One of these participants has passed on so the story can be told.
The Forties Field was BP's jewel in the North Sea and Bristow had held the contract to support it since it's inauguration. There developed an annual golf tournament between Bristow and BP and this developed over the years. BP would pay for a S61, Bristow would pilot it and everybody would fly off to a golf course for a days clubbing.
This time everybody had gathered together, two Bristow wheels were at the controls and they set off for Perth Golf Club. Perth airfield were slightly surprised when they made radio contact because they were socked in with fog. A requested telephone call ascertained that the golf club was also socked in as was the rest of the Tay Valley. Disappointed they turned back to Aberdeen.
The BP guys were kept in the departure lounge with tea and biccies whilst our heroes sorted out another golf club. Nairn Golf club came up trumps so without further ado they checked the weather and set off for Nairn; which was even further away than Perth.
The found Nairn, golf club, and landed close to the clubhouse. There was a fair gathering of people so the pilots thought that the word had got around that a helicopter was coming. They hadn't; they had come to see the club's Annual Medal Tournament.
Wrong golf course.
They got to the right place eventually but I knew a couple of the BP people and they were highly unimpressed. I don't think that it was a coincidence that when the BP contract came up for renewal another company got it.
and they were Army and Navy.
Last edited by Fareastdriver; 1st Oct 2016 at 16:16.