BAE Systems commits £2.4M and land

 BAE Systems have issued the following press release on 5th December 2012:

"BAE Systems is delighted to announce their support to the Bristol Aero Collection Trust in creating the new Bristol Aerospace Centre. The Company is working with the Centre to ensure the long-term conservation and display of an extensive collection of aerospace artefacts and archives. The Centre will exhibit the region’s rich aviation heritage, telling the stories of the Bristol’s great technological advances and the role of the community and workforce.

BAE Systems has pledged to donate 2 million pounds to the project, as well as 400,000 pounds worth of design, construction consultancy and project management support. This is a key component of the Bristol Aero Collection Trust application to the Heritage Lottery Fund to support the creation of the Centre. The Trust is also in discussions with several major corporate stakeholders with regards to their support for the project.

The Centre will be located on the northern edge of Filton Airfield, on a site which has been pledged by the landowners, BAE Systems. The site includes two World War One, Grade Two listed hangars, which will be fully refurbished to provide a first class aviation heritage museum, a learning centre and an archive. A new building could potentially house Concorde 216 and related exhibitions. The site is situated on the northern fringe of Bristol in South Gloucestershire, with central Bristol approximately a 20 minute drive away.

Heritage Manager at BAE Systems and member of the Bristol Aero Collection Trust, Howard Mason said: “We are proud to pledge our support for the Bristol Aero Collection Trust in their objective of creating the Bristol Aerospace Centre. Our vision for the future of Filton Airfield is that it will become a national heritage destination as well as continuing as a global beacon for advanced aerospace design and manufacturing. We hope that our commitment will encourage other companies and the people of Bristol to put their full weight behind this project.”

Project Director of the Bristol Aero Collection Trust, Lloyd Burnell said: “The Bristol Aerospace Centre will bring together Bristol’s important aviation heritage, which is currently in various collections, many inaccessible to the public. Of the British-built Concordes, only one is now located at its birthplace on Filton Airfield and it’s an exciting prospect that the museum could be able to provide a permanent home for Concorde.

The Centre will provide a fitting tribute to Bristol’s world-class aerospace industry, giving people the opportunity to learn about Bristol’s exceptional aviation heritage, and promote learning amongst the next generation of designers, innovators and engineers. We welcome BAE Systems’ generous contribution and are preparing our Heritage Lottery Fund application to be submitted early in the New Year."