Right then, here we go….
The day started in the normal fashion for the Nimrod team, with some dead pig between 2 halves of a bread roll, and the hot brown liquid, (not quite as good as the cold brown liquid consumed in york the previous day:):)) Then, once our plan was formulated it was off to the jet to don the green overalls and Hi Viz vests. Newly badged ground crew member, Avril, was taken though applying ground power while myself and Nimchick carried out a servicing, making sure that the jet was safe to run.
Once all the blanks were removed and placed out of the way, we retired to the NAFFI for lunch.
Quite refreshed at this point, we finished getting “Kim” ready for her runs. Nimchick started her tuition for engine ground running, under my watchful eye, by carrying out pre start external checks, and the pre start switch checks on the flight deck. Avril was on a spare headset outside, be trained up on the external headset by Nimrod Mate.
Zero hour rapidly approached and at 1300 and a few minutes, the APU was fired up, followed by the 4 engines, myself in the pilot seat, mal on the engineers panel, Nimchick stood in the door way as an observer and a Victor crew member in the right hand pilot seat. Flying control checks were carried out and the other hydraulic systems were functioned to check they operated correctly. This allowed the engines to warm up, or more correctly termed “heat soak” to get all the oil circulating round the engines, and lubricating sufficiently. Cabin air conditioning was the next test on the agenda, and much to our delight, this requires the engines to be throttled up:D:D. Some museum exhibits are in the jet blast area, so only the inboard engines can be advanced above idle, and then only as much as nessessary.
Genny checks followed and the engines were then shut down. All in all, a very successful day from the Nimrod point of view. Only major snag is the port conditioning will not initiate, and some intercomm issues caused by damp.
Hopefully IanF got some photos of the day. I must say, I was very privileged to be allowed onboard the Victor for her runs. Thanks to Ollie and the rest of the Victor crew for the experience.
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