Hunter WB188

It appears to be the clock that is missing. I wonder what the others were in the auxiliary panel!

Thanks Andy, was just wanting to see how it compared with a service model

PeteP

Sorry. I misread your post. As you say, my photo does indeed show the panel exactly as you described it – with seven instruments missing. I think I must have missed that whole sentence!

It isn’t an excuse (well, it might be!) but is it me or does this new forum format run much further across the page than previously? It seems to give about forty five words across the page which isn’t conducive to ones eye picking up the next line when moving back across the page. OK….it probably is just me.

This was the instrument panel/cockpit when I photographed it on arrival at Tangmere. Judging from Peter P’s posting above I must assume that the panel has been restored to pretty much its original fit since this photo was taken?

Now I wonder why you’d presume that? Unless I’ve missed something, my reply to Black Knight describes exactly what your photo shows – the main panel complete except for the missing instrument at bottom left, the extra panel above with all 7 instruments missing and the blank space to the far right. Looks to me as if it’s still exactly as it was when it arrived.
PP

This was the instrument panel/cockpit when I photographed it on arrival at Tangmere. Judging from Peter P’s posting above I must assume that the panel has been restored to pretty much its original fit since this photo was taken?

PS……..However hard I try, and despite trying at very low res, this new forum won’t seem to let me post images. What am I doing wrong???

Finally…….!!!

Is it just me? Or are others having great problems posting images?? Worked perfectly before the ‘improvements’.

Judging by his comments on the Bluebird thread, I think that Black Knight would like you to fire it up and take it out on another record run. :rolleyes:

Thanks for that, any chance you photos?

Looks like Tangmere1940 may have missed this question so I hope neither of you will think me impolite if I jump in and answer it myself.

WB188’s cockpit is in excellent condition with all the various buttons, switches and flying controls in place. The main instrument panel is complete bar one missing instrument at the bottom left – not sure what it is but it may be the standby altimeter removed as a keepsake by Neville Duke himself and which now resides in a nearby display cabinet at the museum. Above the main panel, where the gun sight lives in other Hunters, is an extra panel – presumably for test and/or backup instruments – from which all 7 instruments have been removed. There are also another couple of items missing from additional panels to the top left and top right of the main panel.

Being a prototype, WB188’s panel is very much a one-off. In summary, the main panel which has a standard layout is complete but many of the additional instruments which, I presume, were fitted for test purposes are missing.
PP

Has she a complete cockpit Andy?

I was only talking to Al Pollock last week! However, he is none too well these days and I think getting out and about is getting more limited for him.

Looking at these photos of WB188 reminded me to pull out my files and photo archive of her delivery to Tangmere and the work that Xtangomike and I did to secure both WB188 and the High Speed Meteor for display at Tangmere after protracted negotiations with David Lawrence at Hendon.

Halcyon days!

Thanks PP, looking at popping down there in 2 wks.
Do you know if Alan Pollock is there much?

Chance would be a fine thing! 😉

It seems to be their current policy to preserve aircraft with the engines out these days. I’m sure one of the experts on here can explain the reasoning behind this.
PP

Why did the RAF museum want the engine out? Were they worried you might take her for a spin?

As you can see from this photo taken a couple of hours ago, back in one piece with the cockpit canopy off.
PP
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Thanks

As required by the RAF Museum, WB188’s engine has been removed and is now displayed next to the airframe. The fuselage is back together after this removal but I think the canopy was off last week – I’ll have a look today and let you know the latest state of play.
Pete