Bristol Freigher

[Bluebird]

Hi All

don't know if this has been seen before. just found it on you tube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roQOcqAlY5M&t=919s or this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gwd0P45EtnA
i can remember them just

cheers
Todd

[Splitpin]

Missed this post Todd ....fantastic stuff Thanks for the heads up.

[aerofoto]

Living on the Te Atatu Peninsula across the river and right under the circuit for RNZAF WPE at AKL (where I'm still located today and almost 60 years later) I was subjected to/became very well acquainted with the classic BRISTOL HECULES engine "rattle" throughout the 1960's .... who could forget a sound like that

For a long time the SAFE AIR BRISTOL's were the life line between NZ and Chatham Island (a very unique service) .... until succeeded by their ARGOSY's.

I saw the last of the SAFE AIR BRISTOL operations into AKL during the late 70's/early 80's.

I think the last NZ operator of the BRISTOL FREIGHTER was HERCULES AIRLINES .... which operated 3 BRISTOL's (as I recall) during the mid 1980's.

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[aerofoto]

The above BRISTOL 170 reflections caused me to do something I've not done in quite a while .... to take "mine" out of storage and perform a quick circuit around RNZAF WPE .... seen here/below passing over my Te Atatu Peninsula, Auckland, residence and to to the northeast of RNZAF WPE ....





The above 3D model represents part of an FS project that was never completed

Some folks here may be aware of the BRISTOL 170 MK 32 "SUPER FREIGHTER" (a larger and more logistically capable version of the classic B170) produced for CBFS by my colleague "the late Garry RUSSELL" .... whom I used to work with during the early 2000's. Benoit PLAMONDON and myself (though Benoit Primarily) produced the BRISTOL HERCULES Sleeve Valve Radial engine sound pack (recorded from a Canadian operated aircraft) for this/Garry's B170 FREIGHTER simulation at CBFS .... a stand-alone project featuring 3D model, panel, sound, and several textures for historic British operators of the type/the MK 32 at least. Garry unfortunately "left the launching pad and shot into space"/passed away before he could complete this BRISTOL FREIGHTER project

What's represented per my above image was to have become "the final installment" for this/his project featuring the MK-31 aircraft (this image represents the BETA version of it) and which approximates the version of these aircraft operated in NZ by the RNZAF, SAFE AIR, and finally HERCULES AIRLINES.

The much earlier MK-30 aircraft (it lacked the tail/fuselage dorsal fin of both the MK-31 and MK-32) was also planned to be modeled by Garry as part of the final installment for this project, but, never eventuated due to his circumstances.

Sadly nobody associated with CBFS ever took up the challenge to "consider" completing this project from where Garry left off (along with his BRISTOL BRITANNIA turboprop and CL-44/YUKON projects too .... and which I also have) .... probably out of respect for him

The only other "freeware version" of the BRISTOL 170 MK-31 FREIGHTER still available is a "much older" model by Mike STONE .... and for which textures representing each of the 4 period liveries supported by SAFE AIR (and both the RNZAF and HERCULES AIRLINE too .... I think) were "recently produced" (within the past 3 years) by a South African colleague of mine of quality FS texture repute.

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[deaneb]

When I joined the Air Force in 1986 they were still flying (just) so it was great to be able to see and hear them before they were phased out. You did not need an alarm clock as the morning run-ups were loud enough. When you heard a B170 airbourne you did not need to rush to see it, it wasn't going to fly away too fast !!

[aerofoto]

Speaking of the BRISTOL FREIGHTER .... the NZ aircraft operated in particular.

Anyone remember "THIS" ....


THE RESCURE (movie clip)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKH_-WD75Lw


It's a clip from the movie "THE RESCUE" ....


"THE RESCUE"
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095981/


.... the aviation segments of which were filmed "in NZ", both around Queenstown (due to the local geography there resembling that of North Korea which this fictional movie was intended to represent), and at RNZAF WPE, at AKL, where the landing segment/end scenes were all filmed.

I was "fortunate" in that I was accommodated onto the set at RNZAF base WPE for the filming of the landing scene depicted within the above clip ... and during which I undertook "extensive" photography of the BRISTOL FREIGHTER prop .... and performing its "dead-stick" landings and associated ground-loop routines that were undertaken repetitively/several times throughout that day.

Quite "an opportunity" to experience

Within the above movie clip you get not only the BRISTOL MK-31 FREIGHTER .... if I remember correctly (I can confirm but need to check my photos) the aircraft featured was ZK-EPF, which was repainted in a gaudy red and orangey-yellow scheme with Korean font (reading "PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF NORTH KOREA AIRLINES") as well as being given false bullet holes around it's fuselage too .... but also .... you get some of the A4-K SKY HAWKS as well (in false US markings) and which were still in service with the RNZAF during the late 80's when this movie was produced.

Not many BRISTOL FREIGHTERS ever made stardom/the silver screen .... in fact the only other movie I can think of within which one of these aircraft starred (an original MK-30 FREIGHTER) was "MAN IN THE SKY", produced during the 50's and starring Jack HAWKINS .... so .... any such representation of one of these aircraft .... particularly "a NZ one" and within a much more recent production too could (perhaps) be regarded as "a bonus" if not "a salute" to these aircraft .... albeit that the theme/plot that supported this "kids movie" was otherwise highly dramatic and grossly over-exaggerated.

Still .... nice to see something of an "old NZ girl" since these aircraft were liked by most whom flew them here between the 50's and 80's.

Often it's the ugliest/most ungainly looking aircraft are ultimately also some of the most capable .... and loved machines .... a category into which the AW-650 ARGOSY probably fits also.

Mark C
AKL/NZ