Perhaps silly question but does anyone know if moving to the Philipino registration means this and the other Heavylift aircraft will operate from the Philippines? Is so I’d better plan a trip, it’s only an hour south of here!!! 😉

And BTW, what is the latest on the Guppy, has it left yet?

Really great news guys, I wish you all the best.

Assuming the Merchantman at Brooklands is still a runner and the team can get XM496 running again, we could potentially be able to see and hear a Dart, Tyne and Proteus running again…what a thought…….:D

I think I have a slide of her when she was at Perth with me. I’ll have a look and post if you’d like to see it?

Think this may be of interest to you.

DAS Viscount nose section has gone on loan to Bournemouth. And looks rather nice as well in her Parcel Farce colours.

http://www.vickersviscount.net/Pages_News/News.aspx

Thanks for posting that link Olympus, I wasn’t aware of this website which looks pretty good.

Very interesting…and great photos. Any of the Connie?

I didn’t indicate runable engines ! Indeed looking into the future the prospects for people ground running aircraft seem to be poor. However it would be good if some static examples could be acquired for her . The future of the Britannia as a whole in the U.K looks decidedly uncertain. In the long term I can see just two survivors.

David
Unfortunately there are no more aero Proteus around, I know, as I’ve scoured the earth trying to find units for both XM496 and G-ANCF. I sourced the last running serviceable Proteus for XM496 from Rolls-Royce (Proteus were used in the cross wind tester) and at the same time managed to get Rolls to donate the 2 scrap engine they had to the BAPT for G-ANCF, so infact, she does have 2 engines!

Without serious, serious money being put into G-ANCF and I mean more than one famous Vulcan can attract, it’s highly unlikely CF will ever be powered up again. It’s bad enough keeping XM496 live with a small band of people and limited funds – and she’s still in the same condition she arrived at Kemble in 10 years ago this year! (ok, had a repaint!).

Intersting you can see just 2 survivors long term, can you provide your candidates, I guess one of them will be G-AOVT.

Yes, this is great news, after such a long time dismantled, it’ll be great to see the reassembly work commence on CF and really, really fantastic to see a Brit in Eagle colours again.

A huge thanks to the Britannia Aircraft Preservation Trust and all at Speke for making this happen. With concerns over the condition of G-AOVF at Cosford and no cover for G-AOVT at Duxford and XM496 at Kemble, it’s great to see things happen for another airframe.

As far as I’m aware CF is a complere airframe and she was dismantled sympathetically which, within reason, should make for a relatively easy job for reconstruction. Engines are not required, only cowlings (both VF and VT have no engines) and there are props.

Yes, I agree. What next? The Monarch Britannia in BOAC coulours?

Not if I’ve got anything to do with it…;)

Humm that’s sad…I was under the impression that XM496 at Kemble had at least three engines that were ground run or capable of being run….have they decided to preserve her in a static form in order to help save funds..

What is the current status for Bristol Britannia G-ANCF?

With work and money, XM496 could indeed run 3 of her 4 engines again and maybe even taxy! The Society holds a serviceable spare which was donated by RR in 2005. The reasons why the engines are not run are those problems all groups like ours encounter and face – small group of people doing a lot outside in all weathers in spare time with very little or no finances, coupled with little or no Proteus spares (things like 3-Phase inverters) constant attention from others parts of the aircraft, H&S rules (XM496 is on a CAA licensed airfield) and insurance. The cost of insurance just to allow visitors onboard for the current year amounted to £1500.

As to G-ANCF, the future is very uncertain, she is no longer connected with the Bristol Aero Collection and needs to be relocated to a new location soon.