First let me be clear, I am not criticising the BBMF (particularly engineering) staff at all. But having watched the Lancaster’s display season slip by from May and now possibly the end of July and now see the Dakota grounded until August I am wondering if there is a background problem? Is it a shortage of spares, staff or money? Or all three or is it something else? I hope not….
mmitch.
By: Trolly Aux - 5th July 2016 at 11:04
by the size of that bowser its not Berlin tonight !
Looking good
By: Binbrook 01 - 5th July 2016 at 10:45
While I have not been following the Air Cadets Gliding issue.
Sure the rules have been tightened with the post Nimrod and Haddon Cave, and a certain accident has caused changes
But I doubt the RAF is run by Gutless wonders, which is rather insulting of some who serve and protect you.
Just a thought
By: 467 sqn RAAF - 4th July 2016 at 16:51
Taken from the BBMF Facebook site, a very thirsty Avro Lancaster…. 🙂
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By: Keefy041 - 29th June 2016 at 21:55
A member of the RNHF did say recently when I spoke to him that putting the sea fury FB11 on the civil register might be a route to take to get it back in the air .
By: Arabella-Cox - 29th June 2016 at 15:01
Apologies for the twisted knickers, so its just the Army Air Corp who have gone the civil route as a result of the MAA safety cases.
By: scotavia - 29th June 2016 at 14:38
keeping the Dakota and Chipmunk types airworthy is becoming more challenging and engine issues are at the forefront,phoning around has been part of BBMF life for along time and it shares this with many organisations flying older types.
By: Fournier Boy - 29th June 2016 at 14:00
Remember, the loss /deliberate destruction of maintenance paperwork was the excuse put forward for the destruction of the Air Cadet Gliding organisation. I sincerely hope that the gutless wonders currently running the RAF and who not only allowed the glider fleet to be scrapped but also prevented the Reds from displaying at Farnborough hold the BoBMF in more regard, though I doubt it.
Both the RNHF and the Army Historic Aircraft Flight have moved from the military register to the civil one because of the issues raised by the safety cases required by the MAA, maybe the BoBMF will go the same way.
The RNHF have not moved to G reg aircraft, nor do they intend to. The T20 is owned by the trust, the other aircraft the flight utilise are loaned to them. The flights aircraft continue to be maintained on the military register.
FB
By: Trolly Aux - 29th June 2016 at 09:47
CONJECTURE I say, with the issues ongoing with airshows etc I am not surprised the BBMF want to sign off a 100% aeroplane, the Lanc is the cherry on the cake and needs to be treated with the utmost care, if she did not make it to shows now until after her major I see no issues, get her to Duxford, get her sorted. all good.
By: J Boyle - 29th June 2016 at 00:18
If they’re canceling flights because of unscheduled maintenance (outside the usual winter maintenance period) then they have troubles…no amount of justification can hide that.
It would be the same if you were talking about combat aircraft or airliners.
Mind you that doesn’t mean anyone is at fault. They’re old aircraft…stuff happens.
Still, when common types like the Dakota and Chipmunk go u.s., there could be underlying issues.
By: Propstrike - 28th June 2016 at 23:27
There ARE problems at the BBMF, though it would take an insider to lift the lid on why what used to be possible, has seemingly become so much more problematic.
I was told today the flight currently have BOTH Chipmunks grounded with engine issues, and has recently received six more Gipsy Major engines from MoD storage, but even with those are still unable to return the aircraft to flight. The civilian contract holder supporting the BBMF ( also tasked with repairing DC-3 engine) has been phoning round specialist vintage engine companies asking for advice on what action might be required.
As to the Lancaster,” they are having difficulties re-fitting the fuel tanks.” Might all be bolleaux, but one hears stuff…………..
By: mmitch - 27th June 2016 at 15:46
My fear too. If anyone wants to wade through the ‘treacle’ story of the ATC gliders grounding and the lose of its paperwork, try reading this page. http://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/538497-air-cadets-grounded-134.html
mmitch.
By: Arabella-Cox - 27th June 2016 at 15:31
Remember, the loss /deliberate destruction of maintenance paperwork was the excuse put forward for the destruction of the Air Cadet Gliding organisation. I sincerely hope that the gutless wonders currently running the RAF and who not only allowed the glider fleet to be scrapped but also prevented the Reds from displaying at Farnborough hold the BoBMF in more regard, though I doubt it.
Both the RNHF and the Army Historic Aircraft Flight have moved from the military register to the civil one because of the issues raised by the safety cases required by the MAA, maybe the BoBMF will go the same way.
By: DaveF68 - 27th June 2016 at 15:25
Spoke to them today land has to fly as crew currency is already out of date which means it would take longer after the major to get started again
Wonder if any time could be spared to fly them to Canada to do a currency check on their lanc?
By: bazv - 27th June 2016 at 13:00
As Piston posted – even just an MAA audit can give hundreds of queries/snags on any single a/c,most minor – occasionally major.
With older aircraft – the servicing history/documentation/maintenance manuals can make it difficult to satisfy even minor queries – because it is easier to clear queries by quoting acceptable damage limits etc – older a/c maint manuals can be very vague and not helpful for specific queries.
Log card anomalies can also give rise to MAA audit problems and can cause an otherwise serviceable component to be replaced!
By: SADSACK - 27th June 2016 at 12:47
re:
The simple fact is these are old aircraft that have worked ever since being built. PA474 and ZA947 have not been rebuilt from wrecks, they have flown continuously since they were built and its down the the skill of the engineers that they still do. Every other airworthy example of the type has been totally rebuilt?
By: Piston - 27th June 2016 at 07:05
There’re new processes in place regulating airworthiness at BBMF, so these processes need adhering to to allow the aeroplanes to fly. Some would say round block through square hole, but modern governance applies to all airworthy assets.
By: TonyT - 26th June 2016 at 23:29
Trumper, I think what people are trying to say is she is unserviceable, the work needs to be carried out to make her serviceable before they can ferry her there, the only other option would be to strip her down and take her by road. It is not like some snags that can be carried as it is I believe is the fuel system.
By: Arabella-Cox - 26th June 2016 at 22:22
Spoke to them today land has to fly as crew currency is already out of date which means it would take longer after the major to get started again
By: trumper - 26th June 2016 at 22:14
:rolleyes: oh dear .Never mind ,sorry for having an opinion or a point of view :rolleyes:
By: Agent K - 26th June 2016 at 20:41
I’m sure the team at ARCO have people just waiting around doing nothing for this year waiting for the Lanc to arrive….. Or maybe JR and the crew might be doing other planned work to maximise income and minimise overheads and that they and the BBMF actually know how to run a business and an engineering organisation…..
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June 26, 2016 at 12:04 pm