RAF Halton museum

Nice Pics Baz

Again a nice set of pics. Baz.
The bed pack and kit laid out for inspection looks absolutely spot on. These “Full Kit” Inspections only happened every month or so, but each day the bed and bedpack had to be made like this one is minus kit.

The Museum is a very nice touch,– the last test piece in Pics. (Steel T Piece)was the first test piece we made, it had to fit into a corresponding item. Our Civillian Instructor was a WW1 Rigger/Armourer, and he still had his original training test item. A boxed butterfly, made out of blued Gun metal and in 5 parts like a jig saw. You couldn’t see the light between segments. I was mega impressed with him and now realise how lucky I was to have such a top quality Instructor.

You are so right about those Hydraulic power rigs. I was the same starting them. Usually fitted with a Dowty Live-Line Pump, smelly and noisy.
Well the ones at Valley circa early 1970’s were, especially the ones in the main Gaydon hanger, certain unknown bad persons would top up the petrol tanks with Castrol -R vegetable oil from time to time and the stink could be smelt at Holyhead—-lol. All motorcyclists thought it was great, but the Authorities didn’t. 5 rigs going at any one time on the Gnats !!!!! -lol.

Was very surprised to see Gnat (Fleet 72 ) in the Museum, looks quite complete too.

Bill T. ( 88th )

They were relaying the parade square when I was there and one guy off a course took his G-clamp and sweet talked them into rollering it with his last 3 showing into the soft tarmac, wonder if it is still there. looked superb LOL

That certainly happened with a ‘Yellow Peril’ at Brawdy tony 😀

Hydraulic rig…some could start them…some couldn’t (lock the throttle to idle !)
I could start them – but was always wary of clonking my teeth or nose with the starting handle LOL

One bright spark thought adding a bit of Avpin to the fuel tank would assist it, I think they are still looking for the Cylinder head……..

Hi Slicer
Yes – should be no problem,contact Min Larkin from this link and he should be able to arrange a visit,or tell you when next open…it is a great little museum 🙂

http://www.trenchardmuseum.org.uk/

How is access to the museum arranged? My father and I have visited the chapel, where there are small stained glass windows to commemorate each intake, but not the museum. Do ex-brats have access?

Thanks for that Baz, brings back some memories; bed packs the photoframe etc

John

Hydraulic rig…some could start them…some couldn’t 😀 (lock the throttle to idle !)
I could start them – but was always wary of clonking my teeth or nose with the starting handle LOL

I’ve still got my picture frame……. although it does have a West Midlands birthplace.. I get my engineering students to make a very similar piece for their FTJ…

You had it easy, we had to make the damn steel clamp, still have it too, only highlight was the 17 year old girl that used to change with us into her overalls in summer, use to wear a thin tshirt and no bra, when she took her shirt off, you could her a pin drop………………………. They stopped her doing it 😡

That bedpack would of ended up on the floor!!

Bizarrely – somebody at work was talking about a picture frame test job the other day,I dont remember doing a frame,but then again metal bashing was not really my forte :rolleyes:…I was more interested in flying,flight control systems and hydraulics etc.
My overiding memories of our airframe repair syllabus was our eccentric instructor bashing holes in bits of Javelin for us to repair and also the Airship Gondola on slow time restoration (R33/34 ?)

Edit…probably the R33 fwd control car now at RAFM Hendon

rgds baz

I’ve still got my picture frame……. although it does have a West Midlands birthplace.. I get my engineering students to make a very similar piece for their FTJ…

529 sqn with Avro Rota 1943 (radar calibration)

Apprentice test pieces etc

The (ahem) best entry LOL
Our ‘Gonk’ on 218 Invader Flight shield

Memorial to ex brat aircrew

inc Frank Carey DFC,AFC,DFM ,highly regarded fighter pilot/leader

2 gliders,sorry the primary is almost out of shot lwr

Gernat