Fly Past

April 2018 FLYPAST 29

currently the only one of its kind in

Europe. This rarity is bound to be

a source of fascination for FlyPast

readers so it’s worth emphasising

that it’s not yet on display.

“It’s currently in the Brabazon

hangar on the other side of the

runway, and for now it will stay

there as we assess its condition

and decide what work is required,”

explains Adam. “It had been in

New Zealand for many years and

needed to be moved off land at

Ardmore Airfield in Auckland. It

was at risk of being scrapped.

“Given there were no Bristol

Freighters in Europe, and only 11

in the world, we were determined

to bring it back to Filton. It arrived

into Bristol’s Royal Portbury Dock

on December 28 last year and

completed the road journey here

on January 4.”

The Freighter will be visible to

the public in due course. In the

interim, it’s good to know there’s

been a happy ending to its story.

It’s been saved, and is now safely

under cover in Aerospace Bristol’s

possession.

Its long journey in some ways

mirrors that now completed by

the Bristol Aero Collection Trust,

a group of dedicated individuals

that has now achieved something

spectacular – preserving history

and ensuring that it remains much

more than mere memory.

Main aircraft exhibits

Aérospatiale/BAC Concorde G-BOAF

Aérospatiale/BAC Concorde (pre-production fl ight deck)

Airbus A320 (cockpit mock-up)

Airbus A340-600 (undercarriage)

Avro RJX-100 section

BAe Sea Harrier FA.2 ZD610

Bristol Type 173 XF785

Bristol Babe III ‘G-EASQ’ (replica)

Bristol Beaufi ghter IIF (nose)

Bristol Britannia cockpit G-ALRX

Bristol F.2B Fighter ‘A7288’ (replica)

Bristol Freighter NZ5911 (not currently viewable)

Bristol Scout D (replica) ‘A1742’

Bristol Sycamore HL824

“Given there were no Bristol

Freighters in Europe, and only 11 in the

world, we were determined to bring it

back to Filton”

Inside the Britannia’s cockpit. The cockpit section of Britannia G-ALRX is preserved at Filton.

The museum’s Sea Harrier was lifted to the

site by a Chinook helicopter. Today the jet is

displayed with its Pegasus engine beside it.

ALL STEVE BEEBEE UNLESS NOTED