CHAPTER THIRTY
The two-polished S-61N Sikorsky’s sporting their red, white and blue stripes with the Bristow ribbon trademark, stood on the grass outside Hangar 6. They glistened as the sun winked off the bodywork while the pilots walked around the craft to do the first preflight checklist of the day. The fiberglass water buckets with their long lines attached to the cargo hook sat neatly by each helicopter.
With a brief inspection of all compartment doors and panels with no visual fluid leaks, the pilots climbed into their cockpits with one of them at the controls and the other taking up the position of the belly man. The flares had been smuggled onto the two Sikorsky’s, three apiece and were well hidden.
After pre-start checks covering the usual: seat belts, pedals, collective, hydrau
