Valiant XD857

Thanks for the update! I hope you can get her under cover somewhere in the future. It’s such a shame that it’s still outside 🙁

VALIANT XD857 Etc

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Sorry about the delay, my Mac crashed last year and I’ve only just rescued the database on the old e-mail prog today! The cockpit section has seen over 30 years out in the open and before the three V’s moved to Flixton there was some hope of having a lightweight roof over the three V’s due to sweating and rain ingress and the distance I live from Flixton. This hasn’t been possible subsequently but the staff have been extremely helpful in getting all three to their current display status.

I managed to get a dehumid in the Vulcan last year and it later froze over due to the cold, I haven’t had time yet to get a small heater to take the temp up a bit on that one, but in general its been a help. Sadly the rain is still getting in via the canopy guide rails, something we didn’t think of when ‘445 was first restored externally 3-4 years ago, so a cherry picker and a filler of some sort has to be tried as the ceiling instrumentation is good only for junking and its very frustrating. I also have to try to get 2 rear seats out (‘V’ stiff in their mag rails at present) AND a 2nd pilots seat. Some say the latter can’t be done without taking the canopy off. Well I have to try anyway! The rudder bar area and floor are in great need of treatment there also, and its an impossible contortion to do any anti-exfoliation work with both seats in place.

I’m afraid that without a roof over the Valiant in particular there is no chance of restoration, it was suggested that a rear section be built to shut her off from the elements with a door, but then you have to look at sealing it from underneath from insects, birds nests etc which would be awkward. I don’t think it would be a good thing in general however as really she needs to be inside and open to view into, due to her historical sectioning. Sadly ‘857 was sectioned before I got her and she could have been restored as a whole section with patches here and there. As long as she is out in the open it isn’t practical to restore her while any instrumentation would also need to be protected also clearly, not just from rain etc but extreme cold.

Another idea mooted by the Flixton years ago was to have a hole cut into it from a wall somewhere so that people could see it from inside one of the buildings, but again this would mean that a rare V cockpit would still be exposed to the elements and the inner widow frames are long-corroding along with the floor and centre pedestal. Mind you, a small pitched roof on the outside just might be doable, but then you would have to look at sealing all round the edges of the shape to keep out the rain from getting inside any building she was projecting from.

Its a shame as it would look lovely with some new internals using the old ones as patterns and some light bulbs at the foot of the rudder bar area to add some atmospheric lighting. Shoulder and upper roof panels are hen’s teeth but are fashionable though a bit of a job, I have a main and centre panel and a fair number of the instruments, but the main concern is her age and general condition due to outside display and the cutting which has made her existence that more difficult.

Flixton is a treasure trove of other complete airframes, cockpits and artifacts too numerous to mention, and there is understandably only so much that can be put under cover to be conserved as best as can be arranged by a dedicated team of talented people. More major exhibits are also due to arrive or may have already (I’ve been up to my eyes in other matters and flu so far this year) but I aim to get up there again as soon as I am able. Its the usual problem in the UK of too little space I’m afraid. I Hope that brings things up to date Fouga, if any other queries please let me know, I’ll try to look in again at a later date but again I’m very busy with design matters at present to keep the wolf from the door so don’t get much of a chance to get onto the forum as much as the past.

Cheers:apologetic:

Thanks! 🙂

Was wondering if there are any plans to restore this cockpit section? I seem to remember having read somewhere a restoration would start, but can’t find anything on Google.

The owner is registered on the forum, I’ve told him about the thread and suggested he comments.