Flambard Gannet ECM6 XG831

Anyone know anything about this yet as we have not recieved a reply to our offer.

Flambard’s Gannet

Hi,

Yes in the years gone by, I took my children to Flambard’s and they saw the Gannet and many other aircraft in the open.

Now I can take my Grandchildren but there are fewer aircraft to see and as said some of these aircraft are still there, and still left in the open.

Someone said about sea water in one reply, I forget which one now, but can say that In Cornwall I know that where ever you are you live and breath the Salt in the air 24/7. Sometimes you even get wet with the sea spray – in other parts of the country they call it “rain” I have heard.

I hope that where ever it goes it is looked after and yes perhaps even kept inside.

All for now
Alex

I know this Gannet well and have done for years, its in very poor condition with fairly substantial corrosion in the the visible areas (skin, U/C, and structure openings). In more recent years the aircraft hasnt been looked after.
Having said that, nobody would like to see this aircraft preserved indoors more than me!

Any further information about the future of the Gannet?

Cheers.

it saddens me that the one at woodford is going to be scrapped she was almost at the point where she could do fast taxi runs in 2000 and now she’s going to be scrapped 🙁 i dont think that these airframes should be allowed to be scrapped, though i understand that it is unavoidable in some cases, it just is terribly sad to see the remnants of our airforce be cutup with no dignity, i would have loved to see more than one vulcan in the air at one time, judging from what one sounds like, words probably could not describe the sound of 4 or 5, there are too few examples of certain aircraft left in this world! only one valiant, very few victors, to my knowledge there aren’t any stirling’s left anywhere. a crying shame 🙁

Now that the petty squabbling is over, and we have both aired our opinions, perhaps we can get back to the purpose of this thread… If the Gannet is to be saved by one of the smaller museums, then maybe the information gathered here may be of some use.

Already we have had some wonderful inputs of the wing fold mechanism, general dimensions, etc. I am in contact with the company who moved the Gannet at White Waltham, and as I find out how to go about moving a 15 tonne airframe, I will post it on here. Perhaps it will benefit anyone who is interested in moving a reasonably large aircraft?

anyone got any stories about moving aircraft about?….

Please note: the following is my personal opinion, and not that endorsed by NEAM !!!!!

David, I agree that the Vulcan XL319 perhaps has served its purpose. We have many vulcans safe in this country, and 319 is suffering badly. The control surfaces have vertually no skin left, and the airframe generally is very badly corroded. I wonder whether it would be for the best to cull the airframe, provide spares for the remaining Vulcs, and preserve the nose?…..I am watching the events around the Woodford Vulcan very closely.

Keep posting! 😀

Lindy – Maybe I do need to have a reality check! Somewhat bizarre however to start a serious thread with the proposal of wanting to know about the
logistics of moving an aircraft without having even seen the thing! As for the merits of the ECM.6 – the Duxford example is indeed a fine example but if we only had one within preservation that would be enough in the bigger scheme of things. The example at Flambards isn’t in wonderful condition by any stretch of the imagination – saveable yes but with a large input of money and time.
The past and present guys at NEAM have indeed done a fine job of saving interesting and rare airframes . However many will feel that the cost of housing the Vulcan in the condition it’s now in isn’t viable. By all means
get more hangarage but the Vulcan was acquired as a ‘signpost’ and has been very effective at that – I would argue however that the damage caused by twenty three years of exposure isn’t something that can be rectified and retain the long term structural integrity of her.
As for preserving more aircraft in the hope that a few get through – sometimes it works -sometimes it doesn’t. Of the forty three Vampire T.11’s released by HSA at Woodford in 1973 I can count on the fingers of one hand how many are in a condition that is worthy of ‘significant’ or indeed ‘benchmark’ now. Maybe with the mass exodus of Vampires from Woodford the preservation movement lost sight of a few airframes and things which really should have been preserved were not.
Getting back to your efforts – by all means go ahead and acquire but also be aware that the numbers of people in preservation is decidedly on the fall and we are getting to the position that a lot of museums cannot progress projects due to funding .

I dont believe that David was criticising you. Enthusiasm is a great thing, and is vital if you are getting into preservation. Those of us who have been doing it for a while get a bit jaded, and tend not to see things the same way! We call it realism – you see it in a different light. Neither of us are entirely right!

Personally, I believe that the Gannet as a type is well represented. That the ECM6 is not, I dont feel is a great loss. That is however, just a personal feeling.

All I do ask is that you look for the thread on moving the Gannet to Aeroventure. Whatever is done, please learn from that particular debacle!

Bruce

Lindy – The aims of the BAPC are to foster goodwill and reduce competition for airframes. It isn’t in anyones interests to hype the value of airframes.
All it does is to put airframes outside the reach of smaller museums and also takes money away from airframes which are already in museums that require
money spending on them. There is already a massive amount of duplication within the British preservation movement and we could quite happily loose
a number of airframes to ensure funds are spent on the worthy. Look at your local museum and examine the number of airframes which are either in long terme storage or indeed outside and deteriorating before getting excited about anything new!

😮
A bit of joviallity is always good, as is friendly competition. The aim here is not to discredit anyone, rather just to keep those interested about developments within collections. As for deciding which aircraft are worthy…. one man’s scrap is another’s gold. As far as I am aware, there are only 2 Gannet ECM6s in existance (forgive me if I am wrong). The one at Duxford is a fine example and will continue to represent the breed for many years to come. However, consider this – what if the aircraft at Duxford was to have an accident? If that airframe was (god forbid) written off, what then? Surely the preservation of as many aircraft as possible is a good thing. Many low funded ‘museums’ have a very simple policy – keep as many aircraft undercover as possible to prevent further deterioration! I can only speak of NEAM here, but they have many rare airframes (both past and present) and only two outside. The Canberra TT18 and the Vulcan. Both aircraft are deteriorating, that much is true, but plans are afoot to place them inside….:D If it had not been for this policy, the Speed Record Swift WK198would now be scrap, and the Bristol Brigand would now be extinct, the F86D would not be here, and the late lamented Gill Air would not be commemorated in the Shorts 330.

If you cannot tell the diference between a bit of fun (notice I have not mentioned the other interested parties for the Gannet), and a thread designed to upset everyone, then you need a reality check. 😡

I am new to the preservation scene in that I have only been involved for 20 years, and my experience has shown that people need to take life a little less seriously! Yes, NEAM is looking at aquiring a few new aircraft as is every other museum in the country, but duplication?…. many people cannot travel the length of the country to see a particular aircraft type, so it is up to the small local museums to provide that service with the more common types.

The end result from all this, is that a museum somewhere will aquire a rare aircraft mark, and it will be preserved for future generations, and for that I cheer… as should you.

Lindy – The aims of the BAPC are to foster goodwill and reduce competition for airframes. It isn’t in anyones interests to hype the value of airframes.
All it does is to put airframes outside the reach of smaller museums and also takes money away from airframes which are already in museums that require
money spending on them. There is already a massive amount of duplication within the British preservation movement and we could quite happily loose
a number of airframes to ensure funds are spent on the worthy. Look at your local museum and examine the number of airframes which are either in long terme storage or indeed outside and deteriorating before getting excited about anything new!

I’d heard from a reliable source that there were talks on going for the gannet to go to another museum in the north of england.

Not saying which just in case the info was wrong.

We are aware of another museum in the north west who are after the aircraft. Airframes are reasonably difficult to come by these days, so several interested parties will always persue a particular airframe. Whoever gets it I am sure will preserve the aircraft and ensure its survival.. Let the battle commence………:dev2:

I’d heard from a reliable source that there were talks on going for the gannet to go to another museum in the north of england.

Not saying which just in case the info was wrong.

The problem is, we have only seen photos.. and until yesterday, the guys at NEAM hadn’t even seen them! All we can do is go and look at the beastie and make an informed decision having gathered as much info as we can. Funding is not my issue, but as far as I can tell, the funding may be available to transport more than just the Gannet. Thats all I’m saying for now. Its not my place to say what NEAM is hoping to aquire…….. As I find out more info about the Gannet, good or bad, I’ll post it here. Really, we need an engineering survey carried out (with photos taken) and take it from there.

Pressganged?

I think there were five guys from NEAM at the last BAPC meeting! Nice guys too.

I think from what I have seen and heard, this one might be too far gone – I remember seeing it over ten years ago, and it wasnt good then. Moving it to the other end of the country will be very expensive, and may be a bridge too far.

Bruce

[QUOTE=

It is good to see that a good prospective home is eyeing up ‘831, all the best to all involved.

PS… (This is more my own curousity more than anything else)

“I believe BAPC have approved the move, all that remains is to settle on the price and for both Flambards and NEAM to agree.”

I have to confess I have never heard of this ‘approval’ being made, or indeed sought, before. In this cases, who do you ask, and how do they help?[/QUOTE]

Will… you seem to haunt me! Thanks for the pics though.

It seems I was a little premature as usual… BAPC informed NEAM of the aircraft as up for disposal (one of the fine gents at NEAM gets pressganged into BAPC meetings 😉 ). NEAM are awaiting written confirmation of the deal from Flambards. THESE AIRFRAMES ARE NOT SAFE YET…… and other parties are interested…

Will, if you have some Gannet spares hidden in some corner of Hangar 5 let me know……

The move for the Gannet alone will cost in excess of 5 grand… ish…

Keep your eyes peeled for some exciting developments at NEAM.

It’s nothing really to do with the BAPC . The aircraft have been offered by a company which I believe ceased to be a BAPC member years ago.

Not really useful information, but there are some pictures of the Gannet in question ‘back in the day’ attached somewhere along the line here….

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=27581&highlight=flambards

It is good to see that a good prospective home is eyeing up ‘831, all the best to all involved.

PS… (This is more my own curiousity more than anything else)

“I believe BAPC have approved the move, all that remains is to settle on the price and for both Flambards and NEAM to agree.”

I have to confess I have never heard of this ‘approval’ being made, or indeed sought, before. In these cases, who do you ask, and how do they help?

WOW… cheers to all! (so far).

I am just off to NEAM to let them know. Yes Neam are going to see the Gannet – they were offered the Aeroventure one… but it needs a touch of work:eek:

NEAM aquired a former Flambards hele (Widgeon?) some years ago, and are keen to aquire the wessex and the gannet. I believe BAPC have approved the move, all that remains is to settle on the price and for both Flambards and NEAM to agree.

If anyone has a set of Gannet AP’s……?

Wing fold

1/Dimensions
2/Unlocking points
3/Instructions

Regarding movement by road, you could try phoning West London Aero Club at White Waltham

Call Angela Rogerson, 01628-823272 or e-mail [email]ops@wlac.co.uk[/email].