Another unit visiting Isle of Wight Armed Forces Day later this month is 679 Squadron, 6 Army Air Corps, it has been announced. The team are bringing over their static Gazelle helicopter display which visitors will be able to sit in, handle the controls of and bag that all important selfie! The Gazelle was one of the most agile helicopters operated by the British Army seeing action in Northern Ireland and the Falklands to name but 2 operational theatres. Ian Dore, Isle of Wight Armed Forces Day organiser, said:
“The Air Corps pilots and crew are an incredible bunch, spanning across all ranks and that’s one of their defining characteristics. “To have 679 come over with their static Gazelle display is something of a treat. It’s going to raise some eyebrows on the ferry but once in situ, great fun to interact with and a very popular stand at the Royal International Air Tattoo.”
Isle of Wight Armed Forces Day will take place in Ryde on Sunday 30th June and more information is available at https://isleofwightarmedforcesday.co.uk/.
Ah, yes, another triumph of British engineering. Designed by the French, pirated by Brits by giving away Lynx production to the French.
And all the while we had a perfeclty competent helicopter design/manufacture business based in … Cowes.
Built by Westland Helicopters in Yeovil, Somerset.
Such a good looking aircraft.
One in flying condition often visits Sandown Airport.