Solway Aviation Museum hits RAF Blackburn Beverley XB259 target

Back in February, the museum launched its fundraiser to bring the last surviving RAF transport aircraft of its kind into its fleet. 

The plane, currently located at Hull's Fort Paull, will be dismantled and brought to the museum, next to Carlisle's Airport, bit by bit later this month. 

Museum chairman Dougie Kerr praised the successful campaign: "We have blasted through the 60k target and the money is still coming.

"This will give us a bit of a cushion as it's been outstanding at the generosity of people from all over the world donating to the Big Bev project," he said. 

What can we say - we've only gone and done it! Your generosity has been outstanding. More to come soon on next steps, so stay tuned this week, and watch out for our historic day 65 post tonight!#fundraiser #charity #museum #carlisle #cumbria #aviation #avgeek #flying pic.twitter.com/D5lli3fw5j

— Solway Aviation Museum (@SolwayAviation) April 4, 2024

The funds will go towards the haulage costs of the plane, which is the last of the original 49 built, as well as a crane at both ends of the journey for the larger parts. 

Once it has arrived, the plane will be reassembled by a team of volunteers at the museum. 

In line with the ongoing fundraisers via JustGiving and PayPal, a donation drop-off point has also been set up within the museum itself. 

"I was surprised that the funding has come so fast," Dougie said. 

"We're thinking if we can do this, we can do other things going ahead." 

To donate, you can visit the Solway Aviation Museum's JustGiving page here.