PPRuNe Forums - Bristow Sumburgh

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I hope I spelt that correctly!
A sad day indeed. I first arrived in Sumburgh in March 1975 with B212 G-BARJ, operated by BEAS on behalf of Viking Piper, the first fully computerised laybarge in the N.Sea laying the Ninian pipeline to Unst.
I seem to recall being hangared in half a hangar shared with Loganair's Islander at the time. I also recall the Loganair Chief Pilot possessed an extremely attractive daughter or am I having a senior moment!
Far from climbing up the Brent legs we had to climb down them as the helipads were at the sea surface not having been positioned on the top at that time.
I also recall an S61 pilot, company unremembered saying that we, BEAS that is, should be booted off the airfield as we were taking the bread from their mouths! A sad statement then as now.
Nights in 'Colditz' and the largest concrete portacabin on the island are now only dimly remembered although I do recall Johny Grantham RIP being hauled out of the bar along with Ian Leslie (hotel manager) to fly a medevac mission at some late/early hour to the VP barge!
Happy days indeed,
with fraternal greetings,
ambi:ok:

Packet of Biscuits

First operated out of Sumburgh in 1981 as a junior co-pilot flying G-BFEU for BNOC to the Thistle & Stena Seaspread. Will always remember the following story.

One of my Captains was the late Ron Miles. He always did the radio (FM in those days) to the Thistle radio room and ordered a packet of biscuits, and always did the helideck turnaround. Took me several days, after not getting any biscuits to eat, to work out that this was Ron's secret code for a box of 200 cigarettes. G-BFEU had the Aerospatiale VIP cabin interior (which lead to the BHL Tiger interior), and had a convenient hiding place for said box of 200.

This tradition later continued on the Tiger when I flew with Ron out of Aberdeen.

28 years later I returned to Sumburgh as a co-pilot again, although changed the SA330J for an SK92.

And the Ghost is still alive at 'Colditz'.

I also used to fly with Ron on the 332 from Aberdeen to the Thistle. Ron used to make me take half his "biscuits" and put them in my pockets while he had the other 5 packs. We would rendezvous in the planning room and I would hand them over to him. The Thistle HLO was called "Tosh" and he would usually have biscuits already in the HLO shack ready to pick up.

One of the great characters was "Uncle" Ron, I learned a lot from him and remember him with great respect, he and his wife were dear friends.

An afternoon session in the Craighaar Hotel bar with Ron was an educational experience. It certainly taught me a lesson :ouch:

Wot, no tools?

Ron inbound to Sumburgh in a 330J in 1979

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...thewayback.jpg

Can confirm an afternoon session at the Craighar bar with Ron and co was a real head spinner :eek:

Other rogues lurking with pints in hand included Eddie Ford, Dave Stevens, Steve Ford, and a few other names that escape my booze riddled grey cells now that nature has allowed me old bones to pass the 50 mark :ok:

Ron was a truly wonderful fella, and the full story of his family is a tragic one..:(

My brother dated his daughter for quite a while, so his story is close to my heart.... One of the original gentlemen pilots.....:ok:

Some Sumburgh Vintage Pics from nessboy

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....3a6af89882.jpg
G-BERG - First SA330J Based at Sumburgh (Dec 77)
Peter Hutchison, Lawrie Moar, Graham Moir, Ian Nelson, Chris Jackson, Hugh Whitfield and Cliff Saffron

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....46fe45ad87.jpg
Peter Moar & Bob Simpson, board G-BCLC to rescue S58ET G-BCDG which made an "unscheduled fuel stop" on Fair Isle

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....72e01e1844.jpg
Dick Jones, Bob Simpson, S58ET Pilot Bob Griffiths and Peter Moar

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0048563b6a.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....58d027bc1a.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....1be9d15e26.jpg
Wot ! No Accordion Peter !!!!

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....f0ba715d73.jpg
Dave MacKay

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....eee8af3c66.jpg
Sandy Duncan, Jimmy Ridland, Geordie Munro & Martin Colvin having their 10'o'clocks

Griffo....I seem to recall you wearing diapers whenn I wuz in the Shetlands! But then drinking age laws were loosely enforced there as I recall!

A Few More Sumburgh Scenes

Some More Sumburgh SAR Pictures from QuarryBoy

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a6f7dc54ef.jpg

The Final Roll Call of staff based at Sumburgh at the end of the SAR contract

Is that Mat Lucas in the group photo? ;)

Some Former Sumburgh Faces

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....95a642bdf1.jpg
Kieran Murray

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0222556208.jpg
Mike Hallums

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....e8395d210e.jpg
Gerald Flaws, Jonathan Shelbourne and Tony Jones

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d8455ab99a.jpg
Tony Jones observing typical party behaviour from Geordie Munro & Kieran Murray

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....cf3338df01.jpg
Rare picture of Geordie showing Gerald the contents of his wallet

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c45edde150.jpg
Trust Binnie to get in the picture !!!

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....44c9f4a462.jpg

John Rawlings & Glennda Oldbury (seems like a nice boy!) :eek:

I last saw John in July as he was (very kindly) flying me to Hong Kong in his Virgin Atlantic A340. As I recall, his prospective choice of bar companions for his stay there were rather more attractive that Glenda :ok:

Bristow Sumburgh

Brilliant stuff! 185 Radial ,
Welcome aboard and keep the pics coming !:ok:

I Just knew some pics of Biggly Bob would appear before too long :)

Bristow Sumburgh...and some in colour

Nice Pics 185, did you have a beard way back then?

and a few more black and whites

...and the stored 61s