Aviation Archive Registration Acknowledgements
BAC 100: 2010. Join in the Celebrations of 100 Years of Aviation in the West of England. Aviation image sequence: Photograph of the Bristol Flying School at Larkhill by T L Fuller © J T Fuller. Mercury engine installation diagram, courtesy of BAC/Rolls-Royce. Selection of old postcards from the collection of Jackie Sims. Photograph of A380 over Clifton Suspension Bridge courtesy of Airbus SAS 2006. Computer generated image of A350 XWB courtesy of Airbus. Artist's impressions of main exhibition by Simon Gurr. Sir George White (Airbus).
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News and Press

We'll be adding new stories about the activities taking place as part of BAC 100 throughout 2010.


VIP Visit to Hillfields Primary

VIP Visit to Hillfields Primary
The Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Colin Smith and the Lady Mayoress, Alderman Judith Price visited Hillfields Primary in Fishponds on Friday 2 July for a special assembly led by the Year 5 pupils, in which they heard about the activities the children have been doing as part of BAC 100. The school had just received copies of The 2010 Book of Aviation Wonder. Gareth Davies, who designed the book, was also at the assembly along with Melanie Kelly who devised and wrote it. The book has been donated to all the schools who have taken part in the BAC 100 workshop programme and is being used as part of this year's Great Reading Adventure and the Summer Reading Challenge in local libraries.


BAC 100 Round Table at University of Bristol

BAC 100 Round Table at University of Bristol
On 1 July 2010 representatives from industry and higher education gathered at the University of Bristol for a round-table discussion on how HE can help aerospace companies meet the future skills needs of the sector. The event was hosted by Eric Thomas, the vice chancellor of the university. There will be a follow-up session which will put forward recommendations on how to develop an effective strategy.


Centenary Vehicle Rally and Parade

Centenary Vehicle Rally and Vehicle (Tony Blake)
Photograph: Tony Blake

Centenary Vehicle Rally and Vehicle (Michael Pook)
Photograph: Michael Pook

Centenary Vehicle Rally and Vehicle (Michael Pook)
Photograph: Michael Pook

Road vehicle enthusiasts gathered at the Rolls-Royce site on Sunday 13 June for a rally and parade of Bristol buses, cars and lorries to mark the centenary of the founding of Bristol Aeroplane Company. Lady Joanna White waved off the parade which passed a number of sites associated with BAC founder Sir George White.


Visit by Chairman of South Gloucestershire Council

Visit by Chairman of South Gloucestershire Council
Councillor Shirley Holloway, Chairman of South Gloucestershire Council, visited Kings Court Primary in Yate on 30 April 2010 to see the BAC 100 collage created by Year 5 pupils. The class had also had a creative writing workshop and read a selection of their poems. You can see more pictures of the visit and listen to recordings of some of the poems on the Kings Court Primary page.


Industry volunteers help with BAC 100 workshops

Industry volunteers help with BAC 100 workshops
Volunteers have been joining BAC 100 workshop leaders to run creative writing and science workshops in schools in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. The volunteers talk about their experiences in the industry, answer questions about their work and help with the practical activities. Above is Kayvon Barad at a creative writing workshop at Cherry Garden Primary at Bitton. The Year 5 pupils were writing newspaper articles based on what they had learnt about the local aviation industry. They also took turns to interview Kayvon and included quotes from him in their pieces. See the Cherry Garden Primary page to see some of their work.


Visit by Lord Mayor of Bristol

Visit by Lord Mayor of Bristol.
On 20 April 2010, Councillor Christopher Davies, Lord Mayor of Bristol, and his wife, the Lady Mayoress, went to New Oak Primary in Hengrove to meet the Year 3 pupils who have created a large-scale collage as part of the BAC 100 programme. In this picture they are looking up at the Bristol Evening Post photographer who came to cover the visit. The image on the collage will later be transferred to durable material for outdoor display in Bristol city-centre and other sites during the course of the year. New Oak have also been visited by an Airbus employee who talked to them about his work and have had a creative writing workshop.


Bristol Fighter

Bristol Fighter.
Direct Entry Graduates at Airbus, Rolls-Royce and GKN are building a replica F2B Bristol Fighter as part of BAC 100. The graduates are combining historic research with the latest design, testing and manufacturing processes, and traditional wood and canvas will be used alongside more modern materials such as aluminium. John Hobbs, recently retired from Airbus having served as a senior wing architect, has been appointed as part-time project manager, and senior fitters and other experienced employees are helping the graduates in their work. The project's aesthetics and finishing team of Kayvon Barad and Jason Clarke have decided to base the aircraft's back-story on the experiences of Lieutenant Leslie Archibald-Powell, a gunner from Redland. We will be following progress on the News page throughout the year. Above is a photo of one of the test structures.


Visit by Airbus Chief Military Test Pilot

Visit by Airbus Chief Military Test Pilot.
Ed Strongman, Airbus' Chief Military Test Pilot, came to Bristol in March. During his visit he met pupils at Hillfields Primary in Fishponds who have been working on BAC 100 projects and gave a lecture on the Airbus A400M at the University of Bristol.


Launch Day: 19 February 2010

Balloons at Bristol International Airport greeted the passengers  checking in for the special scenic flight to Filton (Mel Kelly).
Balloons at Bristol International Airport greeted the passengers checking in for the special scenic flight to Filton (Mel Kelly).

Councillor Shirley Holloway, Chair of South Gloucestershire Council with Roger James, Community Relations Manager, Rolls-Royce waiting for the flight to depart (BIA).
Councillor Shirley Holloway, Chair of South Gloucestershire Council with Roger James, Community Relations Manager, Rolls-Royce waiting for the flight to depart (BIA).

Sir George White and family with giant ticket (BIA).
Sir George White and family with giant ticket (BIA).

Thumbs up from the pilot (BIA).
Thumbs up from the pilot (BIA).

Passengers queue to embark (BIA).
Passengers queue to embark (BIA).


The easyJet A319 aeroplane arrives at the Brabazon Hangar at Airbus' Filton site (Vicky Washington).
The easyJet A319 aeroplane arrives at the Brabazon Hangar at Airbus' Filton site (Vicky Washington).

The band of the RAF (Airbus/Martin Chainey).
The band of the RAF (Airbus/Martin Chainey).

The band of the RAF (Airbus/ Martin Chainey).
Andrew Harrison, Chief Executive of easyJet, leads the guests, including Sir George and Lady White, from the aircraft (Airbus/Martin Chainey).

Tom Williams, Airbus Executive Vice President Programmes (Airbus/Martin Chainey).
Tom Williams, Airbus Executive Vice President Programmes (Airbus/
Martin Chainey).


Dressed as Sir George White, Councillor Simon Cook reads out Sir George's original statement to the Board of the Bristol Tramways on 16 February 1910, announcing he is going to invest in aviation (Vicky Washington).
Dressed as Sir George White, Councillor Simon Cook reads out Sir George's original statement to the Board of the Bristol Tramways on 16 February 1910, announcing he is going to invest in aviation (Vicky Washington).

Labour MP Doug Naysmith reads out a message of support from Prime Minister Gordon Brown (Vicky Washington).
Labour MP Doug Naysmith reads out a message of support from Prime Minister Gordon Brown (Vicky Washington).

Airbus employee David Dean in the guise of an early pilot during  the presentation (Airbus/Martin Chainey).
Airbus employee David Dean in the guise of an early pilot during the presentation (Airbus/Martin Chainey).

The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Bristol (Airbus/Martin Chainey).
The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Bristol (Airbus/Martin Chainey).


Jan Lane (Airbus), Doreen Wildenauer (CIMPA UK), Alec Dent  (Airbus), Julie Showering (Airbus), Meryl Tobin (Airbus) and Hayley  Christopher-Lee (Airbus) in period costume, helping to raise funds for the  Air Ambulance service (Airbus/Martin Chainey).
Jan Lane (Airbus), Doreen Wildenauer (CIMPA UK), Alec Dent (Airbus), Julie Showering (Airbus), Meryl Tobin (Airbus) and Hayley Christopher-Lee (Airbus) in period costume, helping to raise funds for the Air Ambulance service (Airbus/Martin Chainey).

Councillor Shirley Holloway, Chair of South Gloucestershire Council  with Jane Tozer, Jackie Sims and Stan Sims of Filton Community History who are key members of the BAC 100 planning group (Airbus/Martin Chainey).
Councillor Shirley Holloway, Chair of South Gloucestershire Council with Jane Tozer, Jackie Sims and Stan Sims of Filton Community History who are key members of the BAC 100 planning group (Airbus/Martin Chainey).

Students from Weston College were among the catering staff at the event. The catering company was Sodexho (Airbus/Martin Chainey).
Students from Weston College were among the catering staff at the event. The catering company was Sodexho (Airbus/Martin Chainey).

Sir George and Lady White name the A319 aeroplane 'Sir George White' (Vicky Washington).
Sir George and Lady White name the A319 aeroplane 'Sir George White' (Vicky Washington).

(Left to right) Iain Gray (Technology Strategy Board) with Councillor Simon Cook in the guise of Sir George White (Vicky Washington).
(Left to right)
Iain Gray (Technology Strategy Board) with Councillor Simon Cook in the guise of Sir George White (Vicky Washington).

(Left to right) David Sproxton (Aardman Animations) with Councillor Simon Cook (Vicky Washington).
(Left to right)
David Sproxton (Aardman Animations) with Councillor Simon Cook (Vicky Washington).

(Left to right) David Rowlson (Component Coating & Repair Services Ltd.) with Andrew Kelly (Bristol Cultural Development Partnership), Alan Dean (Component Coating & Repair Services Ltd.) and Councillor Simon Cook. CCRS Ltd is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2010 (Vicky Washington).
(Left to right)
David Rowlson (Component Coating & Repair Services Ltd.) with Andrew Kelly (Bristol Cultural Development Partnership), Alan Dean (Component Coating & Repair Services Ltd.) and Councillor Simon Cook. CCRS Ltd is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2010 (Vicky Washington).

The A319 aeroplane, newly named 'Sir George White', departs from the Brabazon Hangar at Filton to the tune of an RAF band playing Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (Vicky Washington).
The A319 aeroplane, newly named 'Sir George White', departs from the Brabazon Hangar at Filton to the tune of an RAF band playing Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (Vicky Washington).

Becky Farmer, who project managed the launch on behalf of Airbus,  being presented with a bouquet by her colleagues (Airbus/Martin Chainey).
Becky Farmer, who project managed the launch on behalf of Airbus, being presented with a bouquet by her colleagues (Airbus/Martin Chainey).


Newer stories...
Search the site Press releases
Read the launch day press release here.
Listen to the Music
You can hear here the specially commissioned march played by the RAF band at the launch dedicated to Sir George White.
What's happening
You can find out what's happening in 2010 on the What's On page.
Find out more
Pictures of activities involving children and young people are also featured on the Children's Showcase page.
Contact
If you have pictures of events you would like to add to this News and Press page, please send with details (what, where, when, who) to BAC 100 at BCDP, Leigh Court, Abbots Leigh, Bristol BS8 3RA or email: bac100@btinternet.com. Photos of identifiable children will only be added if their parent or guardian has given permission for their use.

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