▁continued ▁after ▁the ▁World ▁War ▁II , ▁but ▁also ▁civil ian ▁fl ights ▁res umed . ▁In ▁ 1 9 5 5 , ▁the ▁old ▁Beau fig h ter ▁factory ▁at ▁Old mix on ▁was ▁converted ▁for ▁use ▁by ▁the ▁Br istol ▁Aer op lane ▁Company ▁Hel ic opter ▁Division , ▁head ed ▁by ▁hel ic opter ▁pione er ▁Ra oul ▁H af ner , ▁that ▁transferred ▁there ▁from ▁Fil ton . ▁Production ▁at ▁the ▁site ▁included ▁the ▁Sy cam ore , ▁that ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁British - des igned ▁hel ic opter ▁to ▁fly ▁and ▁serve ▁with ▁the ▁Royal ▁Air ▁Force , ▁that ▁used ▁it ▁for ▁search ▁and ▁rescue ▁and ▁anti - sub marine ▁war fare . ▁The ▁Bel ved ere ▁followed , ▁a ▁tw in - engine , ▁tan dem ▁rot or ▁military ▁hel ic opter . ▁ ▁It ▁was ▁designed ▁for ▁a ▁variety ▁of ▁transport ▁roles ▁including ▁tro op ▁transport , ▁supply ▁dro pping ▁and ▁cas ual ty ▁ev acu ation . ▁ ▁It ▁was ▁operated ▁by ▁the ▁Royal ▁Air ▁Force ▁from ▁ 1 9 6 1 ▁to ▁ 1 9 6 9 . ▁In ▁ 1 9 6 0 , ▁the ▁factory ▁was ▁taken ▁over ▁by ▁West land , ▁and ▁served ▁as ▁a ▁log istics ▁supply ▁station , ▁until ▁closure ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 7 . ▁ ▁The ▁air field ▁was ▁the ▁home ▁to ▁Number ▁ 8 7 ▁Gl ider ▁Squadron ▁( No ▁ 8 7 ▁G S ), ▁that ▁had ▁been ▁set ▁up ▁at ▁West on ▁in