Work in the back hatch

The week before the taxy run we discovered we had two micro-switches out. Nothing essential, they indicate whether the scoops on top of the fuselage are open or closed, but annoying. These provide air for the Ram Air Turbines (RATs), the emergency electric generators, which hopefully we won’t ever need.

The switches were replaced but in the process we discovered the reason. The seals around the bottom of one of the scoops had gone and needed replacing if we want the switches to last more than a few years each.

This is one of those jobs that looks reasonably straightforward in the manual but needs about eight or nine different bits and pieces to be taken out before we can get to the problem.

The scoops in action, just in front of the fin

From a different angle with the seals visible (the starboard one had gone)

“Victor sim” having a go at getting “the last” bolt out (it took all three of us in the end). The RAT is the big black cylinder to the left.

RAF graffiti, we know how they felt

Five hours later and the RAT was out, only another six steps to get to the seals

The RAT, which will get its own clean up whilst out

Lindy’s new sun roof

And her new window

Rich, the new engineer hard at work

Very much a work in progress. It will all be back together before the next run this summer.

Sven