GZIPE on the pad
The new pads are laid and GZIPE rests ready for the first flights on Thursday.
Leader of the SNP
First departure from the heliport was the Scottish First Minister, who would return later in the day.
Medium, Small, Large
An A109, R44 and SK76 sit on the pads outside the terminal. Three different machines with very differing sizes.
Super Puma
Early morning light catching on this Super Puma (or rather an EC225 these days) as it lifts for departure after drop-off.
Stobart A109
One of the Stobart Group A109s lifting past the trees on the aerodrome boundary.
GMSPT EC35
GIVIP A109
Evening Arrival
An AS32 Super Puma was the biggest arrival of the day at the Ryder Cup heliport, visiting twice to drop off and collect his load of golf fans for the first proper day of the Ryder Cup. Dust and straw is kicked up as this huge machine settles down onto the pad as the sun settles lower into the evening sky ahead of him.
Rotor Vortices
CHC's S92 arrives with the vortices seen off of the huge rotor blades. Strobe caught too - plus the stubble being lifted from the field below.
Even Bigger
The Sikorsky S-92 is the biggest helicopter we'll see here, and is indeed probably the biggest helicopter out there. Normally used for North Sea oil charters rather than golf fans, but it's an impressive sight.
EIGJL Dauphin
A Dauphin about to touch down on the gate with a load of passengers for the Ryder Cup.
DanCopter
A Dauphin which normally plies the North Sea Oil Rigs heads in to drop off golf fans. Big heli's abounded at Gleneagles, an S76 and A109 are already on the pads.
GSENS EC35
Straw flies as this EC135 lands close beside me just in front of the tower.
EILIM A139
An Irish Agusta AW139 flaring over the pad on arrival.
CHC S92 GWNSI
Lifting form the pad for parking alongside the tower is the largest civil hell I've ever seen and controlled.
GZZSI EC32 Bristow
Arrival of another "heavy" into the heliport is this big machine which normally plies the North Sea routes.
Positioning to Park
The EC225 is making a short hop to park between the tower and the terminal for the final day.
Strobes and Flying Straw
Lots of straw being kicked up from the field as the AW139 prepares to land.
Office, Bathroom, Bedroom AND Transport!
Pretty much everything I needed for a week at the Ryder Cup - the tower, a portaloo, the Citroen, and a mobile caravan to sleep in. Shot from a Twin Squirrel as we lifted off to shoot the heliport.
Terminal and Pads
A view of the Fresh Air terminal, VIPs on the right and the crew quarters on the left. Temporary pads and pathways constructed just for the weekend.
Fuel Pad
A busy place all weekend was this little corner on the western perimeter of the airfield.
Aerial View
The FATO on the right, parking on the left and the ATC campground just visible. Auchterarder housing visible in the distance and the edge of some of the facilities for the Ryder Cup at the course.
Golf Course and Heliport
Gleneagles Heliport is busy with 31 helicopters (one is not visible because I'm in it!), and the crowded grandstands are visible in the background. On the left of shot is the "village" where workers have been camping, and a small car park between that and the course.
H18/H36
The 270m runway we used for the weekend. Snooze boxes visible right of picture with a glimpse of the golf course at the very top.
