Blenheim Mk. IV "BL-200"

A book has been published of the history of BL-200. Price is 35€ and it’s in Finnish (though sure with many interesting photos).

http://www.ilmasotakoulunkilta.fi/IlmaSK/ilmaskmma.nsf/sp3?Open&cid=ContentEE678

Fixing up the Brewster, and then there is a Breguet 14 A2 waiting for restoration.

Well done to all of you – a fantastic achievement! She looks superb.

What’s next?;)

DS

Removing the BL-200 to the museum

The BL-200 was moved to the Aviation Museum of Central Finland at the thursday 3rd of July, with the assistance of the Airforce and the Police.

Quite unusual sight caused a little traffic jam (not shown in the picture ;))

At the gates. Airforces MB Unimog usually tows an F/A-18 Hornet, not a Blenheim 🙂

The museum gate was too narrow for the Blenheim, so she was lifted over it with a crane

Preparing. Not an everyday job for a mechanic, I think?

Taking off for the last time, maybe.

She looks very nice in the air, even without wings…

Going to land, steady, steady…

And back on the ground

Preparing the place for the BL, where used to be a soviet Airacobra, now it’s stored elsewhere, temporarily

Attaching the wings, four bolts per wing

This might affect to flight characteristics…

Preparing to move the other wing

Starting to look like an airplane

Bolting on the remaining covers, and that’s it! 🙂

I hope you enjoyed the photos!

-Antti

A bit off the topic but I though these Finnish blueprints would be a nice change of all these photographs. 😉

From Finnish manual “Bristol Blenheim – Rakenneselostus I”. 12/1943, Valtion Lentokonetehdas.

1.-2. Series V

3. Landing Gear

4. Landing Ski

5. Engine

Martti

WOW

Amazing work.Going to take me ages to go through all the updates..congrats to all involved.:D

Fantastic restoration, can you start it up when no-one is around.
I have to say that those markings would look superb and unusual on our own DX Mk1 Blenheim/Bolingbroke restoration to fly.
How about it chaps, the next scheme after your planned initial RAF markings.

The link should work for a week or so. It’s a news of Central Finland featuring the BL-200 when it was first shown to public this week. I’m not 100% sure if the links works outside Finland but it should work. :rolleyes:

Start from 2:40-. The plane is almost completed, the only thing missing is the pilot’s mirror on top of the cockpit and the rudders are not covered with “Irish wool”.

http://areena.yle.fi/toista?id=1347900

She looks amazing Martti! Almost looks like she is ready to take to the air!!

It’s FINNISHED! 😮 🙂 Photo by Pentti Hyvärinen.

Some work on the cockpit and new “anti-skid device” to the wing. They also tried to put a part from Fouga’s cockpit to Blenheim, didn’t fit. 😀

Part I
Part II

Installing the Browning (including a list of all the tools and material they have used during the restoration). They also found out that the BL-200 has two sets of manufacturer plates installed: One made in Britain and another in Yugoslavia.

Part I
Part II
Part III

Some of the texts are now also available in English!

http://www.ilmasotakoulunkilta.fi/IlmaSK/ilmaskmma.nsf/sp?open&cid=Content9993D-2

Building a Browning to BL-200.

Part I
Part II

Information about the “double steering” and skies installed on Finnish Blenheims. As usual, translation if needed.

Part I
Part II

Bristol Blenheim Mk IV, 10th February 2008, 1 o’clock.

Part I
Part II

“4th February 2008. Hands are freezing but the top hatch is in place”.

Part I
Part II
Part III

Really shaping up. Great job done! Such a rare bird, good to see it getting attention.
Thanks for the updates and translations

General photos.

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

The blog suggest the Blenheim should be ready for expedition in April this year!

Part I
Part II