Alan Bristow Helicopter Pioneer - autobiography
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Devon, UK
Age: 80
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Ernie Perrin is far right front row. John Odlin is 5th from left front row, next to George Fry. Alistair Gordon is to the right of Jack Woolley. Is that Ian Clark, 3rd from left back row? John Nicholls, 4th right front row?? Other familiar faces but after 33 years absence, the names escape me!!
Yes - it's a great story written by a larger than life character!!
Yes - it's a great story written by a larger than life character!!
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Sussex UK
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Bristow/Indonesia
I have great regard for the man ...
I remember him coming to Sarolungan in Indonesia during his farewell tour circa 1980/81. We were a helirig operation with the 212's stripped down to the bare minimums including removing the dual controls to save weight. Of course he wanted to fly and went into one when we said the duals had been removed " you bastards did that on purpose" he ranted " I want an aircraft with a set of duals in in it by the morning" So dutifully we fitted a set to one 212 .... anyway he pitched up at 10 the next morning and demanded to go flying, we had to break the news to him that the aircraft left 3 hours ago and he would have to wait for aircraft to return. Much consternation .. he did eventually get to fly. But the point is I didnt see him for another 20 years but when he saw me he said "your Nick Strange, your the bastard who removed the duals from the 212's in Sarolungan" but he shook my hand and we chatted for long time. I was always amazed at his ability to remember names and faces.
On another note to support Stacy, My fathers name nor mine appeared in his book but I still feel I played a very small part in making Bristows what it is today.
I remember him coming to Sarolungan in Indonesia during his farewell tour circa 1980/81. We were a helirig operation with the 212's stripped down to the bare minimums including removing the dual controls to save weight. Of course he wanted to fly and went into one when we said the duals had been removed " you bastards did that on purpose" he ranted " I want an aircraft with a set of duals in in it by the morning" So dutifully we fitted a set to one 212 .... anyway he pitched up at 10 the next morning and demanded to go flying, we had to break the news to him that the aircraft left 3 hours ago and he would have to wait for aircraft to return. Much consternation .. he did eventually get to fly. But the point is I didnt see him for another 20 years but when he saw me he said "your Nick Strange, your the bastard who removed the duals from the 212's in Sarolungan" but he shook my hand and we chatted for long time. I was always amazed at his ability to remember names and faces.
On another note to support Stacy, My fathers name nor mine appeared in his book but I still feel I played a very small part in making Bristows what it is today.
Last edited by Ainippe; 3rd Aug 2010 at 08:05. Reason: misspell
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Dubai
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Since I am frequently accused of having OCD, just to recap with the latest info:
back row L-R:
John Griffiths
?
Ian Clark
?
?
Chris Fry
Laurence Bristow
Bryan Collins
?
?
Bill Petrie
John Hall
John Willis
Front Row, L-R:
Hans Strasser
?
Bob Roffe
?
John Odlin
George Fry
AB
Jack Woolley
?
Alistair Gordon
?
John Nicholls
?
?
?
Ernie Perrin
In regard to the whinging about the 'unappreciated mass of humanity' or words to that effect, then perhaps the gentleman needs to read the book again (or for the first time
) and see the several occasions AB acknowledges the contribution his staff made to the success of the company. Because of AB, three of my family became career pilots and I am not one to forget that.
The only time I met AB was when he took time out from his busy schedule (giant eraser in hand, scrubbing bits off the drawings he didn't like, for the Aberdeen hangar plans in 1981) to tell me to get my hair cut - he was quite right btw.
back row L-R:
John Griffiths
?
Ian Clark
?
?
Chris Fry
Laurence Bristow
Bryan Collins
?
?
Bill Petrie
John Hall
John Willis
Front Row, L-R:
Hans Strasser
?
Bob Roffe
?
John Odlin
George Fry
AB
Jack Woolley
?
Alistair Gordon
?
John Nicholls
?
?
?
Ernie Perrin
In regard to the whinging about the 'unappreciated mass of humanity' or words to that effect, then perhaps the gentleman needs to read the book again (or for the first time
) and see the several occasions AB acknowledges the contribution his staff made to the success of the company. Because of AB, three of my family became career pilots and I am not one to forget that.The only time I met AB was when he took time out from his busy schedule (giant eraser in hand, scrubbing bits off the drawings he didn't like, for the Aberdeen hangar plans in 1981) to tell me to get my hair cut - he was quite right btw.
Because of AB, three of my family became career pilots and I am not one to forget that.
Now lads...there's bus driving and there is bus driving! The cabin staff and destinations for the fling wingers suffers in comparison to the plank version!
I'll take LHR and Dubai over the Ubits and Eket anytime!
I'll take LHR and Dubai over the Ubits and Eket anytime!
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While desperately trying to avoid thread creep; there are bits of the Ubit and Eket which are better looking than a lot of LHR, sadly though I am now on what is known by my boss as the 'dying fleet' and we go to LAD, LOS, ACC, COK, BOM, AMD, usually at 03 darkly in a monsoon, regrettably the two generation gaps between me and the CC usually mean that neither of us know what each other is on about, so maybe 212man has a point...
Last edited by Thridle Op Des; 4th Aug 2010 at 09:52. Reason: used an upper case 'M' in 212man - sorry, should have known better!
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sorry stacey
dont know you but after 26 years of seeing and being at times subjected to the Bristow culture when people would say
"this is who pays your salary" despite the screaming safety issues
or of the tanked up pilot who was excused by the then BHL Aberdeen Chief Pilot with "well he only has a few years to go"?????
Get real ?
dont know you but after 26 years of seeing and being at times subjected to the Bristow culture when people would say
"this is who pays your salary" despite the screaming safety issues
or of the tanked up pilot who was excused by the then BHL Aberdeen Chief Pilot with "well he only has a few years to go"?????
Get real ?
