Didcot Power Station
DIDCOT POWER STATION: Helicopter landing area
Note: This picture was obtained from Google Earth ©
Location: E of the A34, just NW of Didcot town centre
Period of operation: Unknown, but certainly circa 1967 to 1970
NOTES: I have Mr Graham Frost to thank for this information. He had visited in the late 1960s and seen two Hillers there - G-ATVG and G-ATVN, both of which belonged to the CEGB (Central Electricity Generating Board). Neither of us can determine the exact location within the power station complex, but it was definitely in the E to SE sector. The marker is purely a guess although, markings in the grass do have a certain look of previous helipads?
If anybody can kindly offer advice, this will be most welcome.
THE TWO HILLERS
A bit of further research reveals that the Hiller 360 UH-12E G-ATVG was previously registered in Nigeria as 5N-ABX and came onto the British register 26.05.66. It then went to Iran as EP-HAL, but only for four months, (Jan to April 1967), before coming back to the UK. It was destroyed by fire, (Cambridge), in mid 1974.
It was registered to the CEGB from 17.04.67 to 31.12.69. What we don't know is if it was based here, or just a frequent visitor?
G-ATVN was also previously registered in Nigeria as 5N-AGC, and registered in the UK 27.05.66. It crashed near Newark in February 1972. It was also registered to the CEGB from 07.04.67 but appears sold on 16.03. 70. Again, as with 'Tango Golf', based here or a frequent visitor? Even if they were both based here it seems almost certain that serious maintenance and checks were conducted elsewhere?
ANOTHER AVIATION ASPECT
The cooling towers have now gone, being demolished a few years ago, but for a long time they performed an excellent service as a navigation aid to anybody flying VFR, (Visual Flight Rules), throughout this region. Certainly a boon to me when learning to fly from WYCOMBE AIR PARK. I would hestiate to put a figure on it, but on a clear day the plumes of steam must have been visible from at least thirty miles away. This was long before GPS came on the scene of course, but definitely more reliable.
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