When I was with Heli. Sqn. (as it was then) it was a regular occurance for the Allouettes to go to Marignane for a 2400hr check. The route was Bal.-Cardiff-Bournemouth-Lydd-Le Touquet-Paris, overnight in Paris (for obvious reasons!) then Paris-Auxerre-Lyon-Marignane. The crew would stay for a day or two then fly back via Paris with Air France. I went out as a crewman/tech. to bring back 211 (if I remember correctly).We got buzzed by a couple of French Gazelles that shot up in front of us from underneath! I got a dose of food poisoning in Paris! Then we got buzzed by an RAF Jaguar along the south coast, also due to the weather in Cardiff we were stuck there for three days. Being single engined the Allouettes needed 'top cover' for flying over the Irish sea, usually this would have been a Dove, then the Beech King Air. When we came back the Puma could be seen circling over Strumble Head. We formated on her and crossed to Wexford, then put down to about 20 feet over the sand for a spectacular beach tour. No way could we keep up with the Puma though, she just shot off! I took loads of photos of the route back and one of the two pilots nicked them from me. So if you're reading this G...., can I have them back!
