World Wide Helicopters

[sillohed]

Does anyone recall when World Wide Helicopters operated off Biggin Hill in 62 -63 or so? I was on a crew who flew Sikorsky S-58's which we took to the North Sea for seismic survey for Shell. It would be great to hear from some of the British or Dutch crews. One of my more memorable days at Biggin Hill was when the boss directed me to land the S-58 next to a Beaver on the ramp an even though I balked and shook my head, he insisted because there were photographers waiting. Soooooo, I hover taxied in as he directed and sure enough the Beaver became airborne and flipped up on one wing. Fun. What a change in Biggin Hill since I was there, WOW.

[FrankB]

I was the first engineer employed by Worldwide when the Biggig Hill operation opened. The manager was Ted Spredbury, chief engineer Bruce Evans and deputy Ken Cos (both from Brisbane). I also worked briefly on the Ameland gas survey. Well I remember the time the pilots invited us out to the Fox and Hounds in Westerham for a 'quiet session'. They fed us Kentish vintage cider in half pints: we ran off the road on the way back to our digs in Bromley and I went upstairs on my hands and knees! Happy days.

[sillohed]

Frank B,

I have a World Wide group on Facebook if you would care to join us we would be happy to have you. There are so few of us left and we have done everything we could to find the old gang.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/464372040298121/members/

Send me your email if you would like to join.

Ed Stewart

[Rob 80 Creek Pond Au]

I was there in 1963 to take delivery of the Sikorsky S-62 helicopter N976 for World Wide as Chief Engineer for their Qatar operation.
This Machine came Sabina Airlines and had to fitted with troop seats for the operation in Qatar. Bruce Evans came from Wyong mid north coast NSW and was known in Port Morseby as pink eyes. Do you know a John Wood, a very good pilot who came from the UK operation to Qatar.
I joined World Wide Helicopters then known as Bahamas Helicopters in Port Moresby, Papua, December 1953 and was one of the first two Australians to join the company.
Bob Wilson the first Australian pilot joined later.