British Canuck and Steve Young have both raised the subject the BAPC and their role with the UK preservation movement. I also have questioned how a group such as BAPC can remain so quiet on the subject of deteriorating condition and ultimate scrapping of aircraft in the UK. Especially as some of these aircraft are owned and cared for by BAPC member organisations.
Surprisingly the BAPC does not have an easily found web site but a Google search turned up
http://www.aeronauta.com/eapc/uk-bapc.html
This site gives the history and aims of the BAPC and a contact name Mr Nick Foster, Unfortunately it gives no other details of when meets are held or which groups and collections are members of BAPC. I seem to remember that an ‘at risk’ survey was once carried out by BAPC listing nationally important airframes, but I can find no details of the results. Do any forum members have direct contact with BAPC ? if so lets try and work together with an existing network, I believe that most of the active members of this forum care about aviation and we should be able to voice our opinions. Let see if we can make a difference.
DOUGHNUT
By: dhfan - 25th April 2003 at 01:08
I was considering starting a thread along these lines when I saw this one.
Like most people, I assume, I knew of the BAPC but it was just a name and I really didn’t know much more so the explanation is good.
It appears there really is a need for a body, somebody, anything with a little more clout to ensure that important airframes, and sites, aren’t lost forever. Mustn’t degenerate into “preserve everything at all costs” but we certainly seem to need more than we currently have.
I’m full of bright ideas but how it could work I don’t know. It just seems silly that a council can stop you chopping a tree down or demolishing a wall, and make you repair said wall, and we/they can’t do anything about a different sort of heritage.
Presumably there’s a government Ministry for Heritage, even if it’s buried in something else. Every government MP appears to be a minister of something or other so there must be one for us!
By: Arabella-Cox - 24th April 2003 at 23:31
Thanks David, that gives me a bit more of an understanding of what they’re trying to achieve. Really does sound like they’re up against it though. 🙁
By: British Canuck - 24th April 2003 at 20:48
David,
I think I have see some of these listings you mentioned with regards to “significance ratings to airframes”. I think it might have been in the Newark Air Museum Guide book. It seemed like a valuable tool for even the average aviation fan like myself. The survivors books that are published could blend that kind of information into their guides.
And I think most of us do realize that you can’t save them all. I guess it is just that time and the great outdoors will eventually reclaim by the airframes.
By: David Burke - 24th April 2003 at 20:27
The council is a voluntary body which exists to further the cause of aircraft preservation in the U.K. The current chairman is Mr Nick
Forder of the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.
Membership is open to bona fide groups and museums. The meetings are held quarterly. There is no problem with anyone joining a group and then attending a meeting. It’s worth pointing out that if the council allowed individuals to join there would be
enormous problems in keeping tabs on their activities.
On average 90% of BAPC members have aircraft outside in the weather. To most this isn’t their choice but in many cases it’s that
or loose the aircraft full stop. Most museums are aiming to get aircraft undercover but sadly there will be aircraft that dont make it.
The BAPC is an advisory group. It receives a small income
from subscriptions but that wouldnt even pay for one full time member of staff. Forget about massive lobbying campaigns – there simply isn’t the money to do it. It has no legislative powers
so it cannot force it’s will on any group and nor would it wish to.
Regarding the scrapping of airframes already done in the U.K -most of this has simply been down to apathy amongst the museums concerned. In the case of one airframe I know for certain of a museum abroad that was interested in having it but
the museum concerned didn’t do the paperwork to transfer it to them.
Lastly the National Aviation Heritage Register was the document formulated a number of years ago to list and indeed
give ‘significance’ ratings to airframes. It’s available from BAPC members for perusal so by all means ask. It doesn’t contain any hidden information – simply put most members of this forum
are more aware than some BAPC member groups of aircraft at risk.
The BAPC isn’t perfect by any means but at present it’s all the UK preservation movement has to represent itself.
By: Moggy C - 24th April 2003 at 16:00
Is Nick Foster the guy from the Manchester Museum where they’ve shoe-horned in a Shackleton?
Moggy
By: British Canuck - 24th April 2003 at 14:34
Steve,
From what I have read with regards to the BAPC surveys and findings are that they are not for the general public. They seem to work with museums and restoration organizations only. I would find they information of great use in helping education others about aviation history and preservation in general.
They do have a web site but it is under construction at this moment. :rolleyes:
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April 24, 2003 at 2:22 pm