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G-BISU Airborne to Ireland Bristol Freighters from 1981.........................

2 ex New Zealand Airforce Bristol Freighters - B170 /Mk 31 were purchased in 1981 and ferried to the UK for overhaul before entering service. They were operated by Instone Air Line from its Stansted base carrying racehorses to France, Ireland, Germany and Italy. The company also operated scheduled freighter services from Lydd to Rotterdam and Beauvais.

G-BISU airborne to Paris The aircraft were highly successful carrying Europe's top racehorses for several years before eventually being sold by Instone Air Line and unfortunately eventually meeting rather ignominious ends.

G-BISU was sold to a Canadian company and was used to support mining operations.
It was later bought by a UK based consortium and returned to the UK in 1994. Unfortunately it met an untimely G-AMLK arriving at LYDD after ferry flight from New Zealand with G-BISU airborne end, crashing whilst taking off on its way to an airshow in July 1996. Although the aircraft was written off, luckily no one was seriously injured.

G-BISU landing at Stansted G-AMLK was also sold to the same Canadian company and was used until being withdrawn from service in 2000 by Hawk Air. It was ferried to Reynolds Alberta Museum in September 2004 where it awaits restoration.

 

 

G-AMLK being escorted into LYDD by G-BISU after ferry G-BISU taxiing at Stansted

 

 

 

 

 

G-BISU awaiting freight load Racehorse being loaded at Stansted bound for Deauville

G-BISU at STN Bristol car being unloaded

Horse about to be loaded Line up of New Zealand Air Force Bristol Freighters in New Zealand

G-BISU in the Instone Air Line Stansted hangar

 

G-BISU being loaded with Royal Mail for night flight

 

 

 

 

 

 

Concorde and Bristol freighter during Air Show at Duxford

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