BBMF grounded?

Just stripped my Merlin and found this damage to the Pinion gear drive shaft…..one wonders how this could happen?

Did you find all the broken-off bits too?

The old gal is up and about 474 on air test on FR24 this morning 🙂

Lancaster just over Stamford at height

I wonder how long the test flights will have to be ?

https://www.facebook.com/BBMF.Official/videos/1428672630521079/

The Lancaster is ground running NOW!

Tonight;
“Evening everyone the engineers have had another busy day on the Flight. PZ865 has had her prop fitted and engine oil primed ready for engine runs. P7350 reduction gearbox fit completed, coolant system pressure tested and prop fitted. PA474 all four coolant systems pressure tested and props fitted next is engine oil priming and ground runs. Paul B”

From BBMF Facebook page this evening;
“Good evening all a quick update on our Merlin issue. Today we received five serviceable reduction gearbox assemblies back from Retro, Track & Air and with their assistance all five were fitted four on the Lancaster and the other on PZ865 and as you can see the rebuild is progressing well at the moment. Look out for another update tomorrow evening. Paul B”
🙂

Well the hours are going to be right down for most of the BBMF aircraft for 2017. Good news they are on their way back to flight.

Scampton Airshow are reporting that BBMF are hoping to have at least one Spitfire and one Hurricane at the show.

well, it was of course when the damage occurred, but not going back in one…………….

possibly, yes, maybe this is the weakest link in the reduction gear.

Could that happen if the prop hit the deck? I take it your Merlin is not out of a flyer!!!!

‘Heard a very reputable warbird operator telling someone in the crowd yesterday that it’s a gear in the reduction gearbox that’s chipped and caused some damage to a shaft!’

just striped my Merlin and found this damage to the Pinion gear drive shaft………………one wonders how this could happen ?

If there are issues with a few of them, Roush will probably start making new bits.

Why would they?

Aircraft lands with perfectly serviceable engines, with known history, and all in hours. Aside from a service, why would you tear them apart if you didn’t know there was a problem? Similarly, no need to replace the engines with newly overhauled examples.

Pinion breaking in flight would be pretty disastrous. Lots of noise, no power. I think they made the right call….

“As I said in my earlier post, surely the Lanc’s Merlins were given an inspection during their 6 months off the airframe? If so the Lanc would not needed inspecting again?”

Suggest you go to Coningsby and tell the Engineering Organisation there that it’s OK that they can fly the Lancaster again…… unless of course that the delay is not just for engine inspections and they do actually know what they are doing……

As I said in my earlier post, surely the Lanc’s Merlins were given an inspection during their 6 months off the airframe? If so the Lanc would not needed inspecting again?
mmitch.

https://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/news/index.cfm?storyid=D278B6CC-A724-6BE8-7A12C1F5FFC2F90A

Does anyone know for sure whats going on? Shades of muttered announcements that led to a 3 year hiatus in Air Cadet Gliding, funny BBMF not keeping us informed what!

Heard a very reputable warbird operator telling someone in the crowd yesterday that it’s a gear in the reduction gearbox that’s chipped and caused some damage to a shaft!