Shetland Chinook legacy remembered
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I can vouch for the fact that Alan Bristow seriously considered purchasing the BV 234 and that he led a team to Boeing for an in depth assessment. As a hugely experienced test pilot and with the support of gifted engineers, he did not like what he saw. The negotiations that followed were really only ever going one way and that same team then addressed the redesign of the AS 330J Puma with Aerospatiale to incorporate elements of the AS 331, which I saw in a hangar in Marignane, and came up with the AS 332. Mr Bristow saw this option as addressing the wider needs of the oil industry at that time, not merely the Brent field, hence the initial order of 35 aircraft.
It has to be agreed that the BV 234 had its problems at first, having a beer or three with Dave Humble in the Skean Dhu after he had spent all day wearing a rectal thermometer to gain data on his core temperature after prolonged exposure to vibration was only ever a one way conversation!
The BV 234 was limited in speed fairly soon after introduction due to vibration, leading to the story about the official complaint for ungentlemanly conduct prompted by the AS 332 which overtook whilst lowering its undercarriage. The AS 332 was not without its own blemishes but do not let the facts of the 234`s shortcomings be obscured by the partisan bias fuelled by the `Strike of 77` as would appear to be happening in AB`s thinly disguised rant.
It has to be agreed that the BV 234 had its problems at first, having a beer or three with Dave Humble in the Skean Dhu after he had spent all day wearing a rectal thermometer to gain data on his core temperature after prolonged exposure to vibration was only ever a one way conversation!
The BV 234 was limited in speed fairly soon after introduction due to vibration, leading to the story about the official complaint for ungentlemanly conduct prompted by the AS 332 which overtook whilst lowering its undercarriage. The AS 332 was not without its own blemishes but do not let the facts of the 234`s shortcomings be obscured by the partisan bias fuelled by the `Strike of 77` as would appear to be happening in AB`s thinly disguised rant.
Avoid imitations
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It is no different to miners going to work standing in a dark metal cage or fishermen/offshore windmill workers hanging on to a railing for grim death.
Probably the final nail in the coffin....there was a survivor of the Chinook Gear box failure....not so the S-61's Spindle slingings or the Bond Super Puma head shucking.
Says everything about Fate, Luck, and Divine Intervention...and not anything about Engineering.
Says everything about Fate, Luck, and Divine Intervention...and not anything about Engineering.
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Snarlie, a piece of advice if I may;
"Rant" Best not to use words if you don't understand them. Dictionaries are readily available, it seems you need one. Look it up.
1977 strike. Had you made even a token effort to read this thread you'd see that I was a new FO at the time of the accident, 1986. It would be readily apparent to anyone who cares to think for even an instant that that was ancient history (9 years previously) and I could have had no connection with it whatsoever. Whatever made you come out with a random brainfart like that I cannot imagine.
Look up "unwarranted" and "assumption" while you're at it too.
"Rant" Best not to use words if you don't understand them. Dictionaries are readily available, it seems you need one. Look it up.
1977 strike. Had you made even a token effort to read this thread you'd see that I was a new FO at the time of the accident, 1986. It would be readily apparent to anyone who cares to think for even an instant that that was ancient history (9 years previously) and I could have had no connection with it whatsoever. Whatever made you come out with a random brainfart like that I cannot imagine.
Look up "unwarranted" and "assumption" while you're at it too.
Funny how Union movements within the Helicopter industry generate such strong support and dissent simultaneously. Granted those that have benefited from such movements without raising a hand oft times are the very worse critics.
Anyone that says Unions are all evil....need to look at their pay cheque one payday and think what it might have been sans Pilots getting together and demanding better wages, benefits, and working conditions!
Anyone that says Unions are all evil....need to look at their pay cheque one payday and think what it might have been sans Pilots getting together and demanding better wages, benefits, and working conditions!
Thread Starter
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Anyone that says Unions are all evil....need to look at their pay cheque one payday
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After 26 years a Committee has been formed to erect a Memorial to all those that were killed in this crash along with three other Incidents around the waters of Shetland.
On the 31st of July 1979 Dan Air flight 0034 an HS748 aeroplane failed to safely take-off from Sumburgh airport with the loss of 17 lives. Seven years later on the 6th November 1986 a Chinook helicopter returning from offshore, suffered mechanical failure 2.5 miles east of Sumburgh Airport with the loss of 45 lives. Four years afterwards, on the 25th of July 1990, during a shuttle operation in the Brent oil field an S61 Helicopter ditched beside the Brent Spar installation, 112 miles north-east of Sumburgh with the loss of 6 lives. On the 14th March 1992, whilst transferring oil workers from the Cormorant Alpha platform 102 miles north-east of Sumburgh, an AS332L helicopter crashed with the loss of 11 lives.
the website is here Home
if anyone would like to contribute towards the Memorial the committee would be eternally grateful.
there is also a Facebook page if you could click the "Like" button that would also help get this out there for more people to see.
Thankyou in Advance
R1
On the 31st of July 1979 Dan Air flight 0034 an HS748 aeroplane failed to safely take-off from Sumburgh airport with the loss of 17 lives. Seven years later on the 6th November 1986 a Chinook helicopter returning from offshore, suffered mechanical failure 2.5 miles east of Sumburgh Airport with the loss of 45 lives. Four years afterwards, on the 25th of July 1990, during a shuttle operation in the Brent oil field an S61 Helicopter ditched beside the Brent Spar installation, 112 miles north-east of Sumburgh with the loss of 6 lives. On the 14th March 1992, whilst transferring oil workers from the Cormorant Alpha platform 102 miles north-east of Sumburgh, an AS332L helicopter crashed with the loss of 11 lives.
the website is here Home
if anyone would like to contribute towards the Memorial the committee would be eternally grateful.
there is also a Facebook page if you could click the "Like" button that would also help get this out there for more people to see.
Thankyou in Advance
R1
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Rescue 1 - I see from the list of contributors to the memorial that you are already in contact with the widow of one of the Dan Air pilots who used to be one of my neighbours. I'm also in contact with the widow of one of the passengers and will let her know about the project and website details.
Last edited by CharlieOneSix; 10th Nov 2012 at 12:15.
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Thankyou CharlieOneSix if anyone else knows of any other relatives or survivors of any of these incidents could you do the same please, They are hoping to have the Memorial opened next May.
Regards
R1
Regards
R1
Snarlie.
I was at the Connecticut Lycoming factory at the time that Alan Bristow announced he didn't want the 234. I was investigating a failure of a T53-13 Bell 205A-1 engine in Indonesia at the time. I was quizzed by several Lycoming executives as the 234 engine (T55) had failed some tests on a test bed. It was thought by them that I had heard (I hadn't) about the problems and telephoned Alan.
I was at the Connecticut Lycoming factory at the time that Alan Bristow announced he didn't want the 234. I was investigating a failure of a T53-13 Bell 205A-1 engine in Indonesia at the time. I was quizzed by several Lycoming executives as the 234 engine (T55) had failed some tests on a test bed. It was thought by them that I had heard (I hadn't) about the problems and telephoned Alan.
Last edited by Oldlae; 11th Nov 2012 at 08:44.
