Source : Paul McTaggart (News & Star)
PARTS of the last surviving Blackburn Beverley aircraft took ‘flight’ over the weekend for the first time since 1974 as 80 mph winds from Storm Eowyn battered Cumbria.
Despite precautions ahead of the weather warning, the iconic RAF plane, currently under restoration by volunteers at the Solway Aviation Museum, sustained damage to its wing parts, cockpit section, and main fuselage during the storm which saw widespread disruption throughout the county on Friday, January 24.
Museum chairman Dougie Kerr said: “A couple of the wings that were lying down took flight, I suppose they are designed to do that.”
“They moved to another part of the compound, we’ve had to move it back. There’s slight damage to the wing and the fuselage, so there’s more to do, but we’ll cope with it,” he said.
Long after it was stationed in Hull in 1974, concerns loomed over the possibility of failing to secure a buyer that the cargo plane may have to be dismantled until the museum stepped in a ‘last-gasp rescue mission’ to preserve the iconic aircraft.
The 36-tonne aircraft with a wingspan of 162 feet has been undergoing a two-year restoration project after a £80,000 fundraising effort helped the museum acquire the cargo plane.
The damage is an added challenge for the team, who are already working hard to preserve this last surviving example of the 49 Beverleys ever built.
There’s still a lot to do, and the storm damage is a little bit of a setback, but it is something we will overcome.
Dougie Kerr
“It was always a two-year project,” Dougie said.
“There’s still a lot to do, and the storm damage is a little bit of a setback, but it is something we will overcome.”
“We’re getting on well with it. A lot is being done at the moment on the inside, panels, treated, repaired and painted.”
While the museum remains closed for the winter period, visitors will have a chance to visit the site during a special half-term opening on February 15th, 16th, 21st, and 22nd. A full reopening is planned for March.
Since rescuing the ‘Big Bev,’ the museum has gone from strength to strength. In October, it received the prestigious AHUK Robert Pleming Memorial Award, the ‘highest accolade’ within the aviation heritage community.
The museum is also currently in the planning process for a hangar to house their recently acquired RAF Tornado, donated by RAF Spadeadam.
This plane, which last flew in September 2001, was originally meant to be a gate guardian at the RAF site.
Initial plans were made to use it as a static target, but negotiations with the RAF Heritage Team added the jet to the museum’s fleet.
The museum team has thanked everyone for past donations and is encouraging further support, which will ultimately help to cover storm repairs.
To donate, you can visit the museum’s PayPal page.
