Aerial Ferilising — BEAS contractor
Photograph courtesy of David Foot, Surrey, taken around 1975.
Spectacular image of Lama helicopter taking off with loaded bucket of unground rock phosphate fertiliser. The company with the contract is BEAS who operated for a few years in the forestry fertilising business around 1975/76 possibly after Management Aviation gave up the job. The hopper buckets were loaded in rotation when helicopter was away spreading from the filled hopper which was usually only 2-4 minutes.
The helicopter registration is G-AZNI and its images are also on the site taken in Forest of Deer. The fertiliser was at this time still being delivered in 25 kg bags all of which had to be had loaded by hand into the hopper. Local forestry workers usually carried out this role but at about this time the system changed to that of the fertilising company supplying all the staff. Going by the footwear and clothes this appears to be contract staff. Shortly after delivery was changed to 750kg bags with mechanical loading.
David recalls ‘I was then DO in the Borders - based at Jedburgh - covering Newcastleton, Wauchope and Craik Forests. This was the time when John Davies - as Conservator S(S) - was spraying almost all new tree crops. My guess is that this was Wauchope Forest where there was a continuing new planting programme in my time.’
Since entering this image I have been advised that a website by Phil Slattery provides a history of some of Helicopter Fertiliser spreading development from the BEAS company onwards in 1969.
''In the Beginning
BEAS Helicopters started the Forestry spreading trials in 1969 using an Alouette II helicopter. G-AWFY. The whole idea was to keep the Alouettes utilized over the winter when they were not filming.
Bill Carter the Chief engineer bought two Sling King Hoppers from Transland in the states. The first time we tried them out was on Fred Barker's farm near Marlborough. It was mid winter (Dec '69) and Les Corbert and I gingerly drove up to the downs there on extremely icy roads. The trial went without a hitch but that was only a couple of runs. Unfortunately when asked to work for a living the trouble started. They were originally designed for grass seed spreading in Texas and fell to bits within a couple of days when asked to spread 'Unground Rock Phosphate' in Scottish weather conditions ................''
Phil has given his permission to display his site here and is:
http://www.slatts.ukfsn.org/forestry/index.htm
There are some hair raising tales and lost stories!!
The direct link does not work on this page and you will have to copy and past into your browser or if you manage to highlight the link and then after right click select 'Open Link'.
Download Large Version (742kB)
Groups: Aircraft in Forestry Work, Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Groups of people