Speaking of Rapides

Bah – what a lame excuse! :diablo:

As luck would have it, local historian Brian Jones approached me this weekend with a history of Grumman G-SEXY. Brian said the “under construction” label on the Grumman’s web page had been there too long so he had researched it for me!

I suppose I’ll have to sort out the pictures now and put something together. Thanks Brian!

Thanks for the update! I would come over to help, but I live in Belgium, so a bit far away:( I do follow the progress you guys make via the website!

I know you’re very busy, but any chance for an update on the Seahawk? What’s the plan with the grumman? Is it in taxi condition?

Busy doesn’t begin to describe things!! I passed busy about 12 months ago and am now working 46 hours of each 48 hour day.

The Seahawk(s) – these had to be put on hold really since the Brit is such a huge project. WV838’s cockpit is pretty much done and has gone from being a decrepit mess to probably one of the most complete Sea Hawk cockpits in the country. The tail section from XE339 is now resting at Speke – the fuse will come up early(ish) next year I hope. The other Sea Hawk is in much the same situation, the cockpit is begin attended to in lovely North Wales and will eventually make an appearance as a complete airframe here at Speke too.

The Grumman. G-SEXY has no engine, the front cowling and prop sits on a fabricated frame to make it all look complete. To avoid making any changes to the main spar (which may be needed for another Grumman project) we’ve converted her to a tail-dragger which was a valid conversion for Yankee’s since this not only saves us from having to mess with the spar, but makes the airframe a lot more stable for our purposes. A steel undercarriage was fabricated since the original was lost in the crash too.

I’m sure none of this is news you wanted to hear – but with so much work to do on the Brit, everything else is pretty much on hold until next year. You (and others!) could of course help us rectify that by donning your overalls up here at Speke 😀

Roy.

I know you’re very busy, but any chance for an update on the Seahawk? What’s the plan with the grumman? Is it in taxi condition?

The major problem with the Rapide is that although she’s built around a steel skeleton, Mike has tried to build the rest of the aircraft in much the same fashion as a real Rapide – and that sort of construction does not stand up well to ignorant visitors and the pretty severe winds’n’weather we can get up here.

There are plans in the works now (we hope) at last to get some sort of fence around her but the hotel don’t have staff or a budget to maintain the Rapide.

We do what we can to look after her as a courtesy to the hotel, as a thank-you for letting us keep our aircraft on the old apron not only free of charge but we also get free electricity for the J41 simulator, free coffee, access to the staff toilets’n’showers – and when we have an event, we get free use of a nice plush hotel conference or event room too. Yes, we’re lucky b’stards! 😀

Sadly, none of us have any experience working on fabric aircraft but I suspect these are skills we’ll have to pick up pretty soon! 😮

Mike has passed photo’s of the Rapide build to me and when time permits (about 2012 at this rate) I’ll put together a web page or two documenting the build.

Jon is right about the livery change, the original silver (G-AEAJ) was a swine to keep clean and the current dark green railway services scheme is not only easier to maintain – but is appropriate for Rapide’s such as G-ANZP that used to fly from Speke.

My commiserations and best wishes to all the hard workers at the jetstream-club. Thanks for showing me around on my recent visit.

Makes you wonder what satisfaction it gives to people who attack and try to destroy things which can’t bite back and give lots of pleasure to the rest of us.

Hope the Rapide soon recovers.

Wicked Willip :diablo:

Oh she will its just very annoying having to repair some morons handywork…… Takes away time from working on the Brit etc

Trust you will make trips to Speke a frequent part of your jaunt up north 😉

Jon

Very angry…….. 😡 😡 😡

Look what has happened to ‘ZP

http://www.jetstream-club.org/rapide-damage/

Jon

My commiserations and best wishes to all the hard workers at the jetstream-club. Thanks for showing me around on my recent visit.

Makes you wonder what satisfaction it gives to people who attack and try to destroy things which can’t bite back and give lots of pleasure to the rest of us.

Hope the Rapide soon recovers.

Wicked Willip :diablo:

WOW. looked at some pictures and that is one nice replica!
http://www.abpic.co.uk/search.php?q=G-ANZP&u=reg
Looks the real deal for my Rapide-untrained eye 😀 . Why not put it among the jetstream club collection or on a pole or something so it is safe from vandalism?

I’ll second that. She certainly looks good. I’d never have known it was a replica if it had not been mentioned.

Very angry…….. 😡 😡 😡

Look what has happened to ‘ZP

http://www.jetstream-club.org/rapide-damage/

Jon

Its a question of ownership. ‘ZP is owned by the Marriot not us.

We just do what we can to help look after her.

Jon

WOW. looked at some pictures and that is one nice replica!
http://www.abpic.co.uk/search.php?q=G-ANZP&u=reg
Looks the real deal for my Rapide-untrained eye 😀 . Why not put it among the jetstream club collection or on a pole or something so it is safe from vandalism?

Thanks Jon

Good on you. Any reason for that choice of registration and why the change from the original one?

I’m coming up to Liverpool later today (well Parkgate on the Wirral actually) and couldn’t find it last time I looked so wondered if it was there still.

Wicked Willip :diablo:

Simple – this one hides the dirt better! Not sure why this specific scheme was chosen as before my time but needless to say the original no doubt flew out of Speke.

If you can find the old terminal then she is sat right in front. Then of course round the back is our toys 😀

Parkgate – Go to Nicholls for its world famous homemade ice cream! I can recommend the Hazelnut 🙂

Jon

Thanks Jon

Good on you. Any reason for that choice of registration and why the change from the original one?

I’m coming up to Liverpool later today (well Parkgate on the Wirral actually) and couldn’t find it last time I looked so wondered if it was there still.

Wicked Willip :diablo:

What was the story behind the replica Rapide, which was on display at Speke.

Who built it, where did any original parts come from and what eventually happened to it if it’s not still there?

Wicked Willip :diablo:

Ah good old G-ANZP 🙂

Is still there unless someone has moved it since last Sunday!

100% fake. Was built to a combination of original drawings/construction techniques and some modern day concessions. Put together by a local chap Mike Davey. Got to say she does look the business!

She is hard to maintain though as at times people dont respect her and being fabric covered living outside does no favours either. A favourite one for hotel guests is climb all over her to peer inside, hence why most the exhaust stacks have been broken off and countless holes put in the fabric…….

We do what we can to try and keep her looking reasonable – yes silver gaff tape has provided a few wing repairs. 😉 Best we can do unless someone is prepared to come and show us how to do fabric repairs?! 😀

Jon