VH-INW Bell
47J-2A
(c/n 2845)
Here's an interesting shot from the Greg
Banfield collection of -INW at the Melbourne Heliport
on 8 February 1965. The Bell had first been registered in May
1964 to Ansett-ANA Helicopter
Division. Greg also
took a B&W one of it (below) at the same time. On 4 May
1966 it crashed
(at an unknown
location)
after its tail rotor hit a clump of grass,
causing the drive-shaft to the rotor
to fail.
The
remains were acquired by Helicopter
Utilities, rebuilt, and in March 1968 and registered
to
their subsidiary Airfast Services Pty. Ltd. The
indefatigable Greg took another photo of it
(bottom of the
page) at Mascot in May 1969 . It was converted to
47J-2A standard in 1972.
Restored
again, it passed to Helimuster Pty. Ltd of Victoria River Downs, WA inn
1978.
Following some
other
accidents it was finally written off in another crash in August 1982
some
46 km
NW of Victoria River
Downs.