Restoring a piece of aviation history
Powered by tea, biscuits and expertise, a volunteer team is hard at work restoring a distinctive aircraft.
The Merchant Buccaneer, a 1953 Bristol Freighter, has been a fixture at Founder’s Heritage Park since 1986. Its last makeover was about 20 years ago, with former pilot Roy West pitching in to smarten up the old aircraft.
However, over the decades the Bristol had “quietly deteriorated,” West said.
“So I started again: somebody needed to do it.”
The aviation enthusiast began work, clearing out the birds’ nests, tackling grimy corners and removing rust.
But when it became clear engineering skills were required, West asked electrical engineer and former pilot John Kelly for advice.
“The next minute, I have a workshop full of Bristol Freighter bits and pieces,” Kelly said.
The duo have been joined by three or four others, who devote time to working on the freighter at Founder’s Park, or in Kelly’s Redwood Valley workshop.
The Merchant Buccaneer began its flying career with the Pakistan Airforce in 1953. In 1966 it began a new role with Straits Air Freight Express (SAFE), moving freight and mail across the Cook Strait.
John Kelly and Roy West have been restoring the Bristol Freighter at Founder’s Park. Pictured from left Roy West, John Kelly, Kyle Headley, and Mark Beal.
In 1986, the Bristol made its final journey, landing on the Wakapuaka mudflats.
Mark Beal, a volunteer with a long interest in aircraft, remembers lingering at home that morning so he could watch the Bristol make its final descent into Nelson.
It was a spectacular sight, and one Beal will never forget. However, turning up to work late that day got him into trouble, he said.
Thirty-eight years later, the volunteers were refurbishing or replacing parts, sanding down frames and touching up paintwork.
New volunteers were skilled up and given their own mini project: panel beating, sanding or painting, Kelly said.
“She’ll be lovely once she’s all done up and shiny bright.”
The work and the group camaraderie get Kelly out of bed in the mornings.
“It’s the people you come across: everyone’s got their own stories. It’s marvellous, these people who really want to help.”
West said he was in it for the “tea and bikkies”, and the odd scone whipped up by Kelly’s wife.
Pilots were different in the Bristol Freighter’s heyday, West and Kelly agreed. They flew at lower altitudes, dealing with tricky topography, weather, and currents.
“The knowledge those crews had was incredible,” West said.
Restoring artefacts like the Bristol helped preserve that bygone era and remember those daring pilots, Kelly said.
“It’s just wonderful to work on these girls. You need to look after them, keep history alive. They’re never going to come again.”
The volunteers hope to finish their work by January.
By Warren Gamble, Nelson Mail
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