Thread: Old huts

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

no it is a Bell 47 very underpowered but they were a helicopter

Yeah, we (NZDF) ran them for decades. Purchased first ones in 1965 from memory and used them right through till 2012, when all the other operators had rightly consigned them to Museums. Used them quite a bit in Waiouru to do reconnaissance, but even on a calm day they were always operating at the limit of their envelope.

Flying hut materials into the Tararuas mid 1970's, we caught a ride into the hut on dark clutching onto the side litters. Eyes wide open and fricken cold!!!