Beaufighter project sold in Australia

Tim Moore (Skysport Engineering) has reportedly sold his Bristol Beaufighter project in Australia, and it is expected that it will be shipped there during 2011. The project is a substantial collection of Beaufighter parts, based on a Old Mixon-built Mark IF fuselage and centre wing section (serial X7688), which had been used by No.1 School of Technical Training at RAF Halton as a instructional airframe. From the early 1950s through to 1971 the aircraft, which was attached to a brick hut, was used to train apprentices on engine start up and running procedures. Prior to this, the Beaufighter was an engine test bed at Filton, and it retained its unique four-propeller Hercules 130 configuration during its years at Halton. Tim had also acquired the rear fuselage of an Australian Beuafighter (serial A19-148). At this stage it is not known who has bought the project or what their intensions are, but it is well known that Tim was very keen for the aircraft to fly one day. One considerable stumbling block (as with the Duxford Beaufighter project) is sourcing suitable Hercules engines.

Plans to restore Sycamore to fly

Plans have been unveiled to restore Bristol Sycamore HR Mk.52 HB-RXB to flight. For many years this helicopter was the last airworthy Sycamore in the world, and was owned and maintained by Peter Schmid at Altenrhein in Switerland. Having not flown for several years, this Sycamore has been puchased by The Flying Bulls and moved to their facility at Salzburg in Austria in November 2010, for a complete overhaul and return to flight. Although HB-RXB is a former West German Forces machine, it was flown in ‘mock’ 32 Squadron RAF colours as ‘XG 544’. Its new home in Austria is fitting as the Sycamore was designed by Austrian Raoul Hafner during his tenure at Bristols.

Brigand moves to Cosford

The remains of the sole surviving Brigand, RH746, left Kemble in May 2010 for the RAF Museum at Cosford. It had been in storage with the Bristol Aero Collection, as there was not enough room to display it following their move to a smaller area a few years ago. It is hoped that some restoration work can now take place.

Bristol Bulldog comes home

In a surprise move, The RAF Museums Bristol Bulldog appeared at the BAC 100 launch party at Filton on 19th February 2010. The event marked the start of a year of activities to celebrate 100 years of aircraft production at Filton. The launch took place in the east bay of the Brabazon Hangar, and included the naming of an Easyjet Airbus A.319 after Sir George White, founder of the Bristol Aeroplane Company. The Bulldog was the only Bristol aircraft, however there were several aircraft models, and other Bristol products - cars, buses and aero engines.

The Bulldog arrived at Filton a few days before the event, and was scheduled to return to Hendon soon after.

2009 updates

There were only a few movements in the Bristol Aircraft world to report in 2009. Keith Williams and Mike Thorn finished the restoration of their Bristol Scout replica, to a far higher standard than the 'original' airframe, built in 1962. It has gone on display with the Shuttleworth Trust at Old Warden in Bedfordshire, pending the planned museum at Filton.

Elsewhere, steady progress has been made on the restorations of Britannia 'Charlie Fox' in Liverpool, the Helicopter Museum Belvedere at Weston-super-Mare, and the Blenheim Society's recreation of a Mark I Blenheim.

Concorde-wise, G-BOAC at Manchester has gone under cover in its purpose-built 'hangar', and G-BOAD has returned to Manhattan following the major renovation of the Intrepid Museum in New York.

Omaka Freighter comes back to life

Following the recent news that Alistair Marshall has been working on the Bristol Hercules engines of the Bristol Freighter at Omaka in New Zealand, the port engine successfully run up on 13th June 2008. The Starboard engine was briefly run a few days later. Click below for video of the event.

A high resolution version of this video is available at www.aviationfilm.com.

Mk.I nose trial fitted to Duxford Blenheim

A significant moment in the restoration of the Duxford Blenheim took place in May 2008, when the Blenheim Mk.I nose was trial-fitted to the Blenheim fuselage. The aircraft, which had represented a 'long nose' Mk.IV Blenheim since its first post-rebuild flight in 1993, was damaged in a landing accident in 2003. This gave the team the opportunity to incorporate the short nose of a Mk.I Blenheim in the repairs. Other major components such as the centre wing section, rear fuselage and outer wings had been restored and mated previously. The addition of the Mk.I nose gives a shape that has not been seen for many decades.

The Mk.I nose is still just a shell, and there is much work to do in fitting it out with equipment and cabling. It will be detached from the fuselage soon so the rebuild work can continue.

Plans to bring Omaka Freighter back to life

A member of the Marlborough Aero Club at Omaka in New Zealand has started the huge task of bringing the clubs Bristol Freighter back to life. The aircraft, ZK-CPT, arrived at Omaka in 1986, and the engines were inhibited in the 1990's. The intention is to get the Bristol Hercules engines running, and it may even be possible to taxi the Freighter in the future. Progress is regularly reported on the
Wings Over New Zealand Aviation Forum.

Sycamore swap at Weston-super-Mare

The Helicopter Museum have recently acquired a VIP Sycamore HR.14, but have disposed of their existing Sycamore HC.14. The Sycamore HR.14, serial XJ829, had previously been not far away in the Bristol Industrial Museum, which has closed for major renovation. It was formerly with the RAF 32 VIP communications Squadron, and arrived on 17th October 2007, going on display on 12th January 2008. For details and photos of the delivery, see http://www.hmfriends.org.uk/sycamorexl829.htm.

The museum has taken the opportunity to exchange their existing Sycamore, XG547, with a type they don't have - an ex-Belgian Army Alouette II. A lowloader arrived at Weston-super-Mare with the Alouette on 19th February 2008, and returned to Belgium with the Sycamore on 21st. XG547 will go on display in the Royal Army and Military History Museum in Brussels in due course. The Belgian Army operated three Sycamores in the Belgian Congo, but none of these survive.

Click here for BBC news video.

Beaufighter found in Aegean sea

The remains of a Bristol Beaufighter were discovered in June 2007, near the Greek island of Naxos. A team of divers had been searching for the wreck for over a year, following stories that a Beaufighter had ditched in the area during World War 2. It was discovered off the coast of Cape Kouroupas, to the west of Naxos, at a depth of 34 metres. The aircraft, identified as a Beaufighter TF.X serial JM225, was part of a flight attacking enemy ships in Naxos Harbour on 30th October 1943. It was hit by ground fire, and the two crew - F/O W.E.Hayter and W/O T.J.Harper, both New Zealanders - baled out before the aircraft hit the water. They were rescued by locals, treated and later smuggled off the island. JM255 was based in Cyprus with No.47 Squadron RAF.

The aircraft is on its belly and surprisingly intact, apart from a broken back. Some smaller items, such as the nosecone, are unattached and resting on the sea bed nearby. The propeller from the starboard engine is missing, so it may have come off when the Beaufighter hit the water. Naxos Diving Centre can arrange visits for experienced divers, see naxosdiving.com.