Bristol Beaufighter

tarkey wrote:

maybe a long while but I think it will happen

'


Blimey ; I'm "only" ten years out, reading this.... just one full decade !

Still no change from what I can remember.

Like you lads, would LOVE to see a Beaufighter flying, but, fear I'll be in triple-figures before it does


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It would be nice, but I don't think it's being restored to fly !?

2014. I think. I got the impression from previous visits that this was a full restoration just based on the level of detail of things like oil lines and wiring looms. (thought I had some more pictures, will keep looking)

Not the best of shot, but here is the Hendon example

I sat in the cockpit of that airframe (fuselage only) at RAF Gaydon in 1960 and marvelled how narrow it was. A number of complete airframes of various WW2 types had been distributed to RAF stations in a dismantled state with the intention of refurbishing them for static display. We also had an ex-Luftwaffe He 163 Komet. I was lumbered, together with another plumber to remove the two 30mm cannon and clean them up. Subsequently the airframes were collected and disappeared, presumably into storage elsewhere.

PETERTHEEATER wrote:

I sat in the cockpit of that airframe (fuselage only) at RAF Gaydon in 1960 and marvelled how narrow it was. A number of complete airframes of various WW2 types had been distributed to RAF stations in a dismantled state with the intention of refurbishing them for static display. We also had an ex-Luftwaffe He 163 Komet. I was lumbered, together with another plumber to remove the two 30mm cannon and clean them up. Subsequently the airframes were collected and disappeared, presumably into storage elsewhere.

When I visited Cosford in late 1961 or early 1962 for my brother's passing out parade (44th entry Air Radar Mechanics), we were shown round one of the workshops (nowadays Cosford Arena) on the camp ie other side of the railway line from the airfield where there was not only an Me 163 but also an Me 210 (a type I had never heard of before) and a Lysander all in good condition and obviously in storage.

My last years calendar. Probably the only flying Beaufighter I'll ever see ! ?