Bristol Blenheim restoration

Would be interesting to know approximate time scales of the new rebuild to flying status.

Pace of repairs has always been dictated by the workload of the engineers, finances, and parts and materials sourcing; with more time and money I dare say it could have been achieved earlier, but then other ARC projects – earning valuable revenue for what is after all a commercial concern – would have been delayed as well. Much work is also being done by a dedicated core of volunteers, as it always was on the Blenheim.

It looks good for the aircraft to fly in 2012. Engines are getting underway, and as can be seen in Hangar 3 at Duxford, the airframe is coming on well. The Mark I nose has created quite a lot of extra work, and complication in parts-sourcing, as it is older and English-built; it differs in some aspects from the Canadian based airframe it has being mated to, but is without a shadow of doubt (IMHO!) well worth it!

I think it would be interesting to see what this Forum was saying back in 2003 – how much and how long to restore it.

What ever happened to the search facility. 🙂

Mark

I have some pictures of the original crash when the hulk was placed into the OFMC hanger at Duxford. From memory all that was not destroyed, from the fuselage of the aircraft, was a small portion of centre section and tail. These were also damaged and twisted.
The nose and cockpit it could be said were effectively scrap. Smashed would be a good word to describe it. Although scrap can be restored to some extent I guess.

Would be interesting to know approximate time scales of the new rebuild to flying status.

Sorry, but it’s hardly “essentially scrap” from the point of view of creating a static restoration.

I thought that was the plan – restore it for display at Duxford.

Hi
Thanks for the info,At least the crashes didn’t write off the airframes.
Cheers
Jerry

The first accident did write off the airframe, parts were re-used into the second rebuilt such as engines but the airframe was essentially scrap.
I have really missed the Blenheim so look foreward to the day when its back in the air.

Richard

Some photos of G-MKIV after the first accident here:

http://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=20608&start=0

Even so long after they are heartbreaking to look at. I’ve just read the bit about the crash in “The Forgotten Bomber” and Graham Warner’s last words to the pilot had been “Enjoy yourself, but do look after it”.

Hi
Thanks for the info,At least the crashes didn’t write off the airframes.
The blenheim Mk I should look great, presumably easier to fly with a shorter nose ?
Hopefully it will be third time lucky for a blenheim restoration, and it has a long life.
Cheers
Jerry

Be nice to see it painted in very early RAF markings with black & White undersides & red,White,blue & yellow roundels on wings 😀

I’ll never forget arriving at Duxford one day in Spring 1987 on the way home from Fighter Meet.

A beautiful, pristine Blenheim sat on the flightline, obviously preparing for an airtest. Of course I’d never seen a Blenheim fly and this was to be a real treat. But time went on and my friend was getting fidgety. He’d get hell from his wife if he didn’t get back and perform some domestic duties having had a night away.

In the end his fretting won and we left without seeing it airborne.

“Not a problem” we rationalised, “It’ll be at Legends in a couple of weeks time”

I think it was the very next week that the poor airframe suddenly took a fancy to golf.

It was years until we saw the replacement fly. 🙁

Moggy

Hi Jerry

The second Blenheim (G-BPIV) is being returned to flight after the forced landing at Duxford in August 2003. The opportunity was taken during the repairs to make the aircraft into a “short nose” Blenheim by adding the Mark I nose held by the Aircraft Restoration Company.

The first aircraft, G-MKIV, was stored for some time as is now being restored, I believe, as a static aircraft for the Imperial War Museum.

Hi
I must have missed something.
So both restored blenheims have been crashed ?
Which airframe is being converted to a Mk 1, the first crashed airframe or the second, or are they both the same airframe, I am somewhat confused.
Cheers
Jerry

Thanks for the information. The aircraft is looking really good with that new nose. It changes the whole look of the Blenheim and will look like a new machine. It will be superb to see in company with some early war Spitfires and Hurricanes in formation.

I just had a read of that report. Quite an interesting and unique set of circumstances it seems. What a shame.

Taken from The Blenheim soceity in March this year:

Blenheim progress – From the Engineering Side

Since the last report work has continued on the starboard engine frame and firewall, which was considerably more damaged than the port one. This has been successfully completed and the engine frame is now mounted on the aeroplane allowing us to start repairing and fitting the engine nacelles. Brian has been making new mountings for the inboard leading edges and these are now ready for spraying and will be fitted to the nose. He will then start on similar items that fit around the engine nacelles and Tony, when not assisting Brian, is carrying on manufacturing a new starboard bomb bay door which involves laying up and gluing numerous wood strips.

Bill has completed the instrument panel and this is now mounted in the cockpit complete with the blind flying panel and this will allow us to start laying pipe lines and electrics. Colin is concentrating on the throttle and mixture linkages and we are having some trouble with those as the Bolingbroke ones differ somewhat from the Blenheim and we are trying to get some information from our friend Ole Ronest in Aalborg, and failing that from the Finnish Aircraft Museum.

We have started two new volunteers, Steve who has recently retired from British Antarctic Surveys, a very experienced engineer, who is working around the undercarriage and has just fitted the undercarriage doors. He said the doors fought him all the time to get them to fit but he was reminded that the Blenheim is a fighting aeroplane and he should expect it to fight. The other new volunteer is Conner aged 13 years – we like to start them young. He is a very switched on and pleasant young man and we have great hopes for him.

There is still an amount of research to do on certain items and as always this is ongoing.

Finally again we are amazed at the amount of monies raised by the Society over the last year, the sum of £26,000 is a staggering amount, and I can only say that without your help we could not put the Blenheim back in the air.

Hope this helps:D

Dave, for your information, the remarkable man who has been the powerhouse behind both Blenheim restorations and the current repairs and conversion to a Mark I does sometimes post on this forum.

The aircraft is making as fast as progress as funding allows, and should be back on the airshow circuit next year.

The Blenheim Society has raised many thousands of pounds towards the operation and restoration of the Blenheim over the years – in excess of £20,000 a year in the last few years. Have a look at our website for more information!

Thanks for your interest in the Blenheim!

Hi Dave

This site is always good for latest pics, www.duxford-update.info

Or have a look at Pen Pushers regular pics from Duxford on here.

Peter

Dave

I don’t know if you’ve already seen it, but here is the link to the official AAIB report into the accident involving the second Blenheim : –

http://www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/november_2003/fairchild_025507.cfm

That will hopefully answer your questions.

As for photos, you might want to keep an eye on the Duxford Update site.

Check the News & Links page for recent pictures of the current progress on the Blenheim.

Cheers

Paul