I couldn’t get to it at work, but that is a cracking shot Tim. Thanks also for the kind words and raising my spirit shortly after taking it.
Hi all,
It seems I’ve been slacking slightly in my efforts to keep this thread up to date. So here’s a bit of a round up from the last couple of months…
The archive/drawings
These were supposed to be going to Avro Heritage Woodford, but that now appears to have fallen through, developments at their end meaning they can’t currently accomodate them. As a result we now have to try to find room for 16 large steel boxes of original Avro drawings. We’re now looking at options that will keep them on site for the moment.
This is the kind of thing we’ve been finding during the audit of this stuff, and we’ve got 15 boxes to go. If anyone wants to help take on some of this monumental task of checking and logging all these drawings, please pm me. We could really use the help.
Want to strengthen your Shackleton for Operation Grapple? No problem. Want to rebuild any number of Avro standard stores carriers? No problem. Some of this stuff is mind blowing.
Wheels and tyres
We’re still holding back from taxying WR963, though we have been talking about a test run down the taxyway in the near future. The worry is not so much the brakes, as they seem to be behaving with no audible leaks from the pneumatic sacs, but the state of the tyres after 20 years outdoors exposed to UV. The cracks are too large for comfort, and the last thing we need is a blown tyre causing the airport problems.
Last summer we dug through our store and came up with two new tyres, wheels and inner tubes, and also some axles for good measure. We then set about building them up into usable new mainwheel units. With the help of blue_2 one weekend we got the tyres mounted but never finished them off due to hangar and jacking issues.
Well, the hangar grows emptier as CAF move south, so the wheels were completed.
The jacks have been sent away for overhaul and should be back in a few weeks time. Once we have the new wheels fitted, we will be looking for an available date for one of our pilot friends to taxy WR963.
Engine runs
The next engine run (June) has been postponed, as on the last one water ingress into the Port No 1 fuel tank had got into the priming system and seized the pump. This meant we could only run No 3 and 4 engines, as we had no priming available on the port side. Suggestions were made that one of the bigger members of our team should set to with the easystart and hand prop the two Griffons but the idea was met with reluctance…
So we set to trying to find the water ingress. The problem has been worsening through winter and we had been taping the cap up – but eventually we couldn’t ignore it any longer. The culprit is the tank filler cap seal, and it was replaced, then some fuel resistant sealer added just to beef things up. The drain is positioned so the cap can be submerged in nearly a half inch depth of water before it drains away, which is far from ideal.
The priming pump is awkward to replace but will take about an hour. We’re not putting the new pump on until the tank is proved to be resisting the effects of repeated downpours of British summertime.
The pump sits up in the wheel well, on the back of the engine bulkhead –
and if the cooling pipes to the generator weren’t in the way you would see the pump itself. This is what it looks like off the aircraft –
Return to flight
We’ve got about as far down the path as we can go now without engaging the support of some other companies. One of the most immediate things we needed to do was get an organisation on board that are approved by the CAA to do design assessments, reports and the like. In WR963’s case this involves a pre and post spar boom replacement report too, due to the nature of the spar issue. We had a company in mind, and we have made contact with them regarding this work. We’re all really hoping they will take up the role.
Regards,
Rich
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