Thanks all.
We’ve been down at Coventry working in some really nasty weather the past few weeks, but it is paying off, as you can see. Hopefully in the next few days I’ll have some video for here, though there’s already some rough video and more pictures on the website.
The pre-oilers are working great, and we’re all keeping fit running the props through (four minutes for each engine! 😮 )
before even attempting to start.
Our trolley acc took a battering in the freezing temperatures and the batteries appear to be toast. Even leaving them on charge hasn’t revived them, so Classic Flight kindly lent is a GPU, we couldn’t have run today if it hadn’t been for that kind gesture.
Thanks to all at Classic Flight for that, it was very much appreciated.
No 3 engine was the first to start, and caught on the second attempt. It took a while to come on the throttle and smooth out, but we put that down to the fact everything has been taken off it, moved or disconnected in the last 12 months. When it did smooth out, it ran great. No 4 behaved as if it hadn’t missed more than a couple of days since it last ran.
Both engines were run up individually, the temps and pressures all as they should be. Bomb doors and flaps all got a work out though we haven’t got pneumatics online yet as we’re still having issues with the air bottles. If the dates are to be believed we can’t use them until the’re inspected. The date on at least one bottle says “Next Insp 7.61 ” :eek::eek:
I just can’t get my head around how well behaved 963 was today though. We even had little things like the windscreen wipers working. The only issues we encountered was a problem with the external intercom, the navigation lights wouldn’t work, and one landing lamp was sticking down.
I’ve never seen so many happy faces from our little group. They can see 963 coming back to life, and in the next few weeks you’re all going to see the pace pick up further. Hopefully next time we’ll be able to show you three running, and four shortly after that.
When we get four Roger, you’ll hear her no matter which way the wind’s blowing!
Regards,
Rich
Sign In
