Bristow Photos
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Mmmmm ....
Those with 'eagle eyes' will note that the '300 in post #2189 is in fact a Hughes 500 D/E ...
Those were the days ... good fun in the PUMA ... it was in fact a pretty good job ... those machines used to run 12 hrs a day ... day in day out ....
Those with 'eagle eyes' will note that the '300 in post #2189 is in fact a Hughes 500 D/E ...
Those were the days ... good fun in the PUMA ... it was in fact a pretty good job ... those machines used to run 12 hrs a day ... day in day out ....
Somalia
Mogadishu, Somalia
In 1994 Bristows were contracted to supply five Bell 212s to the United Nations in support of peace keeping duties in Somalia. The aircraft were based at Mogadishu.
Two of them were ferried in from Singapore in an Illyushin 76 and three came from U.K. on board Belfasts. From the look of the registrations the Bells had seen previous service in Trinidad and Indonesia.
The pictures below show the ex-Singapore machines being off-loaded as well as the re-mantling area and crew.
The contract was awarded at fairly short notice which meant that the avionic mods to meet the aircraft specification requirement had to be carried out on-site.
The pictures below show the Bell flight line, the 5 star gourmet restaurant, the early morning "tank" wake-up call and finally J.D. posing in the only flak-jacket!
......and a few people pics....
In 1994 Bristows were contracted to supply five Bell 212s to the United Nations in support of peace keeping duties in Somalia. The aircraft were based at Mogadishu.
Two of them were ferried in from Singapore in an Illyushin 76 and three came from U.K. on board Belfasts. From the look of the registrations the Bells had seen previous service in Trinidad and Indonesia.
The pictures below show the ex-Singapore machines being off-loaded as well as the re-mantling area and crew.
The contract was awarded at fairly short notice which meant that the avionic mods to meet the aircraft specification requirement had to be carried out on-site.
The pictures below show the Bell flight line, the 5 star gourmet restaurant, the early morning "tank" wake-up call and finally J.D. posing in the only flak-jacket!
......and a few people pics....
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While 9Y-TFA & 9Y-THL were indeed formerly Trinidad aircraft, I believe that others were transferred to the Trinidad register specifically for the contract. Possibly less of a target in a war zone than a UK registration.
Dave,
You are at risk of being sued for slander.....you have produced the only photo in existence of Graham Worsley "working" that has ever been made. It was definitely a Kodak Moment to be able to capture him in such a lapse of Will and Discipline. He is reputed to be an excellent worker when cornered.
At some point I should tell the story of having to scrounge a Jesus Nut Socket from the US Marines so we could put the Rotor Heads on the aircraft.....as ours was languishing on a shelf somewhere in Redhill.
Bob Jones still remembers me kindly for stealing a UN Toyota to replace the one that got stolen from our parking spot.....the Lord does work in wonderful ways sometimes and provides for us in a time of need.
I still get a very good laugh when I recall Graham making like a Gopher one evening while assisting me in a bit of scrounging......and when I cautioned him to stop that....."You look like a thief when you do that!" to be told in his wonderful way....."But we are thieves!".
Over a bit of time I was able to come up with Air Cons and an Ice Maker so we could have cold beer and sleep comfortably at night.....and did not risk being killed by exploding Strawberries.
Being on the Trinidad Registration also made licensing for the Indonesian Engineers and Pilots easier too.....along with most of the Brits and Americans having that License as part of our Joining Package in the old days.
You are at risk of being sued for slander.....you have produced the only photo in existence of Graham Worsley "working" that has ever been made. It was definitely a Kodak Moment to be able to capture him in such a lapse of Will and Discipline. He is reputed to be an excellent worker when cornered.
At some point I should tell the story of having to scrounge a Jesus Nut Socket from the US Marines so we could put the Rotor Heads on the aircraft.....as ours was languishing on a shelf somewhere in Redhill.
Bob Jones still remembers me kindly for stealing a UN Toyota to replace the one that got stolen from our parking spot.....the Lord does work in wonderful ways sometimes and provides for us in a time of need.
I still get a very good laugh when I recall Graham making like a Gopher one evening while assisting me in a bit of scrounging......and when I cautioned him to stop that....."You look like a thief when you do that!" to be told in his wonderful way....."But we are thieves!".
Over a bit of time I was able to come up with Air Cons and an Ice Maker so we could have cold beer and sleep comfortably at night.....and did not risk being killed by exploding Strawberries.
Being on the Trinidad Registration also made licensing for the Indonesian Engineers and Pilots easier too.....along with most of the Brits and Americans having that License as part of our Joining Package in the old days.
Spain
Las Palmas, Canary Islands
Minimal details but contracts for Conoco and ship support duties are mentioned in an old publication about the Wessex.
Ship support duties included ferrying tanker cleaning specialists to tankers in the ocean.
These pictures were taken in 1971-1972.
A Bristow Wessex dwarfed by the tanker "London Pride"
The aircraft also carry the name "Helicsa" so one would assume this was a joint venture.
Minimal details but contracts for Conoco and ship support duties are mentioned in an old publication about the Wessex.
Ship support duties included ferrying tanker cleaning specialists to tankers in the ocean.
These pictures were taken in 1971-1972.
A Bristow Wessex dwarfed by the tanker "London Pride"
The aircraft also carry the name "Helicsa" so one would assume this was a joint venture.
Spain
Sant Carles de la Ràpita
Info and pics from Graham Conway.
The town lays approximately half way between Barcelona and Valencia. The base was supporting Esso offshore installations late sixties early seventies.
An unusual fleet of one Whirlwind, one Allouette 3 and a Bell 212. I don't suppose you would be swapping too many bits between those three. The Whirlwind was first on contract and when the client needed more capacity it was joined by the Allouette 3 which was one of the only aircraft available. Later on the first Bristow Bell 212 made an appearance.
Whirlwind G-AOZK in the hover. The Shell refuelling bowser appears in all three pictures which confirmed the same location for the three types.
Bell 212 VR-BEK awaiting its next task against a rocky backdrop. It was the first Bristow Bell 212, being a Bell demonstrator at the time.
This was the first time I had heard of Allouettes operating some place other than Iran. This one being VR-BEC. The picture is a bit fuzzy but worth including.
Info and pics from Graham Conway.
The town lays approximately half way between Barcelona and Valencia. The base was supporting Esso offshore installations late sixties early seventies.
An unusual fleet of one Whirlwind, one Allouette 3 and a Bell 212. I don't suppose you would be swapping too many bits between those three. The Whirlwind was first on contract and when the client needed more capacity it was joined by the Allouette 3 which was one of the only aircraft available. Later on the first Bristow Bell 212 made an appearance.
Whirlwind G-AOZK in the hover. The Shell refuelling bowser appears in all three pictures which confirmed the same location for the three types.
Bell 212 VR-BEK awaiting its next task against a rocky backdrop. It was the first Bristow Bell 212, being a Bell demonstrator at the time.
This was the first time I had heard of Allouettes operating some place other than Iran. This one being VR-BEC. The picture is a bit fuzzy but worth including.
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I'm guessing VR-BEK was only on loan from Bell because it was subsequently registered to Oxford Heli-Services in January 1973 as G-BALZ. From there it went to Irish Helicopters in March 1973, & BEAS in July 1974 before being absorbed into the BHL 212 fleet following the acquisition of BEAS.
TTO
VR-BEK 30542 first appears on the Bristow List in November 1972, on contract to Shell in Spain... shows it was "on-hire" from Oxford Heli-Services Ltd
212's first appear in March 1972
VR-BEG 30504 (Das Island for BP) A/C Leased from Bell
VR-BEE 30533 (Dubai D.P.C. the following month)
VR-BEK 30542 first appears on the Bristow List in November 1972, on contract to Shell in Spain... shows it was "on-hire" from Oxford Heli-Services Ltd
212's first appear in March 1972
VR-BEG 30504 (Das Island for BP) A/C Leased from Bell
VR-BEE 30533 (Dubai D.P.C. the following month)
South Africa
South Africa
See Rhodesia a few posts back for the link that explains the inclusion of some seemingly non-Bristow pics!
Ref R.S.A. Wessex Picture. Info from Ian Dobson and Hans D.Holle.
The picture of the Wessex in South Africa is probably ZS-HSL and the back drop will be the bush backing the beach at Virginia airport in Durban. The Wessex was in Durban on ship servicing work 1974 -1976 with Helicopter Services Ltd (BHL owned company) hence the registration. I have photos of her being crated up at Virginia for shipment back to the UK.
Sharky Ward was the area chief eng and Vince Ogilvie was the Wessex LAE, pilots John Yates, Martin Ford, Jeremy Labauschagne and an american guy whose name escapes me at the moment.
We operated an Allouette II and a Whirlwind Series 3 as well as the Wessex.
AND......
The "american guy" refered to most likely was Ed Ban. He was posted from Jo'burg to Durban in about 75. There was also Gordon Blackman who, if I remember correctly, was involved in the ditching of a Wessex off Durban. They had been drifting about in shark infested water for quite some time to eventually be picked up by a freighter. Grant something was in the back of that aircraft and cut himself when getting out....
AND.....
The engineer mentioned in my previous mail must have been Grant Williams. "Lopiz" Labuschagne (based in Durban) was the CP in RSA during my time out there (74/76) with David Woodhead (based in Jo'burg) being the MP. Lopiz L. later on left BHL/Helicopter Services PTY. to join Court Helicopters.
See Rhodesia a few posts back for the link that explains the inclusion of some seemingly non-Bristow pics!
Ref R.S.A. Wessex Picture. Info from Ian Dobson and Hans D.Holle.
The picture of the Wessex in South Africa is probably ZS-HSL and the back drop will be the bush backing the beach at Virginia airport in Durban. The Wessex was in Durban on ship servicing work 1974 -1976 with Helicopter Services Ltd (BHL owned company) hence the registration. I have photos of her being crated up at Virginia for shipment back to the UK.
Sharky Ward was the area chief eng and Vince Ogilvie was the Wessex LAE, pilots John Yates, Martin Ford, Jeremy Labauschagne and an american guy whose name escapes me at the moment.
We operated an Allouette II and a Whirlwind Series 3 as well as the Wessex.
AND......
The "american guy" refered to most likely was Ed Ban. He was posted from Jo'burg to Durban in about 75. There was also Gordon Blackman who, if I remember correctly, was involved in the ditching of a Wessex off Durban. They had been drifting about in shark infested water for quite some time to eventually be picked up by a freighter. Grant something was in the back of that aircraft and cut himself when getting out....
AND.....
The engineer mentioned in my previous mail must have been Grant Williams. "Lopiz" Labuschagne (based in Durban) was the CP in RSA during my time out there (74/76) with David Woodhead (based in Jo'burg) being the MP. Lopiz L. later on left BHL/Helicopter Services PTY. to join Court Helicopters.
Trinidad
Trinidad
Another location with a long Bristow association is the Caribbean island of Trinidad off the coast of Venezuela. The biggest operation is located at Galeota Point where flights are operated to offshore installations on behalf of Amoco Trinidad Oil Company.
An article from a 1970 "Trinidad Tesoro News". This photo shows a Bristow Bell 206 approaching for its first landing at the new Trinidad-Tesoro's helicopter base at Galeota Point, Guayaguayare.
Trinidad based Hiller shutdown on what looks like an offshore wellhead.
Bristow Bell 47 G2, VP-TCF, Mayaro, Trinidad 18th July 1961. Johnny Johnson and John Odlin. Oil Company was possibly Amosea.
This montage of three pictures shows the Galeota hangar and a collection of Bell 205s and 212s.
An aerial shot of Galeota Point.
Early operations, in Trinidad, were carried out by Hillers, Bell 47, WS 55 Whirlwinds and later on by Bells 204, 206, 205 and 212.
This prile of Bell 212s, again at Galeota, were ferried back to Bristows Redhill for major refurbishment which included total rewiring.
The 1991 Bristow calendar picture of 9Y-TEY presumably over a Caribbean beach.
This picture, circa 1981 is of 9Y-TGV at Piarco Airport from which it operated offshore flights on behalf of Texaco.
In the North of the Island lies Chaguaramas where Bristows were contracted to provide technical and operational support for the Ministry of National Security ( Air Division ).
Sikorsky S76s and Gazelles (pic) were operated from here.
9Y-TEY during a rotors running turn round on an offshore rig.
....and from Tony Stafford .........
"My first posting in Bristows was in early 1969 to Trinidad. We had a small hangar at Mayaro on the east coast with a S55 and a Bell 206A. Marcel Avon was Chief Pilot and we initially worked for Pan American Oil with the Bluewater 3 rig. In January 1970, we opened a new heliport at Sea Lots in Port of Spain, and operated from there with a second rig coming on site, together with a second Whirlwind."
A couple of pics showing the hangar at Mayaro on the east coast of Trinidad, with 206A 9Y-TDF and our first Series 3 (9Y-TDA) undergoing some "headwork". This was probably early 1969 - Chief Engineer was Neil Leppard.
.....and
Another location with a long Bristow association is the Caribbean island of Trinidad off the coast of Venezuela. The biggest operation is located at Galeota Point where flights are operated to offshore installations on behalf of Amoco Trinidad Oil Company.
An article from a 1970 "Trinidad Tesoro News". This photo shows a Bristow Bell 206 approaching for its first landing at the new Trinidad-Tesoro's helicopter base at Galeota Point, Guayaguayare.
Trinidad based Hiller shutdown on what looks like an offshore wellhead.
Bristow Bell 47 G2, VP-TCF, Mayaro, Trinidad 18th July 1961. Johnny Johnson and John Odlin. Oil Company was possibly Amosea.
This montage of three pictures shows the Galeota hangar and a collection of Bell 205s and 212s.
An aerial shot of Galeota Point.
Early operations, in Trinidad, were carried out by Hillers, Bell 47, WS 55 Whirlwinds and later on by Bells 204, 206, 205 and 212.
This prile of Bell 212s, again at Galeota, were ferried back to Bristows Redhill for major refurbishment which included total rewiring.
The 1991 Bristow calendar picture of 9Y-TEY presumably over a Caribbean beach.
This picture, circa 1981 is of 9Y-TGV at Piarco Airport from which it operated offshore flights on behalf of Texaco.
In the North of the Island lies Chaguaramas where Bristows were contracted to provide technical and operational support for the Ministry of National Security ( Air Division ).
Sikorsky S76s and Gazelles (pic) were operated from here.
9Y-TEY during a rotors running turn round on an offshore rig.
....and from Tony Stafford .........
"My first posting in Bristows was in early 1969 to Trinidad. We had a small hangar at Mayaro on the east coast with a S55 and a Bell 206A. Marcel Avon was Chief Pilot and we initially worked for Pan American Oil with the Bluewater 3 rig. In January 1970, we opened a new heliport at Sea Lots in Port of Spain, and operated from there with a second rig coming on site, together with a second Whirlwind."
A couple of pics showing the hangar at Mayaro on the east coast of Trinidad, with 206A 9Y-TDF and our first Series 3 (9Y-TDA) undergoing some "headwork". This was probably early 1969 - Chief Engineer was Neil Leppard.
.....and
USA
USA
In the early eighties Bristows attempted to break into the North American market and more specifically to serve the ever expanding Gulf of Mexico offshore community. Details are few at the moment but the size of the fleet gives some idea of the importance of this venture. It consisted of 15 A-Stars ( single-engined Aerospatiale A.S.350s ), 5 S-76s, 1 Bell 212, a couple of Hughes 500s and a fixed wing.
Head office and overhaul facilities were set up at Sabine Pass and main operational bases were located at Beaumont ( Jefferson County Airport ) inTexas and at Houma in Louisiana.
Unfortunately due to market conditions during the following years, the USA operations were scaled back and eventually Bristows pulled out all together.
Taken around 1980 at Jefferson County Airport three S-76As and an A-Star await their next tasks.
Alan Bristow with Derek Cook during a base inspection at Jeffco.
An aerial shot of the Houma base in Louisiana with three A-Stars on the pads. And no doubt it is a Bristow hangar.
.......and down at ground level a Squirrel infestation in the Houma hangar.
In the early eighties Bristows attempted to break into the North American market and more specifically to serve the ever expanding Gulf of Mexico offshore community. Details are few at the moment but the size of the fleet gives some idea of the importance of this venture. It consisted of 15 A-Stars ( single-engined Aerospatiale A.S.350s ), 5 S-76s, 1 Bell 212, a couple of Hughes 500s and a fixed wing.
Head office and overhaul facilities were set up at Sabine Pass and main operational bases were located at Beaumont ( Jefferson County Airport ) inTexas and at Houma in Louisiana.
Unfortunately due to market conditions during the following years, the USA operations were scaled back and eventually Bristows pulled out all together.
Taken around 1980 at Jefferson County Airport three S-76As and an A-Star await their next tasks.
Alan Bristow with Derek Cook during a base inspection at Jeffco.
An aerial shot of the Houma base in Louisiana with three A-Stars on the pads. And no doubt it is a Bristow hangar.
.......and down at ground level a Squirrel infestation in the Houma hangar.
Vietnam
Vietnam
As a consequence of Bristows direct involvement with the provision of helicopter services for a number of oil companies since 1990, the company gained valuable experience of operating and working in Vietnam and in particular working in direct association with Vietnam Helicopter Services Company Limited ("Helicop"), the helicopter operating subsidiary of Service Flight Corporation.
Bristows operations seem to have been centred on Vung Tau.
Contracts involved tripartite agreements between Bristow Helicopters, Helicop and various oil companies such as Enterprise Oil and Petro Canada.
In each case Bristows were required to provide a senior pilot and licenced engineer to monitor all aspects of the operation and maintenance of the aircraft.
Engine change for "Helicop" 330J, VN-8607.
VN-8607 in a more serviceable state at Con Son, a small island that was used for refuelling on some of the longer trips out of Vung Tau.pic 1991-92.
These last two pictures show an SFC 330J during a check 2, being carried out by local staff and a team from Redhill in 1995 ish, around the time that a Bristow AS332L arrived.
As a consequence of Bristows direct involvement with the provision of helicopter services for a number of oil companies since 1990, the company gained valuable experience of operating and working in Vietnam and in particular working in direct association with Vietnam Helicopter Services Company Limited ("Helicop"), the helicopter operating subsidiary of Service Flight Corporation.
Bristows operations seem to have been centred on Vung Tau.
Contracts involved tripartite agreements between Bristow Helicopters, Helicop and various oil companies such as Enterprise Oil and Petro Canada.
In each case Bristows were required to provide a senior pilot and licenced engineer to monitor all aspects of the operation and maintenance of the aircraft.
Engine change for "Helicop" 330J, VN-8607.
VN-8607 in a more serviceable state at Con Son, a small island that was used for refuelling on some of the longer trips out of Vung Tau.pic 1991-92.
These last two pictures show an SFC 330J during a check 2, being carried out by local staff and a team from Redhill in 1995 ish, around the time that a Bristow AS332L arrived.
West Germany
Emden, West Germany
Emden, West Germany, Winter 1964.
The aircraft was Whirlwind S55 Mk3 D-HODE operated by United Helicopters GMBH.
Arriving at Emden Heliport after a rig trip.
Note:- Crew in immersion suits and no heating in the helicopter.
..........and a few names
Engineers: Dick Jones, Basil Davey, Horst Voigt.
Pilots: Marcel Avon, John Waddington, Willy Weitzel.
Labourers: Karl Ackermann, Hans Joachim.
Emden, West Germany, Winter 1964.
The aircraft was Whirlwind S55 Mk3 D-HODE operated by United Helicopters GMBH.
Arriving at Emden Heliport after a rig trip.
Note:- Crew in immersion suits and no heating in the helicopter.
..........and a few names
Engineers: Dick Jones, Basil Davey, Horst Voigt.
Pilots: Marcel Avon, John Waddington, Willy Weitzel.
Labourers: Karl Ackermann, Hans Joachim.
Yemen
Yemen
The only hard information I have is that Bristows provided a Bell 212
to support BP's activities offshore Hodeidah ( October- December 1992 ).
That just about wraps up the world wide bases for now.
UK next!
The only hard information I have is that Bristows provided a Bell 212
to support BP's activities offshore Hodeidah ( October- December 1992 ).
That just about wraps up the world wide bases for now.
UK next!
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The Hiller picking up a load: the pilot I believe was Tony English and the other guys was my old man(DOS). They used to ferry coal and diesel to the top of Table Mountain. If I remember correctly we had a place that overlooked Camps Bay.
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Ref the sixth picture in Post #2203 "This montage of three pictures shows the Galeota hangar and a collection of Bell 205s and 212s" dates the photo to 1975 when Ernie Perrin was Managing Pilot and Dick Davisson was Chief Engineer. Not only because this was the time when 205's and 212's were on-site butlook at the mis-matched panels above the hangar doors. These, and numerous others around the hangar and on the roof, were replacements for those torn off when a tropical storm (not quite a hurricane) swept across Galeota. Of course we had advance warning of the storm and had all the helicopters and loose equipment safely inside the hangar before it arrived. Or so we thought, the wind began to increase and panels all around the hangar were coming loose. When some began falling into the hangar it was decided that the helicopters would be safer outside, so in the middle of the tropical storm, we all - pilots, engineers and local staff - opened the doors and pushed each helicopter onto a parking spot. Sure enough, not a single helicopter sustained any damage but the hangar, particularly the roof, took a beating. We were all soaked to the skin and Bob Turner took it upon himself to organise a change of clothes for everyone from the staff house - quite a day that was.