XB259 Beverley C1 of the Royal Aeronautical Establishment
Flying at the SBAC show at Farnborough on the 8th September 1963
Picture Notes & Links
XB259 was the first production Beverley and first flew on January 29th 1955. It was retained by
Blackburn's for a number of years before passing to the Royal Aeronautical Establishment (RAE) at
Farnborough, where it formed part of the RAE Fleet for the Next 20 Years and was one of only two
Beverley's never to see Operational Service with the RAF.
In the Photograph above XB259 is flying with the rear Clamshell Doors removed for Air Dropping.
This was a common configuration for Beverley's on operations, when either resupplying troops
in locations where landing was impossible, or when a full load of paratroops was being carried.
When retired from RAE Service the Aircraft was bought by Court Line and this change of ownership
was the start of many trials and tribulations for XB259, where on occasions it was days away from
being scrapped. Yet it survived and in 2010 XB259 is the only complete Beverley in existence and
is currently a display exhibit at the:
Fort Paull Museum
,
Paull Village, East Yorkshire, UK.
For more information on XB259 See: Beverley Main Album Notes:
Blackburn Trials and Demonstrations
XB259 at the RAE
XB259 the one that wouldn't die
For more information onThe Blackburn Beverley See: Beverley Main Album Notes:
The Blackburn B-101 Beverley
For more information on Court Line
which has some information on XB259
See:
Court Line Notes - In British Airlines of the Past Album Part 1
Other sites on the Web of interest:
Royal Aircraft Establishment - Wikipedia Entry
The Beverley Association
and
Blackburn Beverley - Wikipedia Entry
