I am writing a piece for publication on the Bristol Brabazon (Bristol Type 147), last seen in the skies around 1954.
There's not much of the Brabazon left, but I'm hoping to speak to someone who saw the aircraft fly, flew in it or who has any inside knowledge about the design and construction of the plane. I'd also like any photos, exterior or interior of the aircraft.
I'm particularly interested in the reasons the Brabazon did not proceed to production. I'm aware of the changes in passenger demand which doomed the project, but I'd also like any information on whether the engineers' practice of minimising metal thicknesses throughout the design induced premature metal fatigue.
I'm in South Australia, and I would like to at least complete the initial article without visiting Bristol, but if all goes well I would like to expand the article into something longer in which case a visit to Old Blighty would be worthwhile.
My email address is
[email protected]
Thanks in anticipation.
Tim Simpson aka RJM