Blenheim breaks cover at Duxford

[Elliott Marsh - GAR]

Spotted yesterday, in public for the first time since it was fully painted and largely complete, ARCo's Bristol Blenheim at Duxford. It had its first post-restoration engine run last week and is steadily progressing towards its first flight in 11 years.

Just an awesome machine - can't wait to see it fly!

http://www.globalaviationresource.com/v2/2014/05/31/aviation-news-bristol-blenheim-mk-i-l6739-g-bpiv-unveiled/

[Chris Brame]

Bravo! Let's hope the third time's the charm.

[APG85]

Why the change in nose configuration? After two crashes, how much of this plane is original? Looks fantastic...

[SaxMan]

I would imagine the change in the nose configuration to the Mark I standard was done because the earlier Blenheims were more historically significant aircraft than this plane's original heritage, which was that of a trainer. You have to admire the persistence of this group for their efforts to return this plane to the sky three times...the original resto and the two crashes.

The Blenheim was not a particularly successful combat aircraft. As a light bomber, it suffered very heavy losses during the Battle of France. As a night fighter, it wasn't fast enough to be an effective interceptor. The Defiant proved to be a more successful night fighter until the Beaufighter was available in sufficient quantities.

[Firebird]

As a night fighter, it wasn't fast enough to be an effective interceptor. The Defiant proved to be a more successful night fighter until the Beaufighter was available in sufficient quantities.

It's effectiveness or lack of was more down to the primitive early AI kit in the Blenheim and lack of numbers of them, rather than any lack of speed (and it was faster ......just.....than the cruising speed of most of German bombers).

The mere 2 x squadrons of Beaufighters in servce from end of '40 to start of spring '41 (6 sqns of Beaus by late spring) were already outscoring the Defiants that were more numerous. Up to end of 1940, single engined night fighters only accounted for 11 bombers at night, but I don't know how many were knocked down at night by Blenheims in the same period?

[C VEICH]

After two crashes, how much of this plane is original?

As I recall a second airframe was acquired after the first accident and thus, technically speaking, this airframe has only been through one crash. I think anyway!

[Matt Gunsch]

What is sad is that both crashes could have been avoided, the first had the pilots checked their egos, the 2nd if they had checked their fuel.

[Mike]

Matt, the Blenheim is a single-pilot aeroplane. There is no 'their' about it. Just sayin'.......

[APG85]

I read that for crash #1 in 1987, there was a "co-pilot/engineer" on board...

[Mike]

Indeed there was, but the poor decisions made that fateful day were solely those of the pilot.

[Indian head]

Plenty of original in the airframe, the second crash just caused a crease in the fuselage which was sorted with some sympathetic repairs, and the short nose has retained a lot of the genuine structure. A real credit to Smudge for his tin-bashing talent.

[Grikka]

well done to all involved...now will she make flying legends in time?