WW1 Aviation Heritage Trust Lands at Bicester Heritage

BE2 at Bicester 8 Sep

Bicester – November 2014

The WW1 Aviation Heritage Trust (WAHT) is delighted to announce the establishment of its new base at Bicester Heritage (BH), the former RAF station that is now the United Kingdom’s unique business park dedicated to the use, preservation and restoration of historic vehicles and aircraft.

The first aircraft touched the grass at Bicester in 1911 and by 1917 the Royal Flying Corps had firmly established themselves, making this the perfect centre for WAHT. WAHT’s new home at Bicester Heritage is the historic (and quite possibly the UK’s last remaining) 1926 Fire Party Hut. Found in highly original condition the corrugated steel exterior has been sympathetically restored and painted in British Standard colours, with a welcoming wooden interior soon to be decked out in period style.

The arrival of WAHT’s two Royal Aircraft Factory BE2es at Bicester Heritage will allow WAHT to achieve its objective of advancing education of the evolution of military aviation in the Great War for the Centenary period. WAHT will reach out to the local and regional schools to set up a comprehensive programme of visits to their hangar at Bicester Heritage and to set up a hub to rekindle public interest in technical skills. Daniel Geoghegan, Managing Director of Bicester Heritage, remarked that “WAHT and Bicester Heritage are focused on the future of skills, education and knowledge: a World War I airfield in the centre of the UK is the perfect location.”

This significant opportunity has been made possible by the kind support of The Vintage Aviator Ltd (TVAL) of Wellington NZ, who built and operate the two BE2es now in the care of Bicester Heritage’s on site storage company Historit. In conjunction with TVAL, WAHT plans on rotating many flying examples of WW1 aircraft between BH and New Zealand – a DH2, Tabloid, Morane Type F and an Eindecker to name but a few. Hopes of establishing a permanent core of aircraft at BH are developing swiftly with an excellent collection of aircraft recently pledged for the Centenary period to WAHT by the German Collector, Oliver Wulff, who is also a Trustee of WAHT.

WAHT and Bicester Heritage look forward to providing further updates as the news on this exciting venture unfolds. “WAHT’s arrival is the most significant signal yet of Bicester Heritage’s support for early aviation and commemorating the role it played in World War I.” (Daniel Geoghegan, MD, Bicester Heritage).  “WAHT has been looking for a base for over a year and we now look forward to complementing all aspects of Bicester Heritage’s ambitious programme in the air and on the ground as the perfect backdrop for reaching out to the Nation of all ages about aviation’s role in the Great War.” (Dick Forsythe, Chief Trustee, WAHT)

About The WW1 Aviation Heritage Trust (WAHT):

 

The WW1 Aviation Heritage Trust Aircraft Collection intends to provide an enduring flying collection of World War I Allied and German aircraft based in the UK flying from heritage sites. WAHT will:

  • Advance understanding of the history of the evolution of military aviation during the Great War by flying displays, dioramas and educational courses as a testament to the men and machines and their sacrifice.
  •  Demonstrate at air shows in the UK, in 2014-2018 and beyond, how the aircrews, technology and tactics evolved during WW1.
  •  Support fly-pasts and static displays at commemorative events, apprenticeships in vintage aircraft preservation and the restoration and reproduction of historic aircraft.

General Enquiries:

Dick Forsythe, Chief Trustee

Tel:         +44 (0)870 919 1914

Email:     info@ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk

 

About Bicester Heritage:

Bicester Heritage is the UK’s first and only business campus dedicated to historic motoring and aviation, situated on the former RAF Bicester station.  The organisation’s aim is to bring together the best of breed of the UK’s cottage industry of specialists on this important and atmospheric site in order to promote not just the preservation but, specifically, the use of vintage aeroplane and motorcars.

www.bicesterheritage.co.uk

Twitter: BicesterH            Facebook: BicesterHeritage        Instagram: bicesterheritage

Press and general enquiries:

Philip White and Tiggy Atkinson

Bicester Heritage

Tel:         +44 (0)1869 327928

Email:     pw@bicesterheritage.co.uk

ta@bicesterheritage.co.uk

                

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About WW1AHT

WW1 Aviation Heritage Trust Ltd

We intend to provide an enduring flying collection of World War I Allied and German aircraft based in the UK flying from heritage sites like Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome.

Company No 8753767

Registered Charity No 1156699

Contact:

+44 870 9191914
info@ww1aht.co.uk
rockingnacelle@ww1aht.co.uk

Photography

With thanks to Darren Harbar, Huw Hopkins, Leigh Smith and Russell Savory for their magnificent photographs

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Art Connexion
Yes Flyers | UK Youth Aviation Education
Sally Crabtree – Poetry Postie, Pushing the Envelope of Poetry

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