Return to Bristow bases

..........Bristow Base: Falklands Islands.

Ever since Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands
the British armed forces have maintained a considerable
presence there, and in 1983 Bristows commenced a
contract to supply three S-61s in support of the Falkland
Islands Garrison.
For a short time an S-61 was also on contract to the oil
exploration consortium during the first drilling campaign
but this proved to be short lived as test holes did not live up to expectations.
Another small contract was the operation of a Dornier 228 for the Falkland
Islands Government in a fisheries protection role.

The hangarage was provided by the military.
A lot of underslung work was carried out, typically
between supply ships and shore, hence the need for
rear view mirrors as can be seen in the picture below.


Operations were based at RAF Mount Pleasant and
this shot shows ex Aberdeen S-61, G-BBHM, parked
in front of an RAF Tristar. The Tristars were used to
ferry personal between U.K. and the Falklands via the
Ascension Islands, the journey taking approximately
18 hours and covering 7,400 miles (ish).

The work involved ferrying personal and supplies
around the islands' various outposts.
This photo shows the "Club Class" area in the S-61
cabin.
Fresh fruit available on this flight!

A legacy from the war were the infamous "Penguin
Mines". Apparently, the enemy forced many penguins
to swallow mines in the hope that they would wander into
British held areas and detonate.
But seriously, the Islands shores are teeming with wildlife
and flights to visit the Penguin and Sea-Lion colonies were
one of the highlights of a Falklands posting. O.K. except for all of you that never
got out of this place: A fine collection of Bristows "wildlife".

And finally a few shots that illustrate the bleakness of the place including
Stanley golf course, the most Southerly in the world - and the roughest?

The Real Falklands!

Thanks to Andrew Rice for the following:

Bristow operations started in 1983 and were based at Stanley airport
along with Phantoms, C130s and Seakings. There was no hangar and
facilities were minimal. Accommodation was in barges on Stanley Inner
Harbour (Now used as prison ships!). Washing was all done at the airport
porta-cabin, except when the water tank froze.... Crew change was by C130
to Ascension, and sometimes all the way to the UK, with in-flight refuelling.
The first surveyor for the Mount Pleasant Airport was landed on the virgin
site by Bristow S61 in 1984.
The following are pics from the early years.

Bristow offices and wheels
at Stanley, 1984.




Getting there - Business
class on the C130!, 1983.




The Coastel accommodation,
Stanley inner harbour, c1984.




Getting there 2 - C130 refuelling
from a Victor tanker ex Ascension
Islands,