Carlisle museum hard at work on rebuild of last surviving RAF plane

The work to restore the Blackburn Beverley XB259, the final survivor of the original 49, follows after the plane was transported to the Solway Aviation Museum from Hull’s Fort Paull piece-by-piece earlier this year. 

'Big Bev', first flown in 1955, had travelled to destinations including Vietnam and Kenya before the cargo plane was stationed in Hull in 1974.

Museum chairman Dougie Kerr said: "We don’t know how long it will take. It’s all weather-dependent and how we get on. 

"We’ve sourced all the paint and equipment for rubbing it down, it’s just getting the volunteers on with that. 

"Today (October 23), we’re changing the starboard side bogie, the old one is being taken off and the wheels should be going on.

Big Bev's fuselage arrives at Solway Aviation Museum (Image: DKerr)

“We knew what the workload was going to be with it being the only one and where it’s sat for the last forty years, it’s a labour of love," Dougie said. 

Long after being stationed, concerns loomed over the possibility of failing to secure a buyer that the cargo plane may have to be dismantled until the Carlisle museum stepped in a "last-gasp rescue mission" to preserve the iconic aircraft. 

Over £80,000 was fundraised to bring the piece of history back to the museum. 

Dougie says donations are still coming in, giving a "thank you" to everyone who has helped bring the aircraft to the site. 

"The days are shorter and the kettle’s on more but we’re carrying on with it," Dougie said. 

Volunteers are currently working on spray-painting the cockpit.

Cockpit pictured at the end of August (Image: DKerr)

Next, they will focus on the two inner wing sections, each around 60 feet long and 19 feet wide. These sections, currently upside down, will have their undersides painted before being flipped over to paint the top.

Once both sides are painted, a crane from Lawsons Haulage will be used to reassemble the wings.

g Bev's body at the site of Solway Aviation Museum (Image: DKerr)

It's not just the Big Bev keeping the museum busy, however. 

"Last year, we bought back the original fire engine that was at Carlisle airport from a museum in Milton Keynes," Dougie said. 

Carlisle airport fire truck (Image: DKerr)

"When it came back the engine was seized, and yesterday was the first day it started. That’s another milestone.

“We’re also working on an Austin A10 that was in the Battle of Britain movie, all the front end has been stripped off and it’s been painted.

"Hopefully, that will be trundling about the site soon enough," he said. 

The museum, which is busy every weekend, will adopt its winter schedule soon, remaining open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until November 3rd, after which it will be open only on Saturdays until January 4th.