Wyvern engine cowlings

Very interesting. So it’s suggested that the T-beam could be moved in some way (minus doors I would say as it would otherwise be too heavy) to facilitate access to the top combustion chamber. That is new to me as I’ve never seen this in action. Well well you learn something everyday!

All photos I’ve seen show the beam in place or removed completely – but not vertical or ‘moved’.

Rob

…..here is what found, probably it is from the maintenance manual. Read bottom of point 6, it clearly speakes about rotating the T-beam via an adjustable strut. Just like in the cutaway says.

Thanks Rob, I’ve built one Wyvern model kit and may look to build another and open cowlings may be of interest to me :eagerness:

That was there full extent, as used only for checking oil levels and general maintenance.

Rob

One thing I’m unsure about from the above is would the cowling open fully, so that the engine is completely exposed or is the photo and cutaway drawing, showing the full extent of the cowling’s movement?

Agree about that.

So I might be off on one, but looking at it purely from an aircraft mechanics point of view, I’d say that to open the engine cowls you firstly un-clip both halves. Then take off the top panel infont of the windscreen, reach down and turn the handle (7), which turns the jackscrew (6) which in turn opens the doors like petals. To gain further access to the combustion area, you then use the turnbuckle at (11) to tilt back and lift the whole lot up on the hinge at 12 which gives you access to the engine. Looks to me like the core fairing has something similar to an Andover engine cowl.

I don’t have the relevant manual to hand at the moment, but from what I can remember the doors AND beam were removed in their entirety for engine removal. The beam itself was attached directly onto the engine support ring to form part of the structure, and was not hinged to swing upwards!

Rob

That’s the cutaway I remember. There doesn’t ever appear to be a great deal of info about his aircraft ever to make it into print, certainly v. little in the nuts-and bolts category. Looks like a visit to the TNA. AIR10/5170 & 71 and ADM364/31 look promising.

Never really thought about this before, but given the route of the jetpipe, I guessing the cockpit wasn’t too cold in a Wyvern?

Would have loved to have seen one in the air – such an unusual aircraft.

Thanks for your answers.

Yes, the maintenance manual…..would be perfect for sure.

About the cutaway ( I think Roy Cross did it) it mentions at (11): “struts incorporating turnbuckles adjustment raise cowling panel support beam, hinged at (12), for access to top of engine”

And the drawing shows an arrow indicating that the beam could rotate upward.

So I strongly suspects that it did. Would be logical too for accessing the upper engine part without taking aprt the doors-beam assembly. All this via the turnbuckle (11).

No, I don’t think it can. Going from memory, there is a central beam running fore and aft between the two doors. A scissors screw-jack system opens them in the manner above only. There is a cutaway somewhere (Flight?) I have a 1/32 vacform in the loft waiting for details like that photo. Always meant to contact the Westlands archives to see if they could help me…about twenty years now.