|
Remember post 1305?
The ex Gulf Helicopter 212 has now been cloned with 30ish Bristow mods by FBH. I was kneeling in the cockpit today going through prelimary functional checks and it was only later on, driving back to the hotel, that I realised that most of those checks were done with the use of ears!! I am lucky to have never really worked on a software controlled aircraft. In a quiet hangar, I can hear a fuel valve/boost pump, idle stop solenoid, HISL anti collision light, force trim solenoids, AP/FD relays, nav switching relays etc etc. Fault finding by ears - a disappearing art! It is quite satisfying giving a new lease of life to a 30 year old 212. Proabably got another 20 years in her now. http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...ished003-1.jpg http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...inished001.jpg |
I am lucky to have never really worked on a software controlled aircraft. Hmm. In the aircraft I fly these days if it doesn't work cycle the circuit breaker. If that doesn't work do a byte test then start changing boxes. |
Without wishing to flatter, that's some lovely looming there. Good to see the CWP back where it is supposed to be!
|
I hope you used Kapton, to give it that authentic feel :E
|
TOD
It's an art! Not many avionic engineers are capable of it and when you find a good contract wireman - you hold onto him!! The trouble is nowadays we aren't teaching the younger engineers in the industry how to approach a complicated mod programme like this. The last trainees/apprentices I had working with me was about 20 years ago and we are going to lose so many experienced guys in the next 10 years without their experience and hard learnt skills being passed on. It winds me up:ugh: .......and C*apton.... Oh, the memories of inspecting installed S76 main gearbox looms wired with the stuff:bored: http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...eforeafter.jpg Got a few Puma pics, I'll throw on later.......after Man Utd give Liverpool a good thrashing:) |
Solid, agricultural...I have quite a few Miri photos which I'll dig out of the loft.
|
Bristow Aberdeen
Having only managed to post a thumbnail of this pic the last time I decided to post it again now that I have worked out how to put a full size pic in the post.
Taken outside the original hanger in 1973 with G-AZRF and possibly G-AZDC or G-AZNE in the background. http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/y...0pics/1972.jpg G-AZNE late afternoon takeoff winter 1973. This is when the new office block/passenger terminal was being built and was then opened by the Duke of Edinburgh. http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/y...ics/img359.jpg |
Good question - where did all those Pumas end up?
OK, having smuggled a load of slides and pics out of Redhill I had two options for the slides... 1. Stick with my very expensive, quite old, a pain of a thing to use with difficult software ...slide scanner.. OR 2. Buy a new tech plug and play, no hassle, £50 scanner from Maplins in Shrewsbury. No contest - I have a new scanner:O Does the job OK considering we are working with "abused" source material!! So, from now on I am going for quality, not quantity..and here is the first. Written on slide......"Bell 205A-1 PK-HBU, 24th May 1983, Eddy Purwono lifting Gearhart unit, Rig 56, Metas location, Sumatra. Photo by CPT. L.E.Koppe" http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...HBUSumatra.jpg |
Mmmm ....
And Lester is still taking great photographs ... to this day ..... :D |
Where did all those Bristow Pumas end up; are they still flying? 1472 G-BERG,VH-WOB,P2-PHZ,N10241 1475 G-BERH,VH-WOE,G-BERH,VH-WOE,N405R,PP-MGB,N405R 1478 G-BFEU,VH-WOD,N505R,HC-CDO,N505R 1481 G-BFJX,9M-SSC written off 1484 G-BFJY,9M-SSG written off 1508 G-BFKZ,VH-WOF,G-BFKZ,VR-BIG,VH-WOF written off 1514 G-BFNF,9M-SSD,N330JF 1490 G-BFPN,9M-SSF 1526 G-BFSV,VH-BHO[2],G-BFSV,9M-SSI,VH-WOA written off 1557 G-BFTV,9M-SSE cancelled 1517 F-GCJI,G-BJWS destroyed 1586 C-GMNP,N5593A,G-BKAI,9M-SSJ,G-BKAI,9M-SSJ |
One via Les Smith...
G-BFNF, one time 9M-SSD, in it’s current guise of N330JF working for the US Navy on contract VERTREP (nice navy term there !) I think that company had four or five of our old 330s, another is visible at the back of the other boat (not a nice navy term !) should be ‘at the stern of the other vessel’ !! http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...uma/N330JF.jpg |
A real bunch of optimists. They have taken off the flop gear.
|
Bob Holly is headed for the Vertrep contract held by Evergreen....seems he just cannot retire! He says 50 hours of Puma time and a packed kitbag qualifies one for the job.
|
One from the Redhill archives..........no info.
Not careers for the faint hearted - the crew (one or two?) in the single engined 204? and the the other with the spanners, on top of the pylon!! Sure beats working in an office. http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...c/205pylon.jpg |
|
That looks like Bob Turner looking into the Tail Servo bay, I stand to be corrected!
|
Bristows in the USA
My first trip abroad for BHL was to Pleasantville near Atlantic City.
The 212 had suffered an overtorque and since the complete transmission was to be changed Bill Petrie told me to go out and help get the thing tracked and balanced using the Chadwick. Brian Williams was the Chief Eng. We built up the twinpack in his garage as you can see there was little of the hanger at that time. This was at the end of November and it was freezing. http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/y...ics/img366.jpg http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/y...ics/img367.jpg |
More from the USA
A trip to the Southern States after BHL took over Offshore Helicopters Inc.
Was then known as BOHI. The base at Sabine Pass had a variety of helicopters. Dick Davidson (RIP) was Engineering Manager. A Hughes 500. http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/y...ics/img371.jpg A Eurocopter AStar at Sabine Pass http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/y...ics/img372.jpg Two AStars and a Gazelle at Sabine Pass http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/y...ics/img373.jpg Jefferson County, John Ferrall was the Chief Engineer A whole load of differant machines here, S76, B212, AStars, Hughes. http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/y...ics/img370.jpg Abbeyville had a lot of the small stuff, Sandy Ogilvie was the Chief Engineer. http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/y...ics/img368.jpg This was Houma in Louisiana where there were a few 212's and Brian Williams was the Chief Engineer after being at Atlantic City. http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/y...ics/img369.jpg |
How sad!
Bell 212 Ex VR-BFE, 9Y-TEY, long term Trinidad based aircraft.
HK-4518X on Flickr - Photo Sharing! |
| All times are GMT. The time now is 14:24. |
Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.