Warbird Information Exchange

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

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

Tks for sharing!

Incredible that e still can find these in Canada.

BTW...it's Manitoba

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

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TY- just a typo (old eyes)

Is anyone actively planning a Bolingbroke restoration?

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Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

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

Sean

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]

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

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

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?

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Keep Em' Flying,
Christopher Soltis
Dedicated to the preservation and education of The Sikorsky Memorial Airport

CASC Blog Page: http://ctair-space.blogspot.com/
Warbird Wear: https://www.redbubble.com/people/warbirdwear/shop

Chicks Dig Warbirds.......right?

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.

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.

_________________
Keep Em' Flying,
Christopher Soltis
Dedicated to the preservation and education of The Sikorsky Memorial Airport

CASC Blog Page: http://ctair-space.blogspot.com/
Warbird Wear: https://www.redbubble.com/people/warbirdwear/shop

Chicks Dig Warbirds.......right?

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...

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

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