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Helicopter imagery and events
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Email thehelibuddies@gmail.com
X/Twitter @helibuddies
Instagram helibuddiesuk
(c) David Stevens 2023-2025
About Us
Welcome to the Helibuddies - 5 individuals, living in 5 different counties in the UK who became friends through a shared passion for photographing (and videoing!) helicopters. Since coming together as a group in 2017 the Helibuddies have travelled extensively across the United Kingdom and beyond to photograph helicopters and to attend rotary themed trade shows & events. The Helibuddies regularly supply helicopter imagery to helicopter owners and operators, airport / airfield owners and media outlets.
(c) David Stevens 2023-2025
Recent Images
Below are a small selection of the latest images taken by the Helibuddies. This page is updated regularly so please check back.
(Click on each thumbnail to see a full size image)
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(c) David Stevens 2023-2025
5th European Rotors Trade Show
Koelnmesse Convention Center, Cologne, Germany ~ 18th - 20th November 2025
In mid-November Europe's premier trade show and safety conference for the rotorcraft and VTOL industry conveined at the Koelnmesse Convention Center ('KCC') in Cologne. This was 5th edidion of European Rotors and the 3rd time that the event has been held in Cologne.
Whilst the Koelnmesse exhibition hall was open Tuesday to Thursday, the participating helicopters typically arrived the previous Saturday. Some helicopters arrived by road, some flew directly into the convention center whilst others arrived by air having transited through the nearby Bonn-Hangelar Airfield. The photograpshs here are a mix of those taken at Bonn-Hangelar on Saturday 15th November and at the KCC on Thursday 20th November.
During the event it was announced that the 2026 edition of Europran Rotors will take place in Lyon, France.
Noted on display at the KCC on 20th November were:
REG’N MODEL CON NO
D-HFJD Robinson R44 Raven II 14886
D-HNHI Eurocopter EC155 B1 6762
D-HRAS Bell 505 Jet Ranger X 65621
D-HTWA Leonardo AW169 69163
D-HXCH Airbus EC135 P3H / H135 2311
D-MHRD Rupp Aircraft FR200 Phonix 009
F-HIGE Guimbal Cabri G2 1381
F-HVNE Guimbal Cabri G2 1061
HB-XDA Bell 429 Global Ranger 57472
N480EN Enstrom 480B Elite 5259
OE-XKL Airbus AS350 B3 / H125 9761
OE-XVU Airbus EC135 T3 / H135 2261
OY-HOT Leonardo AW169 69170
PH-BLA Eurocopter AS350 B3 Ecureil 4267
PH-UNN Eurocopter EC120 B Colibri 1310
SE-JMI Robinson R44 Raven I 2060
- Robinson R88 mock-up -
- Airbus H140 mock-up -
Also present, in use as an exhibitors stand, was the cabin of McDonnell-Douglas MD900 Explorer - msn 900-00047
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Rotor Focus
Paul Beale was at Gloucester-Staverton Airport on 13th November 2025 to capture the arrival of a new Airbus BK117 D-3 / H145 registered G-CNAH.
This airframe - msn 21435 - is registered to Babcock Mission Critical Services Onshore Limited.
This is the first of two such machines acquired by Babcock to fulfill a contract with the Australian Border Force.
More of Paul's photo's can be seen at:
Paul Beale Photography
(c) Paul Beale
Les Rotors de l'Aisne Helicopter Rally
Saint Quentin-Roupy Airfield, Hauts-de-France, France ~ 6th-7th September 2025
On 6th and 7th September 2025 the team at Les Rotors de l'Aisne held their 1st "static helicopter rally". As the name implies, this wasn't an airshow as such. Instead, helicopters flew into the airfield at Saint Quentin-Roupy Airfield and members of the public were then able to walk around the various machines. Part of the ethos behind the rally was to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the first flight of the Aerospatiale Alouette - the first of which flew in March 1955 - and indeed a number of Alouette's were present at the rally.
Several helicopters arrived and departed on the Saturday, others were present on both days whilst a small number attended just on the Sunday. In all 25 helicopters attended the rally - a very respectable number for the first event of its kind. The following is a combined log for the 2 days of the rally:
REG’N MODEL CON NO
60ACW Claude Lescure CL02 1957
60AEG Claude Lescure CL02 ?
60AEZ Claude Lescure CL02 ?
80-AFO Mosquito Helicopters XE ?
ER-20257 Mil Mi-2 549532125
F-AYAT Sud Aviation SE.3130 Alouette II 1013/M12
F-AYGZ Aerospatiale SA.341F Gazelle 1327
F-AYHT Aerospatiale SA.316B Alouette III 2358
F-AYPV Aerospatiale SE.313B Alouette II 1325
F-AYTG Aerospatiale SE.313B Alouette II 1741
F-AZYB Aerospatiale SE.313B Alouette II 1163
F-AZYQ Aerospatiale SE.313B Alouette II 1003
F-GEHV Aerospatiale AS350 BA Ecureuil 1454
F-GICL Robinson R44 Raven 1028
F-GKLS Agusta-Bell 206B JetRanger II 8441
F-HCJL Agusta-McDonnell-Douglas 520N 301
F-HDTR Robinson R44 Clipper II 12124
F-HMEA Robinson R44 Raven II 12544
F-HOBO Robinson R44 Raven II 10746
F-HOXO Robinson R44 Raven II 14419
F-PHRT Rotorway Executive 162 HDF 6903
N341DT Aerospatiale SA.341G Gazelle 1110
N66001 Robinson R66 Turbine 39
N661PA Robinson R66 Turbine 278
OO-MER Aerospatiale SA.342M Gazelle 1870
3rd World Helicopter Rally
Aeroklub Ziemi Mazowieckiej Plock, Poland ~ 14th June 2025
On Saturday 16th June 2025 the Aeroklub Ziemi Mazowieckiej, in Plock, Poland, hosted the 3rd World Helicopter Rally. Running alongside the rally was the FAI International Helicopter Games.
Unsurprisingly, the majority of the helicopters attending the event were Polish based with the only "foreigners" being a trio from Czechia - a Czech Air Force Mil Mi-171, a civil registered Robinson R44 and a US registered Sikorsky S-76.
The Polish military supplied a good selection of airframes including a newly delivered AW149.
REG'N MODEL CON NO OPERATOR
0604 PZL-Swidnik W-3W Sokol 360604 Polish Army Aviation
738 Mil Mi-24V 410738 Polish Army Aviation
6111 Mil Mi-17-1V 616M13 Polish Army Aviation
6618 PZL-Swidnik SW-4 660314 Polish Air Force
6707 AgustaWestland AW149 49112 Polish Army Aviation
6946 Mil Mi-2URP-G 566946120 Polish Army Aviation
9825 Mil Mi-171Sh 59489619825 Czech Air Force
N280TR Sikorsky S-76B 760344 Private
OK-HLZ Robinson R44 Raven II 11850 Heli Czech s.r.o.
SP-HAWK Dynali H-3 Easy Flyer H3-37-1603 Private
SP-HOZ Robinson R44 Raven II 14556 Private
SP-HPD Robinson R44 II 14405 Private
SP-HTW Robinson R44 2687 Private
SP-HXW Eurocopter EC135 P2+ 943 Polish Medical Air Rescue
SP-KRU Robinson R44 II 14686 Private
SP-MBM Robinson R44 II 14577 Private
SP-MIP Robinson R44 Raven II 11091 Private
SP-ORP Robinson R44 Raven II 14318 Private
SP-PBI Robinson R44 Raven I 2600 Private
SP-SLA Robinson R44 Raven II 11829 Private
SP-SPT Robinson R44 Raven I 2604 Private
SP-SSF Robinson R44 Raven II 11300 Private
SP-TMX Robinson R44 Raven I 2609 Private
SP-TPK Robinson R44 Raven II 12397 Private
SP-VEO Robinson R44 Raven II 14706 Private
SP-VOL Bell 407GXi 54816 Private
The EC135 is based adjacent to the airfield.
A great Facebook video of the event: Facebook
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Father's Day Helicopter Fly-in - May 2025
Elsenthal-Grafenau Airfield (EDNF), Germany ~ 29th May 2025
On 29th May the flying club at Elsenthal-Grafenau Airfield, the Flugsportverein Grafenau e.V., held their annual Father's Day Helicopter Fly-In. Despite a slightly damp start to the day, a total of 25 helicopters were noted including a good mix of types and several non-German registrations.
The Helibuddies had made advanced contact with the flying club and this resulted in us being granted airside access and free will to wander around as we desired.
REG'N MODEL CON NO
D-HAGK Bell 407GX 54323
D-HBOC Bolkow 105CB S-325
D-HELJ Robinson R44 Raven II 11040
D-HHBP Aerospatiale AS350 B1 Ecureuil 1973
D-HHFB Hughes 269C 90-0971
D-HHRM Hughes 369E (MD-500E) 0357E
D-HJOY Robinson R44 Raven 0781
D-HMGD Hughes 369E (MD-500E) 0556E
D-HMSB Eurocopter EC120 B Colibri 1359
D-HMXV Bell 206B Jet Ranger III 3948
D-HOHO Hughes 369E (MD-500E) 0240E
D-HOSE Schweizer 269C-1/300 0047
D-HSIG Schweizer 269C S-1884
D-HWAZ Bell-Dornier UH-1D Iroquois 8147
D-HWFW Bell 206B Jet Ranger III 4159
D-HXRE Agusta-Bell 206B JetRanger II 8716
D-HXSE Bell 505 Jet Ranger X 65456
D-HXXL Bell 206B Jet Ranger III 4024
HA-LFW Soko SA.341H Gazelle 96
N406RJ Robinson R44 Raven II 12532
N988N Robonson R44 Raven I1606
N4480W Robinson R66 Turbine 0096
OE-XDM Bell-Soloy 47G-3B-1 3575
OE-XST Eurocopter EC120 B Colibri 1215
OK-AKT Robinson R22 Beta 1020
OK-HWG Robinson R44 Raven II 12148
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Northolt Nightshoots 2024
A selection of the helicopters that were present at the charity nightshoots at RAF Northolt in March and October 2024.
Events
Below are some of the forthcoming events that the Helibuddies wil be attending
2026:
5th March: Nightshoot 34, RAF Northolt, UK
10th-13th March: Cheltenham Festival, UK (Horse Racing)
22nd-25th April: AERO Friedrichshafen, Germany
2nd May: Open Polish Helicopter Championship, Plock
10th May: Cars & Copters UK "Runway Edition", Manston Airport, Kent, UK
15th-16th May: Private Flyer Fest, Wycombe Air Park, UK
30th-31st May: L'Helico, Cholet, France
7th June: Cars & Copters UK "Garden Party", Location TBC
12th-14th June: Bell Helicopter Gathering, Tannheim, Germany
13th June: World Helicopter Rally, Babimost / Zielona Gora, Poland
16th-20th June: Royal Ascot, UK (Horse Racing)
2nd-5th July: Formula 1 Britsh Grand Prix - Silverstone, UK
4th-5th July: Rotorworld, Belgium
18th-19th July: Les Rotors de l'Aisne Gathering, Hauts de France, France
20th July: "Departures Day", Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford, UK
1st October (TBC): Nightshoot 35, RAF Northolt, UK
1st-3rd December: European Rotors Trade Show, Lyon, France
Rotor Focus
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Stunning Ukranian registered Agusta A.109E Power - manufacturers serial number 11681.
The helicopter spent much of 2024 resident in the UK. It only flew sporadically and when not in use was hangared at Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey.
UR-AMS is pictured here departing from London Heliport-Battersea, in beautiful light, on 23rd March 2024. (c) David Stevens
Helibuddies Image Sites - please click on the icons
David Stevens on Flickr
Heli Buddies YouTube channel.Helicopter & BizJet videos
- By Adam Bryant
Pete Brown on Flickr
Paul Beale Photography
Peter Robinson on Flickr
(c) David Stevens 2023-2025
Commissions / Assignments
Helibuddies are pleased to undertake both private and commercial assignments.
If you would like your helicopter/s photographed, wherever the location, we'd be delighted to discuss your requirements with you - whether you're looking for ground to ground, ground to air, air to ground or air to air.
Please contact us via email: thehelibuddies@gmail.com
Copyright Statement
All of the photographs, text and other content on this website, as well as its overall design are copyright © David Stevens, except for any material provided by 3rd parties in which case the originator retains the copyright and the item is credited. All rights reserved.
If you wish to use an image, please contact me via email: thehelibuddies@gmail.com
All photographs and videos shown on this website are available for commercial use at sensible fees. Again, please contact me via email: thehelibuddies@gmail.com
Under all circumstances, copyright remains with the original photographer, videographer or author.
Please note that copyright is protected under international law.
Thank you for your co-operation.
