Bristow Photos
Abu Dhabi or Das at a guess.
The lower pic is the old north block admin building undergoing renovation by the looks of it. Has to be 1960's. Nice Vauxhall Victor.
The lower pic is the old north block admin building undergoing renovation by the looks of it. Has to be 1960's. Nice Vauxhall Victor.
A pic from Dave Gash.
This photo was taken the day before BZ departed from North Denes going I don't know where.
The names left to right:
Robby Parker, Doug Sturman, Fred Ling, Dave Gash, and Paul Holmes. The pilot was Des Sadler.
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
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G-ANJV was in Abu Dhabi from May 1969, having been ferried out from the UK, Brian Williams was the engineer for the ferry flight. John Griffiths set up the operation and Cliff Saffron was the Station Engineer. The client was ADOC (Japan) and the rig was Pegasus. Not sure where she went after AUH.
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G-ANJV
I did a leave relief for Brian Williams in Abu Dhabi, must have been 1970. I was studying for my licence at that time, and as my bedroom also doubled up as Cliffs tech office, it was a good opportunity to get to know the company paperwork.
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I was talking with someone today whose instructor in the 70s was D E Eddie Ford. Uncle Eddie was always a great flying companion in the early days of the Bristow 332Ls and before that I sometimes used to share a house with him and David Stephens in Sumburgh which led to the odd headache next morning. Eddie was always a great Training Captain when doing the IBC and IRR.
Anyone know what happened to Eddie? He would be getting advanced in years now but my conversation today brought back many memories and I hope he is either OK or resting upstairs.
Anyone know what happened to Eddie? He would be getting advanced in years now but my conversation today brought back many memories and I hope he is either OK or resting upstairs.
I was hoping someone could translate the shorthand on the back of the last pic!
Here is an old shot of early Port Harcourt, Nigeria, including a couple of Whirlwind 1's and a Twin Pioneer. I don't suppose there are many Twin Pioneer pilot's / engineers on this thread!
Here is an old shot of early Port Harcourt, Nigeria, including a couple of Whirlwind 1's and a Twin Pioneer. I don't suppose there are many Twin Pioneer pilot's / engineers on this thread!
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Twin Pioneer
There is at least one Twin Pin engineer on this thread, I was on them in Singapore, though with the RAF, not Bristow. They did a good job in the , malayan and Borneo emergencies landing in very small jungle clearings. They also had loudhailers that played Christmas carols.
A twin Pin has actually been seen to fly backwards, (ground speed wise), in a headwind.
A twin Pin has actually been seen to fly backwards, (ground speed wise), in a headwind.
I am trying to get Larry Coram on-line, he was very much involved in Nigeria in the early days, unfortunately, he is still getting to grips with modern technology so we may expect some relevations from those far off days soon.
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Twin Pioneer
The STOL capability of the Single Pioneer was equally impressive, I remember seeing one doing what was effectively a vertical landing at Noblefield K.L. in the early 60's
Intro from the old Skyweaver website plus some bristow archive pics.
Bristow Base: Manston, U.K.
After the RAF withdrew 22 Squadron helicopter detachment from Manston a contract was placed with Bristow Helicopters Ltd. for the provision of Whirlwind Series III helicopters to operate for a trial period from June 1st, 1971 to December 31st, 1972. This being the first civilian Coastguard Heli-copter Unit operating under the direct control of H.M. Coastguard.
Agreement with the RAF on provision of base facilities, both operational and domestic, was reached. The domestic side (i.e. hangar, office, storage, crew room and safety equipment spaces) fell short of expectations, but had to be accepted, with reservations, in order to meet the planned start date.
On the operational side, however, the Air Traffic Control facility, fuelling arrangements and use of equipment were found to be highly satisfactory.
The operation was linked by a direct line to Dover Straits Coastguard and on the third day of operations, with a scramble time of two minutes, a child was rescued from the sea in the Folkstone area some 16 miles from Manston.
The contract was to have available, from twilight to twilight, a WS55 Whirlwind fully equipped with radio facilities to keep in touch with land based SAR facilities and mobile units such as lifeboats and ships.
Another Whirlwind was held at Redhill as a back-up machine G-AYNP I believe.
Compared with the multitude of avionics fitted to current SAR machines the list of equipment, fitted to the SAR Whirlwinds, gives an interesting comparison:
Decca Mk8 Navigator, 1 x VHF AM Homer,1 x VHF FM, 1 x PA, 1 x VHF AM,1 x ADF
Bristow Base: Manston, U.K.
After the RAF withdrew 22 Squadron helicopter detachment from Manston a contract was placed with Bristow Helicopters Ltd. for the provision of Whirlwind Series III helicopters to operate for a trial period from June 1st, 1971 to December 31st, 1972. This being the first civilian Coastguard Heli-copter Unit operating under the direct control of H.M. Coastguard.
Agreement with the RAF on provision of base facilities, both operational and domestic, was reached. The domestic side (i.e. hangar, office, storage, crew room and safety equipment spaces) fell short of expectations, but had to be accepted, with reservations, in order to meet the planned start date.
On the operational side, however, the Air Traffic Control facility, fuelling arrangements and use of equipment were found to be highly satisfactory.
The operation was linked by a direct line to Dover Straits Coastguard and on the third day of operations, with a scramble time of two minutes, a child was rescued from the sea in the Folkstone area some 16 miles from Manston.
The contract was to have available, from twilight to twilight, a WS55 Whirlwind fully equipped with radio facilities to keep in touch with land based SAR facilities and mobile units such as lifeboats and ships.
Another Whirlwind was held at Redhill as a back-up machine G-AYNP I believe.
Compared with the multitude of avionics fitted to current SAR machines the list of equipment, fitted to the SAR Whirlwinds, gives an interesting comparison:
Decca Mk8 Navigator, 1 x VHF AM Homer,1 x VHF FM, 1 x PA, 1 x VHF AM,1 x ADF