Mr Rusty's future

Hi everyone.

As most of you will probably be aware, a few years ago, following a steer from this forum’s Dave T, I became the latest custodian of Mr Rusty…or more accurately, its nose section. Rescued from Orchards in St Austell, the two tons of historic aluminium was loaded onto a car trailer and then towed by my old, 345,000 mile Discovery up to the safety of North Wales. This trip was worthy of a story on its own (the 50 mph three-lane queue, the Police car on the M5 that decided it wasn’t worth the hastle/paperwork and drove off, the bottleneck in the M5 services while I refuelled, the oncoming kid who kept looking at Mr Rusty and ran into the back of the car in front of him…I could go on).

For the last two years, it has resided in the safety of my hangar while the collection of bits to re-furnish the interior has slowly increased. These bits have complemented the pilot’s and engineer’s panels I was gifted when I left the Mighty Eight in 1991.

For those of you who don’t know me (yet?), I own and run my own European approved EASA Part 145 Aircraft Maintenance Organisation and EASA Part M Subpart G and I Aircraft Management of Maintenance Organisation. Complementing these approvals, I hold fixed wing and rotary European EASA Part 66 Aircraft Engineering Licences with multiple type-ratings, UK CAA Aircraft Engineering licences with multiple type-rating, an unrestricted FAA A&P licence, and I am also an LAA Inspector. But it is not all hard work as I also hold a JAR PPL and FAA PPL for Single and Multi piston engined aircraft. I personally carry out check-flights on all aircraft we carry out major work on before returning the aircraft to the customer. As well as this, I have been briefed by the CAA to carry out check Flights for the purpose of renewing Certificates of Airworthiness for Annex II types (Bulldog etc). More recently, I was approved by the LAA to carry out the very first flight of a home-build aircraft.

The purpose of the above paragraph is not an attempt to impress (there are far more qualified, capable and competent people around than myself), merely to try and show you my commitment to aviation. This includes doing my little bit to preserve our great aviation heritage.

Unfortunately, the management and maintenance of aircraft within Europe has been overburdened by excessive paperwork. This coupled with our increase in work, both domestic and foriegn (can’t complain, especially in the present economic climate) has meant that I have been completely unable to progress Mr Rusty’s restoration.

So, the time has come for a major decision. At present I can see only two choices – I can welcome interested and motivated individuals who are willing to help me by carrying out the work required here in my hangar; or…offer the old girl to one of you guys at a reasonable market price. The only stipulation I am adamant about is, SHE WILL NOT GO TO THE SCRAPMAN (even at around £1000 per ton, this is not one of my options).

Your thoughts and comments are welcomed.

camlobe