The engines, outer wings and tail were removed for transport by the Beverley's previous owner. [Screenshot from Bearded Bodger on YouTube]
By Zac Yates
The sole surviving example of the Cold War-era Blackburn Beverley transport aircraft has been saved after an ambitious crowdfunding target was reached in just seven weeks. As reported by Vintage Aviation News, the Solway Aviation Museum (SAM) launched the campaign to raise £60,000 in February after Beverley XB259’s previous owner offered the unique aircraft for free to anyone who could remove the aircraft from its home of several decades at Fort Paull, near Hull.
A member of the SAM team shows his awe at the sheer size of the Beverley. [Screenshot from Bearded Bodger on YouTube]SAM chairman Dougie Kerr said the team was amazed at the public’s response to the project.”Fundraising for the Blackburn Beverley XB259 has gone extremely well, I didn’t think that we would make £60k so quickly and the donation are still coming in,” Kerr said. “Thank you all that have donated to the project.”
A view from the rear of the crew compartment showing the navigator’s station and, through the bulkhead, the cockpit. [Screenshot from Bearded Bodger on YouTube]Unfortunately birds have had free access to the very complete cockpit. [Screenshot from Bearded Bodger on YouTube]A team from the SAM visited the Beverley on April 20th to examine the aircraft and plan its disassembly as shown in the video below. The first volunteer working party meeting was held at the museum on April 25th with 19 volunteers turning up to see how they can help.Members of the team lend some scale to the rear fuselage of the Beverley. [Screenshot from Bearded Bodger on YouTube]“Most of the volunteers are retired and cannot wait to get started,” Kerr said. “It will be like a holiday on the east coast and you get to play with an airplane.”
Zac, born and raised in New Zealand, grew up immersed in aviation, with his father working as a helicopter crewman and living at Wanganui Airport. His passion for aviation started in childhood, building scale model kits and following the global warbird scene. He later trained as a journalist but found mainstream media unfulfilling, leading him to pursue a career as an aircraft maintenance engineer.
Now residing in Blenheim, near the historic Omaka Aerodrome, Zac studies at RNZAF Base Woodbourne and aspires to become a private and warbird pilot. Known as "Handbag" in aviation circles, he shares his love for aviation through photography and writing, connecting with enthusiasts worldwide.
Zac, born and raised in New Zealand, grew up immersed in aviation, with his father working as a helicopter crewman and living at Wanganui Airport. His passion for aviation started in childhood, building scale model kits and following the global warbird scene. He later trained as a journalist but found mainstream media unfulfilling, leading him to pursue a career as an aircraft maintenance engineer.
Now residing in Blenheim, near the historic Omaka Aerodrome, Zac studies at RNZAF Base Woodbourne and aspires to become a private and warbird pilot. Known as "Handbag" in aviation circles, he shares his love for aviation through photography and writing, connecting with enthusiasts worldwide.
I flew in a Beverly,just twice,and was glad to have feet on the ground
It’s huge scale was awe-inspiring and l wondered if it would get off the ground.l remember it to be noisy and cold, nevertheless it got me to my detachment area and back.Those were the days.
I flew in the Beverly in 19961and 1962 ,unload and loaded 19662 1963 . Pilots called the aircraft the fl6ing cow shed ,but it could she carry a load,I had to marshal it off the main runway,on to the Perry track,then chaae after it to choke the wheels, and fix the steps on the crew door.Fond memorys of a good time in the RAF .
I parachuted out of a Beverly on my basic Para Course at RAF Abingdon, it was one huge awesome machine and noisy, but a great memory. I wonder if any of my RAF Instructors of the day will comment. It was a great pleasure to contribute to saving her
I remember a Beverley, on returning from Aden, with a 2″ shell hole in the side of the rear loading bay. The RAF,on site, had pop riveted a baked bean can lid to cover the hole to get her back to Brough for refurbishment and service
This aircraft was an insult to engineering and good taste. I spent a year servicing these heaps at RAF Muharraq (Bahrain). They were evil to service and evil to fly in. I was glad after that year to get back to the Shackleton.
I visited the Beverly at Southend airport museum a few times in the 1970’s. I was remember finding an RAF jacket in the draw under the navigators table. Watched it being scrapped after the museum closed.
While I was at RAF Bruggen 1970-73 We had a a an urgent flight back to the UK because my wife’s mother was seriously ill. We flew in a Beverley in the back opposite the the Racasan toilet which you could hear the liquid sloshing about! We flew in to Northolt where there was an RAF driver in a mini to take us to beautiful Streatham.
I think we flew back in a Britannia much nicer!
![XB259, the last surviving example of the Blackburn Beverley, has been at Fort Paull near Hull since 1974. [Photo via Solway Aviation Museum]](https://vintageaviationnews.com/wp-content/uploads/XB259-via-Solway-Aviation-Museum-01-326x245.jpg "Fundraiser Closing in on Target to Save the Last Beverley 1")
I flew in a Beverly,just twice,and was glad to have feet on the ground
It’s huge scale was awe-inspiring and l wondered if it would get off the ground.l remember it to be noisy and cold, nevertheless it got me to my detachment area and back.Those were the days.
I flew in the Beverly in 19961and 1962 ,unload and loaded 19662 1963 . Pilots called the aircraft the fl6ing cow shed ,but it could she carry a load,I had to marshal it off the main runway,on to the Perry track,then chaae after it to choke the wheels, and fix the steps on the crew door.Fond memorys of a good time in the RAF .
Abingdon to El Adem in ‘64 for Exercise Triplex West. Boy was I pleased to do the return trip in the Whistling Tit aka an Argosy!
I parachuted out of a Beverly on my basic Para Course at RAF Abingdon, it was one huge awesome machine and noisy, but a great memory. I wonder if any of my RAF Instructors of the day will comment. It was a great pleasure to contribute to saving her
Flew to Aden in Beverley, I remember it as slow, cold and noisy. If my memory is correct we got some bullet holes courtesy of local tribesmen.
I remember a Beverley, on returning from Aden, with a 2″ shell hole in the side of the rear loading bay. The RAF,on site, had pop riveted a baked bean can lid to cover the hole to get her back to Brough for refurbishment and service
This aircraft was an insult to engineering and good taste. I spent a year servicing these heaps at RAF Muharraq (Bahrain). They were evil to service and evil to fly in. I was glad after that year to get back to the Shackleton.
I visited the Beverly at Southend airport museum a few times in the 1970’s. I was remember finding an RAF jacket in the draw under the navigators table. Watched it being scrapped after the museum closed.
While I was at RAF Bruggen 1970-73 We had a a an urgent flight back to the UK because my wife’s mother was seriously ill. We flew in a Beverley in the back opposite the the Racasan toilet which you could hear the liquid sloshing about! We flew in to Northolt where there was an RAF driver in a mini to take us to beautiful Streatham.
I think we flew back in a Britannia much nicer!