Beschreibung:

An incredibly rare - likely unique - original Aerospace Engineers model of the Bristol 188 experimental research aircraft built in the 1950's at BAC. The large scale model itself being of wooden construction, painted in the silver colourway of the aircraft and mounted upon a wooden base. Highly detailed. The model measuring approx; 59cm long. Supplied with a large original photograph of XF-923 in flight. Rare. Provenance; from the deceased estate of an ex-BAC Bristol Aeroplane Company engineer, who worked on the project and retained the model after the fact. The Bristol 188 is a British supersonic research aircraft built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in the 1950s. Its length, slender cross-section and intended purpose led to its being nicknamed the "Flaming Pencil". Bristol gave the project the type number 188, of which three aircraft were to be built, one a pure test bed and the other two (constructor numbers 13518 and 13519) for flight testing. Under contract number KC/2M/04/CB.42(b) serial numbers XF923 and XF926 were given on 4 January 1954 to the two that would fly. To support the development of the Avro 730 Mach 3 reconnaissance bomber, another three aircraft were ordered (Serial Numbers XK429, XK434 and XK436). The follow-up order was cancelled when the Avro 730 programme was cancelled in 1957 as part of that year's review of defence spending. The 188 project was continued as a high speed research aircraft. In April 1966, both 188 fuselages were transported to the Proof and Experimental Establishment at Shoeburyness, Essex to act as targets for gunnery trials, but during 1972, XF926 was dismantled and moved to RAF Cosford (without its engines) to act as instructional airframe 8368M, and is preserved at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford near Wolverhampton. XF923 was subsequently scrapped at Foulness.