Have I read too much into FiltonFlyers’ post?

Yes you have. I said ‘As far as I know, restoration is on the cards for some point in the future’. What I meant was that the Aero Collection would like to restore the fuselage to a more ‘displayable’ condition, as it is not in great condition at the moment. If it is to go on display in any future museum at Filton, then it would need to have a certain amount of restoration work done to it. By the way, this is not in any way an official statement, just my opinion as a BAC volunteer. I’m not in any position to comment on any discussions with the owner.

Andy

OK, I’ll use this thread instead! Surprise Bristol product at the launch event this morning was the RAF Museum Bristol Bulldog, which arrived on Wednesday apparently. Sadly its going back to Hendon, but great to see it back home.

A

Not sure about a museum, but there is certainly a lot of historic activity. Already Sea King ZG822, Jet Provost XP672, Phantom cockpit XV499 have arrived from Bruntingthorpe, plus Jet Provost XW420 from elsewhere. Lightning ZF580 and Dakota KP208 are there for restoration for other locations. I’ve read that VC-10 ZA147 and Herald G-CEXP may also end up here.

“Hurricane 501”, V7497/G-HRLI must be a good prospect for 2018. Can never have too many Hurricanes, especially one with 501 Squadron heritage.

Interesting discussion about the differences between Blenheims and Bolingbrokes. Although Bolingbroke was the original name, the Canadians kept that name and the RAF changed its name to the Blenheim Mk.IV. Fairchild then developed the aircraft, Mks I, II, III, IV and IV-T, so that were external differences between the types. Two I can think of were the window in the side of the rear fuselage and larger rear nacelle to hold a dinghy. Both of the earlier Duxford flying examples were Bolingbrokes painted as Blenheims, but the latest incarnation is certainly all Blenheim, as the Bolingbroke-specific features have been removed in the process if turning it into a Blenheim Mk.I. It is still registered as a Bolingbroke Mk.IV though. It would have been a bit of a hybrid otherwise.
I’d be happy if the finished Kent example was a Bolingbroke painted as a Blenheim, or any combination, it will be great to have another one on display. That 2011 Flypast article was one of the reasons I took down my website, I got fed up with it being copied verbatim without credit.

Andrew

BAPC.392 is the collection of fuselage sections from Manchester, see http://www.bapc.org.uk/html/searchInner.php?id=2264
A bit more information on the 146 fuselage barrels on display: there are two sections, the uncompleted barrel was cut from BAPC.392, the complete furnished barrel is from RJ100 HB-IXN, broken up at Kemble in 2016.

I believe there is a Beaufighter cockpit at the Wings Museum at Balcombe in West Sussex, although I haven’t seen it myself, or seen any photos of it. The RAF Museum Beaufighter fuselage is now on loan to Aerospace Bristol at Filton.

Andrew