Bristol was looking to diversify its business and amongst other types of manufacturing ventures, also set up its helicopter group towards the end of WWII. It appointed Raoul Hafner as its Chief Helicopter Designer in Nov 1944. He brought a small team with him from the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment in Yorkshire, starting at Banwell in 1945 but moving to Filton by Jun 1945.
After reviewing the resources, assets and work pipeline in the company, a series of moves and transfers was put in place around Apr 1954 and by 1 Jan 1956, the Helicopter Division of Bristol Aircraft Ltd was established at the Oldmixon plant, towards the south west of the
Weston-super-Mare site.