Under wraps Hold-up as group works to get bombers on display
samuel.port@reachplc.com
TWO 1950s fighter aeroplanes were transported to Cotswold Airport two weeks ago via the
M50.
Since then, the Blackburn Buccaneers have been sitting in a lot at the former RAF Kemble Airfield away from public view.
This has led many to wonder what the plans are for the former military aircraft.
Mike Over, 72, administrator for the Buccaneer Aviation Group (BAG), has now explained why the famous aircraft had to be moved and when the public will be able feast their eyes on the bombers.
Mr Over said the Buccaneers had to be relocated from their former home in Bruntingthorpe, in Leicestershire, after 20 years as the purpose of site was being changed to car storage rather than aviation.
BAG formed in 2011 and they brought the bombers “back to life”. The aeroplanes can perform every function except actually fly – which is not allowed by the Civil Aviation Authority since they are historical complex aircraft.
BAG were able to use the Bruntingthorpe site rent free as they had a deal with the owners “on the basis that twice a year that we would run the jets in front of crowds”.
Mr Over said that similar events at their new home in Cotswold Airport were not likely to happen until 2021.
He said transport to the airfield in Kemble on August 21 cost more than £34,000. He admitted the hold-up to public viewing was partially down to practical matters of accommodation.
Mr Over said: “We haven’t even got a toilet. What we’ve got to do is make a home for ourselves there – crew rooms, toilets, that sort of stuff.
“All the rest of service stuff, we’ve got, but we haven’t got accommodation and with winter coming, there’s no place for our volunteers to go.
“We have got to get our aircraft up and running and hopefully we will do that by the end of this year.”
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