Why not volunteer?

I dont suppose that you would like to move all the Bruntingthorpe aircraft to Edinburgh where there a group of people willing to help maintain and restore them! But the problem is that there are already lots of aircraft needing work undertaken on them and the the people willing to work on them have had 2 years of inactivity because of a large white delta shaped aircraft.

Just to add to Alan’s thread, if anybody is interested in helping out at Bruntingthorpe, I would advise you to pop over on a Sunday and introduce yourself to the BAH lads who look after the Comet, Victor, Hunter, Iskra and Bucc, they are always in need of help, non of it is very glamourous, but looking after old aircraft and the assorted ground equipment that goes with them is never a clean and easy job, but the rewards that you get when youve just fixed or painted something are great, the beauty of what we do at Bruntingthorpe is that people with limited avaition skills can come and learn and meet other like minded enthusiasts and work on classic jet aircraft to keep them running, I know they dont fly but believe me seeing them running on open days and the crowds response to the aircraft moving is something else.
It really is the next best thing to flying them without the higher costs, dont get me wrong though we do take saftey seriously and of course even the cost of running ground bound aircraft is soaring with fuel and insurance.
When you visit Bruntingthorpe make sure you wrap up warm 🙂

My interest started on the other side of the fence at Binbrook and many other airbases, camera in hand, but I got the chance to ‘do’ something real and boy the last 17 years has been a blast (no pun intended) :rolleyes:

Here’s a few shots taken last Saturday on a typical autumn day when the enthusiasm really gets tested

Here’s what we the LPG hanger construction crew spent 8 hours doing on Saturday, unbending,scraping the rust and painting the frame work the supports the cladding over the front doors.

Andy B (LPG)

Cheers, i’m not entirely sure what to do yet – MAM or Air Atlantique volunteering is also an open option as well, as is Brunty, it’s not fair having so many interesting organisations nearby where i could help out!

Lots to volunteer for at Brunty! Depends what you want to work on but there arent many prop-driven birds there….Guppy notwithstanding unless you’d like to give us a hand…..

3 T-6s 1 Beech 18 Half a Cessna Bobcat, bits of P-47, mew gull rep, Auster J.1…and a Cessie 150!

TT

As a volunteer of many years standing – seventeen years at the de Havilland Museum this year, I can only say that it is up to you NOT to be taken for granted. Sure, I get used by the museum in some cases, and I have seen others at the same establishment drawn into doing more than they reasonably should, but at the end of the day it is YOUR choice to do the work or not.

The enjoyment I gain from working on the aircraft, and returning them to pristine condition from a state of dereliction more than makes up for any other hassles. The main thing I would say is that before volunteering, be sure of what you want to get out from it, and be confident enough to get on with jobs on your own.

Robert, yes, I have worked on aircraft that were later disposed of, but I just see it as part of the bigger picture. In most cases, they were disposed of to get a better example, and so I had no issue with this.

If we only supported the public bodies, then there would be no charity based organisations such as ours, and we would be much poorer for it. The smaller volunteer groups, in most cases bring a different slant, and a much more varied collection into the public domain.

As a prime example – keep looking at 320psi’s thread on the Brunti Lightnings – preservation at its very best.

Bruce

Its fine helping to restore an item when it belongs to an organisation you trust and you know what the ultimate purpose of the restoration is going to be. But how many people have given hours of blood sweat and family upset to work on an aircraft that is subsequently disposed of. Even worse when the collection folds and/or the item being worked on is sold. That is why it would be good if people could assist a publically owned collection. But even they dispose of airframes. We do it all the work for the fun but other people should not financially benefit in due course.

WARNING

All volunteers beware – be careful not to be taken for granted. I speak from many years experience.

If you lived in Edinburgh, Scotland for example where would you be able to find an Aircraft Museum that is always on the lookout for new volunteers to help out? I know what the logical answer should be, but what do our Scottish readers have to say about the current situation!

Hi

The XS186 CREW , at Metheringham in Lincolnshire always welcomes assistance, in any form.
Even an enthusiastic visitor can be a boost when it’s hovering around zero,and you’ve got blisters on your blisters!

Yes we are limited to the rebuild of a Jet Provost, but it’s certainly less daunting to a beginner than some types, and we have a broad range of skill levels and jobs to do, from cutting the grass around the aeroplane,to complete system rebuilds, so no-one need feel over, or under qualified to help.

We work at least every Saturday, and volunteers have up to a two and a half hour trip each way to get that feeling that restoring an aircraft gives you, it should’nt be under-estimated !

PM me if you’re interested.

Paul
XS186 CREW

All are welcome at the de Havilland Museum over the winter.

Winter tasks are the continuing work on the Mosquito wing; lots of paint stripping on the Sea Venom, and the reassembly of the Chipmunk, though I am almost at the point where I can finish that myself.

If the Old Warden aircraft cleaners feel like a day with us, all the moths need a good clean, as do several other aircraft!

PM me if interested!

Bruce

Robbo seems to be all over the place tonight 😮

The museum is unfortunately closed in the winter, last weekend was last week.

Cheers, i’m not entirely sure what to do yet – MAM or Air Atlantique volunteering is also an open option as well, as is Brunty, it’s not fair having so many interesting organisations nearby where i could help out!

I should add that if there is anybody who is involved with an organisation , who would like to invite people along to help out then please feel free to post here.
Alan.
Ps well done R Langham, if it was closer to me and I had a bit more free time I would be there as well and polishing at Shuttle worth and helping out at Bruntingthorpe and at M.A.M and……!
Yak 11 do you hold open afternoons in the winter as well?

The season may be over but we are still flying..

I’m planning to volunteer as soon as possible – just waiting to get my driving license and car, and then it’s off to Duxford to help on the Beau!