Solway Museum to rescue last aviation colossus

Solway Aviation Museum has launched a £60,000 funding appeal to rescue and preserve the world’s only surviving Blackburn Beverley transport aircraft. The last of only 49 ever built, the giant Blackburn Beverley was used for troop and cargo transport by the Royal Air Force until 1967.

The proposal will see Beverley XB259 dismantled and transported from its present location at Fort Paull, Hull, to Carlisle Airport to join Solway Aviation’s Museum’s outstanding collection of historic aircraft – including the enormous Avro Vulcan XJ823. The work to re-assemble and restore the Beverley will be carried out by the highly experienced team of museum volunteers. The appeal has been launched to help fund the lifting and transport costs for the huge sections of aircraft, as well as ground preparation of the new site.

Museum Chairman, Dougie Kerr said;

‘This is a last gasp rescue mission for the Beverley, and once it is here it will form an important part of our collection of iconic British-made aircraft.

Blackburn Beverley XB259 has faced an uncertain future since the closure of the small museum at Fort Paull in 2020. It was saved from the scrapman by a private individual, but the road towards finding it a new permanent home has proved difficult. With uncertainties continuing, the intervention by Solway Aviation Museum has at last provided an opportunity to see the Beverley saved as part of Britain’s heritage.