Fly Past

April 2018 FLYPAST 27

know that Concorde is here, but
when they visit they’re not at
first aware of just how much else
there is, or of the long history of
the site. Space technology and
guided weapons were developed
at Filton – many people don’t
realise that until they visit. Some
have even said that they paid their
entrance fee to see Concorde
and had no idea that there were
other exhibitions and things to
do. Exceeding those expectations
naturally makes us very happy!”

Next generation
The attraction is the result of
an ambitious £19m project, of
which the Trust has so far raised
more than £17m. As well as the
Heritage Lottery Fund, it also has
a number of corporate supporters,
including BAE, Rolls-Royce,
Airbus, GKN, Renishaw and South
Gloucestershire Council. It has
benefited too from private donors
and trusts, along with some
successful public appeals.
The museum plans to bring in
more attractions when time and
funding permit, and is considering

the possibility of further

expansion into other buildings –

but visitor numbers are already

ahead of target.

“We’ve had the advantage of

putting a new museum together

from scratch,” says Lloyd, “so

we’ve been able to make it modern,

stimulating and interactive while

also giving a home to some key

historic exhibits.

“We’ve worked alongside some

very knowledgeable volunteers

to put together an exhibition that

truly depicts the history of Filton

but in a modern and accessible

way. Obviously, if your museum

has been running for decades it’s

very much harder to do that. It’s

given us the opportunity to think

about what people want today.

“The Bristol Aero Collection

Trust is a charity and one of its

key aims is to preserve Bristol’s

heritage, but also to inspire young

people. It’s also about social

history; the impact the aerospace

industry has had on Filton. We

want to engage young people and

we welcome visits from schools –

that’s one of the main reasons we

chose to arrange things the way

we have.

“We’ve ensured that we’ve

catered both for those who are

just skimming through, so to

speak, and for those who want to

delve deeper, to listen to every

voice recording and examine every

photo.”

The entrance hall at Aerospace

Bristol is designed to resemble

a terminal building, and the

presence of a section of Airbus

A340-600 undercarriage is

the first evidence of the area’s

extensive heritage. The wings of

the four-engined airliner were

manufactured at the site, and the

prototype A340 flew in to Filton in

April 1992.

The main exhibition spaces

highlight aircraft and vehicles,

supported by interactive video

screens, models and information

boards. Among the aircraft

present are superb reproductions

of a Bristol F.2B, Babe and Scout,

and authentic Bristol Type 173

and Sycamore helicopters (see

page 29 for a full list). Relics

from a crashed Blenheim IV are

on show in unrestored condition,

along with the accessible cockpit

and forward section of Britannia

G-ALRX which suffered an engine

failure on a test flight and made

a forced landing in the Severn

Estuary in 1954.

Numerous engines, including

Jupiter VI, Hercules and

Centaurus, are displayed, along

with a complete Sea Harrier ‘jump

jet’, displayed with its Pegasus

turbofan alongside.

The sectioned forward fuselage

of a Bristol Beaufighter IIF

is likely to be of particular

interest to FlyPast readers. The

precise identity of the machine

is unknown, even to the RAF

Museum which owns it, but it’s

believed to be the last surviving

example of a IIF, and is excellently

displayed in night-fighter colours

at Filton.

Among other exhibits are a tyre

designed for the huge Brabazon

project, a wing from a Bulldog and

a number of missiles, including

Bloodhound, Sea Wolf and Sea

Skua.

Above left

Documentary footage is projected against

Concorde’s forward fuselage.

AEROSPACE BRISTOL

Above

The sectioned forward fuselage of the only

surviving Bristol Beaufi ghter IIF.

Above right

Concorde is an impressive sight from any

angle.

Left

Phil Collins’ contribution to the

Concorde Memory Map project. Also see

aerospacebristol.org/concorde-stories

“It gives you a small sense of what

it was like to fl y in Concorde as a

passenger. Even that distinctive, hard

to defi ne airliner ‘smell’ survives”

Getting There

Aerospace Bristol’s address is Hayes Way, Patchway, Bristol BS34 5BZ. It’s

situated just off the A38 Gloucester Road, not far from the M5 motorway, and

open daily from 10.00-17.00hrs. Tickets cost £15 (adults), £13 (senior citizens

and students) and £8 for young adults and children aged 4-17. There’s no

charge for under 4s, and various family tickets are available. Tel: 0117 931 5315

http://www.aerospacebristol.org