Finnish Blenheim Mk I nose photos

Just as interesting for me, but slightly off topic is the Il2 remains they have there.

An old thread, but I thought it would probably better to bump this one up than start a new one – found an interesting webpage about the Finnish Blenheim IV, I don’t understand a word of Finnish (Flemish?) but it looks like they’re building a proper building to put it on display, looks rather interesting

http://www.virtualpilots.fi/feature/artikkelit/bl-200/

Great site. I found the story about the guy in the 109 cockpit funny.
As I got stuck in one quite recently 🙂 😮

The original, better photographs linked in the first post can be found from my article here:

http://www.virtualpilots.fi/feature/photoreports/blenheim2001/

There’s many more photos of the Blenheim.

Hi,

Nice photos. I hope they fully restore the Blenheim IV.

I had a look though some of my files as I rembered an article about the Finnish Blenheims. The Mk IV is BL-200 a Finnish built machine. This aircraft also incorporates parts received from Yugoslavia.

As spares for these aircraft were virtually non existant due to the war they struck a deal with the Germans which was signed in October 1941. The Yugoslavian aircraft company Ikarus had licence built Blenmheims for the Yugoslavian Air Force. With the capture of the factory by the Germans there were loads of spares lying around so complete wings, fuselages and vital drawings were sold to the Finns.

The Finns purchased 18 Mk I’s (called Series I) and 5 Mk IV’s (Series V) and produced 45 Mk I’s (15 Series II’s and 30 Series III’s) and 10 Mk IV’s.

I haven’t found any details on the two Mk I noses yet.

I wonder if there are any more bits lying in Yugoslavia?

Alex

Promised photos

At last I have found the slides which I took at the Suomen Ilmailmuseo store in May 1998. This provides proof that at least two Mk1 noses survive in Finland. I’ve also attached a shot taken in the same hangar of a MkIV (with outer wing panels removed but stored alongside). The Mk.IV is situated beneath a DC-2 (which I’m told is not conducting some rare mating ritual on the Blenheim despite what it may appear is happening!).

I wonder what there intentions are with the “two” MK1 blenheim noses? It would be great to see another MK1 blenheim recreated again

Dave

I visited the Finnish storage hanger only a few years back where they are held and I can confirm there are at least two Blenheim 1 noses. One was stored high up in the hangar on racks the other had more of the fuselage attached and was stored on the floor of the hangar with the nose pointing upwards. In the same hangar at that time was a fully assembled Blenheim IV. I do have slides but I’ll need to track them down amongst the 700K+ in my records. Can’t search just now due to serious family health probs but will do so in next few months if that helps you?

Consul,

Just to register interest. 🙂

Yes please.

Mark

Yes there are at least two

Dave

I visited the Finnish storage hanger only a few years back where they are held and I can confirm there are at least two Blenheim 1 noses. One was stored high up in the hangar on racks the other had more of the fuselage attached and was stored on the floor of the hangar with the nose pointing upwards. In the same hangar at that time was a fully assembled Blenheim IV. I do have slides but I’ll need to track them down amongst the 700K+ in my records. Can’t search just now due to serious family health probs but will do so in next few months if that helps you?

I noticed at the Duxford Autumn airshow that the Mk1 nose was next to the fuselage of the damaged Blenheim and had had some work done to it.Is it to be fitted during the next restoration?

Another Mark 1 ?

Dave,

Thats very interesting.

I know the only BlenheimIV left is with the Finns (all others are Bolingbrokes), but i thought the ex-car conversion Mk1 cockpit with ARCO was the only survivor. If the Finns have one also… awesome !

Any idea which aircraft its from ?