Duxford Bimble No 53 – 29Dec09

Blenheim Nose

The two panels on the nose are metal. On some of the earlier production models the one directly in front of the instrument panel was glass but the pilots view through this was blocked by the panel so it was deleted and replaced by metal. Later the pilots windscreen was made to slide down giving a direct vision panel, when this was slid down a small windscreen would pop up to deflect the airflow from the cockpit. Its quite a complicated system and we are are not going to try and duplicate it, so the nose will revert to the earlier layout.

Smudge

Wyvernfan,

I doubt that the P-47 will be ready next year, there’s still so much more hidden work left to do. An easier task would be to get the rest of the fleet re-catogorised as airworthy, no easy task in itself. Cheers C6

Well hope springs eternal.. although it sounds like you know more about it than i do.

Blenheim Nose

Is that solid panel in the nose of the Blenheim metal – or is it just a piece of perspex waiting for the protective paper to be peeled off?

I’d always assumed every panel was glazed – but is this not the case?

Thanks Bwb – so the tailplane is one piece and after unbolting (and elevator/s removed) is rotated through 90deg and drawn through the ‘hole’ 🙂

Never knew that. Were others in the Hawker family the same??

Roger Smith.

The P47 and Blenheim surely look odds on for a return to flight next year. Shame the Beau won’t be joining them. Also be nice if the single seat Sea Fury finally makes it into the air… she seems to be taking forever.

Wyvernfan,

I doubt that the P-47 will be ready next year, there’s still so much more hidden work left to do. An easier task would be to get the rest of the fleet re-catogorised as airworthy, no easy task in itself.

Having seen the images above (and thanks for posting Mr M), it reminds me of what a gem TFC is. Mr Grey has a superb collection of aeroplanes and engineers, each quite unique. I wish the whole team the best of wishes and success for the forthcoming year and hope to visit soon.

Btw BWB, I’ll let you and BH know if and when I can come and get my hands mucky, and wish that were sooner rather than later.

Cheers
C6

Thanks for sharing those with us. That MkI nose seems strange after seeing the Mk IV version so many times.

Thanks for a great set of pictures.

I have a question about the Sea Fury. Never noticed before the big ‘hole’ in the structure of the fin – is it there for a reason?

Roger Smith.

To remove the tailplane.

Sea Fury

Thanks for a great set of pictures.

I have a question about the Sea Fury. Never noticed before the big ‘hole’ in the structure of the fin – is it there for a reason?

Roger Smith.

Thanks again for posting excellent pictures of the progress of maintenance and restoration projects at Duxford.

The P47 and Blenheim surely look odds on for a return to flight next year. Shame the Beau won’t be joining them. Also be nice if the single seat Sea Fury finally makes it into the air… she seems to be taking forever.