[SIZE=3][/These 3 struts belong to TAC (The Aeroplane Collection ) up here on the Wirral at Hooton Park. No one here can identify them, can the forum help.
The 2 big struts appear to be “Handed” are very heavy, made of steel with a light alloy flange at top that rotates. They are around 31″ long, (Not including rotatable parts ) from tube end to top end of steel lug. and 2″ diameter of the tube. Painted in green primer then black and silver in some places, with 3 main attachment points and the rotating flange attaches to something unknown. We think they are British and WW-2 period.
Managed to clean one strut up this evening as only collected them today. That is one in front. There are some numbers and insp. stamps around on this one ,big lug has :- E23 5030 stamped on in biggish size stamps. Bottom end has:- 16141 20219 Alloy rotating flange has:- A7439 4 7439A and an inspectors stamp that has 330 D1l That has circle stamped around. There is a steel label attached, but no markings on that.
2nd one (yet to be cleaned ) appears to have flange assy “Unscrewed” further 10″ out. with that leather gaitor attached. Cannot yet ascertain if there is a screw thread inside or not. There is a label attached to this one that is stamped:- DRG NO A2020 SER NO H3 (or 8 )P 665.
The 3rd strut is steel ,black quite light, 26-1/2″ long and tube is 1-1/2″ dia. This looks like a bracing frame of some sort.
I do have more pics and will post if needed tomorrow. Thanks for help chaps,
Bill T. SIZE]
By: Arabella-Cox - 6th August 2017 at 20:27
I should have known that!
Yes, TAC had a load of Rapide stuff donated to them, possibly during NAPS days. I think it came from BOAC spares stocks? It’ll be in the archive somewhere.
We were given (and still have) Gipsy Six and Queen engines, also propellers, wing struts and all sorts of other stuff which, no-doubt, helped with the original restoration of G-ADAH, which now resides in the MoSI, Manchester.
Anon.
By: WV-903. - 6th August 2017 at 16:03
Many thanks everyone, for the excellent diagram and comments. That really has nailed the I.D’s The Dragon Rapide housed in MOSI Museum in Manchester is a TAC Long Term loan and these items must be left over from that time it went in there. We’ll keep them as spares as you never know. Much appreciated guys. Of the 2 struts here it looks then like one has a failed or broken spring inside.
Bill T.
By: TonyT - 4th August 2017 at 17:29
For your info…… that plant wants watering :highly_amused:
By: Arabella-Cox - 4th August 2017 at 15:35
I was wondering if the remaining strut could be a compression strut from between the wing spars?
My thoughts as well.
Knowing that TAC and NAPS before that have been collecting aircraft bits since the early 60’s it could be from anything.
The fact that the other struts are Rapide doesn’t surprise me either. I remember the NAPS / TAC store in Irlam which appeared to ‘breed’ Rapide fuel and oil tanks. Every time it was opened up there appeared to be another one on the pile.
By: John Aeroclub - 4th August 2017 at 15:01
This may help. There’s a pretty powerful spring in there.
John
By: John Aeroclub - 4th August 2017 at 14:33
I was wondering if the remaining strut could be a compression strut from between the wing spars?
John
By: WV-903. - 4th August 2017 at 00:33
Thanks for that Jon,
Never thought they would belong to a Dragon, but checking thru Dragon pics on Web,found one with the U/C outside fairing off and sure enough. It all seems to match. The 2 struts are handed as they go either side of mainwheel. The alloy Flanges are at bottom and they clamp (bolt up ) to caps on axles . The struts held in place by fore and aft strutting on aircraft and you can see the leather gaitor in situ. I guess the internal suspension is a coil spring or rubber do-nuts and the 3rd strut is probably from somewhere inside U/C bays.
So all is well that ends in the Well. I’ll clean em all up, and oil em ,put on ID labels and return them to TAC in a week or so. Job done.
Bill T.
By: Jon H - 3rd August 2017 at 23:09
Bill,
The two big struts are Dragon Rapide oleos.
As such, and purely as an educated guess, the third item will likely also be from the same type.
Jon
Sign In
August 3, 2017 at 9:15 pm