The control column, rudder pedals, throttles, fuel levers, trim wheels, pitch change and carburettor controls are all from the MKI nose, as are the pilots seat, observers seat and bomb aiming seat fuel gauge panel and cylinder head gauge panels. There were a goodly number of brackets and some ribs that were usable. All stressed skins were replaced as these had been cut about by the conversion to a car, the tubular steel cockpit structure was replaced due to corrosion. Ralph Nelson who had built the car threw very little away which was fortunate for us as it eased the restoration. I will point out that the production break at the rear of the cockpit is the same for all marks of Blenheim wherever they were built and the main flying control systems all go through the same spot it is the throttle and hydraulic systems that are the difference between the Canadian and British built Bristol type 149 and of course the type 149 is a modified type 142 that’s why most things fit. The aircraft is registered as a Fairchild Bolingbroke (Modified). There no sizeable portions of the MKI nose left it being completely dismantled. I hope this answers some questions

Thanks Steve, we sometimes forget how good the Blenheim looks in the air, even those of us who work on it every week of the year. I would also like to thank all those who help us with the donations, whatever amount, and of course the Blenheim Society without whose extraordinary fund raising efforts throughout the years we would not be able to do what we are doing. All work on the airframe is still voluntary although we hope to employ a full time engineer on the engines in the near future.
Blenheim Society is open to all, and amazingly we are still recruiting Blenheim veterans, we had 15 at our last meeting in October 2010.

Many thanks again we are on course to seeing her back. A few more ££££s would help

Smudge

Blenheim Nose

The two panels on the nose are metal. On some of the earlier production models the one directly in front of the instrument panel was glass but the pilots view through this was blocked by the panel so it was deleted and replaced by metal. Later the pilots windscreen was made to slide down giving a direct vision panel, when this was slid down a small windscreen would pop up to deflect the airflow from the cockpit. Its quite a complicated system and we are are not going to try and duplicate it, so the nose will revert to the earlier layout.

Smudge

Chalkey White

There is a memorial bench opposite building 66 `Blenheim Palace` on which the names of all Blenheim engineers and pilots involved with the project are remembered. We often talk about `Chalkey` as all those who have passed on are special to us.
His knowledge of aircraft engines especially the Mercuries was unsurpassed and he passed that knowledge on for which we are ever grateful.
As said there are photos of `Chalkey` in Graham Warners books.

Smudge

Indonesian Blenheim

There is only one recorded Blenheim used in this way and that was a MKIV abandoned by the RAF in Java during 1942 and salvaged by Indonesian rebels, in 1945, who replaced the Mercury with Nakajima Sakae engines. This only made one flight before crashing.

Smudge

Possibly the main reason the ladder was on the port side is because all of the starboard side panels are detachable for maintenance and of course a fixed ladder would interfere with this vital function.

Blenheim Progress

With regard to the engines, a deal of work has taken place in that two reconditioned crankcases complete with con rods, cranks, blowers etc are ready for fit but the main stripping of the original engines has not taken place yet. We are hoping a great deal of the original engines can be rescued most certainly all of the ancilleries and most of the cylinders this will save a deal of time.
Engine wise we need to employ a full time engineer on these as we not only have the Blenheim to consider but also two Lysander engines, but again finance rears its ugly head. John Romain needs to oversee the builds, so it needs to be done in the top hanger and we do have a engineer lined up. All we have to do!! is find some cash, to clear some of the work load and to find some space to do it in, simple isn`t it.
As for my expertise with a spirit level I`m pretty useless at shelves, much better with a hammer in my hand.

Smudge

AVRO built Blenheims

AVRO built Blenheims at Chedderton and it appears not to be well known.
They were –
MkIs L6954-L6843
MkIVs N3522-N3545 N3551-N3575 N3578-N3604 N3608-N3631
R2770-R2799 Z5721-Z5770 Z5794-Z5818 Z5860-Z5909
Z5947-Z5991 Z6021-Z6050 Z6070-Z6104 Z6144-Z6193
Z6239-Z6283 Z6333-Z6382 Z6416-Z6455 Z9533-Z9552
Z9572-Z9621 Z9647-Z9681 Z9706-Z9755 Z9792-Z9836
AE449-AE453
The vast majority of all other Blenheims MkIs, MKIVs and MKVs where built by the Rootes Group shadow factories apart frpm initial batches built by Bristol who went over to production of Beaufighters.

Smudge