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Helicopter imagery and events

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email: thehelibuddies@gmail.com
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(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.

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            (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

Les Rotors de l'Aisne Helicopter Rally

Saint Quentin-Roupy Airfield, Hauts-de-France, France - 6th-7th September 2025

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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

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3rd World Helicopter Rally  

Aeroklub Ziemi Mazowieckiej Plock, Poland - 14th June 2025

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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

Father's Day Helicopter Fly-in - May 2025

Elsenthal-Grafenau Airfield (EDNF), Germany - 29th May 2025

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Cheltenham Festival 2025

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Switzerland - August 2024

Events

Below are some of the forthcoming events that the Helibuddies wil be attending

2025

    

18th-20th November:  European Rotors Trade Show, Cologne, Germany

 2026

5th March: Nightshoot 34, RAF Northolt, UK

10th-13th March: Cheltenham Festival, UK (Horse Racing)

22nd-25th April: AERO Friedrichshafen, Germany

15th-16th May: Private Flyer Fest, Wycombe Air Park, UK

30th-31st May:  L'Helico, Cholet, France

16th-20th June: Royal Ascot, UK (Horse Racing)

2nd-5th July: Formula 1 Britsh Grand Prix - Silverstone

18th-19th July: Les Rotors de l'Aisne Gathering, Hauts de France, France

​​

Northolt Nightshoots 2024

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

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Heli Buddies YouTube channel.Helicopter & BizJet videos
- By Adam Bryant

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Pete Brown on Flickr

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Paul Beale Photography

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Peter Robinson on Flickr

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             (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.

(c) David Stevens 2023 - 2025

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