Aerial Fertilising Corrour Forest
The photographs courtesy of Stephen Newsom, Aberdour, were taken by his father Geoff Newsom while Head Forester at Corrour Forest. Geoff was transferred from Gisburn Forest NW (E) to Leanachan Forest, Fort William, in August 1966 and was responsible for the new planting operations then taking place largely around Loch Eilt and Callop next to Loch Shiel. Following the purchase of Corrour Estate by the Forestry Commission, Geoff took charge from January 1968 until December 1971, while still based at Torlundy, primarily organising and managing all the new planting operations as well those staff who had transferred from the Estate. In March 1972 Corrour was amalgamated with Strathmashie Forest. Geoff was then relocated to Wark Forest, and again to Jervaulx Forest (both NE England), and ended his forestry career in November 1983.
The operation appears to be taking place beside the River Ghuilbinn (Abhain Ghuilbinn) and the view across to the Ardverikie Estate side. There has been some great difficulty in identifying this particular Hiller helicopter model and registration. Management Aviation were awarded the Forestry Commission contract to aerial spread fertiliser in Scotland around 1970 following on from the Autair contract.
One possibility is that this machine is a Hiller UH 12B registered as G-ATVN which apparently belonged to an electricity company in England hence the large ‘e’ decal part visible on the fuselage below the engine. Further searches indicate that this machine was then owned by Management Aviation but later crashed with some fatalities. The machine identifier could also be G-APVN.
There was no onboard guidance systems at this time and the machines flew between people markers walking across the hill with flags in an attempt to get and even fertiliser spread. Small areas were flown by eye.
Stephen as a schoolboy recalls ‘I was lucky to cadge a lift from the Leanachan sheds up to Fersit in this machine. I’m not sure what the insurance arrangement might have been!’
The PDF is another view of the helicopter with under slung bucket spreading the unground rock phosphate.
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Groups: Aircraft in Forestry Work, Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action