Apparently it is a hole in part of the wing that was repaired whilst G-BOAF was in BA service. The repair has re-opened.
Both local Bristol television news channels carried reports this evening with mixed messages from the 'experts'. The spokesman of the Bristol Aero Collection that is looking after the bird played the whole thing down, basically saying these things happen and not to worry.
However, one of the engineers who has responsibility for checking AF was less sanguine. His view is that if the a/c is not found an indoor home sooner rather than later it will deteriorate seriously in a few years.
There has been much wailing and gnashing of teeth by the Great and the Good of Greater Bristol in recent months about finding AF a permanent dry billet but that's as far as it goes.
ITV West tried to get things moving in the autumn but despite huge local interest in the situation no real offers of help have arisen.
There is still much talk of forming groups capable of bidding for lottery support but as things are at present we are talking of years in the future before anything happens.
In the meantime AF sits in the open on the edge of Filton airfield exposed to all the elements.
Here is link to short BBC report.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/4686326.stm