That Helicopter! It's Mine!

Anything else that does not fit in another category.

Moderator: Paul Sehorne

Post Reply
Captain Cosmic
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Apr 11, 2003 7:38 am
Location: Sweden

That Helicopter! It's Mine!

Post by Captain Cosmic »

I was shocked and pleased to see THE WASP (formally known as G-WASP) displayed as the website's display icon. I bought the machine from Nigel Minchin almost a year ago (24 April 2002). I am looking forward to putting a lot of hours on it. Unfortunately, right now I am in Vasteras, Sweden, and it is with Stephen Payne-Roberts in Rugby, England, because it has that thrust bearing problem and it rides real ruff.

I liked the way THE WASP looked like an insect. When I bought the machine from Nigel Minchin, in England, I was told by the U.K. C.A.A. that I could not keep it on the United Kingdom "G" registration (G-WASP) unless I was a UK citizen or legal resident. Do you believe everything you hear from government authorities? I did.

It turns out they (the UK CAA) were wrong. All European Union residents can own boats and aircraft registered in other EU member states. BUT I found out their mistake too late. I thought about registering it as an "SE" which is Sweden, where I live, but then I started finding out about the EU rules and mime would have been the first B2-B registered here which would have been a real pain.

I also found out that I could register it as an American Citizen to the "N" registration and still fly all over Europe on my American Ticket, and so the G-WASP has become N2052Y. I am painting over the "G-" and writing the word THE instead. That way I get to keep the color scheme and it becomes THE WASP. (And now you know the rest of the story :wink: )

Once (IF) I get the machine flyable, I plan to fly it home to Sweden from England. The English Channel should be only about 20 minutes of open water and there will be some island hopping over Denmark.

I am glad Nigel Minchin let me know this site existed. I hope it becomes a productive and useful site. It has already helped me with the thrust bearing problem.
User avatar
Steve Chenoweth
Founding Member
Posts: 187
Joined: Thu Jan 30, 2003 11:04 pm
Location: Dallas, TX
Contact:

WASP

Post by Steve Chenoweth »

Thanks for the story behind THE WASP. Is this also the same helicopter that was used in one of the James Bond movies?

I hope you get your ship flying soon. I'm placing another post in the Servicing and Maintaining section regarding further diagnosis of my vertical hop problem.
Captain Cosmic
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Apr 11, 2003 7:38 am
Location: Sweden

The James Bond Machine?

Post by Captain Cosmic »

I am not sure if mine is the actual machine used in either of the Bond movies. I was originally told that the G-WASP was the machine used in "You Only Live Twice". Then, after I mention that I bought the WASP, I have been told by a number of people that my machine was the one used in that movie. I asked one guy why he thought so and he said he had hired the pilot who flew the helicopter in the movie.

I was sortof surprised BUT I found out how to get the proof and it is going to take about 6 months. I have to send the serial number to EON Productions and it will take about 6 months before the historian will find the paperwork. If it is not the ship used in the movie, then it is its sister ship.
Post Reply