She's a beauty and one of a kind. Hopefully another will fly in the future. IWM Duxford have another airframe tucked away and I think there are now 2 at East Kirkby for restoration?
Thanks. I hope that you enjoy building the kit. Airfix are always good. I'm sure that I have the Blenheim somewhere in my kit stash waiting to be made? I'm pretty sure that there's another Blenheim/Bolingbroke project being worked on at IWM Duxford as there's a fuselage, wings and other parts visible in one of their stores. Also I have a feeling that the Aircraft Restoration Company may have one? In addition there are 2 Bolingbroke airframes now at East Kirkby with plans to get at least one flying as well as a Hampden rebuild there and of course the ground running only Mosquito. Elsewhere 2 separate Mosquito return to flight projects ongoing elsewhere and a Beaufighter with The Fighter Collection at Duxford which will hopefully fly one day. Quite a healthy number of potential airworthy British WW2 twins.
Thanks for posting. My father was an LAC on these in 84th Squadron. Middle east, then on to far east. Before finally capitulation to the Japanese. FEPOW for 3 1/2 years. I have some old photos of the inside of the cockpit. Would love to get a flight in this one some day.
It's very easy to imagine, that in the years leading up to WW2, airmen must have imagined that in such a handsome and impressive aircraft they'd be impregnable to attack.
Hello Olli, many thanks. I hope that you are well. I noticed that you were at Pratica de Mare for the Italian 100 show and look forward to watching those. Hope to see you at RIAT this year? All the best, Steve.👍
@@HighFlight Hello Steve! I'm fine, thank you! Unfortunately I can't go to Fairford this year, hopefully next time. :) Yes I was in Pratica di Mare and it was a great Air Show. A number of flying rarities and formation flights were shown there, which unfortunately will never be seen again. I'm glad I made the trip. Greetings, Olli 🤗👋👋
@@knightflightvideo Olli, It sounds as looks as though it was well worth it, especially to see the Lockheed Starfighter, Fiat G91 and Caproni flying. I'll take a look at your films of them. 👍
@@HighFlight Thank you, Steve! Yes, the Starfighter, Fiat G.91 and Caproni were the Top Highlights of the Show. But it was also great to see a P-47D, F-86 Sabre, T-33, some F-35 action and the AMX + Tornado IDS in flight before their retirements. Last but not least there were nice formations with various Aermacchi planes and a mass flyby of the Italian Air Force with 87 aircraft! Not to forget the daily flight demonstrations of the Frecce Tricolori. :)
@@knightflightvideo Olli, that sounds fantastic and I'm sure that I can see it on your channel later (I'll look!). And an Italian 'Balbo' of 87 - a sight and show that you will remember for a long time I'm sure. 👍
Great video of this Bristol Blenheim Looked like it had a lot of potential (2x960 bhp RR Mercury engines), multiple configurations, use as a light bomber as well as a longer range fighter… and indeed more than 4400 were built… but RAF attrition rates looked truly truly horrible. Finnish Air Force made good use of it and it was deployed by RAF in coastal and night fighter roles in a number of theatres… but along with other early - mid 1930’ s concept aircraft like Fairey Battle it was vulnerable to more modern and much much faster single seat fighter like the BF109. Still an attractive aircraft… and the brave lads who flew her knowing her vulnerabilities obviously are heroes.
Richard, Thanks for a very good summary of its strengths and weaknesses. A beautiful aircraft quickly overtaken and outclassed by German fighter technology and not helped by the tactics that sent them out often with no fighter escorts.
A really nice video with lots of "privileged", ground footage on this one Steve! Nice to see flying without the Tannoy and crowds. Many thanks for posting! Chris B.
Technical Opinion Wanted. Could a Blenheim "fly home" from a typical 1941 German bombing raid.... "On Only one Engine?" I'm in the middle of an upcoming 1941 War TV series., and need to know if this is feasible... Can anybody HELP!
I’m currently reading a book ‘Battle for Britain - The recollections of Wing Commander H.R. ‘Dizzy’ Allen DFC, which may help to answer your question. He was a fighter pilot on Hurricanes and Spitfires. On page 95 their is a section covering the Blenheim and its use for anti shipping patrols off Holland - His squadron was tasked to escort Blenheim from East Anglia, over the North Sea to Holland. It says -‘This was crazy planning on the part of the Air Staff. The Blenheim, for example, was useless as a military aircraft although the fighter version did have a capability as an embryonic night fighter’…. ‘we would take off from airfields in East Anglia, pick up a squadron of Blenheims and then split up according to plan. 6 Blenheims would head that way and the other 6 thither. Simultaneously we would break up our squadron formation and one of our flights would escort one formation of Blenheims and the second flight would stay with the other.We would fly for a hundred miles or so until we saw the Dutch coast ahead, then the Blenheim leader would make a sweep searching for coastal convoys. If and when the formation leader spotted a convoy, which occurred with great regularity, he would dive low over the water together with his formation; we would keep slightly above and watch out for intercepting German fighters. By this time, of course, the Germans had placed flak ships fitted with lethal anti aircraft guns in the convoys. Had the Blenheims been fitted with aerial torpedoes, there might have been some sense in the operation as they could have released their torpedoes, turned away out of range of the flak barrage and possibly survived. But as it was, they were equipped only with 500 lb bombs which meant they had to overfly the convoys and also the deadly flak ships. It was no part of our role to enter the flak barrage; we were a purely anti-fighter escorting force. Consequently, as the Blenheims went in for their final bombing run, we would fly around the convoys with the aim of giving protection to the Blenheims again when they had passed over the barrage. But the trouble was that all too few Blenheims managed to survive the flak. In my estimation, on every sortie I undertook when I had the responsibility of escorting 6 Blenheims, 4 were normally destroyed by flak. On not one occasion did I see a ship hit by a bomb. Some of the aircrew in the Blenheim anti- shipping force were promoted to the status of Squadron Commander within a year, having previously held the rank of Sergeant pilot. The only requirement was to survive. On one occasion we collected the remnants of a Blenheim flight and kept a safe eye on them as they set course for East Anglia and I instinctively scanned the area in the region of the convoy which was now behind us. I spotted what looked to be the white, creaming wake left by a fast cruising E boat; then I realised that even an E boat could not proceed at such speed. I told the senior section leader to maintain escort on the Blenheims and with my number two turned towards the Dutch coast in order to investigate. There materialised a Blenheim with one engine issuing clouds of white smoke, flying very low over the sea which had caused me to imagine it to be an E boat. We closed on him in formation one on each wing, and I saw the Captain grin with relief. He then switched off his damaged engine, feathered the prop, and gained height very very slowly until he arrived at an altitude of about one thousand feet. We stayed in close escort with him flying virtually at the stall and I’m this manner we all arrived over the East Anglian coast. We waved good-bye when I indicated by waggling my wings that we had to leave as we were now getting short of fuel and, in any case, could have given him no further assistance. I learned later that this Blenheim crashed on landing killing the crew’.
![Bristol's Gull-Winged Failure | Bristol Type 133 [Aircraft Overview #96]](/img/1.gif)
Wonderful. My dad flew these in Africa and India. Great to have a chance to see one, even on screen. Thank you.
Thank you for this. Really love this crate !
She's a beauty and one of a kind. Hopefully another will fly in the future. IWM Duxford have another airframe tucked away and I think there are now 2 at East Kirkby for restoration?
Great video, building this as an Aiirfix kit at moment. Very good material. Fascinated by British twin engined aircraft of WW2. Thanks for posting.
Thanks. I hope that you enjoy building the kit. Airfix are always good. I'm sure that I have the Blenheim somewhere in my kit stash waiting to be made? I'm pretty sure that there's another Blenheim/Bolingbroke project being worked on at IWM Duxford as there's a fuselage, wings and other parts visible in one of their stores. Also I have a feeling that the Aircraft Restoration Company may have one? In addition there are 2 Bolingbroke airframes now at East Kirkby with plans to get at least one flying as well as a Hampden rebuild there and of course the ground running only Mosquito. Elsewhere 2 separate Mosquito return to flight projects ongoing elsewhere and a Beaufighter with The Fighter Collection at Duxford which will hopefully fly one day. Quite a healthy number of potential airworthy British WW2 twins.
I am currently building the 1/48 Blenheim Mk.1 by Airfix,it's a fantastically detailed kit.
Thanks for posting.
My father was an LAC on these in 84th Squadron. Middle east, then on to far east. Before finally capitulation to the Japanese. FEPOW for 3 1/2 years.
I have some old photos of the inside of the cockpit.
Would love to get a flight in this one some day.
What a beautiful aircraft
It's very easy to imagine, that in the years leading up to WW2, airmen must have imagined that in such a handsome and impressive aircraft they'd be impregnable to attack.
nice filming and thank you...I am currently building the Airfix 1/48 scale of this aircraft...lots of fun
Thanks. Enjoy your model build. 👍
Excellent video and sound of the Blenheim, Steve! 👌👌 Also nice close-up footage on the ground! Double thumbs up! 👍👍 Greetings, Olli
Hello Olli, many thanks. I hope that you are well. I noticed that you were at Pratica de Mare for the Italian 100 show and look forward to watching those. Hope to see you at RIAT this year? All the best, Steve.👍
@@HighFlight Hello Steve! I'm fine, thank you! Unfortunately I can't go to Fairford this year, hopefully next time. :) Yes I was in Pratica di Mare and it was a great Air Show. A number of flying rarities and formation flights were shown there, which unfortunately will never be seen again. I'm glad I made the trip. Greetings, Olli 🤗👋👋
@@knightflightvideo Olli, It sounds as looks as though it was well worth it, especially to see the Lockheed Starfighter, Fiat G91 and Caproni flying. I'll take a look at your films of them. 👍
@@HighFlight Thank you, Steve! Yes, the Starfighter, Fiat G.91 and Caproni were the Top Highlights of the Show. But it was also great to see a P-47D, F-86 Sabre, T-33, some F-35 action and the AMX + Tornado IDS in flight before their retirements. Last but not least there were nice formations with various Aermacchi planes and a mass flyby of the Italian Air Force with 87 aircraft! Not to forget the daily flight demonstrations of the Frecce Tricolori. :)
@@knightflightvideo Olli, that sounds fantastic and I'm sure that I can see it on your channel later (I'll look!). And an Italian 'Balbo' of 87 - a sight and show that you will remember for a long time I'm sure. 👍
It’s really quite menacing with its sharp turns and downhill speed !
Very Cool Plain
Thanks for that
Great video of this Bristol Blenheim
Looked like it had a lot of potential (2x960 bhp RR Mercury engines), multiple configurations, use as a light bomber as well as a longer range fighter… and indeed more than 4400 were built… but RAF attrition rates looked truly truly horrible.
Finnish Air Force made good use of it and it was deployed by RAF in coastal and night fighter roles in a number of theatres… but along with other early - mid 1930’ s concept aircraft like Fairey Battle it was vulnerable to more modern and much much faster single seat fighter like the BF109.
Still an attractive aircraft… and the brave lads who flew her knowing her vulnerabilities obviously are heroes.
Richard, Thanks for a very good summary of its strengths and weaknesses. A beautiful aircraft quickly overtaken and outclassed by German fighter technology and not helped by the tactics that sent them out often with no fighter escorts.
The Mercury was built by Bristol,not Rolls Royce.
A really nice video with lots of "privileged", ground footage on this one Steve! Nice to see flying without the Tannoy and crowds. Many thanks for posting! Chris B.
Fricking sound of those babies
"Mr Dawson!"
"One of ours, George."
This plane had a cameo in Dunkirk.
I built a kit airfix or frog i dont remember but this plane is wonderful thanks for sharing from Carlos Portugal
Thanks Carlos. Your kit was probably the Airfix one, which is very good.👍
Technical Opinion Wanted. Could a Blenheim "fly home" from a typical 1941 German bombing raid.... "On Only one Engine?" I'm in the middle of an upcoming 1941 War TV series., and need to know if this is feasible... Can anybody HELP!
I’m currently reading a book ‘Battle for Britain - The recollections of Wing Commander H.R. ‘Dizzy’ Allen DFC, which may help to answer your question. He was a fighter pilot on Hurricanes and Spitfires. On page 95 their is a section covering the Blenheim and its use for anti shipping patrols off Holland - His squadron was tasked to escort Blenheim from East Anglia, over the North Sea to Holland. It says -‘This was crazy planning on the part of the Air Staff. The Blenheim, for example, was useless as a military aircraft although the fighter version did have a capability as an embryonic night fighter’…. ‘we would take off from airfields in East Anglia, pick up a squadron of Blenheims and then split up according to plan. 6 Blenheims would head that way and the other 6 thither. Simultaneously we would break up our squadron formation and one of our flights would escort one formation of Blenheims and the second flight would stay with the other.We would fly for a hundred miles or so until we saw the Dutch coast ahead, then the Blenheim leader would make a sweep searching for coastal convoys. If and when the formation leader spotted a convoy, which occurred with great regularity, he would dive low over the water together with his formation; we would keep slightly above and watch out for intercepting German fighters. By this time, of course, the Germans had placed flak ships fitted with lethal anti aircraft guns in the convoys. Had the Blenheims been fitted with aerial torpedoes, there might have been some sense in the operation as they could have released their torpedoes, turned away out of range of the flak barrage and possibly survived. But as it was, they were equipped only with 500 lb bombs which meant they had to overfly the convoys and also the deadly flak ships. It was no part of our role to enter the flak barrage; we were a purely anti-fighter escorting force. Consequently, as the Blenheims went in for their final bombing run, we would fly around the convoys with the aim of giving protection to the Blenheims again when they had passed over the barrage. But the trouble was that all too few Blenheims managed to survive the flak. In my estimation, on every sortie I undertook when I had the responsibility of escorting 6 Blenheims, 4 were normally destroyed by flak. On not one occasion did I see a ship hit by a bomb. Some of the aircrew in the Blenheim anti- shipping force were promoted to the status of Squadron Commander within a year, having previously held the rank of Sergeant pilot. The only requirement was to survive. On one occasion we collected the remnants of a Blenheim flight and kept a safe eye on them as they set course for East Anglia and I instinctively scanned the area in the region of the convoy which was now behind us. I spotted what looked to be the white, creaming wake left by a fast cruising E boat; then I realised that even an E boat could not proceed at such speed. I told the senior section leader to maintain escort on the Blenheims and with my number two turned towards the Dutch coast in order to investigate. There materialised a Blenheim with one engine issuing clouds of white smoke, flying very low over the sea which had caused me to imagine it to be an E boat. We closed on him in formation one on each wing, and I saw the Captain grin with relief. He then switched off his damaged engine, feathered the prop, and gained height very very slowly until he arrived at an altitude of about one thousand feet. We stayed in close escort with him flying virtually at the stall and I’m this manner we all arrived over the East Anglian coast. We waved good-bye when I indicated by waggling my wings that we had to leave as we were now getting short of fuel and, in any case, could have given him no further assistance. I learned later that this Blenheim crashed on landing killing the crew’.
Please ignore the lines crossed through part of the above. I have no idea why it has done that!
The above appears to have happened during 1941 and also mentions a Blenheim bombing raid on Essen, when a Blenheim was destroyed by a lone ME109!
GORGEOUS - but like most radials it sounds like a bunch of bolts being rattled around in a chainmail bag.