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.

Australian Boxkite replica for 2014 centenary

A small dedicated team in Australia have embarked on a project to build an airworthy Bristol Boxkite replica, in time for the centenary of the first military flight in Australia. On the morning of March 1st, 1914, Lieutenant Eric Harrison, an aviator instructor, took Bristol Military Biplane CFS-3 into the air at the newly acquired Army flying field at Point Cook, Victoria. This was the home of the Central Flying School (CFS). That historic flight is now recognised as the starting point of all military flying in Australia.

This Australian replica Boxkite will be built over a period of four to five years. This will ensure that the aeroplane is available in sufficient time to take part in celebrations that will occur in March 2014. With Project 2014 having started in 2006, ample time is available to allow for the resolution of unforeseen problems that may arise during the building of this machine, and the subsequent test flying.

The first wing ribs under construction. Courtesy of Project 2014

The Project Manager, Ron Gretton AM, was the driving force behind the RAAF Museum’s Supermarine Walrus (HD874) restoration. Assistant Project Manager Geoff Matthews joined Ron on the Walrus restoration, and they are both highly experienced ex-RAAF engineering officers with a wealth of the skills required in this project. They are already well into the organisational phase and have already started to cut wood and form shapes for the ribs, booms and undercarriage. Many of the metal fittings have been cut, welded and plated.

The engine will be an Australian seven cylinder 110hp (82kw) radial Rotec R2800, designed and manufactured by Rotec Engineering Pty Ltd at Moorabbin, Victoria. Rosebank Engineering has kindly supplied the engine and all the timber for the project. Mobile Network has supplied the wheels and structural metal, and Aerostructures, and Macdonald Technologies International have also provided significant support. The project is, of course, supported by both the RAAF Museum and the Air Force itself.

http://www.boxkite2014.org

Restoration of Finnish Blenheim starts

Restoration work on Blenheim Mk.IV BL-200, the sole surviving 'true' Bristol Blenheim, has started in Finland. The aircraft has been in storage at Tikkakoski in Finland, but spent many decades on display at the main gate there and in other museums. Work started on 18th May 2007, with a paint strip and preparation work. On completion, the aircraft will be housed in a dedicated building at Keski-Suomen Ilmailumuseo (Aviation Museum of Central Finland).

55 Blenheim Mk.Is and IVs were assembled in Finland by Valtion Lentokonetehdas at Tampere, using many components from Yugoslavia. BL-200 was built in 1944, and flew on in peace time doing survey work. It was withdrawn in 1956, making it one of the last 'true' Blenheims to fly. Several present-day aircraft have been painted up or structurally modified to become Blenheims, but these are infact Canadian-built Fairchild Bolingbrokes, a licence built Blenheim with a few home-grown differences.

Blenheim BL-200 under restoration - www.k-silmailumuseo.fi

The restoration project has its own internet Blog to show progress. It is in Finnish, but still worth a look even if you don't know the language! - http://www.ilmasotakoulunkilta.fi/IlmaSK/ilmaskmma.nsf/sp?Open&cid=Content9993D

Pima Bolingbroke unveiled

The Pima Air and Space Museum near Tucson, Arizona has unveiled is newly restored Bolingbroke. The aircraft, formerly stored in a compound at Chino, California, has been rebuilt and painted up as a Blenheim Mark IV, in a 1941-era desert camouflage. The Bolingbroke was one of three acquired by David Tallichet around 1973, and moved from Canada to California. For many years it was stored fully assembled in the MARC compound at Chino, stripped of paint. In 2004 the Pima Museum made a deal to acquire a number of unrestored airframes from David Tallichet, including a rare A-20 Havoc.

The Bolingbroke was rolled out on 15th May 2007 in North Africa Western Desert camouflage. It represents an RAF Bristol Blenheim Mark IV, serial Z9592, although structurally the aircraft is still a Canadian-built Bolingbroke. It is thought that this aircraft was originally RCAF 10076.

Repaint for Cosford Brit

Following the completion of the Cold War building at Cosford, work is now starting on other exhibits. Scaffolding has been erected around Britannia G-AOVF, which was repainted in BOAC colours shortly after its arrival in 1984. It will be repainted in Royal Air Force colours, even though this aircraft never actually saw service with the RAF. Hopefully the work will restore some of the corrosion on the aircraft, which has been outside for 23 years. Unfortunately the Brit was not selected to go indoors during the recent reshuffle, and the restoration work will hopefully ensure her survival for a few more years.

Montrose Sycamore on the move

The May 2007 issue of Flypast Magazine hs reported that Sycamore XJ380, which has been stored at the Montrose Air Station Museum since 1994, left in February 2007 for Lincolnshire. It will eventually go to a 'major museum' in the South of England.

UPDATE: XJ380 is earmarked for the Boscombe Down Museum.

New home for Britannia Charlie Fox

After a year in open storage at Kemble, a new home for Britannia G-ANCF has been found. During February and March 2007, the components of 'CF were moved to the apron in front of the former Speke Airport terminal, now a Mariott Hotel. The Jetstream Club are the new custodians, and it will be displayed alongside their other aircraft, including a Jetstream 41. The fuselage and main wing sections arrived on site on 7th March, and arranged so that the aircraft can be assembled during the spring. Once complete, the Britannia will be painted in the colours of British Eagle, as it flew with this airline from Speke in the mid-1960's.

Bristol Fighters disperse

At two UK air displays in 2006, spectators were treated to the sight of three Bristol Fighters in formation. In addition to the Shuttleworths F2B (G-AEPH), The Fighter Collections F2B (G-ACAA) returned to the air in the summer of 2006 and the Historic Aircraft Collections F2B (G-AANM) flew for the first time after a long restoration on 25th May 2006.

The rare sight of three Brisfits in formation, by Ollie Holmes

Now the UK airworthy F2B populatation is back to one. The Fighter Collections F2B has been sold to New Zealand collector Peter Jackson. Peter also owns a Ranger-powered F2B reproduction, and a Fighter restoration project, all based at Omaka. The Historic Aircraft Collections F2B has now gone to the Canada Aviation Museum at Rockcliffe, Ontatio, in exchange for a potentially airworthy Heinkel He-162, and a number of rare engines.

Beaufighter unveiled at Dayton

Following many years of restoration, the National Museum of the Air Force at Dayton, Ohio, USA unveiled their Bristol Beaufighter on 18th October 2006. The ex-Australian aircraft has been completed to represent a Beaufighter Mk. VIf of the USAAF, based in the Mediterannean with the Twelfth Air Force. It is marked as KV912, which was flown by Capt. Harold Augspurger, commander of the 415th Night Fighter Squadron, who shot down an He 111 carrying German staff officers in September 1944 and is a volunteer with the museum.

There are now four complete Beaufighters on display, two more in Australia and one in the UK.

HAC Bristol Fighter flies

The Historic Aircraft Collection Bristol F2B Fighter (G-AANM/D7889) took to the air for the first time on 25th May 2006. The Brisfit has made several air tests at RAF Henlow, piloted by Stuart Goldspink. It was flown to its new home at Duxford in early June. Although the airframe rebuild was completed in 1999, it had been waiting on the restoration of its Rolls-Royce Falcon III engine.

The aircraft consists of genuine original parts, and is based on a frame recovered from a barn in Weston-on-the-Green in the 1960’s. It includes many restored components from the original D7889, hence the chosen identification. G-AANM is the third flying F2B in the UK, following those of the Shuttleworth Trust and The Fighter Collection. The latter has been grounded since 2001 with engine problems, although these have now been resolved, and it is expected to flying again in 2006. It is hoped that all three Brisfits will be able to fly together during the 2006 summer air show season, although the TFC Fighter is expected to be sold in New Zealand very soon.

Bristol Freighter set for homecoming

In September 2004, this website reported on the last ever flight of a Bristol Freighter, when C-GYQS was delivered from Terrace, British Columbia, to Wetaskiwin, BC. It had been donated by Hawkair to the Reynolds-Alberta Museum, and its flight marked not only the last flight of a Freighter, but the last of any surviving UK-built Bristol aircraft. It now appears that this may not be its final flight, as it has been secured by Graham Kilsby, who wants to fly it from the West of Canada back to its birthplace in Bristol.

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

The aircraft was put up for auction, as Hawkair has gone into administration, and the freighter is still deemed as an asset. Preparations are now being made to bring the aircraft back to life, and prepare it for a 50-hour flight across the Atlantic. In order to achieve this, a fund has been set up to raise the £75,000 costs involved. There are no Freighters in Europe, and infact it is probably the only commercially successful British aircraft where there is no example preserved in the UK or Europe. Anyone wishing to donate to the fund should call +44 (0)117 962 1105 in the UK. Progress on this project will appear on this website when available.