Buccaneer and ground crew. Photo by Chris Cannon.
Situated in Lutterworth, Leicestershire. Bruntingthorpe has one of the country's longest runways and was an American airbase during World War II. It is the home of a unique collection of mostly classic jets. Ranging from a Victor tanker, the world's only airworthy Avro Vulcan, a Comet, a pair of Lightning F-6s housed in their QRA Shed as well as Jet Provosts, Buccaneers, Hunters and a Sea Vixen to name a few. Bruntingthorpe also has a large collection of aircraft cockpits.
Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome and Proving Ground
On Saturday April 29th, The Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets Collection opened to the public, or at least to a lucky 150 people who managed to get their hands on the limited number of tickets that were on sale. For those not familiar with Bruntingthorpe here is the backstory.
This large airfield lies just south of Leicester and only a stone’s throw from the former workplace of Sir Frank Whittle. For many years the airfield site, owned by the Walton family, was home to various aviation groups that saved aircraft and kept them in ‘fast-taxi’ condition. Many of these types are prohibited from flight in the UK and Bruntingthorpe became a haven for them and their dedicated teams.
In more recent years parts of the site began to be used for car storage and that effectively paid for the aviation side of things. Twice a year, usually on the Sunday of the later May and August Bank Holiday weekends, the site would open to the public for a day of ‘fast- taxi’ action. These occasions became a Mecca for Cold War jet enthusiasts, events where you could see rare examples of aircraft strutting their stuff, loud and proud, albeit not flying.
Unfortunately, just as the pandemic was beginning to gather pace, rumours began to circulate of a change of lease on the aerodrome. Uncertainty and rumours spread quickly with the teams themselves not knowing exactly what the outcome would be. It soon became apparent the new lease holders were not in the business of supporting aviation in any form. The various teams began to make plans for the worst. The Buccaneer Aviation Group soon realised they would no longer be able to operate from Bruntingthorpe and began a successful crowd-funder, which enabled it to move to Cotswold Airport, the former RAF Kemble. The race was now on to remove as many of the aircraft to land excluded from the lease area as quickly as possible. A new site was created around an ex-RAF Wattisham Q-shed where many of the smaller airframes are now located.
Images courtesy of Chris Cannon
The larger aircraft, such as the Nimrod, Comet 4 and Victor were also saved, but the downside is they are on a more remote part where access is restricted. The same cannot be said for the Super Guppy, Boeing 747s, ex-RAF TriStars and VC 10s, which sadly fell to the scrapman’s axe last year. However, if it were not for the generosity of owners Dave, Joe and Matt Walton who gave up their time and own money, the remaining aircraft and the space that has been created simply would not exist. An amazing effort, all conducted while dealing with the constraints of the pandemic.
Fast-forward to the present day and the new site is taking shape . The hope is that a public museum can be created, as at present there are no facilities. The bonus is there is a small apron, or pan, to the front of the Q-shed, with just enough room to carry out static engine runs and system demonstrations.
Below some of the aircraft which carried out static engine runs
Ben Belben of the Classic British Jets Collection wanted more and set about organising a first all-teams public open day, running more than just one aircraft. He was met with many challenges: the site size has very limited parking, the running area is also small and as mentioned before there are no facilities. Of course, the teams must prioritise safety above all else, so it was agreed 150 tickets would be made available at a cost of £40 per person. This was initially met with some mixed responses, but in just shy of two weeks the tickets were all sold out. It is great to see the appetite for aviation at Bruntingthorpe is still very much alive.
It takes a lot of hard work and effort to keep these relics of aviation running. There are a handful of teams that maintain the aircraft that make up the Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets Collection we see today.
All images courtesy of Richard Hall unless otherwise stated
English Electric Canberra B(I)8/B.6 Mod WT333 60th Anniversary
One of Bruntingthrope’s more colourful residents, English Electric Canberra B(I)8/B.6 Mod WT333 ‘Treble Three’, recently celebrated the anniversary of ‘her’ maiden flight with a fast taxi down the Leicestershire airfields runway- 60 years to the day English Electric’s chief production test pilot Desmond de Villiers lifted the jet from the aviation giant’s Samlesbury airfield.
Image courtesy of Jamie Ewan
Not many could have guessed that the same machine would still be around more than a half century later – let alone recognise it! – as WT333 powered into the cold, Lancashire skies that January day in 1956.With such a significant anniversary, the team behind the jets – better known as ‘Treble Three’ - planned a small event for invited guests to mark it in the best way possible – a fast taxi run!
Image courtesy of Jamie Ewan
Joining the guests were members of Wing Commander Roland Prosper ‘Bee’ Beamont’s family – the very man who flew the prototype Canberra for the first time on May 13, 1949. Other guests included a number of ex-aircrew who had flown WT333 and a couple of ex-RAE technicians and design staff who had worked on the jet throughout its operational history. To help mark the event Spencer Trickett of Skytoons Aviation art was commissioned to design an anniversary logo that was applied to the aircraft’s tail.
Image courtesy of Jamie Ewan
Once the the green light was given by the days ground crew, the jet was towed out to the runway under the very watchful eyes of her ‘wing walkers’. As Stephen said, “It was a touching moment when the sixty year old lady’s raspberry ripple scheme gleamed under the rays of sunshine as she came onto the runway.”
Following the jet down the taxiway and onto the runway it was very poignant to see a member of the team pat the starboard wing tank in similar fashion to that of a jockey would his stead before 'the big race'.
With the jet parked into wind and the ground crew in position, it was time for WT333’s party piece – the cartridge start – something that is both visually and audibly impressive!
Before long, a brief silence was soon pierced by a shrieking whoosh as the port engine suddenly spat out a trident of black cartridge smoke. After a couple of seconds, the deep roaring boom of the first Rolls Royce Avon winding up filled the air as a sea of heat haze rose into it. Repeated with the starboard engine, Crew Chief Clive Davies was on hand to help Alastair Walton and George Walton - 'Bee's' Grandson and Great Grandson – climb aboard with the day’s taxi pilot, Dennis Brooks, for the run from the ‘back office’.
It was somewhat fitting that once lined up for the fast taxi WT333’s nose was pointing straight towards Lutterworth while being accompanied by a symphony of jet noise – the very place Frank Whittle spent many years developing the jet engine! In fact, Bruntingthorpe was used extensively by the ‘the father of the jet engine’ during the development work, which without, the very jet being celebrated would quite probably have never existed!
Image courtesy of Jamie Ewan
To say the machine leapt off the line is a huge understatement! Fighting a rather gusty crosswind, it was incredible to see the jet suddenly rear up on the main wheels for just few seconds and show off a huge amount of ‘topside’ as the nose pointed into the sky – an emotional moment for the ‘Bee’s’ family knowing he was the man to do it first 66 years ago! Dropping back down onto terra firma, the jet was suddenly quiet as Dennis ‘chopped’ the power and rolled out.
Image courtesy of Jamie Ewan
Back tracking to her awaiting crowd, many of those gathered couldn’t have failed to notice another British aviation icon being towed towards the runway – English Electric Lightning F.6 XR728/JS of the Lightning Preservation Group (LPG). Making it a truly English Electric affair, the LPG carried out both a static run – including lighting both ‘burners – and a brief fast taxi in the capable hands of John Ward. It is always a pleasure to see this once guardian of the UK’s skies come to life and roar again - unlike many of their stablemates that have sadly been reduced to mere memories and nostalgic pictures.
Incredibly, the Lightning and the Canberra were both the brainchild of W.E.W ‘Teddy’ Petter and Roland Beamont flew both prototypes for the first time as well as going on to fly the initial test programmes for each. Amazingly, the very same man flew both WT333 and XR728 during their very first flights from the same runway albeit it eleven years apart – the late, famed test pilot Desmond de Villiers!
As both ‘Treble Three’ and XR728 sat next to one another for a photoshoot with both crews and ‘Bee’s’ family, it was quite clear to see the radical departures from the tried and tested designs of the time that the Lightning used.
Image courtesy of Jamie Ewan
Who knows, maybe we will see the 70th anniversary in 2026! Well… let's face it, if anything can, a Canberra can!
60 years to the very day… Happy Birthday WT333!
Image courtesy of Jamie Ewan
Buccaneer S2B XW544 unveiling at Bruntingthorpe Airfield
Three Buccaneers at Bruntingthorpe.
Photo by Martin Eames
Saturday 24th March 2012, The Buccaneer Association held their first open day at Bruntingthorpe Airfield in Leicestershire for 2012. The event was well attended by Ex Buccaneer air and ground crews as well as many aircraft enthusiasts. The star attraction was Buccaneer S2B repainted as she would have been when in service with the RAF. XW544 made her entrance from out of the mist along Bruntingthorpe's vast runway to the joy of the waiting enthusiasts. Later the group's pair of aircraft were on show and carried out individual runs. Later in the afternoon all four of Bruntingthorpe’s resident Buccaneers were lined up for a photo shoot, and later as dusk approached the three taxiable aircraft carried out a streamed fast run.
Images courtesy of Roger Whitcomb - Milairpix.com
Vickers VC10 XV105 Delivery at Bruntingthorpe – Tuesday 30th August 2011
On Tuesday 30th August 2011, VC10 XV105 made its final flight to Bruntingthorpe Airfield. This was the third VC10 to be withdrawn from service in the last few months. After carrying out an overshoot 105 carried out a visual circuit before touching down for the last time.
Images courtesy of John Bradshaw
Bruntingthorpe Photocall 2011 - Saturday 28th May 2011
After several years absence it was nice to see Avro Vulcan XH558 back at her old home again. After landing she was positioned on the runway and soon joined by some of Bruntingthorpe’s full time resident aircraft. How often can you see two V Bombers parked together in this day and age? Other aircraft in the line up included Nimrod XV226, a pair of Buccaneers and a Lightning. What a privilege to see this many great British aircraft all in one location.
Images courtesy of Roger Whitcomb - Milairpix.com
50th anniversary of the Lightning into service and the unveiling of the Lightning Q shed - Saturday 24th July 2010
Bruntingthorpe in Leicestershire opened its gates to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Lightning into service and the official opening of the Ex RAF Wattisham Lightning Q shed. With over thirty Ex Lightning pilots attending and a large group of enthusiasts who have supported the two Lightnings and the rebuilding of the Q shed, as well as many of the Lightning Preservation Group members. Speeches were made by the airfield owner David Walton and the Lightning Preservation Group president Richard Norris and Group Captain John Spencer (RAF Binbrook's last Station Commander) followed by the cutting of the ribbon by David Walton. Shortly after both Lightnings were pulled out simultaneously and later in the afternoon Squadron Leader Dennis Brooks took XS904 up the runway for a full reheat fast taxi run.
Images courtesy of Chris Cannon
Nimrod MR2 XV226 delivery at Bruntingthorpe - Tuesday 27th April 2010
On Tuesday 27th April a small group of aviation enthusiasts and photographers eagerly awaited the arrival of Nimrod MR2 XV226. At 11:15am the aircraft appeared from behind the trees in what was near perfect weather conditions. After carrying out a graceful run-and-break 226 carried out a roller along Bruntingthorpe's runway, before touching down for the very last time. Having transited down from Scotland and saying a final farewell to Cottesmore on the way down, the Kinloss ground crew saw the aircraft in on one of Bruntingthorpe's dispersals. As her engines were shut down her new owner David Walton waited to greet the crew and receive the 700. XV226 will be kept in ground running condition and should be joining the Victor, Comet and Lightnings for fast taxi runs very soon.
Images courtesy of Chris Cannon
Images courtesy of Denis J. Calvert Inter-Air Press
VC10 last flights at Bruntingthorpe - Tuesday 6th April 2010
History was made at Bruntingthorpe on 6th April 2010 when two 101 Sqn VC10s made their final flights. The aircraft XR807/Q and XV109/Z took off from RAF Brize Norton and did a final flypast before carrying out the short trip to Bruntingthorpe. The aircraft carried out a two-ship flypast, breaking left and right before making their final landings. Between them they have given over eighty years of service and over 80,000 hours. What a fine example of British design and engineering in what is one of the most graceful of large aircraft ever built. Thirteen VC10 tanker aircraft continue to operate from RAF Brize Norton, with some of the aircraft expected to soldier on until 2014.
Images courtesy of Chris Cannon
Images courtesy of Ian Bracegirdle
Bruntingthorpe Twilight Run 2009 - Saturday 28th November 2009
The Lightning Preservation Group (LPG) are raising funds to re-erect the former RAF Wattisham Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) hangar at Bruntingthorpe Airfield in Leicestershire. The hangar is historic in its own right, being one of only three built in the UK, it will protect both aircraft from the elements and serve as a unique museum and memorial to the "Lightning Force" and the Cold War period.
£120,000 is needed to accomplish this aim, the fund currently stands at around £110,000.
Re-erection work is almost complete!
The steel work has been erected & the concrete floor finished! Roof cladding complete, front doors hung, side cladding on, just the back doors to complete and due to the latest Twilight Run there are now sufficient funds to hang the rear doors, after that there is just the rear cladding to complete.
Images courtesy of Roger Whitcomb - Milairpix.com
The "Q" shed (once finished) will form a unique museum of everything Lightning as well as stopping the aircraft deteriorating thereby keeping these historic aircraft serviceable and available for the public to enjoy.
Review by Roger Whitcomb
Lightning Preservation Group website
Bruntingthorpe 21st anniversary of the Lightning - Sunday 26th July 2009
Images courtesy of Ross Cannon
Images courtesy of Ross Cannon
On Target Aviation Group - Canberra WT333 website
Lightning Preservation Group website
Bruntingthorpe Taxi Event - Sunday 3rd May 2009
Images courtesy of Chris Cannon
Images courtesy of Ian Bracegirdle