A BAND of dedicated enthusiasts is hard at work treasuring the area's aviation heritage. The volunteers spend hours each week in a draughty hangar preserving a collection which includes everything from a helicopter to a bus, from missiles to spacecraft. As preparations are underway to open to the public for the new season, Gazette feature writer KIRSTY RAMSDEN met enthusiasts at Bristol Aero Collection to find out about their passion for planes.

BRISTOL'S aviation heritage dates back almost 100 years and many of the area's residents have friends or family connected to the industry.

Therefore an institution devoted to the story of the aircraft industry in and around the city seemed an obvious creation.

After meetings and behind the scenes work, Bristol Aero Collection was launched in 1992 as a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity.

The following year its board of trustees received an offer of a building at Banwell - about 15 miles to the west of Bristol - to house the burgeoning collection.

The offer was for a limited time pending redevelopment of the site but provided a much-needed opportunity.

The space allowed the team to acquire exhibits for the collection including a Bloodhound missile, Proteus and Olympus engines, and a Sycamore helicopter.

Open days were held for members and their guests.

Eventually the time came when the collection had to leave Banwell and a new home for the items had to be found.

In 1996 the collection's board of trustees agreed to lease Hangar A1 at Kemble Airfield between Tetbury and Cirencester.

The move eventually allowed the board to realise its dream of opening the collection to the public.

Brian Wren, facilities manager at the collection, said: "We want to share it. The collection is part of our heritage."

Each Monday a team of about 20 enthusiasts works on the collection.

When the collection relocated to Kemble, two enthusiasts would spend their Mondays at work on the exhibits, several months later there were 12 and now there are about 20, said Mr Wren.

In total the organisation boasts up to 50 volunteers - some are hands-on, others work behind the scenes.

Some of the volunteers worked in the industry, many now retired, others have an aviation background in a different field, some are just enthusiastic about aircraft.

The collection has very limited funds to spend on exhibits, explained Mr Wren.

Most items on display were either donated or on loan, he added. One of the collection's favourite exhibits is a Bristol Brigand, which had been discovered in a scrap yard.

Mr Wren said: "Everyone stops to have a good look at it."

The collection boasts a real nose of a Concorde, historical books and other aeronautical items.

Attics can be another source for the collection.

The collection includes an archive, which is kept at a regulated temperature to ensure items remain in good condition, and has three archivists.

Flight log books and books discovered in lofts have been donated to the archives.

Many of the exhibits are items donated by members of the public who want to share them with enthusiasts and want to safeguard them for the future.

The display also boasts a Downend tram, which, explained Mr Wren, formed an important part in the start of Bristol's aviation history.

In 1910 Sir George White, chairman of Bristol Tramways Company Ltd, put up £25,000 to found a private firm, British and Colonial Aeroplane Company.

Work began in a former tramway shed at Filton.

The firm developed into a massive industry and the aeroplane factory at Filton diversified at times - into cars and helicopters for example - to keep a highly skilled workforce employed.

At other times successful developments for aircraft were spun off into separate companies such as Bristol Cars or Bristol Plastics.

The collection expresses various aspects of this history in its exhibits.

At first the collection was only open for public viewing on Sundays, but as volunteers were on site on Mondays to work visiting times were expanded to include the Monday.

The collection now attracts 3,000 visitors a year. Most are knowledgeable enthusiasts.

Betty Morgan, staff co-ordinator at the collection, said: "It is a trip down memory lane for a lot of visitors."

But the collection does open to groups as varied as the Rotary Club and playgroups, and the volunteers provide tours if necessary.

The board has a long-term ambition of returning home to Filton and is hoping a development plan will come to fruition.

In fact, revealed Mr Wren, the collection museum is in the Local Plan for South Gloucestershire.

He added South Gloucestershire Council was supportive of the collection, as was the present-day aircraft industry at Filton.

He said: "We get a lot of good will from a lot of people."

Mrs Morgan added the collection would like to attract more volunteers to help run the attraction. Anyone who can help should call 01285 771204.

The collection is opening this Easter weekend - Good Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday and then will open each Sunday and Monday, 10am to 4pm, until October.