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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 restoration 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
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. The aircraft is one of only 11 Bristol Freighters remaining in the world and now the only one in the whole of Europe!
Thanks to your support, the Freighter is being safely stored and its condition assessed by the Aerospace Bristol team.
The plan is for the Freighter to be safely housed inside the new Conservation in Action workshop, for volunteers and apprentices to undergo work to conserve the aircraft for the future.
Credit: BAE Systems
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 Bolingbroke 9048 flew with the Royal Canadian Air Force until it was withdrawn from service.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.
The Bolingbroke’s tailcone
The right wing of the Bolingbroke
Historic wartime photograph of Bolingbroke 9048 flying over Alaska in 1942.
Birdseye view of the Bolingbroke as of May 2024.
Our thanks for the on-going support of Trusts and Foundations and individual donors for supporting our unique Conservation projects…
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