 from Stratford upon Avon to drop off some passengers. After a short period on the ground, it then took off around 17:45 heading for Elstree.

Agusta A109S (G-JMBS) visited the Museum helipad late afternoon on 19 September 22.

Juno Helicopter at The Helicopter Museum

Juno helicopter (ZM518) from RAF Shawbury visited the museum on 29 July 22. It made a number of passes over the museum before landing on the helipad. From there it departed for destination/destinations unknown.

Juno helicopter (ZM518) from RAF Shawbury visited the museum 29 July 22 and landed briefly on the helipad

A109S G-EPTN operated by Qinetiq on behalf of the Empire Test Pilots school made a flying visit to the Museum on 20 July 22. On departure the pilot waved to visitors and treated them to a flypast.

4 Gazelles from the Gazelle Squadron Display Team at the Helicopter Museum helipad on 26 June 22. They were visiting to take part in the 2022 Weston-super-Mare Air Festival where they performed a spectacular display.

Gazelle XZ939 from the Gazelle Squadron Display Team at the Helicopter Museum on 26 June 22 before performing in the 2022 Weston-super-Mare Air Festival.

Gazelle XX436 from the Gazelle Squadron Display Team at the Helicopter Museum on 26 June 22 before performing in the 2022 Weston-super-Mare Air Festival.

Gazelle G-CBGZ from the Gazelle Squadron Display Team at the Helicopter Museum on 26 June 22 before performing in the 2022 Weston-super-Mare Air Festival.

RAF Juno at the Helicopter Museum on 26 June 22 where it brought in the Red Arrows commentator Red 10 for the 2022 Weston-super-Mare Air Festival.

Chinook (ZH893) from RAF Benson arrived just after 16:00 hrs on 8th June 22. Instead of landing on the helipad it landed in the longer grass of the new area of the airfield where it sat for 10 mins before pushing off, presumably back to Benson.

Chinook (ZH893) from RAF Benson visited the Helicopter Museum on 8th June 22.

The rare sight on 8th June 22 of an Army Gazelle (XW847) from Middle Wallop which arrived shortly before 11:30 hrs. It landed on the helipad and stayed at the museum for just over an hour, long enough for the crew of 2 to walk around the museum and have a cuppa before departing back to Wallop.

Army Gazelle (XW847) from Middle Wallop visits the Helicopter Museum on 8th June 22. Gazelles entered service with the British Army in 1971 and are due to remain in service until 2025. This takes the Gazelle past its 50th anniversary and make it the oldest helicopter type in the UK inventory.

AW109S Helicopter at The Helicopter Museum

AW109S (G-ETPN) from the Empire Test Pilots School at Boscombe Down made an appearance last Fri morning (27th May). It came to us via Portishead arriving over the helipad where it hovered for about 2 mins before departing for Dorchester.

AW109S (G-ETPN) from the Empire Test Pilots School at Boscombe Down visits the Helicopter Museum on 27 May 2022.

Cabri Helicopter at The Helicopter Museum

Cabri (HB-ZOM) stayed overnight at the museum on 19 May as part of a 4 ship visit from Basel, Switzerland. They were on a round robin of the UK, after crossing the Channel at France their itinerary took them onto Scotland first followed by Ireland, Wales and England.

EC120 Helicopter at The Helicopter Museum

EC120 (HB-ZBD) stayed overnight at the museum on 19 May as part of a 4 ship visit from Basel, Switzerland. They were on a round robin of the UK, after crossing the Channel at France their itinerary took them onto Scotland first followed by Ireland, Wales and England.

R44 (HB-ZLL) stayed overnight at the museum on 19 May as part of a 4 ship visit from Basel, Switzerland. They were on a round robin of the UK, after crossing the Channel at France their itinerary took them onto Scotland first followed by Ireland, Wales and England.

Cabri (HB-ZYY) stayed overnight at the museum on 19 May as part of a 4 ship visit from Basel, Switzerland. They were on a round robin of the UK, after crossing the Channel at France their itinerary took them onto Scotland first followed by Ireland, Wales and England.

Squirrel helicopter training at The Helicopter Museum

Squirrel (G-ETPG) from the Empire Test Pilots School (EPTS) at Boscombe Down. It arrived at 11:20 hrs with a of 2 crew and then departed a couple of minutes later 6 May 2022

Squirrel (G-ETPG) from the Empire Test Pilots School (EPTS) at Boscombe Down dropped into the museum this morning 6 May 2022

AW189 Coastguard helicopter training at The Helicopter Museum

The local Coastguard conducted field training at the Museum with a Coastguard AW189 (G-MCGX) from St Athens, South Wales. The training started at 15:30 hrs and finished at 18:00 hrs - 5 May 2022

The local Coastguard conducting field training at the Museum with a Coastguard AW189 (G-MCGX) from St Athens, 5 May 2022.

The local Coastguard conducting field training at the Museum with a Coastguard AW189 (G-MCGX) from St Athens, South Wales. Note the airframe's undercarriage in the grass - 5 May 2022.

Guimbal Cabr helicopters at The Helicopter Museum

6 helicopters (5 different types), owned by members of the Heli Club of GB, flew into the museum from various locations on a "jolly boys" outing for the day taking in an organised tour and lunch before going home 30 April 2022.

R44 and R22 helicopters at The Helicopter Museum

R44 (G-CLBY) and R22 (G-ULZE) helicopters at the museum during the Heli Club of GB visit 30 April 2022.

Jetranger helicopter at The Helicopter Museum

JetRanger (G-TREE) helicopter at the museum during the Heli Club of GB visit 30 April 2022.

EC120 (G-MODE) helicopter at the museum during the Heli Club of GB visit 30 April 2022.

R44 (G-MENU) helicopter at the museum during the Heli Club of GB visit 30 April 2022.

Aloutete helicopter at The Helicopter Museum

Alouette II (G-BVSD) helicopter at the museum during the Heli Club of GB visit 30 April 2022.

Guimbal Cabr helicopter at The Helicopter Museum

Guimbal Cabri (G-SANJ) from Redhill dropped into the museum for an afternoon visit 29 April 2022.

Guimbal Cabri (G-SANJ) from Redhill at the museum for an afternoon visit 29 April 2022.

An R66 from Elstree (G-RNJW ) arrived at the museum around 11:00 hrs on an overnight stay 28 April 2022. The R66 is slightly larger than the R44 and has a turboshaft engine unlike the R44 which has a piston engine.

An R66 from Elstree (G-RNJW ) at the museum on an overnight stay 28 April 2022.

Squirrel (G-CIWO) from Leeds arrived at the museum around 14:30 hrs to drop off passengers 20 April 2022

Squirrel (G-CIWO) from Leeds arrived at the museum 20 April 2022

Merlin helicopter at The Helicopter Museum

Royal Navy Merlin Mk2 (ZH826) of 814 Royal Navy Air Squadron, based at Culdrose in Cornwall, 20 April 2022

Jetranger Air Experience at The Helicopter Museum

Polo Aviation's JetRanger (G-MFMF) provides Air Experience flights at the Helicopter Museum 17 April 2022. This one is unusual in that it is fitted with chemical tank for weed spraying

Polo Aviation's JetRanger (G-MFMF) provides Air Experience flights at the Helicopter Museum 17 April 2022

Bell 429 GlobalRanger helicopter visits The Helicopter Museum

Bell 429 GlobalRanger (M-YMCM) from Blackpool 14 April 22

Wildcat helicopter visits The Helicopter Museum

Wildcat (ZZ382) from Yeovilton 13 April 22

Puma helicopter visits The Helicopter Museum

Puma from RAF Benson 23 March 22
Note: External winch equipment

Puma from RAF Benson 23 March 22

R22 helicopter visits The Helicopter Museum

Robinson R22 G-ULZE from Denham 23 March 22

Chinook helicopter visits The Helicopter Museum

Chinook ZH897 from RAF Odiham 17 March 22

Puma from RAF Benson 3 March 22
Note: Special green/grey paint scheme (normally allover green) in celebration of the Puma's 50th year of service in the RAF.