The Huey Helicopter Team

Name:

Phil Connolly

Title:

MD and pilot of Huey 72-21509

Information:

Managing Director of MSS Holdings (UK) Ltd. I have been involved with the Offshore Industry since 1974.  Most of my time was spent offshore in the North Sea where I progressed to a Construction Superintendent and then to an Offshore Project Manager. This then led me to form my own company in 1983.  This company turned out to be a successful business and today MSS Holdings (UK) Ltd operates Huey 509 on a part-time basis which is mainly weekends or evenings when weather permits. 

Click here for full details about Phil Connolly

Name:

Neil Airey

Title:

Chief Pilot of “HUEY” 72-21509

Information:

Squadron Leader Neil Airey cfs RAF (Retd). Served as a Helicopter pilot in the RAF for 20 years and is currently a civilian Freelance Helicopter pilot flying Bolkow 105 Air Ambulances in the UK.

Click here for full details about Neil Airey

Name:

Rob Tierney

Title:

Pilot

Information:

 I joined the RAF in 1965 and flew a number of aircraft. Whilst serving in the Falklands I “borrowed” a huey from the other side and brought it home! Once she was rebuilt and registered under G-HUEY, I was involved in flying her around the air show circuit for a number of years in aid of the RAF Benevolent Fund. I met Phil and Jo at the London Air Show in April 2006 and Phil asked me if I wanted to get involved with this project. I didn’t need asking twice!

Click here for full details about Rob Tierney

Name:

Dick Barton

Title:

Loach Pilot

Information:

Wing Commander Dick Barton MBE BSc, RAF (Retd), served as a helicopter pilot and instructor in the RAF for 32 years and is currently a civilian qualified helicopter instructor (QHI) on the Griffin (Bell 412) at the Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS).

Click here for full details about Dick Barton

Name:

Andrew Harvey

Title:

Loach Pilot

Information:

I joined the army as an infantry officer in The Royal Irish Rangers in 1985. Having served all over the world I was posted to Ballymena Northern Ireland in 1989. It was there, having run out of free airline shuttle tickets (was taking the then girlfriend, now my wife, to a ball in London) that the Army Air Corps was doing a recruiting drive and was offering free shuttle tickets to London to come and do the aptitude tests at Biggin Hill.

Click here for full details about Andrew Harvey

Name:

Simon Johnson

Title:

Crewmaster

Information:

As crew master I give both Phil and Neil the help and support they need to check and operate the Huey. Whilst taking on other aspects of the helicopter it means they can concentrate on the job of flying. It's great fun going to the various shows around the UK and meeting and talking to everyone who comes to look at the Huey. I know it shouldn't surprise me, but it still does, just how broad an appeal the Huey has and just what it means to so many.

Click here for full details about Simon Johnson

Name:

Nina Johnson

Title:

Ground Crew

Information:

I have had an interest in military history for most of my life. Both my grandfathers served in WW1, one with British Army the other with the Belgium Army. My father served with the Signals in WW2. Years later we bought a WW2 Jeep, an ex British Army example, in which we got to take my father and father-in-law around Normandy for the 50th anniversary of D-day. Along with the Jeep we have built up a large collection of uniforms and other military memorabilia.

Click here for full details about Nina Johnson

Name:

Bradley Johnson

Title:

Ground Crew

Information:

Bradley has been part of the Huey team since the arrival of 509 to this country. He joined us along with his father our Crewmaster Simon Johnson. Bradley has had an interest in military history and a keen interest in all things flying. He has a great depth of knowledge about WW2 history including the vehicles, weapons and uniforms.

Click here for full details about Bradley Johnson

Name:

Joanne Connolly

Title:

Wife!        Accounts / Ground Crew

Information:

Since the Huey arrived we have both been surprised by the amount of attention it has received and have been overwhelmed by the response from the public. Initially my role in the Team was to assist Phil in dealing with all the enquiries we got, keeping the website up to date and running the on-line shop!

Click here for full details about Joanne Connolly

Name:

Becky Pickford

Title:

PA to Phil Connolly and Ops Admin for the Aircraft Team

Information:

I have worked for Phil since January 2007 and my role within MSS Holdings (UK) Ltd is 'PA to the Managing Director' and to the Huey team is 'Ops Admin'. For Ops Admin I provide the administrative support for Huey 509 and the Huey Team. The duties are wide and varied and there is rarely a quiet moment! For events, airshows, bookings etc I liase between Phil / Huey Team and the Event Organiser from when the request is received until the event is over ensuring that all the relevant documentation for Pilots and Aircraft, permissions, press releases/promotion and Pilots brief are in place prior to the event.

Click here for full details about Becky Pickford

Name:

Mark Howarth

Information:

The year was 1993 when I lost my common sense and sold my classic American Camaro in favour of an ex British Army series 3 109FFR Land Rover. Not being sure how my partner may react to a small truck instead of a sports car, I was pleasantly surprised when she said she liked it!

Click here for full details about Mark Howarth

Name:

Judith Gray

Information:

I started collecting militaria in 1994 - blame that on my other half Mark because one day he decided to come home with an army Land Rover after selling his nice shiny black American classic car! I must admit I rather liked it and the fun we had going to military shows with it changed our lives.

Click here for full details about Judith Gray

Name:

Patrick van Oosterom

Information:

As a member of the No Slack living history group for the last 5 years I like to show the public what the troops carried with them in Vietnam. When I was invited to come along to a Huey event a few years ago I immediately jumped at the chance to help out where possible as it completed the telling of the story from the combat soldier.

Click here for full details about Patrick van Oosterom

Name:

Sandy Mercer

Information:

I have worked in the IT industry for 30 years and am old enough to remember the nightly news coverage of the Vietnam War on the television. From there, my interest grew through books and the history of the war and it was then a short step into collecting militaria - exclusively to do with Vietnam - and joining a Living History Group.

Click here for full details about Sandy Mercer