Update 16 - September 2025 - Autumn Update

We are starting this update with a big announcement! - we are thrilled that Blackbushe Heritage Trust has been successful in our bid to acquire Vickers Valetta C.2 VX573 from the RAF Museum. This aircraft was a regular at Blackbushe in the 1950s while serving with the RAF 2nd Tactical Air Force before being retired and going on display at Hendon in July 1968. It was placed in hangared storage at RAF Cosford just a few years later and has remained there ever since. It’s remarkably good condition means when we move the aircraft to Blackbushe next year we anticipate being able to welcome members of the public onboard very soon afterwards. It will also be extremely useful to use the airframe as a reference as we progress the restoration of Vickers Viking G-AGRW, “Vagabond”. Both airframes are very similar, the differences being that the Valetta had a double cargo door, a stronger cabin floor and more powerful engines. Quite a bit of work is still required but we hope the aircraft will arrive at Blackbushe next summer and become the second aircraft in our fledgling collection.

RAF Vickers Valetta C.2 VX573 at Blackbushe in the 1950s, the second aircraft to join our collection next year from the RAF Museum Cosford. Photo credit - Rob Belcher collection

Whilst negotiations over the Valetta have being ongoing, BHT has had an exceptionally busy few months with our dedicated team of volunteers working hard on the ongoing restoration of “Vagabond”, running our shop at Blackbushe and attending events in the local area publicising what we are all about.

In a bid to improve communication our aim is to move towards a shorter update more frequently. Volunteer Arina Kusiniceva has kindly agreed to take this on, collating updates from the Team Leads each month and then publishing them by email and on our social media platforms. Whilst on the subject of communication, a reminder that the best way to stay up to date is to sign up to the various WhatsApp groups we have under the Blackbushe Heritage Trust Community. For more information, please get in touch (links to our social media pages can be found on our website homepage)

Tech Team Update (by Phil Stonard)

The major summer event was the successful fitting of the inner wings, after much input in terms of labour, machining and manufacturing of fittings, in time for the Air Day, where with the temporarily refitted nose “Vagabond” began to look a little more like an aircraft. Recently flaps have also been removed for repair work. The upper sections of landing gear were also re-fitted which required use of an in-house jig to check alignment and some further work in rectifying some small dimensional anomalies. 

The main wing sections were lifted from their vertical storage rack, where they've been for almost two years, onto horizontal trestles to allow work to begin on paint removal and repairs. The stabilisers and elevators were returned from 2Excel where apprentices have removed skinning to examine the structural condition. 

Throughout, work has continued on fitting temporary cabin windows to improve winter weather resistance (and working conditions inside). The next large installation planned is bonding nacelles back onto the inner wings but this can only occur after moving them into a horizontal position and carrying out repairs at ground level. The exact timing will depend on the amount of repair work required.

Outer wing and flap restoration continues

Cockpit rebuild underway (this was almost completely stripped when we acquired the aircraft)

Shop and Events Team Update (by Mark Griffiths)

BHT once again took centre stage at the Blackbushe Air Day on 14th June. We had an expanded exhibition area around Vagabond with volunteers from all teams in attendance. Tech team volunteers were able to let visitors go inside the aircraft in small groups. Volunteers Alexis Holding and Jerry Percy showcased the impressive VR system, “Spin the Wheel” proved very popular as always, the shop crew didn’t stop selling BHT Merchandise all day and finally the History team engaged with many interested people. A big success and we also achieved our best daily fundraising total to date.

Team photo before our successful Air Day on 14th June.

The events season then continued apace with BHT being represented at a number of other local shows at RAF Odiham, Mytchett, Hawley Green and Yateley. A lot of work went into our display for the British Airways Flight Ops Summer Fly-In at Wycombe Air Park on 31st July. British Airways has been incredibly generous supporting us through the BA Better World Community Fund and we were very grateful to be invited to this non- public event. Despite some challenging weather for visual flying 41 aircraft flew into Wycombe, or Booker as it is commonly known, from as far afield as Manchester Barton, RAF Cranwell and Sleap airfields. Pete Vickery lead the BHT team and produced an excellent exhibition area for all to view which proved very popular with visitors throughout the day. 

Trustee Pat Marchant has purchased a 1955 Ford Thames van which is a type that was commonly used by airlines in the 1950s. Plans are to restore it to running condition and then paint it up with BEA livery one side and Eagle on the other, much like we plan to do on “Vagabond” itself. In time we hope to be able to take it to events to increase the interest in our publicity stand.

Our 1955 Ford Thames van soon to be resplendent in BEA and Eagle livery.

History Section Update (by Gary Browne)

It’s been a busy few months for the History section, both on the road as well as hosting visitors at Blackbushe. We’ve been attending the regular Aviation Heritage UK meetings to meet fellow volunteers involved with other aircraft collections as well as representing BHT, keeping everyone updated on “Vagabond’s” progress.

Participating in various community events included the “Transport Triumphs” weekend show at Camberley, in partnership with the Surrey Heath Museum. We were at the “Secrets of the Common” (held at Blackbushe) once again, a local community event organised by Thames Basin Heaths. We’ve provided tours to several groups including the library team at the National Aerospace Library located near Farnborough airport.

One great discovery by us, was one of the engine log books of G-AGRW. It shows the use of the port (left) Bristol Hercules engine and its maintenance record carried out when flying for British European Airways (BEA) in 1946.

Our bookazine “Reflections” about “Vagabond” and the history of the Viking has been well received, so far nearly 500 copies have been sold. If you haven’t got a copy you can order one from the store on our website or purchase one in our shop. It’ll be the best £10 you’ll spend in 2025!     

Virtual Reality Update (by Alexis Holding)

From the world of Virtual Reality I am happy to report that we have reached two milestones in the past few months. Firstly the refurbishment of “Vagabond” has been so significant since the original scan, that we have had an updated scan undertaken and this will be uploaded to the website in due course. Unfortunately, we could not use Professor Bob from Birmingham University, but have identified two local companies who are able to undertake subsequent scans for us when necessary. The second milestone is that we successfully showcased the system at the British Airways Flight Ops Summer Fly-In. This was significant in that we were using new technology for the first time as, due to our position on the airfield, we were unable to log on to the airfield’s WiFi system so we had to use the Solis WiFi hot-spot we purchased for such situations and it performed admirably. We did learn a lot and we will need to implement all of the lessons learnt. Now we have proven the system, we will look to have a headset in the history hub most weekends so that everyone can have a look around “Vagabond”. If you would like to get involved with this, please get in touch. We are also getting to the stage where we can start to think about how we would like the system to be operated when “Vagabond's” interior is in place. This task will take a lot of thought and some work up so again if you would like to help shape how things will look in the future please get in touch.

Talks Programme re-starts

Thanks to David Ashworth, the BHT talks programme resumes on 18th September as BHT founding Trustee Phil Johns returns from Australia to talk about how his long and exciting career in aviation started at Blackbushe as an Eagle apprentice back in the 1960’s. We then have ex RAF Chinook Test Pilot Robert Burke joining us in October (16th), followed by our own Dave Payne in November (20th). These talks take place at the Pathfinder Cafe at Blackbushe starting at 7pm. More details can be found and you can pre-book on our website (places are limited) or else pay cash or card at £10pp on the night. Complimentary hot drinks are provided but please note no food is available.

Thank you for your continuing interest, and support.

Peter, Dave, Pat, Paul, Chris, Becky and Mark - Trustees