Blenheim Society restoration

Kitty · 05-10-2008, 07:11 PM

I attended the Duxford Autumn Airshow today, and despite being basically rained off, I had a good long talk (And tour!) of the Blenheim Restoration being undertaken by an amazing team of dedicated volunteers.

They have acquired a long nosed Blenheim, and after its 'prang' it was decided to restore her back to a short nosed bomber. She has the support of many veterans, and hopefully will be in the air in a couple of years at the most, once the engines are built.

Having then been shown inside the Blenheim, and around the workshop where they are also re-building a Lysander (the smell was absolutely wonderful) I can assure you both of these birds will fly again, and soon.

As they do not have a forum of their own, i promised to link their website back to here in order to try and raise a little bit more awareness of their work.

Blenheim Society

So please keep an eye on their work, and if you are ever at Duxford, go and peer through the windows of Hut 66, otherwise known as Blenheim Palace

NickFenton · 05-10-2008, 09:22 PM

Well done Kitty.

I wanted to get down there myself but was unable to join them. I recently joined on account of my Father but watched the Blenheim fly at Biggin Hill about 3 years ago.

When you see the old films, you realise how defenceless they really were and all credit to the crews that were able to keep them in the air.

I have an affection for both these aircraft and it will be great to see them up there again.

Regards,

Nick

Antipodean Andy · 05-10-2008, 10:03 PM

I saw her fly in '99 after the rebuild from the first crash which was in the late '80s, I think, and only just after they'd got her going again (or on her first flight or something equally as heart breaking). Just marvellous and, while much maligned by just about everyone, the Blenheim was made to do things above and beyond...and golly did she have brave crews.

Hughis Edwards won a VC with 105 Sqn while on Blenheims as we all know. Were there any others?

Sir Hughie Edwards

Kitty, I managed to get into Hut 66 as well but not as behind the scenes as you as it was the Flying Legends weekend and there was so much to see. Met a guy called Taffy Smith (I think) and he was wonderfully friendly and showed us over a '109 they were rebuilding at the time. That smell you mention is one of my favourites - a mixture of, well, everything!

IIRC, I read recently there is a move to get a syndicate sorted in NZ to get a Blenheim project in the US. So, eventually, there might be another one. Probably read it on here somewhere.