Phillip RhodesIf it is a replica Arrow I don’t think it is the Toronto Aerospace Musem’s example. Been to their website and the frame is slightly different, but close. The roundal looks more like the RAF example, though the resolution is too low. Neither is it the Avro Museum’s 0.6 scale flying example currently being built.
Arrow or not Arrow?
The section features a spine. It looks too new to be Allan Jackson’s example (built ten years ago). Not a Chinese Dam Busting Lancaster (made from wood – bamboo – same difference).
How about…
…No, that’s silly. But wait a minute…
Are there any other replica aircraft (who says it’s an aircraft) being built or have been recently built?
Give up. JDK you…
you…
you…
😡
Phillip Rhodes…and when the aeroplanes flew home, they played a giant game of snooker on the world’s largest snooker table…
I love grass landing fields, especially those, like East Kirkby, that are well maintained. Not a weed in sight.
Phillip RhodesOpposition can not only close an aerodrome – it can also prevent one from reopening.
The airfield at RAF Driffield (East Yorkshire) closed to flying in the 1950s, but the site is still retained by the MoD (Army).
A few years ago I suggested that a small part of the site could be reopened as an all grass landing field (see attached). Since then several pilots have expressed an interest in keeping their aircraft at Driffield. One businessman even expressed an interest in establishing a flying club, while a parachute school has also expressed an interest in my proposal. Recently a paragliding club has also contacted me, while I myself would like to establish the Yorkshire Vintage Gliding Club. Now there is part of the site which isn’t used by the army, which is well suited for flying. The problem isn’t the MoD, but rather the original land owners. My understanding is that the MoD will vacate the site within seven years and the land will be handed back to the original owners, who have expressed their opinion that flying would not interest them at all.
It’s a shame that with so much interest in seeing the airfield reopen that the decision is down to one or two farms. What future awaits the historic airfield (?) : farming (most likely), wind farm (probably), gravel extraction (I wouldn’t be surprised).
I honestly believe that if you limit flying to light aircraft and gliders this interest in seeing the airfield reopen might extend to local residents. I’m constantly been inspired by other low-category / low-use airfields. For example recent pictures taken at East Kirby show what can be done with a lot of hard work and plenty of grass seed – check out the photographs in the gallery section of this forum (East Kirby).
Phillip RhodesI received an email from an employee from HeavyLiftCargo. My understanding is that: ”Southend Airport are very keen to see this aircraft broken up at the earliest opportunity and are currently charging HeavyLift £367.50 a day to have the aircraft parked. HeavyLiftCargo continue to pay these ridiculous charges, but it has been decided that by the end of September the aircraft will not be in HeavyLiftCargo ownership. If you can come to an agreement with Southend Airport then you can have the aircraft.”
I have written to HeavyLiftCargo asking that efforts be made to save the cockpit section. In response to the aforementioned email from HeavyLiftCargo, I wrote the following:
I think the main problem is that for a number of years now, there has been continued speculation that G-BEPS might return to service, then not, then…
My experience with HeavyLiftCargo is that my previous emails weren’t acknowledged. This has been the experience of a number of other enthusiasts. I also believe that some individuals have mistaken G-HLFT for G-BEPS – thinking the airframe had or was about to return to service.
Firstly, despite it size, this aircraft could have been saved. We all acknowledge that she will never fly again. My proposal is/was (?) to dismantle the airframe and move it from A to B. This has been done in the past with other oversized airframes, including the last remaining Blackburn Beverley (moved twice), Concorde (Brooklands and Museum of Flight – Scotland), Britannia (Speke – Liverpool), etc…
I’m not worried about G-BEPS being gutted either. Yes, she is a complex airframe, but restoration is about being patient. We have all the time in the world to put G-BEPS back together again, but sadly not enough time to take her apart and transport her to a new home. If the aviation heritage community were given advanced warning of her disposal, then maybe the right people could have been assembled to plan the careful dismantling of the airframe. This has happened with the aforementioned Concorde aircraft and Britannia. I would imagine that it would have taken twelve months to dismantle her – first removing the wings and tail section, before working on the fuselage.
Me? I’m not in a position to do anything other than write a few emails. I’m passionate about our aviation heritage and yet feel powerless – unable to do what is needed.
I have written to both the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society and the Ulster Aviation Society to ask for their advice. Me thinks the best we can hope for is to save the cockpit, and thereafter the generosity of HeavyLiftCargo, to supply those expired parts needed to fit out this part of the aircraft. In all honesty, that is all we can best hope for at this late stage. Can this happen? Has it been suggested? If not, it has now…
Not worried about the lack of flight deck windows or radome – but where to make the important cuts? I have attached a rough graphic to illustrate what constitutes a cockpit section on such a large aircraft.
The tragedy is that the airframe is in good condition – we’ve all seen much worse. We maybe unable to save G-BEPS at this very late stage, but HeavyLiftCargo should (I hope) be thinking about G-HLFT and her future – post retirement.
Phillip Rhodes
ADDITIONAL I’m writing to a number of museums who might be able to find the cockpit a new home. They would be responsible for moving the cockpit section. Me? I have enough on my plate…
…If only we had more time…
Phillip RhodesNext best thing to actually being there – sitting at home with a chilled can of Pepsi Max – admiring some excellent photography. Well done!!! That goes for a lot of you shutterbugs…
Phil Rhodes
Phillip RhodesDoes anyone know if model plans exist for this aircraft type – rubber powered or R/C balsa wood scale model?
Me thinks I should do a little more research before I start posting requests for information. I’ve found 1/4 scale plans: https://shop.traplet.com/product.aspx?c=523 BARGAIN!!!
Pity they don’t accept PayPal…
Many thanks for the read “wieesso”. I ordered a copy of their plan a few weeks ago, but again – no internal detail…
Phil Rhodes
Phillip RhodesMany thanks for the input chaps – again, very much appreciated. I think I have a PDF copy of said 1/72nd scale plan, plus another, slightly large scale plan.
Does anyone know if model plans exist for this aircraft type – rubber poweredor R/C balsa wood scale model?
Phillip RhodesCheck out: http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1963/1963%20-%201693.html for an excellent article published in 1963 about the Short Belfast – includes an excellent cutaway.
Regarding G-BEPS; How many cockpit sections or indeed entire airframes are saved or deposited with museums that are “gutted”. The premise is simple. HeavyLiftCargo stripped G-BEPS of spares. What will happened to those spares when they finally come to the end of their useful life? Ask any cockpit owner and he (or she) will acknowledge that restoring their pride and joy takes years (not weeks or months). The fact that the cockpit of G-BEPS is gutted doesn’t mean it it has to remain that way.
The key problem is one of size and where to make the cut. That said, the future of even the cockpit depends on the good will of the owners, who I have just written to…
Phillip RhodesVery much appreciated “wieesso”. I have quite a few pages from this archive on pdf, but not this one (?)…
Does anyone know if anyone made a balsa model plane or even plans for one?
Again, many thanks for your help…
Phillip RhodesDoes anyone know where the fuselage joints are on the Belfast? Hoping that the cockpit can be saved (in the same manner as the Southend’s Beverley’s cockpit was recovered)? Pity the entire aircraft couldn’t be unbolted into sizable chunks without using a JCB!
Phillip RhodesIf the aircraft is scrapped, then at least the cockpit should be saved. Question is where should it go? My money is back in Belfast, where she was built. Also, what else would you keep?
Phillip Rhodes[SNIP]As Bruce says, one flying and one inside; not a bad return in from 10 built.
And what happens if the flying example (god forbid) was to crash? I would add that the owners of the Southend Blackburn Beverley shared your same sentiments, as did the owners of the Hendon Blackburn Beverley – one party thinking that at least there were two other examples. And how many Blackburn Beverley aircraft now remain? To rely on a single example is to tempt fate.
One idea I do have is for the owners of G-BEPS to dontate the aircraft to the Fire and Rescue Service at Southend Airport for non-distructive training. This would result in the aircraft becoming the property of the said-same airport and I doubt if they would bill themselves for keeping the aircraft onsite. Just an suggestion!
Regarding my go at Flypast. It’s simply the case that they have more facilites and contacts than most – it might just take a few international phone-calls, etc by individuals with more clout. Ken Ellis is an important person and the owners of this aircraft would probably take more notice of him, than you or I. I’m not suggesting that they pick up the tab for saving G-BEPS…
Phillip RhodesUnfortunately nobody wanted the aircraft [SNIP]
I wanted her – the entire aviation heritage community wanted her – we still want her, but we were kept in the dark until it was too late. The biggest problem has been trying to contact the owners (emails and faxes going unanswered)…
Size is important, but shouldn’t be used as an excuss. Is the Vulcan at Southend too big to be preserved? What about the DAS collection @ Duxford?
Me thinks that Flypast Magazine should step in – it’s about time they did something other than report the news. They should make the news. Yes, I know they sponsor Sally B, etc – but considering they have more resources (telephone, fax, people on the ground and INFLUENCE etc), they should have a better chance of saving this old girl.
Phillip RhodesRAF Bovingdon also featured in The Avengers (The Hour That Never Was). In one scene, the airfield’s DP1 crash tender was positioned to the left of the MkIV crash tender, seconds later and the two vehicles had change places – this despite the entire aerodrome being void of people. Good episode and a wonderful insite to an aerodrome – very similar to the opening sequence to The Way to the Stars (RAF Catterick).
Phillip RhodesBelfast G-BEPS – Can someone [local] keep us informed?
I’ve emailed the owners of Belfast G-BEPS and Southend Airport, hoping for a reprieve, but I’m not optimistic.
Can whoever lives or works nearby lets us know what is happening? If we had enough warning, and if the owners were decent enough to allow a third party to take ownership, then maybe she could have been saved. Yes, she was stripped of spare, but these could (in time) have been replaced by warn-out parts. Personally I would like to see her dismantled and stored onsite, until the right people could restore her to static condition. I guess we live and learn. Actually, that’s rubbish. How many times have we been here before (Hendon, Cosford, Duxford – Beverley, Comet, VC10, Boeing 707, Trident, etc)? When is enough, enough? What will it take for someone to take notice.
Phil Rhodes
Sign In
