Bristow Photos

[WBlume]

Immagine my surprise....

A friend told me about seeing my name on this site so I had to take a look. Seeing the Duri pictures and the names has really taken me aback.
Will dig out some of my old snaps and post whenever I can find them.
Regards to all
Bill

[C.C.C.]

Miri, Sarawak, E.Malaysia, 1981-2 - Aircraft & Places

The Miri hangar with 2 Pumas & the Pocket Rocket under maintenance.

9M-SSB, a BAe 125, A.K.A. the Pocket Rocket.

9M-SSI was sold and exported to Australia. This required all equipment, including the winch & ferry tanks, to be fitted for the ferry flight. One of our finest Training Captains who liked to exercise his fingers on that round shaped spring loaded control under the collective head, had to do a quick dash downtown to buy the engineers a few crates of beer, after the above control operated the winch cable cut with the distinctive clunk of the hook hitting the ramp on his ground run.

9M-SSD being refuelled at Labuan. The MAF DHC5 Buffalos were always a great sight to watch with all that oil they burnt in great clouds of blue smoke.

9M-SSH, one of the 2 Twin Otters at Miri, being refuelled at Bintulu.

Shutdowns offshore were usually a daily occurrence, and here is 9M-SSF basking in the sunshine.

Terminal building at Lutong, the Sarawak Shell airfield. Bootneck will remember that we always arranged to arrive on right base so that the Controller would get to roll his 'R's the most - RRRoger, RRReport RRRight Base for RRRunway XXX - he always saw the humorous side of our last minute change of runaway requests!

The office - cockpit of the SA330J.

As Thridle Op Des has already posted, not getting at least one tyre on those wooden slots was a rare event. Here is one of about only 10 landings where I achieved all 6 tyres on the deck - normally it was at least one tyre on a slat.

The rear view mirror. Always thought it was wrong not to have these fitted to the Tigers originally, and was proven right after one lost a doghouse cowling, and at least one other landed at Aberdeen being advised by ATC 'Do you know that one of your engine cowlings is fully open'!

[C.C.C.]

Miri, Sarawak, E.Malaysia, 1981-2 - People

Who needs a lifejacket! Andrew Doyle trialing the new one man liferaft.

The only way to get a free Bristow T-shirt, be a member of the Miri It's A Knockout team. A.N.Other pilots Dave Cramp through the obstacle course whilst trying to balance green grenades (Heineken cans), ably guided by 2 of the Bristow wives. I think Janet Flexman was one of the judges, hence no Bristow t-shirt.

Peter Dove's leaving Bristow beach barbecue.

A long haired Co-Pilot posing offshore.

Mark Cameron setting the new fashion trend of sporting facial hair.

Above long haired Co-Pilot now with a haircut and starting to grow his trademark beard, which is somewhat grey these days.

The 'Tranquilliser Bar'. Originally in the Bottom or Beach Co-Pilot's house, it was moved up to the Top Co-Pilot's house. After a certain Co-Pilot left the beer cans in the freezer too long in the Bottom house, all future Pilot/Flight Safety meetings were held in the Top House, which had the advantage of a flat roof for entertaining.

[Tail-take-off]

CCC

Great pictures. I recognise a few faces from the Silverstone "Bristow Vantage point" shot notably Bill Pollard, John Ridings, Andy Paton, Tim Noble & Robbie ......? (Aberdeen Engineer).

Do you have any more?

TTO

[Oldlae]

Willy, Hi, see page 30 post 583, I came out with Mike Griffin (RIP) to help in the investigation. Best Regards.

[zpringer]

Hello

Hello Willy,
Stu Rawlinson here. Do you remember me?? Still flying (at 65) in Australia.
At Karratha in NW Aust with Bristow. Flying the 332 offshore.
Give me a call at-- [email protected]

[C.C.C.]

Originally Posted by "Tail-take-off

CCC
Great pictures.
Do you have any more?

Sadly no, this was the only people shot from that day as the weather was poor. Just left of Tim Noble you can see Dave Smith talking to Andy Edgecombe, who is on the flatbed, and is that not a young Bob Turner in centre foreground.

Next 2 times I did Silverstone was with a Jetranger out of Redhill, and we were very restricted on payload as we were operating out of the South side, alongside the Bristow twins, and needed to clear the race track by some hundreds of feet, with 5 on board & floats as well. So no space for a camera!

[he1iaviator]

The mention of youthful Bob Turners brought this to mind


And a few other youths

Richard Poppe at Lutong 1980


John Hoskins on Miri Beach 1980


Ian Richardson and Tyreburst in Duri Mess Hall C 1982

[1helicopterppl]

1helicopterppl

Silverstone 1988 was a trip down memory lane......I attend every year but miss the 'heavy' side terminal heli's, it does not happen nowadays.

Also think the overseas oldies are fantastic but what about current day overseas postings ?
There are quite a few British reg heli's operating overseas, I make it.....
Atyrau, 76's G-KAZA/B, Nouakchott, B412 G-OIBU & possibly 212 BALZ still out there ? Malta, 332 G-BMCX, Accra, 76 G-BJGX, Las Palmas , 61 G-BDIJ,
Estonia ? Any more ?

[magbreak]

1helicopterppl G-BJGX is currently back in Norwich.

[1helicopterppl]

1helicopterppl

Silverstone 1988 was a trip down memory lane......I attend every year but miss the 'heavy' side terminal heli's, it does not happen nowadays.

Also think the overseas oldies are fantastic but what about current day overseas postings ?
There are quite a few British reg heli's operating overseas, I make it.....
Atyrau, 76's G-KAZA/B, Nouakchott, B412 G-OIBU & possibly 212 BALZ still out there ? Malta, 332 G-BMCX, Accra, 76 G-BJGX, Las Palmas , 61 G-BDIJ,
Estonia ? Any more ?

[soggyboxers]

Tireburst brought back all the memories of the dark, hateful days of Bristow and why I left for 14 years. That man must have been responsible for a huge turn over in Bristow during his years of abusing his power. But hey-ho life deals us the pack it deals

[Thridle Op Des]

And yet more....

Since Casper rattled my cage, a couple more here:



As an answer to the request for a closer to home photo, TIGO in SAR fit for the Beryl Contract about 1984ish. Not my photo but one dashed to me by NMG.



This is for Stace since he secretly harks back to the good old days (bit like me).

I do have the HP15 course photo waiting in photobucket but that may be a little unfair to those who don't want to be reminded of that brief moment of time captured in celluloid.

[stacey_s]

Ah!! 5N-BHO, I remember helping to take her across the Sahara with Colin (I'll never forget whats his face) to Nigeria early Nineties

[SASless]

Young Master Cameron and then so innocent!

Tyreburst....me old mucker! Missed opportunity....one of life's regrets!

Will Rogers never met him!

[C.C.C.]

Duri, Indonesia, 1985-6 - Aircraft & Places

Aerial view of the 'new' heliport, with 6 parking spots and the departure helipad. Had a separate radio shack for VHF & HF communications, and a working NDB. As Alan Biles has previously posted the adjacent strip was going to be made into a runaway for the other 212s, locally licensed built CASA 212s, but the drop in oil price end of 1985 / start of 1986 killed that plan. Looking on Google Earth the strip was never built although the heliport still survives - 1۫ 14’ 06.56’’ N , 101۫ 13’ 12.14’’ E

In 1985 the hangar facilities would be the envy of most overseas operations at that time. Here is the immaculately kept engineering records section.

1985 saw a mixture of accommodation in use, with those new to the operation placed in portacabins. Had a room on each end with a shared toilet in the middle. OK as long as they did not leak, and this one had the all important short wave aerial fitted for listening to the BBC World Service, etc.

The Heli-Rig uniform. A part paid for by the company Gentex helmet, and orange Nomex flying suit. Suits took a while to arrive so mine did not get used much as we were posted when the oil crisis hit and Caltex took the option to release 1x212 early with 4 expats being posted elsewhere overseas.

One of the permanent staging areas. The silver fuel installation was flown out empty from Duri and filled up on site. Much quicker than refuelling from 45 gal drums.

Lunch time scene on Rig 56. When busy the 212s would do 10hrs flying each a day, with 2 being shutdown on the Rig for the all important mid day inspection, including the 'lift link'. Here we see Steve Armstrong about to start up PK-HCJ, with Simon Wilton looking on.

And PK-HCK departing after the lunch time break.

Rig 56.

When the 205s were sold, 2 of them were flown to Australia. Here is the locally crafted ferry tank installation.

Fitted inside the 205 with 2 additional 45 gal drums. Gave a total endurance of some 7 hours, which was needed for the crossing of the Timor Sea.

205 PK-HCE departing Duri for the last time en-route to Australia.

Like most bases in S.E.Asia, Duri had a local Hash House Harriers Club. Think it was originally set up by Bristow employees many years ago, and was given its own 'house' as part of the new camp improvements. Did not get frequented by our American colleagues as they were more interested in the floodlight Softball court which you can see in the background.

[C.C.C.]

Duri, Indonesia, 1985-6 - People

The Bristow Bar, Duri. Dave 'Di the Load' Thomas, Ian ' Whisky' Smith, and the late Dave 'Badger' Atkinson.

A quite day in the hangar with the late Dave Atkinson 'acting' as Chief Engineer.

And a busy Chief Pilot, Simon Wilton.

The 2 villages adjacent to the camp were provided with electricity by Caltex (not 365 days 24/7 though) and here are some expats enjoying a meal downtown prior to leaving Duri for Xmas in Singapore. Geoff Steward, Pete Cawthorne, Graham Chiverton, Ian Smith & Bill Vaughn.

Xmas Singapore 1985. After a Singapore Sling in the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel, a fleet of rickshaws took us to our Orchard Road hotel (The Mandarin?) where we were treated to a magnificent Western & Local buffet, a free bar!, and everyone got a Xmas present as well. Here we see the Chivertons, the Armstrongs, Margaret Wilton, and yours truly. Table behind includes John Willis, Simon Wilton, and I think the world famous Bristow Singapore Office Manager 'Kat' as well.

Nigel Barry-Taylor (?) receiving his Xmas present from Simon & John.

Xmas Day was started with Smoked Salmon & Champagne at the Wiltons, and here we see a young Tony Sollitt (my camera was on GMT time!).

[griffothefog]

Tony Sollitt

Excuse spelling if the surname is wrong, but can anyone tell me what Tony is doing these days?

Trog, you should know if you are on forum... You two were a right pair!!!

[SASless]

Trog is a right pair all by himself....the partner is just window dressing!

[C.C.C.]

Galeota Point, Trinidad, 1986-7 - Aircraft & Places

Aerial view of Galeota Point. And no real space for a running landing with a Tail Rotor problem. Heliport is shown with the red arrow, and the blue arrow was the Trintopec Heliport. Operated by a Canadian Company called Sealand Helicopters, we were threatened with the sack by Redhill Management to avoid any co-operation with Sealand. Craig Dobbin's Sealand Helicopters of course became the father/mother to the 'Canadian Holding Company', Bristow's main rival worldwide from 1987.

All landings at Galeota were planned as deliberate single engine zero speed landings, and with 9Y-TEY parked on Spot 4, an arrival on Spot 1 as here was the least preferred option as it had a very early LDP, no safe go-around like Spots 2 & 3. And we only had PT6-T3s then, 3Bs came later.

Occasionally got visited by the Gazelles & S76s from National Security - Government of Trinidad & Tobago.

The largest platform in the Teak Field (all Amoco fields were named after types of Trinidadian trees). This one had 3 helipads, 1 out of shot to the left, 2nd under the white portacabins & temporary helipad of the workover rig, and 3rd on the gas platform to the right which was only strong enough for the Sealand Longrangers, and they used to park 2 there for lunch sometimes.

Unlike the other fields, the Mora had a single platform and no lit flare, and was some 30nms offshore. So single pilot night landings were interesting here in the rainy season.

Question - Helicopter breaks down offshore on single small helideck and we have no winch on the operation. How do you recover it? Answer - Travel to/from by boat. Approaching one of the Poui's I think to bring back a 212 after it was repaired.

Dave Tye at work fixing the broken 9Y-THH. Yellow tarp over the rear end suggests CBOX or Oil Cooler problems.

Accommodation at Galeota was of a poor standard. Leaking roofs, A/Cs that broke down regularly, contaminated water that came from an oil well as opposed to a water well, and an unreliable electricity supply which went out on average every 32 hrs in my 2 year posting. Back-up generators, when they worked only provided 115 AC, so no A/Cs. This is the Top House, which had the dining area & kitchen. What made the operation work was the excellent food produced by the girls here - still remember Bernie's Rotis and was it Shirley's (?) pizzas.

Across the road and just down a bit was the Bottom House, which had the Bar on the 1st floor which opened out onto a sea view balcony.

Between the crew houses & work we had 2 Bailey bridges. Although a fine piece of British engineering, they were subjected to very harsh corrosive conditions, and regularly overloaded. This is one of 3 failures that occurred in my 2 year posting, with the bridge collapsing under the weight of that crane. Fortunately on each occasion we managed to have 2 company cars on each side of the blockage so transport was not an issue. Another blockage was caused by a local Rastafarian taxi driver who suffered a blow-out mid bridge, and got his taxi wedged between both sides of the bridge. He spent several hours stabbing his taxi with a machete, before being calmed down by the police allowing his taxi to be removed and the road re-opened.