Big chunk of Bristol Bolingbroke discovered in Manitoba

[Richard W.]

Happened last year, but the RCAF only posted the video yesterday.

https://youtu.be/PlH1gynn6c8?si=79zq5rIrLfiJveNl

Last edited by Richard W. on Mon Mar 04, 2024 1:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Michel Lemieux]

Tks for sharing!

Incredible that e still can find these in Canada.

BTW...it's Manitoba

[TAdan]

What an exciting discovery. Looks like there is a lot of good material to work with there.

[Richard W.]

Tks for sharing!

Incredible that e still can find these in Canada.

BTW...it's Manitoba

TY- just a typo (old eyes)

[JohnB]

Is anyone actively planning a Bolingbroke restoration?

[martin_sam_2000]

Is anyone actively planning a Bolingbroke restoration?

CWHM is working on one. Was initailly to be a flyer but recently announced static only.

Sean

[Dave Hadfield]

As someone who is flying the only operational Bristol Mercury in North America, I can assure you that it's a hard thing to accomplish.

Vastly more expensive than a Merlin to zero-time.

https://youtu.be/bBCIoHOBriI?si=oOkM7E-trEmWmg2z

[youtube]https://youtu.be/bBCIoHOBriI?si=oOkM7E-trEmWmg2z[/youtube]

[Brenden S]

There is sure plenty of wrecks out there that are still yet to be found.

[Sopwith]

That’s good news and also amazing what is still about to be discovered

[Warbird Kid]

As someone who is flying the only operational Bristol Mercury in North America, I can assure you that it's a hard thing to accomplish.

Vastly more expensive than a Merlin to zero-time.

https://youtu.be/bBCIoHOBriI?si=oOkM7E-trEmWmg2z

[youtube]https://youtu.be/bBCIoHOBriI?si=oOkM7E-trEmWmg2z[/youtube]

I would think for this reason that it could be worth it to see an engine swap. Maybe a pair of R-1340s instead? That SHOULD (in theory) fit and work in the space of a Bolingbroke cowling vs the original Bristol Mercury engine. Or would that be considered sacrilegious?

[DH82EH]

There were some Bolingbroke built that used the Pratt & Whitney 1535 Twin Wasp junior.
The problem is, those are rarer than Bristol Mercury.
The last Airworthy example was in Jim Wrights beautiful Hughes racer.
Canadian Warplane Heritage have had a Bolingbroke project for decades & considered that option way back when.
They shelved the idea of an airworthy Bolingbroke right around when their Lysander had to make a forced landing due to its Mercury quitting. last I heard, they have no plans to return the Lysander to flight.

[Warbird Kid]

Which begs the question, what would be a good alternative to the Bristol Mercury? So we don't have to loose out on potential airworthy Bolingbrokes, Lysanders, Swordfish, etc. Something that is plentiful, cheap, easier to work opn, etc.. (i.e. Allison in Erickson Bf 109, R-1830 in Zeros, etc.) to make these planes more economical to fly? Shame to think so many airframes are hindered by the lack of a specific power plant.

[Mark Sampson]

There's a Blenheim/Bolingbroke at the Pima museum. It won't fly again, I'm sure. Perhaps someone could make a deal to purchase the engines from it, and replace them with something that looks correct with the cowlings on. Very unlikely, I admit, but...

[quemerford]

Is anyone actively planning a Bolingbroke restoration?

There's a Bolingbroke restoration underway at Aerospace Bristol in the UK.

[Thomas_Mac]

The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre has a Bolingbroke/Blenheim project on the go as well. Non-airworthy is the intention I believe.
https://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/lots-to ... lenheim-IV

https://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/news/mo ... arrive.htm

https://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/news/br ... gbroke.htm

Photo from their Facebook