The private pilot's long love affair with newly-modernised Gazelle helicopters is increasing in intensity. Martin Wood, managing director of MW Helicopters, said: "Gazelle owners are like members of a club - once you have flown a Gazelle, you have to own one. Demand for refurbished Gazelles has been increasing steadily over the years but is especially buoyant this year."

Wood said the 30-year-old machines were built like air tractors but could be turned into the equivalent of flying Aston Martins. This year he expects refurbishment work to top the annual high of 11 already recorded. "The appeal is agility, 130-knot speed capability and the good fun it generates in flying," he said.

MW Helicopters was founded in 1995 to introduce the Gazelle helicopter to pilots through self-hire, training and demonstration flights. The company now sources them from all over the world and provides major refurbishments including interior, exterior and avionics upgrades, plus a maintenance and a spares support operation.

Excel Charter was founded in 2001 by MW Helicopters and it owns a fleet which includes five Eurocopter AS355 Twin Squirrels, two Agusta 109s and two single engine Gazelles.

The company headquarters are located at Stapleford Aerodrome in north east London.