Bristow Photos
The machines we "left behind" wereEP-HBJ Bell 212 30504 (VR-BEG)
EP-HBN Allouette 3 2236
EP-HBO Allouette 3 2198
EP-HBS Allouette 3 M1658 (VR-BFQ)
EP-HBP Allouette 3 2199
EP-HBH Allouette 3 1061 (VR-BEC)
EP-HAQ Bell 206B 8060
EP-HAR Bell 206B 8063
EP-HAY Bell 206B 289
EP-HBT Bell 206B 8199 (VR-BDR)
Flying Training School
In 1961 Bristows secured a contract to train 32 naval pilots for the new helicopter squadrons on their Commando carriers. They gave basic training on Hillers and converted to Whirlwind 1s. All but two passed successfully.
The Flying Training School developed from the naval training programme which had begun in 1962. In the late 1960s as the North Sea operations of the company expanded and twin enginned and twin crew helicopters were introduced, the need for more and more pilots and co-pilots became paramount. The company therefore applied for CAA approval to give training for the Commercial Pilots Licence - Helicopter.
Early in 1971 the CAA gave its approval having vetted the company's flying instructors, ground school, aircraft, accommodation and subsistence facilities. With this approval the company started its cadet helicopter pilot training scheme calling it the HP course.
The course consisted of 100 hours on the Hiller and 50 hours on a Bell 206 Jetranger. This met the 150 hours basic requirement. Originally candidates had to have a Provisional Pilots Licence (PPL) and an Instrument Met. Conditions (IMC) rating, though gradually these requirements were reduced.
By the mid 1970s the Bell 47G2, which the company had used successfully in Iran, took over from the Hiller and in 1980 this was supplanted by the Bell 47G4A . The G4A was not as cramped as the G2 and with its Lycoming 540GN engine had masses of power.
Around 1988 the Bell 47s were themselves replaced by the Robinson R22s and a Slingsby T67C later joined the fleet being used for initial fixed wing training and pilot grading.
The Bristows Flying School was unique in that its aim was always to set standards above the required minimum and indeed pass marks were set deliberately higher. The Flying School closed around 1998, a victim of cut backs.
In 1961 Bristows secured a contract to train 32 naval pilots for the new helicopter squadrons on their Commando carriers. They gave basic training on Hillers and converted to Whirlwind 1s. All but two passed successfully.
The Flying Training School developed from the naval training programme which had begun in 1962. In the late 1960s as the North Sea operations of the company expanded and twin enginned and twin crew helicopters were introduced, the need for more and more pilots and co-pilots became paramount. The company therefore applied for CAA approval to give training for the Commercial Pilots Licence - Helicopter.
Early in 1971 the CAA gave its approval having vetted the company's flying instructors, ground school, aircraft, accommodation and subsistence facilities. With this approval the company started its cadet helicopter pilot training scheme calling it the HP course.
The course consisted of 100 hours on the Hiller and 50 hours on a Bell 206 Jetranger. This met the 150 hours basic requirement. Originally candidates had to have a Provisional Pilots Licence (PPL) and an Instrument Met. Conditions (IMC) rating, though gradually these requirements were reduced.
By the mid 1970s the Bell 47G2, which the company had used successfully in Iran, took over from the Hiller and in 1980 this was supplanted by the Bell 47G4A . The G4A was not as cramped as the G2 and with its Lycoming 540GN engine had masses of power.
Around 1988 the Bell 47s were themselves replaced by the Robinson R22s and a Slingsby T67C later joined the fleet being used for initial fixed wing training and pilot grading.
The Bristows Flying School was unique in that its aim was always to set standards above the required minimum and indeed pass marks were set deliberately higher. The Flying School closed around 1998, a victim of cut backs.
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: vocation
Age: 57
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I occasionally grab a bite to eat in the cafe that's now where the Training school used to be.
Odd really to be eating egg and chips where 21 years ago, George Bedford was giving me a bollocking for doing quick stops into dispersal!
A great shame that they closed the training school down.
Odd really to be eating egg and chips where 21 years ago, George Bedford was giving me a bollocking for doing quick stops into dispersal!
A great shame that they closed the training school down.
maybe wrong.
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Thridle Op Des
Arr the joys of 24.5 inches of MP in a G2!
Westland Bell 47G-4As arrived from Middle Wallop in 1981 - 1981 | 3651 | Flight Archive
G-BLRF (T67C), G-BOEV, G-BOEW, G-BOEX, G-BOEY & G-BOEZ (R22Bs) arrived January 1988. G-BOAM arrived January 1989.
What was the R22B demonstrater used which I think was written off during an engine-off?
Of course the ghosts & memories of the Bristow FTS now live on in the Bristow Academy.
I ran across some old piccies and 35mm slides last night....the guilty might want to start making their excuses.....Papa Charlie, NAR Rig, Somalia, Skye...and a few other places in between. Will start posting them after I get them scanned.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: taking up the hold
Age: 53
Posts: 812
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What was the R22B demonstrater used which I think was written off during an engine-off?
Hence the
stenciled on his headset!
Ah yes....scrounge up an ice machine to provide cold beer....and get it hooked up...plumbed up...for free.....and folks moaned. Remember the air conditioners???
The hot tub was a bit of a failure I will have to admit.....now if we could have gotten a sand filter to work.
I still laugh about the night raid where my Second wuz making like Gopher on Lookout.....when told to stop that as he made us look like thieves...."He replied....but we are!" Told him not to let facts get in the way of progress!
Sent all that chow up to Baidoa.....and they complained it was boringly the same.
Nicked the pressure washers and the other kit......and only the Indonesian really used it....what was his name....Timmy or something like that?
I plead the Fifth on the radio bashing thing.
Then there was the stolen Toyota I replaced for B.J.......and got him off the hook for one motor vehicle.
**** Mate but that was good fun until the Count without an O arrived.
Who was it put the Frozen Strawberries in the cupboard so as to chill some beers in the freezer.....and caused the explosion?
If guilty....there would have been a corpse to ship home!
The hot tub was a bit of a failure I will have to admit.....now if we could have gotten a sand filter to work.
I still laugh about the night raid where my Second wuz making like Gopher on Lookout.....when told to stop that as he made us look like thieves...."He replied....but we are!" Told him not to let facts get in the way of progress!
Sent all that chow up to Baidoa.....and they complained it was boringly the same.
Nicked the pressure washers and the other kit......and only the Indonesian really used it....what was his name....Timmy or something like that?
I plead the Fifth on the radio bashing thing.
Then there was the stolen Toyota I replaced for B.J.......and got him off the hook for one motor vehicle.
**** Mate but that was good fun until the Count without an O arrived.
Who was it put the Frozen Strawberries in the cupboard so as to chill some beers in the freezer.....and caused the explosion?
If guilty....there would have been a corpse to ship home!
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Tail-take-off
un-beknown to them a skid shoe had broken. It subsequently dug in yawed the aircraft & rolled it over.
Update - it was indeed G-BNBT as posted by soggyboxers back on Page 3 of this thread.
Last edited by C.C.C.; 23rd Feb 2010 at 16:36.
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Cornwall
Age: 77
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Talking about Zagross earlier, I came across these couple of pics in my logbook. Apolgies if I have posted them earlier.
I note the entry in my logbook "My first crash. Tail rotor drive failure whilst coming into the hover at Zagross, 7200' We had just crew changed from Isfahan. 1215 local 11th February 1971. EP-HAM. I was only a passenger this time"
I believe the pilots were Jaques Gasselin and Hans Strasser but since it is nearly 40 years ago, the memory might be growing a bit dim!!!
EP-HAM flying again April 1971. I believe "HAM" was an Augusta Bell 204 with the Rolls-Royce Gnome 1000 engine, obtained from Elivie (I think)
John Whale
I note the entry in my logbook "My first crash. Tail rotor drive failure whilst coming into the hover at Zagross, 7200' We had just crew changed from Isfahan. 1215 local 11th February 1971. EP-HAM. I was only a passenger this time"
I believe the pilots were Jaques Gasselin and Hans Strasser but since it is nearly 40 years ago, the memory might be growing a bit dim!!!
EP-HAM flying again April 1971. I believe "HAM" was an Augusta Bell 204 with the Rolls-Royce Gnome 1000 engine, obtained from Elivie (I think)
John Whale
Last edited by TipCap; 21st Feb 2010 at 14:47.
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Cornwall
Age: 77
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A few more pics on the Wessex thread
The above photos were taken whilst doing an underslung task for Guernsey Steel whilst on the Trinity House "run". July 1973
I believe this was at The Casquets resupplying the Lighthouse crews
Regards
John Whale
The above photos were taken whilst doing an underslung task for Guernsey Steel whilst on the Trinity House "run". July 1973
I believe this was at The Casquets resupplying the Lighthouse crews
Regards
John Whale