Two questions that I havent been able to locate answers for in the thread so far –

Who will this replica belong to and where would it go/be displayed when completed?

Also how is the whole project going to be regulated/managed?

Jon

A very good question Jon and below I hope is the answer for most of the questions that folks considering putting their hat in the ring may want to be answered.

Westland Whirlwind Project

PROJECT BRIEF

Background

In February 1936, the Air Ministry issued Specification F37/35 to the aircraft industry. This was in response to Operational Requirement OR 31 which identified a need for a day- and night- fighter for operation at home and overseas. The F37/35 Specification sought a fighter armed with 4 Hispano-Suiza 20mm cannon.

Amongst the designs offered was the Westland P9, a twin engined machine powered by two 885hp Rolls-Royce Peregrine engines and featuring a magnesium alloy monocoque fuselage. The Westland P9 was ultimately adopted as the successful submission and a total of 114 aircraft were eventually constructed as the Westland Whirlwind, starting in July 1939.

The aircraft, the first single-seat twin-engined fighter to be flown by the RAF, entered Squadron service in the Autumn of 1940, serving only with 263 and latterly 137 Squadrons. All 114 aircraft built were used at one time or another by one or both of these two Squadrons. The aircraft was declared obsolescent on January 1st 1944 and withdrawn from service with most survivors being scrapped by September of that year. A single airframe, P7048 was retained by the manufacturer and registered as G-AGOI flying, from October 1946 as a company “hack”. This aircraft, at the time the sole survivor, was ultimately used for fire rescue training and was finally disposed of in May 1947, thus rendering the Westland Whirlwind nominally extinct.

Project Aim

The primary aim of “the Westland Whirlwind Project” would be to reproduce a single example of the Westland Whirlwind Mk 1 twin engined single seater fighter-bomber aircraft.

It is intended that the project will result in a non-airworthy reproduction of the Westland Whirlwind, built to original plans with, where possible, the original materials. The reproduction will use whatever original structure, parts, including engines, undercarriage and (deactivated/replica) armament as are currently available. The intention is to produce a reproduction aircraft which is indistinguishable from an aircraft in Squadron service during the Second World War.

Project Phases

1. Establish Project Committee, capable of raising funds and supervising each stage of the Project.

A core group of 5 has been set up to co-ordinate and gather information and to explore
And utilise the offers of help from various bodies and organisations so far received.
Various ways of fund raising are being explored at present including the selling of T shirts, and other similar items .Prints ,photographs etc, and by direct donations.
The total materials only build cost is projected at £35-£40,000 this will be totally labour free.
But will include the costs incurred from any specialist engineering organisations for casting or machining of any large assemblies we cannot undertake in house.

2. Identify support for project, particularly from the successor to the original manufacturer, perhaps in the form of an Apprentice training or retired staff project.

With the passage of time few surviving retired staff will be available to put any input into the project. We are currently looking at individuals like they did during the War time producing parts as projects around the country, and we have some ex RAF personnel already involved with other projects keen to contribute to this project. Any support from Westland’s at this time is uncertain as historically there seems to have been some unresolved concerns from the company.

3. Identify national museum support for project

Some Major collection sin the UK have been approached with a view to displaying the completed aircraft.

4. Identify location to act as project focus/store/workshop

The aircraft will be constructed at the premises used by the Aircraft Restoration Group.

5. Identify surviving Whirlwind artefacts in public/private collections/elsewhere

Various items held by private collectors and organisations have so far been identified
And these include the remains of two engines and undercarriage assembly, cowls,
Some pieces of centre section leading edge structure.

6. Investigate potential for donation of such artefacts to the project or their use as patterns

7. Identify standard/generic parts eg electrical components, radio equipment, instruments and other equipment which can be used in the reproduction

Many items are still available and some currently held in stock.

8. Seek surviving drawings for aircraft

A large collection of drawings already available in the public domain have been gathered
Together along with many photographs and film.

9. Seek official Air Ministry (AP) publications on the aircraft, notably servicing / spare parts manuals and Pilots Notes

All available manuals etc have been acquired in copy form from Hendon and other locations
And held ready.

10. Commission missing drawings for the aircraft using CAD as appropriate.

Some initial CAD work is in progress to look at the possibility of creating full size resin engines for static display.

11. Refurbish existing artefacts

12. Seek materials for the reproduction

A supplier for commercially available material has already been identified.

13. The project construction could be broken down into a number of finite stages viz
· Cockpit/nose section
· Fuselage
· Tail empennage
· Wings
· Engines and engine mounts
· Propellers
· Nacelles, including cowlings and undercarriage doors
· Undercarriage.

14. The aircraft would be finished in an appropriate scheme in colours to the correct specifications.Given that only two Squadrons operated the aircraft, it might be appropriate that the Squadron codes of both squadrons are exhibited on either side of the aircraft.

War bird Colours are one of the companies supporting the project and have offered to carry out all the external paintwork and apply the appropriate markings etc.to the finished machine.

15. Identity of the aircraft will either be that of the largest remaining original artefact incorporated into the reproduction, or failing that, P7123, a serial number one on from that of the final wartime production aircraft.

16. The disposition of the completed airframe is as yet undetermined but it is expected that the reproduction will be of a standard for it to be displayed by the Museum authorities in the RAF Museum at Hendon. Or a similar major collection

It is anticipated that a start will be made on minor fittings and structural items during the winter of 2011/2012 with a projected build time in the region of 4 years as it is being built entirely by unpaid volunteers. The project will upon completion be placed into a trust basis and not controlled by any individual. It is envisaged that in its first year of completion it will travel to as many shows and events as feasible for those individuals and organisations who have contributed to have the opportunity to view the aircraft close up and be part of its launch year.

Mike Eastman
Projects engineer
Aircraft Restoration Group
North Yorkshire UK.

Web site; under construction.

English weather

In deference to The Archbishop of Canterbury and The Royal Commission
for Political Correctness, it was announced today that the local climate in the UK should no longer be referred to as …..”English Weather.’
Rather than offend a sizeable portion of the population, it will now be referred to
as ‘Muslim Weather.’
In other words – ‘partly Sunni, but mostly Shi’ite :diablo:

Should children witness childbirth?

Due to a power cut, only one paramedic responded to the call.

The house was very dark so the paramedic asked Kathleen, a 3 -yr old girl to hold a torch high over her mummy so he could see while he helped deliver the baby.

Very diligently, Kathleen did as she was asked.

Heidi pushed and pushed and after a little while, Connor was born.

The paramedic lifted him by his little feet and spanked him on his bottom.

Connor began to cry.

The paramedic then thanked Kathleen for her help and asked the wide-eyed 3 -yr old what she thought about what she had just witnessed.

Kathleen quickly responded, “He shouldn’t have crawled in there in the first place…

smack his **** again!”

:D:D:D:D:D:DIf you don’t laugh at this one there is no hope for you!!

proposed cuts to the NHS

Proposed cuts to the National Health Service

The British Medical Association has weighed in on Prime Minister David Cameron’s health care proposals.

The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.

The Gastroenterologists had a sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.

The Obstetricians felt they were all labouring under a misconception.

Ophthalmologists considered the idea short-sighted.

Pathologists yelled, “Over my dead body!” while the Paediatricians said, “Oh, Grow up!”

The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it.

The Surgeons were fed up with the cuts and decided to wash their hands of the whole thing.

The ENT specialists smelt “a rat”, didn’t swallow it, and just wouldn’t hear of it.

The Pharmacologists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, “This puts a whole new face on the matter….”

The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were pi**** off at the whole idea.

The Anaesthetists thought the whole idea was a gas, but the Cardiologists didn’t have the heart to say no.

In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the a****holes in London!

Technical question

A technical question for all you photo buffs.I have some real gems on negative and slide is there a simple and cheap way I can convert to digital format to save and share them ?

Ta.

A man ran at me the other day carrying a bottle of milk and a lump of cheese !!!.

I thought How Daireeeeee.

Gaddafi has declared a ceasefire so, for now, no one will be flying anywhere……..

I am sorry but if you believe that you should check the mushrooms you had with your full english this morning !!!!!