Bristow Sumburgh - End Of An Era
Thread Starter
Bristow Brochure
HOGE
I will scan the whole brochure and add it to the BRISTOW PHOTOS thread, as it does contain some good "historic" pictures.
Have lots more Bristow stuff in my archives, which I will be adding so keep your eyes peeled !
I will scan the whole brochure and add it to the BRISTOW PHOTOS thread, as it does contain some good "historic" pictures.
Have lots more Bristow stuff in my archives, which I will be adding so keep your eyes peeled !
Thread Starter
Few more Bristow Sumburgh Memories !
Former Chief Of All The Engines Davy Shand takes the mic to crack a gag
Ello Shipmate ! The Phantom Cap-Stealer Eric Greensmith cocks his titfer !
(Remember the Coastguard Cap incident
!!!)
Last edited by S61-S92; 24th Oct 2019 at 17:37.
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Some more recent pics here --> Gallery | Search
Hope to update the website with a lot more older pics in and around Sumburgh Airport if I ever find the time to do it!
Hope to update the website with a lot more older pics in and around Sumburgh Airport if I ever find the time to do it!
Thread Starter
Some More Sumburgh Pictures from Capella
A view from the Hangar towards the old Virkie Terminal
Jim Kilmartin and a Peerie Angus Goudie pose for the camera
Showing the Hutchison Heater Exhaust Tester are
Back Row - Chris Jackson, Laurie Moar, Bart Kelly, Peter Moar
and taking up the front is a young whipper-snapper by the name of Phil Kemp
During a high tide and severe gale, the Bristow hangar flooded
...the water came up to the axles on the S61's
Rare Birds are commonly found in Sumburgh, here is a red-tailed Budgie feeding on the airfield grass
G-AZSU suffered a nose-gear collapse on landing
Last edited by S61-S92; 24th Oct 2019 at 17:42.
That last lot of pictures bring back some interesting memories, I remember all those things going on, the hangar flood was particularly exciting! The reason I was involved in the heater inspection, was due to my ability to fit between the shelves in the Avionics compartment - something that would be very unlikely nowadays! 
The Dan Air 748 is a rather interesting story. I had been playing squash with Victor Smith after work, and was walking home to Tolob in the dark -no car in those days. With the usual stealthy Sumburgh technique, I took the shortcut across the grass and over the end of the runway. The traffic lights started flashing and the barriers came down as I was still on the grass, so I decided to keep going toward the end of the runway as I walked across it. I could see the aircraft on finals so I sped up a little to make sure I was across the runway before any lights would be shining on me. With the aircraft on the ground and coming toward me, I was now on the road at the end of the runway.
The machine was still coming pretty fast down the runway when they decided to put her in the grass because she wasn't slowing down on that icy runway. The nose gear collapsed, there wasn't really much noise from the props hitting the deck and then it all went very quiet and very dark - it was all very abrupt and sudden. I really didn't know what to do (I mean what can you do?) as all this was going on about less than 100 yards from me. I was quite shocked (as you can probably imagine) and I thought about running to see if I could help, but thought better about it because I might get run over by the fire crew, as the last thing they would be expecting was some kid carrying his squash gear to be standing on the runway.
It seemed like ages for the fire engines to show up, I wonder today how long it actually was, no-one made any attempt to get out of the aircraft. I decided to watch from a further distance so I wouldn't get into any trouble for being on the runway. I called the tower the next day to see if they were interested in what I had observed, and they weren't - it was all rather a non event. No-one injured, the aircraft a bit bent and some real work for the firemen.
Still, it kept Jack Inkster busy at his new job for a couple of weeks!
The Dan Air 748 is a rather interesting story. I had been playing squash with Victor Smith after work, and was walking home to Tolob in the dark -no car in those days. With the usual stealthy Sumburgh technique, I took the shortcut across the grass and over the end of the runway. The traffic lights started flashing and the barriers came down as I was still on the grass, so I decided to keep going toward the end of the runway as I walked across it. I could see the aircraft on finals so I sped up a little to make sure I was across the runway before any lights would be shining on me. With the aircraft on the ground and coming toward me, I was now on the road at the end of the runway.
The machine was still coming pretty fast down the runway when they decided to put her in the grass because she wasn't slowing down on that icy runway. The nose gear collapsed, there wasn't really much noise from the props hitting the deck and then it all went very quiet and very dark - it was all very abrupt and sudden. I really didn't know what to do (I mean what can you do?) as all this was going on about less than 100 yards from me. I was quite shocked (as you can probably imagine) and I thought about running to see if I could help, but thought better about it because I might get run over by the fire crew, as the last thing they would be expecting was some kid carrying his squash gear to be standing on the runway.
It seemed like ages for the fire engines to show up, I wonder today how long it actually was, no-one made any attempt to get out of the aircraft. I decided to watch from a further distance so I wouldn't get into any trouble for being on the runway. I called the tower the next day to see if they were interested in what I had observed, and they weren't - it was all rather a non event. No-one injured, the aircraft a bit bent and some real work for the firemen.
Still, it kept Jack Inkster busy at his new job for a couple of weeks!
Thread Starter
Bergen
The frequent blasts of 40 mile per hour fog at Sumburgh,
meant the odd re-positioning to Bergen
Bill Petherick, Vince Cain, Bill Elias and Bob Simpson (Nice Wet-Weather Gear !)
Bill Petherick and Vince Cain on Kilo Charlie
meant the odd re-positioning to Bergen
Bill Petherick, Vince Cain, Bill Elias and Bob Simpson (Nice Wet-Weather Gear !)
Bill Petherick and Vince Cain on Kilo Charlie
Last edited by S61-S92; 24th Oct 2019 at 17:45.
Thread Starter
Fire Training
Some scenes from Trumpton ???
No it's the Sumburgh boys at the Fire Training School at Stanstead.
... it was very tiring work (or was that the drink, Gerald !?!)
No it's the Sumburgh boys at the Fire Training School at Stanstead.
... it was very tiring work (or was that the drink, Gerald !?!)
Last edited by S61-S92; 24th Oct 2019 at 17:48.
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Sad time indeed.
My first 'proper' job was in Redhill on those 58T conversions in '74 - only lasted 8 months, still wet behind the ears. Mr Denel was kind enough to allow me to resign rather than sack me.
Ended up with the other red, white & blue fleet who nursed me into some sort of competence, so didn't seem right to jump back to BHL when I met Mr D. 5yrs later during my 61 course and asked if I'd like to come back!
These pictures raising many memories of times detached to LSI (including building the Skerries lighthouse with G-BAFN and the Sumburgh culture shock (or was it the excess of 'heavy'?)
May I raise a glass to salute all Shetland aviators past, of every colour scheme, airborne and ground, and to wish you clear skies and just enough wind... 'tain't the same fun now, somehow...... hated it at the time, but glad I was there....
My first 'proper' job was in Redhill on those 58T conversions in '74 - only lasted 8 months, still wet behind the ears. Mr Denel was kind enough to allow me to resign rather than sack me.
Ended up with the other red, white & blue fleet who nursed me into some sort of competence, so didn't seem right to jump back to BHL when I met Mr D. 5yrs later during my 61 course and asked if I'd like to come back!
These pictures raising many memories of times detached to LSI (including building the Skerries lighthouse with G-BAFN and the Sumburgh culture shock (or was it the excess of 'heavy'?)
May I raise a glass to salute all Shetland aviators past, of every colour scheme, airborne and ground, and to wish you clear skies and just enough wind... 'tain't the same fun now, somehow...... hated it at the time, but glad I was there....
Thread Starter
Neighbours
... remember these bad boys at Sumburgh too
and finally British Airways Helicopters from Sumburgh Airshow Day ... nice colour scheme ... now why does that look familiar
and finally British Airways Helicopters from Sumburgh Airshow Day ... nice colour scheme ... now why does that look familiar
Last edited by S61-S92; 24th Oct 2019 at 18:01.
G-BIM- on an S-61! Someone had a sense of humour!
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Ancient History
My son Shaun directed me to this forum by asking if I had flown the S61N on the TV search and rescue program (BDIJ). A quick look at my logbook revealed well over 100 hours between 1976 and 1986 and we were doing SAR flights with IJ long before it took on its present title. Natural curiosity forced me to read on revealing such details as dear old Gordon Mitchell who took over from me as Chief Pilot. He must positively squirm at that reference to Mahatma Coat but I will spare him further embarassment by not revealing the day that 'epithet' was born. It was a pleasure to revisit so many memories of people and places I knew through the 11 years I spent there. My apologies to the young gentleman who would consign us oldies to the bin in favour of more pictures (leaves himself wide open there. When he gets to our age, he will welcome past memories so if anyone wants any info on the Sumburgh operation between 1974 and 1988, I may be able to help. I wonder if my hotel in Quendale is still standing?