Cosford airframes movements

Bruce, thanks for mentioning about radioactivity etc, I hadnt thought about it to be honest, although with 773 instrumentation isnt really a worry as well theres not that many of them tee hee!!!! At the moment my main worry is being drowned as she leaks a wee bit.
Bex

Always forget about the Beau cockpit Bruce. Been upstairs she doesnt always spring to mind when discussing things like this. But yes your quite right regarding that item. I think youll find thats part of the reason the whole section sits behind a nice thick pain of glass. And to stop bits been stolen of coarse.

I think it comes down to managed risk at the end of the day and making a proper assesment and making a decsion based upon that.

There are two different meanings of the word ‘Safe’ in this instance.

Essentially, you are safe from the effects of breathing in radioactive particles if the instrument remains sealed, and there is no attempt to disturb the glass.

However, it doesnt stop them radiating, and doesnt stop either the workers or the public from coming into contact with a low dose of radiation. At the RAF Museum, the aircraft with the highest radioactive content – typically German aircraft, have a time limit – the staff can work inside them for a set time but no longer. The aircraft staff are also issued with badges that show the absorbtion. Once that is up, no more access.

Whilst I am not surprised that most of your aircraft have been declared free of radioactive instruments, as they are mostly post 1955 or so, I am amazed that you dont have any! Especially that Beaufighter cockpit!

We have issues with some of the Moths, all the Mosquitoes, and odd other ones.

Bruce

I was under the impression though that, as is good H&S (yes ive done the first part of the BAPC course) practice all the aircraft in a museum should be checked for radiation to ascertain the risk to not only the public but the workers. All our aircratf have been checked and shown up as clear. Even our Vulcan tested clear and that airframe had a a Blue Steel nuclear weapon strapped under her for a number of years as part of the UK’s Nuclear Deterrent.

The instruments how I understand it are safe as long as they are sealed. Its only the dust particles that are radioactive from the paint. So if the instruments remain sealed they shouldnt pose an undue risk.

THe trouble is people hear the word radiation and panick. Lets be honest the risks are minimal and the level of exposure to Joe public would be very very small as the radiation is so low.

Yes, the way to deal with the luminescent paint issue is not to let people near them. Unless a cost effective way can be found to replace such instruments with non luminescent examples, it is never going to be possible to allow public access.

The way forward for aircraft not affected by this problem is for them to be open under supervision, but this is not always possible or practical.

Bruce

Cosford used to hold open cockpit days.. ..but I believe I heard someware that because the lumnesent paint used on old aircraft instruments was reported to be radio active the HSE had a dicky fit and banned or advised a ban on public access.

Spade Grip – this ‘problem’ has been around for some years now and I’m sure RAFM would have got this dealt with fairly quickly.

Roger Smith.

Cosford used to hold open cockpit days at least twice a year, usually during kids half term, the last one that I went to we got into the Lincoln and York, but I believe I heard someware that because the lumnesent paint used on old aircraft instruments was reported to be radio active the HSE had a dicky fit and banned or advised a ban on public access.

luckily for me 773 is my adopted bird and i only do anything else when i want to or im asked nicely LoL I also agree about thread jacking, and Rob Im sorry if I have so Phantom if ya wanna stick to PM’s fine by me. Bex or if anyone else wants to talk to a canberra fanatic then please feel free to PM me and i’ll talk for hours LoL Bex

I know what you mean. Ive been put on the Javelin and aint worked on the Phantom for knocking on a month now. Everytime I walk past the old girl I feel guilty of not paying her enough attention

dont worry my brain is on strike today too LoL withdrawal symptoms for not workin on 773 since last week tee hee Bex

I actually im on about a diff Rob. Ignore my comment about his crap photog. JUst realised. Oooops

Well the photos LesB posted for me coz surprise surprise I havent worked out how to post them yet LoL my other half took for me, in fact 98% of the photos in my 773 file wwere taken by her. Give me a car, computer and now an airplane i’ll fix it but give me a camera im cr@p!!!!

Dont tell him that Bex. Ive been telling him for ages he isnt much good at taking pics. I can do the pics I just cant post the flipping things. KEep your eye open on the Long Martson thread.

Dave T is kindly posting my pics for me as I cant figure it out.

The Vulcan cockpit is no longer on display at Cosford.
Up until a few years ago certain aircraft where open twice a year to the public and then came along free entry and the event was swamped causeing to much wear and tear on the aircraft.
WILL J access is as normal to the Museum the only building you cannot go into is the new cold war building.

LoL Mind u i wonder how many museums have ended up buying back their own stuff on ebay!!!! I just wish i could take decent photos like the ones Rob posted up the top here. Bex

Ive heard many stories like that Bex. Dont think its happened up our museum which is surprising considering some of the undesirables Coventry breeds.

Open Cockpits

Evening

Three or 4 years ago I went along to Cosford whilst at the IPMS Telford show. At that time it was possible to sit in their Gnat, a Hunter cockpit, a Bucc cockpit and walk through the Vulcan cockpit.

Very enjoyable if a tight squeeeze in the Gnat and a sad loss if no longer possible.

Chris

Vulcan XA893 photo’s ?

If Vulcan XA893 is a walk through exhibit, then somebody somewhere must have photo’s of the main panel layout/s ?

If so, can they get in touch please ?

😉

The Vulcan walk-through used to be in Hangar 1. It moved a few months back, I guess it’s gone into the Cold War Exhibit along with the complete Vulcan airframe?

PS The display at Cosford looks fantastic,does anybody know how public access is at the moment, I might pop in over the weekend…