The Bristol 173 was intended as an airliner helicopter but G-AMJI was tested by the military as XH379 from September 1954 until September 1956, just before it crashed. We found that the Big Ben was in scaffolding from early 1955 until the spring of 1957 to repair damage from Luftwaffe bombing. The last BEA helicopter flight from the Waterloo Air Terminal was on 31 May 1956 but we are not sure when the heliport closed. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

On loan from RAF Museum Reserve Collection.

No registration or serial worn. Was allocated military serial XF785 and maintenance serial 7648M.

Development airframe for the proposed 12-seat civil passenger twin rotor helicopter. Allocated G-AMJI for earlier demonstration flights. Displaying at the 1954 Farnborough air show. Crashed at Filton 16.09.56.

The prototype Bristol 173 twin rotor helicopter making its maiden flight form Bristol's factory at Filton. Now preserved at Kemble by the Bristol Aero Collection.

The second example built of the 13-passenger 2-crew transport helicopter powered by two Leonides Major piston engines. Painted in British European Airways markings for display at the 1953 Farnborough Air Show. Sometimes referred to as the "Rotocoach", the type did not enter commercial production.

The prototype Bristol 173 powered by two Leonidas Major piston engines, before application of registration and first flight on 24 August 1952. From Bristol in the 1950s.