2-879-221 - Historic England Archive/Heritage Images

Filton Airfield, South Gloucestershire, 30/04/1950. A Laing face shovel excavator refuelling from a 750 gallon tanker at Filton Airfield during the construction of a new runway. Laing extended the runway westwards at Filton Airfield to accommodate the Bristol Brabazon airliner, which was being built at the airfield. Work began in July 1946 on the new runway, which was 2,725 yards long and 100 yards wide. Almost 750,000 cubic yards of excavations, up to a depth of 14 foot, was involved in preparing the site for the runway. This photograph was published in the March 1947 edition of 'Team Spirit', the Laing newsletter.