Bristol 170 Freighter.

To me, a preserved aircraft is not about what condition it’s in, or indeed was its previous history is, but what its future holds. If it’s in a museum, with the intention of maintaining it in its original state and not letting it decay, its preserved. If it has been restored to a condition that it was once in e.g. factory fresh, then its still preserved. If its airworthy, its still a working aircraft and is not preserved. If its derelict, or left to rot with no intention of restoring it, its not preserved. My only conflict with the term is what if it is being used as a restaurant or similar purpose?

Andy

I think the success of the Vulcan project is in part due to the general public support for the project, and the public profile has only be raised by the appeals that went out when the project was near crisis. Therefore, if you want your project to succeed, you need to have a number of points where you are near the death of the project. In order to focus minds, you need to have a tight deadline or a desparate need for cash. Its amazing what an imminent go/no-go decision can achieve!

Andy

As Cking says, it crashed at Enstone in 1996. The fuselage was crushed, but all on board miraculously survived. The fuselage was scrapped, but anything salvagable was salvaged and in stored by the owner. The single wing section and one Hercules are still at Enstone. The cockpit is kept at the owners house.

Andy

The 125 is still in production in the USA, the production line having been sold by BAe.

Technically the 125 is still in production in the UK – the fuselage and wings are still built at Broughton near Chester, and then transported to Raytheon (or ‘Beechcraft Hawker’ now I think) in Wichita for final assembly, where they are badged as Hawker 800 and Hawker 1000. 45 years in production as still the same basic airframe! You could argue either way as to whether or not it is still a British aircraft though.

Andy

I don’t object to the windbreaks, after all they got there before I did and I see no reason why people can’t reserve a space while they visit the museum or sales stands. However, what did get me was the number of people with said windbreaks that were clearly uninterested in the show. There was a group of nine or ten in front of me all in a row, of which only two were watching the show. The others could have gone somewhere else and given the space to me! At least they weren’t standing.

A superb faultless show as always, well worth the six hour drive there and back. Looking forward to seeing GG next time.

Andy

The Brab had “BRISTOL” BRABAZON I in capitals on both sides just aft of the cockpit. One section has been in the Bristol Industrial Museum for years, and I had heard a rumour of the other section being at Old Warden, although I haven’t seen it myself. I’d be interested to hear if its still there. The attached photo was taken at the BIM a few years ago. I’ve been trying to track down Brabazon bits for the Bristol Aero Collection for a while. There are rumours of all sorts of items out there, but I still have some work to do to track them down!
Andy

Great news, its good to hear of another airliner being restored for display, following the news about Britannia Charlie Fox last week. Airliners are not easy things to preserve, so I think anyone who takes on these projects deserves much respect. After the loss of the BA Trident, VC-10 and 707 last year, it looks like 2007 is going to be a positive year for preserved airliners!
Andy