Anyone going to be there on Friday? It is the only day I can make – infront of the Trident at 12.00?

Daniel

Hi,

I had always been interested in aviation as a kid. I’d done Duxford once since getting married, but it was not until I came across Flypast in WHSmith’s on Kings Cross station one day in April 2001 that I got re-bitten by the aviation gremlin. It made the journey to York much more interesting than usual.

As ‘Antique Sewing Machine and Bobbin Collectors Monthly’ had folded and ‘Gasometers International’ never had anything interesting in it anymore, I decided that I needed a new subscription – after all it is nice to have something other than a bill drop through the letterbox once in a while.

Seeing as work gave me a nice PC with internet access :D, I could surf to the website and found the Forum.

And my forum name….partly my job and partly the a/c that was my favourite as a kid – don’t know why really 🙂

Have a good one…..

DS

I’ve got one!

DS

Done.

DS

Wonderfull stuff – well done.

Unlike Blurrkup I will still be living under the Northolt flight path, so feel free to buzz Northwood HQ as you come by!!

DS

James, thank you for your comments.

One other point regarding the training issue is that in the 30’s and 40’s there were large numbers of pilots and ground staff around who were experienced on the type – often gained the hard way. Whilst I do not doubt the large amount of experience ARCo and their colleagues have, it is not the same as 60 years ago. And even with more Mark IV then Mark I controls, a Mark I airframe will handle a little differently in the air.

DS

Blenheim to the sky – a concern

Hi

I have had the subject of this post on my mind for some time now, ever since finishing Graham Warner’s’ excellent ‘The Bristol Blenheim – A complete history’, but have never quite had the courage to air my concerns publicly. I thought I would stick my neck out now.

Firstly, I would like to say that I have the greatest of admiration for the skill, professionalism and dedication that everyone involved in the project to return the Blenheim to airworthiness has shown. I have no doubt that this aircraft will fly again, to act as a fitting tribute to the thousands of aircrew who flew in Blenheims in every theatre of WWII, and the hundreds who died. I am quite sure that it will be maintained to the highest standards and flown with great skill and care.

However, anyone who has read the above history of the Blenheim, and who is aware of what fate befell that last two airworthy examples cannot help but be struck by the high accident rate that this type suffered. There were many causes for this – frequently it was a single engine failure just after take off, which none but the most skilful and experienced pilot seemed to be able to survive. The aircraft was also more complex to fly than others of its time, which took some getting used to – especially when there was the added stress of combat. The cockpit suffered from being very poorly designed – there was no understanding of ‘ergonomics’ in those days, and many controls were difficult to reach and use. This, I gather, was especially so for the Mark I.

So when you look at the history of the Blenheim, it is an unfortunate conclusion that this is an aircraft with a poor safety record. The proposal to rebuild it as a version with possibly the poorest safety record (because of its cockpit layout), no examples of which have flown for over 60 years, and the last two later versions of which both crashed, must be seen as a ‘brave’ task. I think that the comment by GroundedPilot – whilst perhaps slightly flippant, and certainly not meant to cause offence – was understandable to an extent. I must say that I think there is a risk in this project, perhaps greater than that which is usually accepted in the world of aviation restoration.

Every year, around the world, brave, skilled and experienced pilots die in crashes whilst entertaining aviation enthusiasts. They get into the cockpits of these aircraft to do what they love, fully aware of the risks, but do we sometimes ask them to accept a greater risk than is necessary? Please, please do not get me wrong, it is not my intention to cause any offence to those working without pay to restore aircraft like the Blenheim. I continue to give financial support where I can to the project and would love to see it flying again, safely, and for many years. But history repeats itself, and I am worried.

Yours in Health and Safety Mode (well, I am a doctor!)

DS