A leading player in the UK Warbird restoration scene, ARCo is responsible for many of the aircraft seen at air shows today.

ARCo is based at Duxford in a purpose built hangar at the North side of Hangar 2, and is headed by aero engineer John Romain, a former Hawker Siddely and BAe engineer, and highly experienced warbird pilot. 

In its many achievements, ARCo can boast at having restored the only airworthy Bristol Blenheim in existence. This is a remarkable story of triumph over adversity, as over a period of twelve years the company restored the Blenheim only to have it written off weeks later in an accident. The team resolved to rebuild another, but this time in a time frame of just five years! The engines and many other major systems were completed in house by ARCo engineers. Using the experience gained from the first rebuild, and any parts that were salvageable from the crash, the aircraft was completed and continued to fly from Duxford. 

On the 18th August 2003, tragedy struck as the Blenheim was badly damaged in a landing accident. The undercarriage was severely damaged, along with irreparable damage to the nose section. Both engines were stressed, their propellers bent, and the starboard engine was dislodged from it's mountings. Thankfully the aircraft is not a write off, however with such severe damage, the repair will be costly in both time and money and although some of the necessary funds will be recovered from insurance, the rest will have to come from public donation.  As ARCo have a large amount of experience with this aeroplane, they will be responsible for the majority of the restoration work, and the aircraft will be restored to a "short nose" configuration. The aircraft's former owner Graham Warner, passed over ownership of the Benhiem to the newly formed Blenheim (Duxford) Ltd, which was set up to to fundraise and restore the aircraft to flying condition. Along with the aircraft, Graham has shown his usual determination to keep an airworthy example of this often overlooked aircraft in the air, by donating money for the project to get underway.

ARCo are also specialists in restoring aircraft for static display,  good examples being the P-51D "Big Beautiful Doll", Fw-190, and He-162 Salamander, all of which are on display at the Imperial War Museum in London.

ARCo is now housed in a purpose built hangar on the east end of Duxford, and serves the other operators at Duxford well, and has a contract to overhaul aircraft from the OFMC. This facility is now shared with Historic Flying Ltd who moved to Duxford from their former home at Audley End. Naturally ARCo has a close working relationship with HFL, but both companies retain their independence. A coup for ARCo was the award of a contract to overhaul fighter aircraft of the BBMF when they decided to outsource major servicing work.

During 2004 ARCo received two Fairey Firefly Mk1's from Sweden. These machines will both be restored, however only one will be made airworthy, the other being restored to ground static condition. These will be long term projects, and there is currently no time given for completion.

Blenheim Update

Following her landing accident in 2003, the aircraft has been seen in Duxford's Hangar 3. Though it may seem that not much is happening, work is underway to return the Blenheim to the air. The nose section of the Blenheim has been removed, and a "new" short nose is currently under restoration to be fitted in its place.

The wings are now complete and are in storage, and the centre fuselage section is also nearly complete, so good progress is being made.

Can you help? As always, a project such as this is going to cost money, and lots of it! There is a collection point in Duxford's Hangar 3 where you can donate money to help with the project.

The Blenheim has been a big part of the airshow circuit for many years now, and if like us you would like to see this wonderful aircraft back in the air again, please put some money in the pot, thankyou!

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Photos: © UK Warbirds 2003/2004