Bristol Aero Collection prepares for Bolingbroke

The Bristol Aero Collection is preparing to receive a Bolingbroke from the USA later this year. The aircraft, RCAF 9048, has been stored in Southern California for over 30 years, mostly with the Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation at Chino. It is unrestored, and a restoration to display condition will commence once it arrives in the UK. 9048 has been donated to the BAC by Graham Kilsby, who runs the Bristol Heritage Collection in Tennessee, and started the Bristol Aero Collection in 1988. The aircraft is unusual in that unlike most surviving Bolingbrokes, it was not built as a trainer, and has a combat history patroling for both U-Boats on the East Coast and Japanese submarines on the West Coast of Canada and in Alaska. It is expected that it will be painted in the colours of 8 (BR) Squadron RCAF, with which it served from November 1941 to August 1943.

Historic Aircraft Collection F2B to fly in 2006

The Historic Aircraft Collections Bristol F2B Fighter is set to take to the air some time in 2006. The aircraft has recently had its Rolls Royce Falcon engine fitted, by Skysport Engineering in Bedfordshire. The Falcon, restored by Vintec at Little Gransden, is thought to be the oldest running Rolls Royce engine. The Fighter will be based at Duxford, and will hopefully form a threeship with Fighters of the Shuttleworth Collection and The Fighter Collection. The latter is also due to fly this year, having been grounded since 2001 with engine problems.

Duxford Beaufighter to be sold

Following recent rumours on the Flypast forum, The Fighter Collection has confirmed “it is quite possible” that the Beaufighter project at Duxford “may move to new owners later in the year”. There are several comings and goings anticipated this year, and the sale of the Beaufighter will make space for the new arrivals. The project has been a complex one, and has been underway for around 15 years. Much has been achieved, but there is still much work to do before the Beaufighter will fly. One of the biggest problems has been sourcing engines. No suitable military Bristol Hercules engines have been found, and later versions used on commercial transports would require major modifications to the aircraft. Restoration work is still continuing, and it is hoped that the new owners can accelerate the pace of restoration.

Shuttleworth M1C to return to the air in 2006

Following its mid-air engine failure in 2002, the Shuttleworth Trusts Bristol M1C has been repaired and should be flying again in the Spring. The monoplanes Le Rhone rotary engine had thrown a con-rod, severely damaging the engine, but this has now been rebuilt. It was ground tested during the summer months, but excessive vibration was apparent. This was tracked down to unbalanced cylinders, which have now been re-balanced. Engine runs were performed during the Autumn Air Show on 2nd October 2005, but other minor problems prevented a take off.

Rockcliffe Beaufighter goes under cover

In November 2005, the Canadian Aviation Museum at Rockcliffe, Ottowa, completed their new storage hangar, and the entire collection including the Beaufighter is now under cover. The aircraft had been stored outside since its arrival in 1969, although its dilapidated appearance had more to do with the state it arrived in than the Canadian weather. Contoversy surrounded the Beaufighter when it was acquired, as the museum were expecting a restored aircraft in exchange for the Bristol Bolingbroke sent to the RAF Museum. Now that the aircraft is inside, it is hoped that restoration work will start soon.

Home needed for Britannia

Over the winter months the Bristol Aero Collection at Kemble has been moving from its home of 10 years to another hangar on the Kemble airfield. This has resulted in a reduction in floor space, and the collection has been rationalised. Bristol Britannia G-ANCF has been excluded from the move, as the dismantled fuselage takes up a lot of space. The airliner has been on loan from the Britannia Aircraft Preservation Trust, and will be returned. This unfortunately leaves the Britannia without a home, and the BAPT are actively seeking a new location to store or display the aircraft.

'Charlie Fox' was dismantled at Manston in the late 1980's, and it was soon earmarked for the Bristol Aero Collection. The intention was to not reassemble the aircraft until a permanent museum was built at Filton. The front and rear fuselage sections had resided at the back of the BAC hangar. The nose of Britannia G-ALRX will be moved to the new hangar, and the complete Britannia, XM496, will remain where it is under the care of the Bristol Britannia XM496 Preservation Society.

Oakey Boxkite undergoes refurbishment

The Museum of Australian Army Flying at Oakey, QLD, has recently moved its Boxkite replica to Toowoomba for refurbishment. The aircraft was dismantled and transported to the Aerotec Queensland Pty. facility for a complete overhaul, including re-finishing the wood, and stripping and repainting the metal parts. When complete it will be returned to Oakey and reassembled, but not before the museums new exhibition hall is complete.

Kemble Britannia in period livery

Britannia XM496 has been painted in the RAF Transport Command livery that it carried during its military career. The port side was painted in June 2005, and unveiled at the Kemble Air Day later that month. The starboard side is due to be completed by the end of the year. The aircraft has also received a makeover inside, and is now fitted with a ten rows of period RAF seats, as well as new display boards.

Britannia XM496, shortly before it was towed to the Kemble Air Day arena.

The Britannia Aircraft Preservation Trust has now passed support for XM496 to the Bristol Britannia XM496 Preservation Society, who will continue to maintain the aircraft. The intention is still to bring the aircraft up to a state where it can taxi under its own steam, and will require a change of the number 2 engine.

New colours for New Zealand Brisfit

The New Zealand based Bristol F2B Fighter replica, ZK-JNU, has recently emerged in a new colour scheme. It took part in the 2005 Classic Fighters air show over the Easter weekend at Omaka, one of New Zealands major air displays. It has been repainted in the colours of No. 22 Squadron Royal Flying Corps, and marked with serial B1112 and coded F. 22 Squadron flew F2B's from August 1917 on the Western Front.

Bristol Fighter Replica B1112 at the Classic Fighters Show, Omaka. Courtesy of 'Turbo_NZ'.

Prior to the show, the Brisfit took part in a filmed re-enactment of a race between a Bristol Fighter and T.E.Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia") on a Brough Superior motorbike. The 14 mile race was written about in one of Lawrences own books, but had never before been re-created. The film was shown on large screens while the Fighter and Brough were performing at the show.

New Beaufort project at Moorabbin

The Australian Aircraft Restoration Group, who run the Australian National Aviation Museum at Moorabbin, in Melbourne, Australia, have announced that they are about to start on a Bristol Beaufort restoration project. The Australian-built Beaufort will be built to static condition, and will go on display at the museum, which also has examples of the Bristol Beaufighter, Bristol Sycamore and Bristol Freighter.

The project is based on major components and parts from two Beauforts - A9-501 and A9-230. A9-501 was displayed at RAAF Gove for many years, but it was substantially damaged when an attempt to cut the wings off with an oxy-torch caused residual fuel in the tanks to explode. The forward fuselage was later restored by the Beaufort Restoration Group for the RAAF Gove museum. Although the museum website refers to A9-320, this is thought to actually be A9-230. A9-320 was converted to a Mk.IX Beaufort during WW2, reserialled A9-742, and subsequently scrapped, whereas the cockpit of A9-230 was acquired by The Beaufort Restoration Group from Mildura War Birds in 1985.

A9-501 being recovered in 1999 (courtesy of the Beaufort Restoration Group website)

The project also hopes to acquire the cockpit of A9-150, which has been restored by the Beaufort Restoration Group in Brisbane.

Progress at Duxford

The restoration of Blenheim G-BPIV following it accident in 2003, continues. In the latter half of 2004, the forward fuselage section was detached, and it now sits in front of the rear fuselage section. The centre wing section is currently being restored in Building 66, behind the main hangars. The teams unrestored Mark I Blenheim nose has been placed beside the Blenheim, and it has been suggested that the aircraft will fly with this nose fitted instead of the the Mark IV nose. The Mk.I nose had been converted into a car after World War 2, and was placed in on an Austin 7 chassis. It still requires a lot of attention, but the present restoration work gives an oppertune moment to fit it. The appearance of a Mark I Blenheim in the skies will be a very rare sight, as there are no airworthy or static Mk.I's anywhere in the world.

Blenheim G-BPIV at Duxford in October, with the Mk.I nose to the right, photo taken by Martin Claydon

Also at Duxford, The Fighter Collection have fitted their Bristol F2b Fighter (G-ACAA, "D-8084") with its Rolls Royce Falcon II engine, and it will hopefully fly again soon. Another Bristol Fighter has turned up at Duxford - this is G-AANM "D-7889", which belongs to the Historic Aircraft Collection. It is currently being stored here, but there are plans to get it in the air in 2005 for the first time.

Australian Beaufort step closer to first flight

Beaufort A9-141 coming together at Brisbane, Photo by John Parker

The Beaufort Restoration Group at Brisbane, Australia, made a significant step forward in early December, by assembling the major structural components into one unit. The forward and rear fuselage sections were mated with the centre wing section, and the project now looks a lot more like an aircraft. There is still much to do before the Beaufort (RAAF serial A9-141, registered VH-KTW) can leave the ground, but when it does, it will be the first of its type to fly for many decades. More details on the project can be found at http://www.beaufortrestoration.com.au.

The mated stern frame, rear fuselage and centre wing section, Photo by John Parker

Bristol Freighter makes its last flight

Bristol Freighter C-GYQS has made its last flight, which also happened to be the last flight of a Bristol airliner. The Freighter left Prince George, on the last stage of its delivery flight from Terrace, BC, Canada to Wetaskiwin, Alberta, on 6th September at 1:30pm local, and arrived at its new home three hours later. As with the earlier stages, the Captain was Scott Swanson, co-pilot was Lori Skinner and engineer was Paul Hawkins.

Freighter C-GYQS on its last flight, taken by Richard de Boer

Not only was the aircraft the last airworthy Bristol Freighter, it was the last airworthy example of any Bristol airliner. It will now be put on display at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum. The choice of this museum was due to its relative close proximity to Terrace, making the delivery flight much easier than for other parts of Canada. The donation of the aircraft to a Canadian museum has resulted in a federal tax credit worth 300,000 USD to Hawkair.

Future assured for last airworthy Bristol Freighter

Although it has not flown since 1999, it is hoped that Bristol 170 Freighter C-GYQS will fly to its new home later this month. The Freighter has been in storage at Terrace, British Columbia, since its owners, Hawkair, ceased mine work in the remote locations of Western Canada. It has now been donated to the Reynolds-Alberta Museum, at Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada. In early August, the fuel tank bags were replaced, and maintenance was performed on the engine blower shafts. Both Bristol Hercules engines were started for the first time in 2 years without a hitch.

The starboard Bristol Hercules starting for the first time in 2 years - photo courtesy of Sean Keating

Update 27th Aug: The aircraft made a successful 38 minute test flight on 27th August. The Captain was Scott Swanson, co-pilot was Lori Skinner and
engineer was Paul Hawkins - one of the founders of Hawkair. Delivery to Wetaskiwin is planned for 31st August, depending on weather.

Update 29th Aug: The Bristol Freighter took off from Terrace at 10.30am Local time on 29th August, and after a low pass over the airfield, it left on delivery to Wetaskiwin. The Weather over the Rockies closed in, and after about 200 miles and two hours the crew landed at Fort St. James to await better weather.

Update 30th Aug: On Monday 30th August, Quebec Sierra left Fort St. James, but this time landed at Prince George, only 80 miles further on, due to weather. The aircraft can only fly under Visual Flight Rules, and the crew have found many of the valley to be 'blocked' by cloud. The Freighter will now have to wait for a week before another attempt is made to fly her to her new home.

Engine fitted to Duxford Brisfit

In early August, The Fighter Collections Bristol F2b Fighter (G-ACAA, "D8084") was noted with its engine installed. The aircraft has been grounded at Duxford since 2001, when a problem was found in a cylinder of its Rolls Royce Falcon Mark 3 engine. The fault was found to be chrome contamination, and the crankcase and cylinders have now been overhauled. The engineers at TFC are usually very busy, especially around 'Flying Legends' time in July, and it seems they have now found the time to reassemble the engine.

The Fighter is based on one of several original frames found in a barn at Weston-on-the-Green in the 1960's, and was rebuilt by Skysport Engineering, making its first post-restoration flight on 30th June 1998.

Bolingbroke nose acquired by Manx Aviation Museum

21st June 2004 saw the delivery of the forward fuselage of Bolingbroke 9041 to the Manx Aviation Museum at Ronaldsway on the Isle of Man. The complete aircraft had been part of a static restoration by the Nanton Lancaster Memorial, who have donated this section to the Museum. The wings and rear fuselage remain at Nanton.

Photographs show that the forward fuselage has been stripped to bare metal, and most fittings have been removed, however several original components were included in container. The museum is actively seeking authentic components, and hope to restore it using 85% original items. Once restored, it will become a memorial to the RAF and RCAF crews based on the island during World War 2.

Home found for Wangaratta Freighter

After months of uncertainty, Bristol 170 Frieghter VH-ADL has been assured a future by the Australian National Aviation Museum, at Moorabbin Airport, Melbourne, Australia. The Freighter had been put up for disposal in early 2003, following the closure of the Airworld Collection at Wangaratta in Victoria, Australia in 2002. It had been earmarked for preservation in the UK, but sadly the cost of transportation seems to have detered the acquisition. Instead, the pristine 170 was left semi-dismantled, and could have been sold for scrap. There are no Bristol 170's in the UK, or Europe for that matter, and it in unlikely that one in this condition will become available again, so this missed opertunity as disappointed many people in the county of its birth.

Update: July 2004 - VH-ADL has now been delivered to Moorabbin, and work to re-assemble the aircraft will start soon.

BA Concorde dispersal

After months of speculation, the lucky custodians of the British Airways Concorde fleet have now been revealed from proposed flight plans :

G-BOAA - East Fortune (Museum of Flight)
G-BOAB - Heathrow (Terminal 5)
G-BOAC - Manchester Airport Viewing Park
G-BOAD - New York Intrepid Air and Space Museum
G-BOAE - Seattle Museum of Flight
G-BOAF - Filton (Airbus/proposed new museum)
G-BOAG - Barbados

The fate of the remaining unairworthy Concorde at Filton (G-BBDG) is not yet clear.

Air Sea Rescue Sycamore goes on display at Hendon

RAF Sycamore HR Mk.12 WV783 has now gone on display at the RAF Museum at Hendon. The helicopter has been immaculately restored and repainted in the Air Sea Rescue colours with which it flew in the 1950's. It spent many years in storage, with a brief spell on display at RNAY Fleetlands, and was completely rebuilt from a near-derelict state to pristine condition by the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society in less than two years. The RAF Museum at Hendon has been completely re-organised this year, in preparation for the grand re-opening on 17th December 2003, to commemorate 100 years of powered flight.

Blenheim landing accident

The sole airworthy Bristol Blenheim, G-BPIV "R3821", suffered a serious landing accident at its Duxford base on 18th August, fortunately with no injuries to those on board. The full extent of the damage will not be known until a full survey has been done. It appears that the aircraft suffered a starboard engine failure on approach, leading to a loss of height, causing the undercarriage to hit a mound near the runway. The gear collapsed on landing, with the aircraft ending up on its belly. Apart from the obvious damage to the gear and underside, the starboard engine and its mountings appears to have sustained some damage.

It has been reported that the Blenheim is repairable, but will certainly be out of action for some time. The Bristol Blenheim was notorious for single engine flying, so it is a great credit to the pilot, John Webb, that the aircraft landed without more serious damage, and without injury.