De Boer, the semi-permanent structure
specialist, has recently delivered two bespoke temporary hangars for Brooklands
Museum, as part of their ‘Re-engineering Brooklands’ project.
Following a £5m Heritage Lottery Fund grant,
Brooklands Museum is undertaking the largest ever development of its historic
site, an £8m project including the refurbishment and relocation of its WWII
Bellman Hangar, home of a Vickers Wellington bomber and Vimy bi-plane.
Whilst the Bellman Hangar is being restored,
the De Boer team has provided over 800 square metres of exhibition space,
especially designed and modified to preserve Brooklands Museum’s precious
aircraft.
Robert Alvarez,
De Boer’s Sales Director - Commercial, commented on the project: “De Boer has a
long-standing relationship with the Brooklands Museum site, having built the
London Bus Museum building in 2011 which houses the largest private sector
collection of London buses in the world. The team were honoured to play their
part in the ‘Re-engineering Brooklands’ project, inspiring future generations of
motoring and aviation engineers.”
Conserving Britain’s aviation history
For the Vickers Vimy, a replica of the
original 1919 heavy bomber, De Boer used its innovative Induro structure to
create a new standalone exhibition space – the first time the Induro has been
used in the UK. Usually used for industrial purposes, the Induro has an
especially tall 6m apex, creating the perfect height and space for the Vimy,
which will be housed in its new hangar for the next three years.
De Boer also specially modified its structure
to include insulated wall panels and air blown roof sails, eliminating
condensation and creating a controlled environment to ensure that the
fabric-clad Vimy is preserved in perfect condition.
It was vital that the Vimy could be easily
removed from its new hangar to carry out essential maintenance on the plane,
including periodic ‘engine runs’ - a popular visitor attraction. The Induro
includes an adapted door that uses a heavy PVC fabric curtain, spanning 20
metres wide and 6.5 metres tall, which can be electrically raised to allow easy
access to the exhibit.
Rehoming legendary aircraft
The Bellman Hanger was also home to one of
only two surviving WWII Vickers Wellington bombers and a team of ten De Boer
personnel constructed a 15 metre x 25 metre Delta structure over four days to
house this legendary craft. Once the building was in place, the Wellington was
gently coaxed from its current position to its new home - the first time the
aircraft had been moved in over thirty years.
With the Wellington in position, the De Boer
team finished installing the outer cladding and completed the Delta’s gable
ends. The structure also had a specially reinforced floor to withstand the
weight of the 8 tonne aircraft.
Celebrating aviation heroes
Brooklands Museum Director and CEO
Allan Winn
says: “Refurbishing the Bellman Hangar is a central part of the ‘Re-engineering
Brooklands’ project and ensuring that our important exhibits, particularly the
Wellington and the Vimy, had suitable secure temporary homes, was key to the
success of our renovation plans. The exhibition areas created by the De Boer
team have provided fantastic spaces for staff and visitors to admire and marvel
at these aviation icons.”
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