Watch: Aircraft move gets off to a flying start at RAF Cosford
[gallery] A replica of the Defiant bomber-destroyer aircraft has been loaded on two trucks as it leaves Shropshire for a new home.
The craft, which took eight years and 50,000 man hours to construct, is the latest in a collection of planes and aircraft parts to be shipped out of RAF Cosford to museums across the country.
The Boulton Paul Association, which built and restored the pieces over 20 years, was left devastated when the RAF Museum said it could no longer accommodate the original and replica pieces. But members were determined to save the collection and found museums willing to display them.
The replica Defiant will be housed at the Kent Battle of Britain Museum, at Hawkinge, near Folkestone. Members of the association said that was an "appropriate" place for it as a Defiant squadron was based there in 1940.
Secretary of the group Terry Herrington said: "In addition to the replica aircraft they are also receiving the remains of a crashed Defiant recovered from the Yorkshire Moors."
He said the two crew members had survived the crash but died of exposure before they could be rescued.
Also going to Hawkinge are two flying scale models of the Day Fighter and Night Fighter. Association members were on hand to watch as the plane was prepared for its journey down to Kent tomorrow.
Part of the wings were removed for transportation on one lorry while the main body of the aircraft was mounted to another heavy vehicle.
The group is still looking for a home for the replica Boulton Paul Balliol T2 craft, in storage at Cosford.
Mr Herrington said two museums are interested, but it had to be completed first. They are looking for a covered space about 40ft by 40ft with access to power to complete the work.
