I think my knuckles can vouch that it aint no easier on the skin! I don’t think its quite as bad as the lightning but she can still bite you when she wants. Especially when some engineer many moons ago when she was in service does some locking wire and doesnt fold the end over. Fast forward 10 years to 2004 when we are changing the APU, and that locking wire goes straight up under the fingernail…ouch!

Always fold over your locking wire!!

Thanks for the kind comments 320psi, we must come down and see your two some day.

Absolutely. Apart from her being out of fatigue life, there would be nothing to stop us pulling back the stick and flying her somewhere. Apart from the jail term when we landed that is. We maintain her to an airworthy standard, because that is the best way to preserve the systems and the aircraft, in addition to providing that extra safety margin. We don’t treat the runs as taxi runs, they are, in essence aborted take-offs.

April 2008 run, From inside the cockpit

Thanks for that, would be interesting to see. We actually have very few of her actually landing. She was in a right state though, she hadnt been looked after very well in her last few months of service.

Anyway, I have just got the photos back from our last run on April 5th from inside the cockpit and some from out on the airfield just before the run.

Some external shots out on the airfield

Some internal shots under ground power

Pre-start checks underway

Slowing down after first “slow!” run. Airspeed just coming back through 75kts. Note the VSI dipping due to braking.

Max Chat on the “Fast” run. Just coming through 85Kts

Top Speed on fast run, chute has just been streamed, airbrakes open and flaps to land.

A View of the AEO Al Stephenson working his magic just before shutdown.

Hope you like the pictures, I know the public doesnt often get to see views from the inside.

Ollie

You are quite correct Robert, 1 is indeed the plenum chamber! The team is going down tommorrow and Friday so I will get some pictures of what we are doing now.

Cheers

Ollie

Have found a great picture of the run last week on airliners.net its one of the sharpest pictures of lindy I have seen!

As there are a few ex-victor types out there thought I would post one or two photos and you can have a crack at guessing where they were taken! For the first one if you can identify the equipment as well you get a gold star!

First one

And another,

I might get some more photos of “the hidden victor” some bits that you don’t usually see, just for general interest.

Dave, I know its a long way, but if you ever want to come and visit, feel free and get the VIP tour!

Ollie

Updated again!!

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for the long delay between updates, has been a busy few weeks at Cranwell. Much has been happening though.

We have finally sorted out the HDU properly, attatched the basket to the hose and completed the full functionals as stated in the A.P. and it is (for the moment at least!) fully functional! Below are four pictures, one showing the basket installation in the hose, one of the hose fully extended with the signal lights shwoing the correct indications for stand-off at full trail, the second to last picture shows the green lights on for contact. The red lights should be off but some muppet forgot to change the signal switch from stand-off to auto! The last, blurry picture shows the HDU panel with the HDU stowed. I will attempt to get a clearer picture, but its quite hard in the light conditions in the cockpit.

On the 5th of April we carried out a full engine test/ taxi run for which we required a parachute packing. This is quite a lengthy process, but the results are worth it. A video of the run can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwCxdG-_L5g. The test was completely successfull with all services functioning correctly, the speed of the last run with the chute was….130kts! The captain Wing Commander Barry Neal wasn’t hanging around! Now the run is finished we are going to get down to some heavy engineering, all the brake lines are being replaced, the undercarriage doors are coming off to be blasted and repainted and the undercarriage is being repainted. I will keep you updated on the progress.

Below are some photos of the chute packing at RAF Church Fenton:

The parachute was first hung for a day just to give it an airing. We have 3 parachutes, including a brand new one, but its best to keep them all in good nick!

Next the parachute was layed out on the swept hangar floor and the lines were sorted and bunched as per the parachute packing A.P

After the lines are sorted the parachute is folded into a series of S bends and inserted into the parachute bag, here the chute is half packed. You can also see the extractor drouge at the top of the picture.

And fully packed!

Next a mouthlock using the parachute lines is formed at the base of the parachute.

And the lines are pulled through the chute bag in four sets. Two from each set of lines. All that needs to be done is pack the extractor drouge.

Parachute fully packed! Now the chute just needs to be put in the aircraft.

Hope you like the pics, I will take some more of the work that is going on today and post them up later on.

Any comments please feel free to post,

Cheers

Ollie