Dakota turns engines at Elvington

To roll the old Halifax chestnut out again,

We can all dream 🙂

Just wait till my Euro millions numbers come up!

It would be cracking to have a Mozzie, Dakota and a Halifax all running up their engines…… Followed of course by the roar of Lindy.

Running aircraft (subject to serviceability) will be:
Museum site= SE5a, Devon, Dakota
Airfield=Buccaneer (Sat and Sun) Nimrod (Sat) Victor (slow test run Sat, proper taxy run Sunday)

OK, see you then. Looking forwards to the live aircraft this year.

To roll the old Halifax chestnut out again, yes it has Hastings wings. The outer sections from Catterick were of no use, however one is still at the museum on a Queen Mary trailer.
It has the 4 Hercs from the French hung on it, and (wrong handed) fibreglass props. It looks the part though, and is a great tribute to the Halifax boys.
As to the Dak, In case you didn’t see them in the Victor XL231 thread here’s a couple of my shots.
From the very first start of the port engine a couple of weeks ago

And a couple from Sunday

I’ll come say hi again on Saturday Stephen!

What happened to the Hercules engines donated by the French air force to go on the Halifax at Elvington?

I believe the Hercs on the Halifax are the French ones, they removed all the ancillaries, (and I believe the gearing) to save weight.. So although they are in good nick they are non runners……

I confess I think it is a shame as the smells and crackling noises of Just Jane’s Merlins when she has finished her engine runs fill her hanger make you realise she is a living beast. It’s all a bit cold at YAM….. Though I do realise the impossibility of getting her running and the costs involved. I am just grateful that there is some form of a complete Halifax in this Country. Its pretty scandalous that there are so few survivors of one of our most important WWII aircraft. I hope to be with the 578 squadron veterans when they visit YAM shortly. It is a privilege to be in such brave company next to the stead they used.

Congrats on getting the Dakota breathing again, the hanger will soon be full of the smell of hot oil and a living airplane.

I think the Hastings wing on the Halifax was found on the fire dump at Catterick ? so I suspect the engines were long gone 🙁

If my memory is correct, didn’t they find 2 sets of Hastings outer wings, one set in poor condition, & the other still in their crates ?.

It would be fantastic if they did get the engines running as per the Dak etc. It would also bring in a lot more visitors to the museum, the same as the Lanc engine runs at East Kirkby do for that museum.

Any chance of YAM being persuaded to get the work needed, done ?. There are quite a few dedicated & skilled volunteers there, who might be willing to do it.

Bob T.

Nice to see the AMYJ alive again. Re the Halifax, I’d be happy just to see it outside for a photoshoot!

It does mean I can’t play next to it this weekend at the Battlegroup North military show. If anybody is going, come and say hello. You can’t miss my truck!

As far as I’m aware 4 of the engines are on the Halifax and the fifth one is outside under the Hearald’s wing I will double check on friday.

probably still crated at elvington – back in the late 90s the crates were there

What happened to the Hercules engines donated by the French air force to go on the Halifax at Elvington?

i understand that the ‘engines’ of the elvington halifax are empty units – presumably to save weight

I think the Hastings wing on the Halifax was found on the fire dump at Catterick ? so I suspect the engines were long gone 🙁

i understand that the ‘engines’ of the elvington halifax are empty units – presumably to save weight

I shouldn’t think so, sadly…

Any chance of them doing something similar with the Hallifax “PLEASE :D”.

Bob T.