World's largest helicopter museum needs volunteers

A helicopter museum celebrating its 35th anniversary is calling for more volunteers to help maintain the collection.

The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare owns more than 100 rotary-wing aircraft - the largest collection in the world.

Volunteers help to restore the aircraft, many of which have served in military operations around the world.

The story of the museum's conception is being told by founder, Captain Elfan Ap Rees, on 3 November, as part of the birthday festivities.

Capt Ap Rees started acquiring helicopters in 1969 when he had the opportunity to buy a Bristol Sycamore, the very first aircraft he had ever flown.

"I collected seven or eight helicopters in fairly rapid succession and then had to look for somewhere to put them," he said.

"The obvious place was the factory in Weston, where they were building helicopters.

"I started to realise that whilst the Fleet Air Arm Museum and the RAF Museum were collecting helicopters of interest to them, there were quite a few others that were falling between the cracks, so to speak, and nobody seemed to be interested."

He was able to persuade the former Westland Helicopters, which designed, manufactured and repaired helicopters in Weston, to provide four acres of land on the airfield at a peppercorn rent in the 1980s.

"Initially the collection was British helicopters from different manufacturers, but eventually, as I was by then working in the industry, I was able, through my contacts, to get helicopters from all over the world," he said.

"One of my favourites is the Russian attack helicopter, the Hind, which is a fearsome beast and we managed to get one from East Germany, which is on display and very popular."

The museum's oldest model, the Hafner RII Revoplane, was built in 1931 and the most recent is the EH Industries EH101 Heliliner

A conservation project to restore a twin rotor helicopter, nicknamed the "Flying Banana" because of its unusual kinked fuselage, is currently underway.

The history of the French aircraft, which was used during the Algerian War of Independence, will be told on 3 November.

Visitors to the anniversary celebrations can also tour the Russian Mi-8 helicopter, which was hired by Pinewood Studios and seen flying again with the help of CGI in the film Black Widow, with Scarlett Johansson at the controls.

"When it came back to us it was still in the colours they used for the film, so we've kept it like that for the time being out of interest," said Capt Ap Rees.

"The restoration area is manned by volunteers.

"People who might be interested in coming along to help don't need any special knowledge, we can help with that, they just need the enthusiasm to have a go," he added.

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