Whirlwind Fighter Project September newsletter

“Authentically reactive”. I like that.

Beermat, don’t get me wrong. It would be nice if progress is made before Christmas, but a huge amount of work on the workshop is needed first.

Anyone in the NE and you fancy lending Mike a hand give him a shout, he sure needs all the help he can get, doesn’t matter what type of skill you have he will find a job for you.

The best way to contact him is by text, if you need his number please send me a message and give you it to you.

oops, sorry.. I was speaking out of turn. Just want to use this forum to say thanks for all the work!

Magnesium would be authentic.. but authentically reactive.. and expensive!

I would be nice if it’s planked by Christmas, but I would go on the side of caution, a lot needs doing on the workshop first.

Thanks chaps,
Now that is some real progress if the rear fuselage is planked, don’t suspect you are using magnesium skin?
Cees

Please find first paragraph of newsletter here.

Just to keep you all up to date on the build, Mike is having to move his workshop so there will be a pause in the building for a couple of months while he gets things sorted. The new home for the Aircraft Restoration Group is to be http://www.fishburnaeroclub.btik.com/FISHBURNAIRFIELD
up in County Durham and this is where we hope to hold our next AGM so that a tour of the workshop will be possible.

Chris.

Thanks for the update Beermat: I also couldn’t find any news on the Project in the newsletter. Even news of the move is news after all!

Unfortunately there won’t be any progress beyond the assembly that Mike put together for the Westland event for a couple of months, while the ARG move workshops up to County Durham. There are a couple of parts that were not with us in Yeovil – one circular frame, and the fin spar. The latter was coming from Airframe Assemblies, but was held up by them having all hands on deck making new cowl parts for the BBMF Lancaster. It is with Chris now.

The next step will be jigging that assembly, and then the really tricky bit – shaping and attaching the skin ‘planks’. This should be done by Christmas. Then it’s time to start on the tail.

Nice, but I’d rather see more info about the rear fuselage progress.
Cees

That is in fact a very good question!

Initially, for phase 1 (the costed, planned part of the project which we are undertaking right now), we are not putting anything in there except a bit of ballast. If there are funds left over I would be tempted to propose to the group that we mock up something to make the ballast resemble Peregrines, but that’s all.

The airframe is being built with a view to a phase 2 – making the aircraft ‘live’, with working ‘plumbing’, electrics etc. This will probably include some kind of engines, though our options are completely open here, and much will depend on the environment she will be displayed in. If there is the chance of wheeling her out and firing her up, then maybe jag V-12’s, maybe Gypsy Majors just to get the props turning with a vaguely correct ‘sound and smoke’ show.. or maybe, if the money is there, a couple of Kestrels for near-complete authenticity.. who knows? But this is all in the far future. Right now we are focussed on building an authentic and accurate airframe. Watch this space for announcements on that, by the way!

Thanks very much! And very best of luck with this fascinating project!

That is in fact a very good question!

Initially, for phase 1 (the costed, planned part of the project which we are undertaking right now), we are not putting anything in there except a bit of ballast. If there are funds left over I would be tempted to propose to the group that we mock up something to make the ballast resemble Peregrines, but that’s all.

The airframe is being built with a view to a phase 2 – making the aircraft ‘live’, with working ‘plumbing’, electrics etc. This will probably include some kind of engines, though our options are completely open here, and much will depend on the environment she will be displayed in. If there is the chance of wheeling her out and firing her up, then maybe jag V-12’s, maybe Gypsy Majors just to get the props turning with a vaguely correct ‘sound and smoke’ show.. or maybe, if the money is there, a couple of Kestrels for near-complete authenticity.. who knows? But this is all in the far future. Right now we are focussed on building an authentic and accurate airframe. Watch this space for announcements on that, by the way!

What are you doing about engines?
(Hope you’re the sort that believes that there’s no such thing as a stupid question!)

Might not be necessary to do all of it as part of the rear fuse.. perhaps just the rear angle and a temporary plate to form a rigid jig? Mike, Gunnar has a ‘beermat special’ sketch of what I’m getting at..

it is, the rest are straight forward but frame 10 needs a bit of thinking about…

I was at the workshop on Saturday, frame 10 looks a bit complex!