Conservation workshop projects
In our Grade II listed WWI aircraft hangar, you can see live conservation in action. Hangar 16M was built around 1915 when aerospace was a very new industry. In 2021 it became a workshop for conserving aircraft and almost all this work is carried out by volunteers. Their skills, experience and commitment make it possible to display our heritage aircraft at their best.
During your visit you can join a tour to explore historic aicraft and meet the volunteers who make it happen.
The Bristol Freighter Type 170
Designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, a total of 214 Freighters and its passenger variant the Wayfarer, were built and used by airlines and air forces across the world. This Freighter was ‘saved from the scrapheap’ and brought home from New Zealand in 2018 by our volunteers and hundreds of generous donors. Our freighter is one of only 12 Bristol Freighters remaining in the world and the last one in Europe!
As of May 2026 we are undergoing our most ambitious project yet to conserve the Bristol Freighter. This includes reassembling its parts, weather proofing it and transforming it into an immersive part of our visitor experience.
Bolingbroke 9048 Project
Rescued from the US, the Bristol Bolingbroke bomber is a Canadian-built version of the Bristol Blenheim. Bolingbroke 9048 flew with the Royal Canadian Air Force until it was withdrawn from service. Towards the end of 2022, the team in Conservation officially fitted the right wing to the Bristol Bolingbroke 9048. They copied the ribs and leading edge of the right wing from the left side.
On June 13th, 2023, the team fitted the left wing following the attachment of the right wing in late 2022.
On January 20th, 2024, volunteers successfully attached the tail cone.
The tailplane was successfully fitted to the Bolingbroke 9048 in June 2024.
The fin is scheduled to be fitted in August. This crucial part has been meticulously worked on for years, with one key component crafted from scratch.
Once the fin is in place, the team will be ready to add the rudder, which is set to be covered at the end June.
Historic wartime photograph of Bolingbroke 9048 flying over Alaska in 1942.
Previous Projects
Bristol Fighter
The Bristol Fighter - or "Brisfit" - was a World War One two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft, and a formidable opponent for German fighters. In 2020, a Bristol Fighter was returned to Bristol from North America, and remained in conservation until 2022. The Bristol Fighter frame is now suspended above the replica, in the World War One exhibit in the Heritage Hangar.
Credit: BAE Systems
Thank you to the on-going support of Trusts and Foundations and individual donors for supporting our unique Conservation projects…
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