British Aristocracy - Bristol 171 Sycamore

Should you aspire to fly a vintage aircraft you will need enthusiasm, time and an understanding wife. Should the machine be a helicopter you will also need deep pockets, for this is not a cheap hobby. Nowadays there are few so blessed.

In Berneck in Switzerland lives the owner of a Bristol 171 Sycamore. This man has a large stock of exquisite wines in his cellar, for he is a winegrower and deals in this intoxicating drink professionally. In 1988 Peter Schmid was so enraptured by almost anything that flies with rotor blades that he bought the German military's last Sycamore, formerly registered SC+206 in the Marineflieger, the naval air arm, and he exhibited her at the aircraft museum at Altenrhein on Lake Constance....