| Actual Image
Bristol Blenheim MkIV (14)
tyro
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 212 W: 83 N: 641]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (2874) | This wonderful piece of machinery is actually a Fairchild Bolingbroke IVT (Canadian built Bristol Blenheim Mk IV). It is currently undergoing restoration at the Museum of Flight at East Fortune in East Lothian, not that far from Edinburgh. It is actually being rebuilt using parts from more than one airframe.
As I was told by the guide there, this aircraft is being restored for exhibition purposes only: insufficient funds are available for the massive cost of rebuilding a machine such as this to a standard to allow it to fly.
From the museum website:
"Ordered by the Air Ministry from the Bristol 142 fast mailplane of 1936, the Blenheim was the first all-metal monoplane bomber in RAF service. The Blenheim carried out the first operational sortie of the RAF of World War II on the day war was declared and later suffered high losses at the hands of enemy fighters and anti-aircraft guns.
"The Fairchild Bolingbroke was the Canadian built Blenheim IV; this example served with the Royal Canadian Air Force as a target tug and did not arrive in the UK until 1971. The Museum of Flight bought the unrestored airframe from the Strathallan Collection auction in 1981."
I might add that the Museum of Flight is very well worth a visit - you will also have the opportunity to climb aboard Concorde!
Taken handheld in fairly dim light but at wide-angle. Shot in RAW and converted and edited in PSE6.
All comments/critiques/advice welcome! |
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