Bristol Beaufighter - heading South East over North London

[maturin23]

Hi all,

Pretty certain I've just seen a Beaufighter flying overhead (c. 11.10 today). Was flying South East over Muswell Hill.

Can anyone confirm the spot?

[DamienB]

As there isn't a single example in flying condition anywhere in the world, I reckon you've seen something else...

[maturin23]

Ah - good point.

Looked very much like one - any alternatives?

[eharding]

Beech 18?

[davepoth]

maturin23 said:

Ah - good point.

Looked very much like one - any alternatives?

Bristol Bolingbrooke, a marine patrol aircraft closely related to the Blenheim, upon which the Beaufighter was based. Duxford have one in flying condition apparently.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Fairchild_Bol...

[Eric Mc]

Not at the moment.

The only flyable Bolingbroke/Blenheim was badly damaged in an accident a number of years ago and is being restored as a Blenheim MkI

There is also a Beaufighter being restored to flying condition at Duxford but it is a very long term project.

I can't think of an aircraft flying today that could be confused with a Beaufighter or a Blenheim/Bolingbroke.

Perhaps something like this -

Edited by Eric Mc on Wednesday 23 May 12:06

[mcdjl]

B25 Mitchell? looks about the same to me!

[Zaxxon]

mcdjl said:

B25 Mitchell? looks about the same to me!

Only when very drunk

[Eric Mc]

The fact that the B-25 has twin tail fins and the Beaufighter a single tail fin makes them unlikely to be confused.

Ironically, the successor aircraft to the Beaufighter - the Buckingham, Buckmaster and Brigand, all had twin fins - but there are none of them even in existence at the present time let alone flying.

I think one Beaufighter was fitted with twin fins as part of a remote control gun turret experiment - but that was scrapped 70 years ago.

[Eric Mc]

Here you are.

Beaufighter -



Buckingham -



Buckmaster -



Brigand -




North American B-25 Mitchell

[RDMcG]

There is a Bolingbroke under restoration here in Canada expected to fly in 2015.


http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/648729--...

[mrloudly]

I believe the Duxford Beau is struggling through lack of props. There was another one in a shed near Cambridge ;-)

[mcdjl]

I tells ya I'm sober..and failed to spot the twin tail plane on the B25.....opppps

[Eric Mc]

mcdjl said:

I tells ya I'm sober..and failed to spot the twin tail plane on the B25.....opppps

The B-25 has a single tailplane (like most aircraft). What it does have are twin tail FINS.

[mcdjl]

Eric Mc said:

The B-25 has a single tailplane (like most aircraft). What it does have are twin tail FINS.

Hangs up key board and leaves....

[maturin23]

Sounded like it had old-school piston engines, certainly enough to make me and a colleague head outside.

It had already passed over when got out, but it did have a single tailplane. Quite truncated wing tips also - certainly not ovalled like a Spitfire.

[mrloudly]

Avro Anson?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POm_nZAjhvs&fea...

Edited by mrloudly on Wednesday 23 May 15:42

[Frik]

My first thought was a Wellington.

[Eric Mc]

Frik said:

My first thought was a Wellington.

Sadly, no Wellingtons flying either.

Anson sounds like a good candidate.

[maturin23]

That could well be the winning answer.

Looked and sounded very much like that, colleague also agrees.