Bell Helicopter in Glenfintaig area distributing Fencing Material - perhaps up in Glengloy
The photograph was taken by the late Finlay MacRae who was a District Officer in the Forestry Commission based in Lochaber at the time. The images are courtesy of his daughter Donna.
This Bell 47G helicopter is being used to distribute fencing in Glenfintaig in Lochaber. There is no company name on the machine but internet history indicates that it may have been owned by World Wide Helicopters around this time.
Of particular note is the well constructed landing platform stage for each aircraft skid. Is this to allow easy access to build a net load of fencing material and hitch the load slings onto the under body hook? On the PDF there is a shot of the helicopter flying away with a load of deer fencing timber in a sling. It appears as though the sling rope is attached to a load bar going across between the main frame components. One assumes there was a quick release mechanism?
Does anyone recall this fencing operation which must have been well up and in the present very steep sided privately owned Glengloy Forest area? Must have been one of the very earliest helicopter fencing distribution contracts.
Please see the PDF below for another view of flying helicopter with load.