Maybe the resident Filton expert is away for the weekend?!

That could be me? I’m an expert on most of Filtons history, but unfortunately over the years I’ve found very little on the USAAF side of things, apart from what has been mentioned earlier. I have a feeling that the West Works were used, I think I remember reading that somewhere. The West Works were built around 1917, comprised three Belfast hangars, and were used by the Aircraft Acceptance Park. Later on they were used by BAC Engines, later Rolls-Royce, and were demolished in the 1990s to make way for the Royal Mail sorting office.

I don’t have any photos, but I’m interested in seeing the ones mentioned earlier, I couldn’t find them by Googling. Any chance of a direct link?

It’s possible that there is something in the Bristol Aero Collections archives at Kemble, I’ll get in touch with the archivist. Unfortunately my website is a bit out of date and in need of a clean-up, I’ll get to it when they introduce that 8th day in the week…

Andy
http://www.filton.flyer.co.uk

… I’ve found the website now, here is a link to some of the photos…
http://www.footnote.com/search.php?query=filton&vs=1&category=wwii-hp&nav=4294966796&id=28439236
Although so far some of them don’t particularly look like Filton.

I suspect only someone associated with Loganair could have taken that photo. How very nice and clean it was kept. Much cleaner than the Loganair Islander I took a pleasure flight in from Kirkwall in 1999!

I remember it living in the GA hangar rather than the Loganair hangar, and in those days all and sundry could pop their head round the corner, or walk round with permission. I was a – what’s the term, ‘hangar rat’? – in that hangar in the late 70’s, volunteering for all sorts of jobs. Nothing changes…

Andy A.

I remember seeing this in the GA hangar at Glasgow in the late 1970’s. I don’t remember seeing it flying, although it must have flown occasionally as the pics from Prestwick show (June 1977?)

It appears to have been owned by Miles or related companies right up to it accident, so why was it based a Glasgow instead of Shoreham?

Andy

MM583 “RS-07” at Vigna di Valle is the only one I know of that starts “RS-0”:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Italy—Air/Aeritalia-G-222/0922658/M

Further searches show it has recently moved to Germany, to a place called Irrland at Twisteden.

A.

Looks like the centre wing section has been sliced in three, and the front third of the rear fuselage is still attached. So its been sliced in all the wrong places, probably just for quick transportation. There isn’t a great deal you can do with it, apart from restore what you’ve got there, so it could make a good trailer mounted exhibit. Still, cockpit appears to be more intact than most I’ve seen (can we have that control column?). I believe those the the bomb bay doors lined up at the start, nice to have those. It would be nice to see more photos or video!!

Andy A.

At last years Kemble Open Day in September they had notice boards in front of each Hunter, not only with individual histories, but also with the plans for each one. Some were future restoration projects, some were for spares – unfortunately I can’t remember which was which. However they may do the same at this years Open Day (Sunday 14th September) so its worth keeping an eye out. I thought last years was a particularly good event, which allowed a close look at the resident historic (Britannia, Hunters, Canberras, Buccaneer + visiting cockpits), a peek inside Delta Jets hangar, plus a good display to boot.

Andy A.

Just to clarify, there were/are several Brisfit replicas in the US.

a) Ed Storo built a replica, first registered in 1992 (N624), using chrome-molybdenum tubing and a modern Ranger engine. This was bought by Peter Jackson in New Zealand in 2002, and is now registered ZK-JNU.

b) up to 6 replicas were built by Visionaire in the early 1980’s for the Film ‘The High Road to China’ but not used. I think only 4 were completed, and two flew. One is now on display at Chino (the second, N34HC) and another at Valle, Arizona (the first, N29HC). One did appear in another film, don’t have the details to hand.

c) The Vintage Aviation Heritage Foundation in Texas are currently building two airworthy Brisfits, one replica and one using an original frame. They are currently on the US register, but I don’t have the numbers to hand at the moment.

d) In 2005, Bob Trickett sold his Brisfit project (which comprised of original parts) in the USA, but I don’t have any details.

As Mark says, I suspect the query refers to Ed Storos one.

Andy A.