Bristow Photos
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Merriott, Somerset, UK
Age: 78
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Hi Roger,
Really nice to see you are still around!!
I think that the last time we met was at CSE in Oxford back in '88, you were recruiting, and I was doing my Aeroplanes II.
Since then I worked briefly for the Royal Flight of Oman, then 14 years with BMW Flight Service in Munich, followed by two years as a Tech. services engineer with the Jordanian Royal Flight.
I've been retired since mid 2011 and enjoy pottering in my model aircraft workshop, and meeting up with like minded old farts to go flying.
I'm sure a lot of guys knew you from Bristows, so expect a few replies on here which will help with getting your 10 posts!
By the way are you aware of 'Bristow old Gits Heliclub' run by Phil Johns on the dreaded Facebook, lots of old pictures on there.
All the very best,
Tony
Really nice to see you are still around!!
I think that the last time we met was at CSE in Oxford back in '88, you were recruiting, and I was doing my Aeroplanes II.
Since then I worked briefly for the Royal Flight of Oman, then 14 years with BMW Flight Service in Munich, followed by two years as a Tech. services engineer with the Jordanian Royal Flight.
I've been retired since mid 2011 and enjoy pottering in my model aircraft workshop, and meeting up with like minded old farts to go flying.
I'm sure a lot of guys knew you from Bristows, so expect a few replies on here which will help with getting your 10 posts!
By the way are you aware of 'Bristow old Gits Heliclub' run by Phil Johns on the dreaded Facebook, lots of old pictures on there.
All the very best,
Tony
Two more Bristow Pilot losses, I'm afraid.
John Whale, former Royal Marine pilot crossed the bar on 28th July, 2018, Big C, I believe.
Dave Duncan, former Royal Marine pilot crossed the bar on 9th November, 2018, lung disease, hardening of the alveoli.
RIP
John Whale, former Royal Marine pilot crossed the bar on 28th July, 2018, Big C, I believe.
Dave Duncan, former Royal Marine pilot crossed the bar on 9th November, 2018, lung disease, hardening of the alveoli.
RIP
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Mandurah, Western Australa
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EP-HAK came to me on the Sofiran contract on Lavan Island. We ended up with a great mix of aircraft. WS 55, Alouette 111 and Jetranger.
We used to fly the Al 111 to Dubai each week for a crew change.
Dave Smith also came to Lavan for a while and he and I were on Rashk 1 and watched as the Wadeco 111 had a blowout. That's a longish story!
We used to fly the Al 111 to Dubai each week for a crew change.
Dave Smith also came to Lavan for a while and he and I were on Rashk 1 and watched as the Wadeco 111 had a blowout. That's a longish story!
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Mandurah, Western Australa
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Certainly brings back memories. The engineer with the aircraft when I was I Iran was Frank (Can't remember his surname but he married an Iranian lady) I went up to Zagross for a short while to carry out a 1000 hour check on that old bird
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Devon, UK
Age: 80
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... and I'm sorry to report two more ex FAA, ex Bristow
Tony Brewster flew west on 19th August 2018 and Nick Wiles very sadly followed on 20th November 2018. RIP
Nick and I shared adjacent stories in Lee Howards recent publication "Wessex Owners Workshop Manual". He survived a main rotor blade detachment!! and mine was a TR drive failure ... both of us very lucky to enjoy another forty plus years on this good Earth.
Tony Brewster flew west on 19th August 2018 and Nick Wiles very sadly followed on 20th November 2018. RIP
Nick and I shared adjacent stories in Lee Howards recent publication "Wessex Owners Workshop Manual". He survived a main rotor blade detachment!! and mine was a TR drive failure ... both of us very lucky to enjoy another forty plus years on this good Earth.
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: West Sussex
Age: 84
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Sad, to hear Nick Wiles has passed, he could not have been that old. I was the Chief Engineer in Port Harcourt when he had the blade failure.
We chopped the end off the blade, mounted it in a wooden base complete with the aircraft data plates, and presented it to him.
We chopped the end off the blade, mounted it in a wooden base complete with the aircraft data plates, and presented it to him.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Merriott, Somerset, UK
Age: 78
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Tony
I'm very sorry to hear about Tony Brewster. As a long time neighbour at Kolombangara at the top of the Ward Hill in Sumburgh, I used to have great conversations with him, and also run into him out hiking all over the place. A very pleasant and interesting gentleman.
For DavidCg, I might take a guess that your colleague in Iran was Frank Brimelow? I read on here once that he was living in Oz now as well.
For DavidCg, I might take a guess that your colleague in Iran was Frank Brimelow? I read on here once that he was living in Oz now as well.
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: West Sussex
Age: 84
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Tony
There is not a lot else to say, except that Westland said that was the only Wessex blade failure they had heard of. There was no technical reason found for the failure. Sods law that of the hundreds of Wessex blades in service, we got that one.
Nick was on the approach to landing when the failure happened, he said that the vibration was so great, that he just drove the aircraft to the ground ,there was only one passenger, a local, who was last seen breaking the 4 minute mile into the medical centre. To my knowledge he was unhurt.
If the failure had happened in the cruise it may have been a different outcome.
As I said, we chopped off the blade from the brake to the tip, and Tony Hobdel mounted it on a piece of polished Nigerian wood. The aircraft was a wright off, so we could salvage the data plates and mounted them on the wooden display.
The only other Westland blade failure I have heard of, was an RAF search and rescue Whirlwind 10 at Leconfield in the sixties, others may know different.
There is not a lot else to say, except that Westland said that was the only Wessex blade failure they had heard of. There was no technical reason found for the failure. Sods law that of the hundreds of Wessex blades in service, we got that one.
Nick was on the approach to landing when the failure happened, he said that the vibration was so great, that he just drove the aircraft to the ground ,there was only one passenger, a local, who was last seen breaking the 4 minute mile into the medical centre. To my knowledge he was unhurt.
If the failure had happened in the cruise it may have been a different outcome.
As I said, we chopped off the blade from the brake to the tip, and Tony Hobdel mounted it on a piece of polished Nigerian wood. The aircraft was a wright off, so we could salvage the data plates and mounted them on the wooden display.
The only other Westland blade failure I have heard of, was an RAF search and rescue Whirlwind 10 at Leconfield in the sixties, others may know different.
Sounds reminiscent of Al Streeter’s B212 blade grip failure. Final to PH IA when one of the lower tangs cracked from one side to the other, leaving the upper tang with all the load. Again, huge vibration and once on the ground it started bouncing itself around on the grass until Al pulled the T- handles. Equally, had it happened much earlier there would have been a very different outcome!
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Shropshire
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Serbia & Montenegro Police 212's
I negotiated the contracts with the authorities in Belgrade and Podgorica (formerly Titograd) , Montenegro) for technical support and major work to their Bell 212 & 206 aircraft on site and at Redhill. The 212's were normally test flown by Peter Barnes, hence the English voice.
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Shropshire
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Hi Dave, you'll know EP-HAK was on the AGIP, Khorramshar contract on exploration work until late 1970. I was there for 2 yrs with Dennis Knight who was replaced by Graham Conway (RIP) plus Ken Kendall, Joe (HJ) Wright (RIP?) Ray Elliot and Dave Smith. Dave took over as CP after Joe Wright became EOC Dave was a brilliant CP and later, as everyone knows, became MP at Aberdeen. Dave & I did a major project together near the city of Qom for French civil engineers building a micro wave station on top of Mt Nazar. I started off on Lavan doing a Check 4 on EP-HAG with John Truslove, Peter Rhodes & Ron Swinn (RIP) before transferring to Khorramshar.
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: France
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Missing friend
Hi there all you Gulf veterans.
Looking through some old photos I realised that nobody has mentioned one of the well known characters that showed up on several of them.
Known to all as 'Phil' full name Philipose, the initial N, the name unpronouncable for a non-Indian! I worked with him for years as a friend and would like to know if he is still around. Anybody?
Roger
Looking through some old photos I realised that nobody has mentioned one of the well known characters that showed up on several of them.
Known to all as 'Phil' full name Philipose, the initial N, the name unpronouncable for a non-Indian! I worked with him for years as a friend and would like to know if he is still around. Anybody?
Roger
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Gosport, UK
Age: 71
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Hi Roger
Sorry to say 'Ken' Phililpose passed away some trime ago, memory prevents me from remembering exactly when and why, I last saw him in Nigeria at Eket when I had him working for me on a work party many years ago (early 90's??).
Sorry to say 'Ken' Phililpose passed away some trime ago, memory prevents me from remembering exactly when and why, I last saw him in Nigeria at Eket when I had him working for me on a work party many years ago (early 90's??).
Ken was very much a Gentleman and a darn good Engineer.
I always enjoyed. his company!
I always enjoyed. his company!