AN AIRPLANE which played a significant role in the RAF's success in the Second World War has been fitted with a new propeller at the National Museum of Flight.

The 1942 Bristol Bolingbroke aircraft is based at the museum, near East Fortune, and will be showcased inside the attraction's newly-restored military aviation hangar.

Two Second World War hangars underwent a £3.6 million restoration and refurbishment, which will be unveiled on Good Friday, March 25.

Built in 1940-41, the hangars are part of the East Fortune Airfield Scheduled Monument and on completion of their restoration, they will house an array of world-class military, leisure and commercial aircraft engagingly presented alongside interactives and film.

The stories of those who piloted, worked on or flew in the aircraft will also be told through thought-provoking interviews and displays featuring uniforms, documents and photographs.

The hangars will be newly insulated and heated using an environmentally friendly ground-source heating system.

Funding for the redevelopment includes a £1.3 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £1.8 million from the Scottish Government.

Bristol Bolingbrokes were used to train thousands of air gunners during the war as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) and are said to have played a significant role in the RAF’s success during the conflict.

They were the Canadian version of the Bristol Blenheim aircraft, built in that country under licence.

When the National Museum of Flight’s Bolingbroke aircraft was acquired from the Strathallan Collections in 1981, its propellers were missing.

Most military aircraft, including the Canadian Bolingbroke fleet, were sold off when the war ended, with many being bought by farmers for spare parts – particularly the tyres, which were used on other farm vehicles at a time when rubber was scarce.

In preparation for display, the aircraft has been carefully conserved and repainted in the original yellow training colour scheme of the BCATP.

Two new propellers were sourced: one from a specialist manufacturer in France and the second from Leith engineering firm, George Brown & Sons.

Steve McLean, General Manager, National Museum of Flight, said: “It may not be as famous as the Spitfire, Hurricane or Lancaster, but many people believe that Britain could not have won the war without the Bolingbroke.

“Our beautifully restored version will allow visitors to see how the aircraft would have looked in its prime.”