Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Bristol Brabazon’s maiden flight
On September 4th, 1949, a small army of technicians swarmed the Filton airfield, hundreds of cyclists gathered at vantage points, and around 10,000 more people arrived to witness the first flight of what promised to herald a new era of passenger travel.
The Bristol Brabazon was a massive undertaking, offering passengers the crème de la crème of experiences, such as on-board cinemas, cocktail bars, lavish lounges, and separate sleeping quarters. The Brabazon was designed to be the ocean liner of the sky. However, despite its technical brilliance, the Brabazon was a commercial failure. By the time it was ready, the market for expensive luxury travel had shifted towards smaller aircraft with high-density seating and lower fares.
Nevertheless, the development of the Brabazon laid the groundwork for the Bristol Aeroplane Company’s eventual contract to help develop the world’s first supersonic passenger jet, Concorde.
Aerospace Bristol is set to celebrate Brabazon75 from Thursday, 5th September until Sunday, 29th September, with spotlight talks and a special display of Brabazon objects in the museum’s admissions area.
