16 replies to this topic

[Tim Murray]

As part of yesterday’s celebration at Filton to mark 100 years of aviation prowess in Bristol since the foundation of the Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1910, the Bristol Owners Club organised a record gathering of Bristol cars from all over the world. Around 240 cars turned up, which is reckoned to be about 5% of all Bristols ever made.

Here’s a small selection of them:







The ancestor


Type 400


One of only two Type 400 Cabriolets


Type 400 engine


Pininfarina-bodied 401 – two of the six made were here


Beautiful 404 – my favourite


Zagato-bodied 406


Arnolt-Bristol





A few of the other interesting cars on display:

Riley Kestrel


Lotus Mk VI


Immaculate Lotus Elite

[Allan Lupton]

Not just any Riley Kestrel but a 16/4 (2443 c.c) one!
Good to know that a sense of history is still active at Filton where British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Ltd (as I'm sure it said somewhere!) was founded in 1910 and where aeroplanes (or at least major components thereof) are still designed and made, unlike a lot of former British aeroplane-making sites.

Edited by Allan Lupton, 19 September 2010 - 10:45.

[arttidesco]

Fab pics Tim thanks for sharing

[Tim Murray]

Good to know that a sense of history is still active at Filton where British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Ltd (as I'm sure it said somewhere!) was founded in 1910 ...

Spot on, Allan - my mistake. As part of the celebration there was an impressive flying display highlighted by an Airbus A380, a Mustang and Avro Vulcan XH558. The A380 was incredible - it appears to defy the laws of physics as it takes off and manoeuvres at such amazingly low speeds.

Art - I'm sorry you couldn't make it. Your impressive photographic skills would have done the Bristols far more justice than my poor efforts.

[cyrilmac]

Ah ! That explains the more interesting traffic than normal on the M5 yesterday evening.
I was impressed by the particularly low VC-10 which appeared to be trying to join me in my cab between Cribs Causeway and Avonmouth ! Wish I'd seen the A380 though.
Excellent photo's Tim
Thanks

Edited by cyrilmac, 19 September 2010 - 15:21.

[Allan Lupton]

The A380 was incredible - it appears to defy the laws of physics as it takes off and manoeuvres at such amazingly low speeds.

In my experience big aeroplanes always seem to be moving slowly and I put it down to my (our) sense of scale being upset. That, too, is why a Pitts Special goes so fast!
In the 1950s I saw B36s moving slowly and when I first saw the Boeing 747 at Paris in 1969 it was pretty slow-looking. By then, of course, I was technically competant enough to know what the speed must have been, but it still looked slow. I retired before the A380 flew so I've not yet seen it.

[Barry Boor]

The last time I saw so many Bristols was on the beach in Nice last year!

[Tim Murray]

In my experience big aeroplanes always seem to be moving slowly and I put it down to my (our) sense of scale being upset.

I'm sure you're right. At yesterday's display there was an early Antonov, described as the world's largest single-engined biplane, which could fly so slowly that at one point, flying into the wind, it was virtually stationary relative to the ground. I've also seen aircraft such as the Fieseler Storch apparently flying backwards. However, the sight of this enormous A380 flying (as it seemed) so slowly was much more mind-boggling.

[Tim Murray]

I was impressed by the particularly low VC-10 which appeared to be trying to join me in my cab between Cribs Causeway and Avonmouth !

It was even lower when it got to us, Cyril - we could hear the noise but couldn't see it. Then it suddenly leapt out from behind the trees ...

[Tim Murray]

The last time I saw so many Bristols was on the beach in Nice last year!

Heavens, Barry - all that sand. Won't have done their Enots one-shot hydraulic chassis lubrication systems (standard Bristol equipment) any good at all.

[Barry Boor]

Er.... what you said!

[dwh43scale]

TNF comes over all 'ooh err missus' !

On a point of order, the beach at Nice is very definitely not sand - it's big stones - make of that what you will !

[Stephen W]

Beautiful 404 – my favourite


Zagato-bodied 406

Wow! What a lovely pair of Bristols!

[arttidesco]

TNF comes over all 'ooh err missus' !

On a point of order, the beach at Nice is very definitely not sand - it's big stones - make of that what you will !

Big stones and Bristol's, if you and Barry are to be believed

Edited by arttidesco, 20 September 2010 - 15:18.

[bradbury west]

Meanwhile, down at the Revival we had what was described to me as the ex Sir Peter Masefield, sp?, former Chairman of BAC, 1938 Pontiac 8 on show. It had been his at Filton for years where it was remodelled to his own particular taste, prior to beingleft in storage for some 40years. Most people probably missed it
Roger Lund

[Darren Galpin]

Most of Bradley Stoke was stationary and watching the sky when the A380 flew around. It just doesn't look right when it is that low and then lowers its nose towards the ground further.....

Some of the things buzzing around the neighbourhood that afternoon:

http://www.facebook....mp;l=9e483ee20d

[arttidesco]

Most of Bradley Stoke was stationary and watching the sky when the A380 flew around. It just doesn't look right when it is that low and then lowers its nose towards the ground further.....

Some of the things buzzing around the neighbourhood that afternoon:

http://www.facebook....mp;l=9e483ee20d

A shame none of the made it as far as Cotham ! Thanks for sharing Darren