Visual AAVSO light curve 2011–2018 (red lines based on 50 d averages) of HR 5171A showing the last normal pulsation with the Blown-minimum (red arrow at ∼JD 24 57330, early October 2015, cf. second panel of Fig. 3), during an observed portion of the BL evolution showing sudden decreasing quasi-periods and declining light amplitudes. The behaviour after JD 24 57650 is similar to those exhibited by HR 8752 and HD 179821 during their BLs. The green dots are the photo-electric V observations from Table I.1, which are brighter than the visual estimates by as expected. The visual ones should be shifted upwards, but for clarity this was not done. See text for further explanation.