VALE - Dave Tink

[Tail-take-off]

Dave Tink’s son, Alun, reported on another site that his father passed away yesterday (24 September 2019).

Dave was the Chief Training Captain for the S61 based in Aberdeen from 1978 until his retirement in 1996. He left school at 16 and joined the merchant navy as a cadet and had been twice around the world by the age of 18. He left the merchant navy as a 3rd mate and joined the Royal Navy. He included Dragonflies, Hillers, Whirlwinds, Wessex and a SRN6 Hovercraft as part of the many types he piloted. He joined Bristows in 1977 after a short spell with North Scottish Helicopters. He died at home with his family.

The funeral will take place at 1130 am on Wednesday 2nd October at: -
Baldarroch Chapel & Crematorium
Crathes Banchory AB31 5JL
Anyone who knew him is very welcome to attend the service and afterwards at the Milton Brasserie, Milton of Crathes, Banchory AB31 5QH.

[Nigel Osborn]

I knew Dave well in the RN & first met him in 705 Squadron at Culdrose. Later in 1977 he endorsed me on the Bolkow 105 in North Scottish at Longside. From there he joined Bristow & we often met up at Aberdeen. He was a very nice good person but I do remember his smelly pipe! RIP Dave.

[industry insider]

Sorry to hear this. I used to fly with Dave on the S-61 and he also did my Bolkow 105 conversion in Bristow in 1982 in Inverness. Always a gentleman and very professional.

[ec155]

Although I never personally flew with or trained with Dave on the S61 fleet in Aberdeen (Tiger fleet), I got to know Dave fairly well. A very calm, friendly and knowledgeable man, he will be sorely missed.
Condolences to Alun and the rest of his family. RIP

[Democritus]

Very sad to hear this. Dave was one of my instructors when I was a stude on 705 at Culdrose in 1964 - I occasionally babysitted his children then! Although I wasn't on the same fleet in Bristow in Aberdeen it was good to meet and chat with him in the crewroom. Such a nice man. I shall be at Baldarroch next Wednesday to say my final farewell.

[Pofman]

Dave joined the RN shortly after me and was the "mature" guy having been in the Merchant Navy as opposed to the rest of us spotty youngsters. We served together initially on 848 Squadron in Bulwark on the junglie WW7. Lost touch when he left and headed to Aberdeen. He was always quietly spoken but if you spoke nonsense he always had an acerbic comment. The next contact was when his son Alan came through the Bristow training school at Redhill and later to the SAR fleet. I know he was very chuffed. RIP Dave, but you will probably find under current regulations that pipe tobacco has been banned in the afterlife!

[Lordflasheart]

...
IIRC, Dave was part of an heroic helo display team at a Brawdy Air Day, mid 60s.

The team was just about to lift off when Dave was sent as a runner to impart some last-minute urgent piece of aviation knowledge to the leader. He was stepping onto the left skid as the leader lifted off. At about twenty feet Dave realised it was now or never and sensibly let go for a small drop instead of an effing big one. Stuff of tom cruise movies, but no cameras.

So he only broke his ankle and we later visited him in Sick Bay with some laffs and liquid sympathy.

Don't think I ever saw him again. Good to know he had a long life and decent career.

He was a member of the FAAOA. I will inform them.

RIP. ........ LFH

......

[76fan]

There can't be many RN helicopter pilots from the 1960's and 70's who didn't know Dave Tink from his times as an instructor on 705 Squadron, Culdrose.

I first flew with Dave in 1965 on 705 Squadron when he was an instructor and I was a student on the Whirlwind Mk7. Later, in 1972, we were both instructors on Hillers and Whirlwinds on 705 awaiting the formation of the Gazelle IFTU. Throughout the hot summer of the following year we took turns on the weekly driving commute from Helston on Middle Wallop and back amidst the queues of holiday traffic and caravans on the A30/303. (For those who remember there were only a few very short dual carriageways in those days of 1973!). On March 13th 1974 together we spent the day delivering the first Gazelles from Culdrose NASU to 705 Squadron, and in July that year we dashed up and down the main runway giving the first Culdrose Air Day Gazelle flying display! Finally after we had both left the RN our old roles were reversed for a few flights when as a TRE/IRE on the S61N I conducted base checks on Dave during his early days at Bristows, Aberdeen.

I will always remember Dave as a quiet, professional and very knowledgable pilot with huge experience but no desire to shout or boast about it. Regrettably I live too far away to attend his funeral but his quiet smile, his beard, his pipe, and his wife Jean will particularly be remembered that day. RIP my friend.

For those who knew Dave the Borth webpage DAVID TINK (http://borthmaritimehistory.com/DAVID%20TINK.html) makes interesting reading.