Bristow Photos
Emden
The photos and info below were sent to me by Dick Jones a few years back.
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.
THE EMDEN WHIRLWIND INCIDENT
By Dick Jones.
1964: WS55 series 3: Whirlwind D-HODE (Westland demonstrator). Note paint scheme.
Capt. Willy Weitzel had an engine failure close to the rig Mr. Louie. He landed the machine perfectly on the sea, and the helicopter was manoeuvred to the rig and hoisted alongside from its lifting eye by the rig crane. It was suspended there for most of the day until a rig supply boat came alongside and the helicopter was lowered on to it without a scratch. The supply boat then returned to Emden docks where a huge dockside crane was positioned overhead and the helicopter attached, still by its lifting eye. The crane operator was positioned way up in the clouds and when signalled to raise the helicopter, it was snatched off the boat rapidly to height of about 30 ft and then the lifting eye unscrewed itself and the helicopter did its last hover before gently descending back on the boat with a crunch.
I believe the helicopter was returned to Westlands and rebuilt.
The photos and info below were sent to me by Dick Jones a few years back.
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.
THE EMDEN WHIRLWIND INCIDENT
By Dick Jones.
1964: WS55 series 3: Whirlwind D-HODE (Westland demonstrator). Note paint scheme.
Capt. Willy Weitzel had an engine failure close to the rig Mr. Louie. He landed the machine perfectly on the sea, and the helicopter was manoeuvred to the rig and hoisted alongside from its lifting eye by the rig crane. It was suspended there for most of the day until a rig supply boat came alongside and the helicopter was lowered on to it without a scratch. The supply boat then returned to Emden docks where a huge dockside crane was positioned overhead and the helicopter attached, still by its lifting eye. The crane operator was positioned way up in the clouds and when signalled to raise the helicopter, it was snatched off the boat rapidly to height of about 30 ft and then the lifting eye unscrewed itself and the helicopter did its last hover before gently descending back on the boat with a crunch.
I believe the helicopter was returned to Westlands and rebuilt.
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It would appear that Emden Whirlwind was indeed rebuilt & ended it'sflying career in Nigeria:
It's registration history from ROTORSPOT - Complete Civil Rotorcraft Register of Germany (part 2)
It's registration history from ROTORSPOT - Complete Civil Rotorcraft Register of Germany (part 2)
(G-605(9G)),G-ASOU,D-HODE,G-ASOU,5N-AGK,G-ASOU,VR-BDG,5N-AIN
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Information Request
I am looking for the original source material for the Air Whaling photos, does anyone know where they came from? I have already spoken to Dave Ed and he cannot recollect their origin. We have some ourselves but it would be great to get hold of any more.
Regards TOD
Regards TOD
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Ernie Perrin
Hi John,
Great photo, must be his last days flying.
Do you remember helping to develop the Bendix 1400 radar in the late 70's and early 80's when I think you were CP S76A. Long before I joined BHL, me, Ron Carlson, Lee? Lea Smith and Frank the G was the only one that would answer the phone. Lets not forget Simon Witts ( or less ). You are missed. K. Enjoy.
Great photo, must be his last days flying.
Do you remember helping to develop the Bendix 1400 radar in the late 70's and early 80's when I think you were CP S76A. Long before I joined BHL, me, Ron Carlson, Lee? Lea Smith and Frank the G was the only one that would answer the phone. Lets not forget Simon Witts ( or less ). You are missed. K. Enjoy.
EP-HBF.....photo taken by Kapitan Feldwelbel Gunter Burmeister on the BICC contract near Aligudarz....known as the High Camp.....7200 MSL I think the camp was. Portacabins....Swamp Coolers...grilled steak at night...interesting work building a Hi-Tension power line.
That photo made the Bristow Calender and graced the ivory halls at Redhill.
My fifteen minutes of fame!
Fluke of a photograph.....I wuz wearing shoes that day! Must have been cooler weather than normal.
That photo made the Bristow Calender and graced the ivory halls at Redhill.
My fifteen minutes of fame!
Fluke of a photograph.....I wuz wearing shoes that day! Must have been cooler weather than normal.
Sas, why are you trying to drag the load backwards? 
Old Chinook pilot here 212man.....one just drags the hook onto the loop at the top of the strop and does it by yourself.....no need for a hook up man....this easier to do that with the line laid out in front of you. Mind you un-hooking was a bit tougher if you did not want to get out of the aircraft everytime....you had to find a rock to push the keeper back as you rotated the hook out of the strop.
If I had known Gunter was going to be there with his box Brownie....I would have worn my Captain's shirt.....the Orange/Red/Yellow/Green/Blue one from Thailand/adorned with hundreds of wee dragons...with the triangle shaped sleeves....the ones that were about two foot across at the mid-forearm and normal sized at the shoulders. Combined with a pair of shorts and flip-flops....I wuz da Man!
Dat's ma story....and I am sticking to it!
Things were a bit less formal than later life at Bristow....and far more fun over all too!
If I had known Gunter was going to be there with his box Brownie....I would have worn my Captain's shirt.....the Orange/Red/Yellow/Green/Blue one from Thailand/adorned with hundreds of wee dragons...with the triangle shaped sleeves....the ones that were about two foot across at the mid-forearm and normal sized at the shoulders. Combined with a pair of shorts and flip-flops....I wuz da Man!
Dat's ma story....and I am sticking to it!
Things were a bit less formal than later life at Bristow....and far more fun over all too!
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I operated Bristow Alouette 3s in Cape Town on a lighthouse contract, in
Morroccco, in Greenland and in a number of places in Iran.
The above picture is of the base camp at Zagross at 8000' the rig
was at 11000'. The 212 is 30504 as far as I remember, the demonstrater
that Bristow bought and first commercial one.
Morroccco, in Greenland and in a number of places in Iran.
The above picture is of the base camp at Zagross at 8000' the rig
was at 11000'. The 212 is 30504 as far as I remember, the demonstrater
that Bristow bought and first commercial one.
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VR-BEG
VR-BEG was certainly the lowest serial no operated by BHL. Re-registered as EP-HBJ & was, I believe, the only 212 not to make it out of Iran as part of "Sandstorm" due to being AOG at the time.
Can anyone confirm?
Can anyone confirm?
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I think the main reason for leaving it was that in never had the pop-out float fit and would have stuck out like dogs gonades when refueling on the rig on the way. It was certainly the first 212, it was painted metallic brown when I first saw it!!
The Alouette 3 originally belonged to the President of Veit Nam in the late 60's. (An Air Vice-Marshall if my memory is correct,) We had a tail totor piano wire control failure in South Africa and ended up spread over a vinyard in Wellington then it went back to France for rebuild.
The Alouette 3 originally belonged to the President of Veit Nam in the late 60's. (An Air Vice-Marshall if my memory is correct,) We had a tail totor piano wire control failure in South Africa and ended up spread over a vinyard in Wellington then it went back to France for rebuild.
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Another reason - I seem to remember that BEG had very early electrics, more like a 205, and would have cost a fortune to make it 'proper like'.
That's one helluva run on landing. 
... a tail rotor piano wire control failure in South Africa and ended up spread over a vineyard in Wellington
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According to ABs Autobiography which I have just finished reading, one 212 was left at kharg because it was in pieces, undergoing maintenance. He does not quote the registration or serial number however. Also left (quote) were some Jet rangers, and four Alouettes.
The book is a great read, his recollection of people, events and places, for a man in his eighties was amazing.
The book is a great read, his recollection of people, events and places, for a man in his eighties was amazing.
Very much akin to a Bell 205....which it was built from initially. It's sibling might still be in Nigeria....the one that came from Accra after an Air Log 1200 hour.