BRITANNIA AIRCRAFT
PRESERVATION TRUST
About Us
The Trust
The Britannia Aircraft Preservation Trust was launched in 1991, the 40th Anniversary year of the first flight of the prototype Bristol Britannia from Filton. In its efforts to help fund the Trust, it published A History of the Bristol Britannia written by founder member David Littlefield, and produced a limited edition print, First Whisper, by Len Hutton.
The objectives of the Trust are directed wholly to the preservation and exhibition of Britannia aircraft, their parts, documents, articles and related information about their design, construction and operation. The main thrust of the Trust's efforts is to raise funds and co-ordinate volunteer work programmes to assist with the preservation and restoration of Britannia aircraft in the United Kingdom.
The Trusts Britannias
G-ANCF was the BAPTs first acquisition. 'Charlie Fox' was rescued from the fire dump at Manston in 1988, carefully dismantled, and stored is various locations while a new home was found for her. In 1997, all components were reunited on Kemble Airfield, as part of the Bristol Aero Collection. In early 2006, the loan to the BAC was terminated, and after further year of storage, a new home was found with the Jetstream Club at Liverpool Airport. Here she will be restored and repainted in the colours of British Eagle.
G-ALRX was the second Britannia prototype, infamous for its forced-landing on the Severn mud flats during a test flight, only six weeks after its first flight. The forward fuselage section was donated by the Ministry of Defence at Boscombe Down to the BAPT, and placed on long term loan to the Bristol Aero Collection. The cockpit is usually open for inspection in their hangar at Kemble.
XM496 was donated by Transair, flying from Southern Africa to Kemble in October 1997, making the last ever flight of a Britannia airliner. She is maintained in live condition, although she will not fly again. In 2005, maintenance and support for XM496 was transferred to a new group, the Bristol Britannia XM496 Preservation Society - more details can be found at www.xm496.com.