Wow she looks much better already after a partal bath! The spar photo loks a bit worriesome but if this is the only corrosion on her then it will be ok.Next time you have the teck guys down, have them look and see what those rings laying inside the bombdoors are from?

The rings are from the outboard engines, between the intake and the compressor face. They were removed for reasons unknown, and inadvertantly have saved the No1 and no. 4 engines from seizing up (unlike the 2 and 3). We have a set of tyres kicking about somewhere, and also in the bomb bay are large quantities of pipe work from somewhere…

Official update 22 July 2007

What a day!!!!

First of all, thanks are in order – Chris, John, Grant and Michael for assisting me in washing the beastie! Good work today guys, Thank you.

Also thanks are in order for the gracious assistance of TVOC, in particular James who has been carrying out a structural survey re the spars… Lets hope the report comes out well. It looks promising.

Today has been a busy day, the Vulcan has been cleaned (finish it tomorrow), structural survey has begun, tyres inflated (nose is up fine, but mains are a little worse for wear – a couple of snapped valves, and a couple of tyres off the bead, but not bad for 23 years of neglect).

The Lightning has had its nosewheel removed for repair and filling with foam.
Bofors gun work continues…
Mystere marking application continues
and we have actually had people through the gates.!

Could this be the best day NEAM has had for years?

For your viewing pleasure, here’s some photos.
1: Spar corrosion – just aft of the L.E. spar
2: The nose for comparison to previous pics
3: Bomb bay markings – no prizes for guessing the missile type….
4: The youngest member of the cleaning party – 5 years old, and aircraft mad! (My daughter, Natasha)
5: The working party hard at work.

I am a happy bunny…. 😀

Oh, Britannia, the missus says she’s going to kill you for that pic where she is in the background…. ‘Dead man walking! Dead man walking here!’;)

not a clue! When I took the photos, it was pitch black and I had no torch. I’m lucky I saw the bomb rack at all…..

So are there any surviving Vulcans with the rack (s) fitted? Apart from 319….

Also fitted in the bomb bay is the fwd aux fuel tank (complete with screwdriver holes – thanks to the crew who delivered her under the standard instructions of ‘make it u/s). Very easy repair…..:D. I wish the rest of the jet was in as good condition as the bomb bay….:(

The Dragonfly is making steady progress – currently having its markings applied to the stbd side.

We are actively seeking sponsors for all manner of things, in particular paint and consumable DIY items (sand paper, rollers, Hammerite-style paint etc..)

The Spitfire and Hurricane FSMs will have to go on hold for now… unless we can come to some kind of exchange deal?

Still looking for a donated ISO container – 20ft…, and some form of tractor…

Don’t forget Jeeps and Jets weekend (details on a seperate thread – search for Jeeps and Jets)

Update 20 July 2007. Vulcan / Mystere IVA

Dave, thank you – you have just been PM’d.!!! 😀

The Mystere has had its nose legend ‘Mystere IV A’ added to both sides. All we need is to dig out a decent photo of her and put the stars on. (pics to follow). Next on the list is to finish the emergency markings and the tail art.

I have been in the Vulcan today, primarily to assess the damage caused by 23 years of exposure, and also to find the cockpit leak. The leak IS the seal around the canopy as opposed to the broken windows – the latter are not breached, only the first lamination is destroyed. Corrosion wise, the spar caps are being treated this sunday, and I will attempt to inspect the rest of the spar inside the wings… I have been in the bomb bay to see if the corrosion was deep set into the airframe, and I am very happy to report that the entire bomb bay is immaculate – flakey paint on ONLY the forward face. The rest of the bomb bay looks like it did in 1983…! Even down to the bomb rack decals! I am very very surprised. Maybe there is hope after all…. (pics to follow.)

Oh, Peter, I forgot to bring the throttles back to shut off…. we still have full power – sorry! 😀

Need some advice about setting up a web site too… can someone PM me???