Friday, January 04, 2002

Bristol 173 prototype XF785 on display after 40 years

The Bristol Type 173 has emerged from over 40 years in deep storage, latterly Cosford, to be loaned to the Bristol Aero Collection at Kemble. It made the journey to Kemble on the 3rd January, exactly 50 years from its first untethered flight at Filton. On hand to receive the helicopter was Charles 'Sox' Hosegood, who was the test pilot at the controls on its first flight. The first flight was an eventful one, as it was soon realised that the only direction in which the helicopter could be flown was backwards. The fault was rectified, and test flights resumed in August 1952.
The rare helicopter will be cleaned up ready for the museums opening on the Easter weekend.