A Beagle 206X, registration G-ARRM, has returned to the Shoreham Airport hangar in which it was built 44 years ago. It follows an agreement between the Shoreham Airport Historical Association (SAHA), the Trustees of Brooklands Museum – the Beagle’s owners – and the Bristol Aero Collection, its custodians until recently.

The 206X was moved to Shoreham in May and was on display on June 11 for the Beagle Celebration, a tribute to Beagle Aircraft, which included a gathering of Miles and Beagle aeroplanes, both of which have strong connections to the airfield at Shoreham.

The aeroplane will be loaned to SAHA for five years, where it will undergo significant restoration. David Dunstall, archivist at SAHA, could not yet confirm what work would be carried out as the association was still discussing the conservation requirements with Brooklands Museum. “It has been off the airfield for over 30 years and largely ignored,” Dunstall said, adding that some of its parts are also missing.

This is the fourth rebuild that SAHA has performed over the past six years. Others include a replica Lee Richards Annular Biplane, a rebuilt Piffard Humming Bird – the first aircraft to fly from Shoreham – and a Pou de Ciel or ‘flying flea’, which the association constructed from its original plans.

“They brought the Beagle to us because they know we do a good job and work hard,” said Dunstall.