Stirling Aircraft Project

08/04/2026

Today we have set up the scaffold "box" which we hope will allow us to hang the upper fuselage frames in place over the foundation - the bomb bay. The bottom pf the scaffold beam running the length of the box will be used to locate the fuselage frames 9-14 which we have already formed. A bit more work is required to ensure the dimensions are correct and to provide support for the frames which sit under the cockpit coupe.
The bomb bay itself requires completion, of course, but this is another significant step forwards. Onwards!

30/03/2026

Another part recreated. The dunlop air filter body has been remachined by Alan McDade , who was a Shorts machinist for part of his career. Thank you, Alan!

29/03/2026

Here is the latest news update from David

If you wandered into our workshop in the last few weeks, progress since the last update may appear to have been slow. However there is a lot going on as we get close to the point where we will begin to rivet up the bomb...

29/03/2026

For anyone local to the project, I was asked to publicise the following event at the nearby villages of Offord d'Arcy / Offord Cluny. We will have a small display at the event.

13/02/2026

David has been working on the jacking points in the keel between frames 14 and 15 (the new extension!) One of the two down - though no rivets yet.

17/11/2025

Some more from David's pen...

Not many know that the floor in the Stirling is not flat! Although flat from Frame 6 to Frame 13, it then slopes up to the Front Spar, then abruptly down to Frame 15/16, and then more gently down to Frame 22/23 where it...

17/11/2025

Our website has been quiet for a long time, but David is changing all that. Latest news!

It has been some time, but on this special day we thought this would be a good point to give a comprehensive update on progress over the last 12 months - in future we hope to do this on a regular basis, as well as doing ...

08/11/2025

Thanks so much to Martin Smith for the loan of this section of roof. This sits above frames 9 to 12. In the middle you can see the attachment for the antenna mast which is so noticeable on the Stirling. The plan is to model all the fitments, confirm the dimensions, and then have the fitments fabricated ready to fit when the time comes.

08/11/2025

We have decided to extend backwards by just one frame (for now at least!) to frame 15. The keels have therefore been extended by a couple of feet

08/11/2025

The sloping bulkhead on the bomb bay is now being offered up, and the strengtheners applied to the back in order to give it some, well, strength, funnily enough. Simon meticulously laid out the strengthener positions, and then Dave and Ian riveted them in place. Now Dave has positioned and drilled the connectors to the bomb bay. I know its yet more bomb bay pictures, but we are where we are!

30/08/2025

Does anyone have any rivet gun snaps that fit vintage British aircraft (i.e. either flush or SP80/AN430 heads) that they would be willing to donate to us? We are looking forwards to the number of rivets that we need to apply to the fuselage, and it is nothing short of staggering - something like 90,000 - so it will make sense to have as many guns on the go as we can to get the work covered more quickly. At the moment we usually have one snap of each size, so to get two or more guns going we will need more snaps. Can anyone help us with SP80/AN430 1/8" and 5/32" snaps in particular. Also flush ones for the many countersunk rivets on the skin.

30/08/2025

And Dave H and Ian have manfully completed the initial forming of all of the frames 6 - 14 now. No doubt there will be some tweaking to do! Also need to do all the plates which connect the parts together. It's busy busy busy here on former RAF Graveley. Coming together nicely!