iank,

The engines are, as Denis has stated, vastly different. The major differences are that the HP and LP compressors in the TM3B marine version, are made of steel, as opposed to a light alloy in the aero version. Steel is obviously far stronger, and less susceptible to FOD damage, but obviously pays an enormous weight penalty. The fuel systems are also hugely different, and bear no comparison to one another.

I believe the TM3B uses a ‘free turbine’ set up, with effectively another turbine stage aft of the LP and HP turbines, designed to extract every remaining drop of energy from the gas flow, to power an external gearbox. The engine is non-modular, and therefore hugely expensive and time consuming to strip and rebuild, so you can perhaps understand RR’s reticence to offer a full support facility.

Hope this is of some help.

Flipflopman

Well,

All I can say to that, is that it worked for me, and steered me into my current profession, and sparked my interest in aviation.

And there were Nintendo’s and Sega’s around in those days. 558’s last flight was on my 14th Birthday, 23rd March 1993

Flipflopman

Hi,

The ‘plates’ on the windscreens are in fact waxed paper protective coverings. The windscreens are brand new, and these are manufacturer fitted. Due to the fact that the canopy will be removed again, to allow seat fitment and cockpit rebuild with the new avionics suite, it was decided to leave the coverings on, to prevent any inadvertant damage.

You are quite correct multivac, in that the work will start again now, to complete the remaining 30 – 35% of work. As myself and others have stated previously, this has never been hidden, and is not a hidden cost. Roll Out work has always been budgeted for, in both a financial and time sense. Those taking an interest will note the aircraft on jacks having its canopy, u/c and other parts removed, in the next few weeks. What is difficult to convey to people is that the majority of the work that has been carried out, has been deep inside the aircraft, and as such, is not immediately obvious. Work like deletions of redundant systems, and their wiring looms, re-wiring of the PFCU’s, Replacement of o2, hydraulic, pneumatic systems, which the whole aircraft has been built around, is not obvious to the untrained eye, so it may well appear that not much has been done. I can assure you all however, that it has. My message therefore is this, do not be alarmed in the next few weeks as the aircraft is jacked up and panels disappear. This was always going to happen, was never hidden and will not affect the proposed dates for completion and initial flight.

May I also say an extremely heartfelt and genuine THANK YOU to everybody who has supported this project, and pledged or donated money. Your support has been outstanding and humbling, and we are ALL extremely grateful that we have the opportunity to show everybody what we had always known to be possible.

Flipflopman

…but only on temporary legs that will have to come off again, and what else isn’t finished yet..?

Perhaps you’re right Lancman. Perhaps that’s not been accounted for, and everyone has overlooked that fact.

You really are a special person. Ashley starts a new thread, asking for the sniping etc to be left behind, there appears to be good news on the horizon, and you feel the need to bring up a completely irrelevant fact regarding the undercarriage, as if it was some sort of sordid shameful secret, that will bring the project back to it’s knees. Well done.

Cypherus,

You’re a chirpy little fellow aren’t you?

Whilst heavily involved with your visibly fantastic research into the current situation (reading the VTTS forum, and clicking the ‘contacts’ link) Did you at any point consider contacting the TVOC office and speaking to anybody personally? Are you in fact hoping that Rusty, Andrew or indeed Felicity, will seek you out personally and give you all the latest ‘hush hush’ information? Perhaps if you actually got off your 4rse and were a little proactive, you would find out a little more about the state of play.

The comments and current discussion about Biscuits is in reference to a few throwaway comments, seized upon by a 14 year old Air Cadet, who is probably enjoying the fact that he can talk directly to the engineers restoring an aircraft he is obviously very attached to. I fail to see your problem? It is a light hearted topic, which some people find amusing and indeed prompted several people over the weekend to feel strongly enough to visit Bruntingthorpe and donate many packets of those same ‘evil’ biscuits to the engineers as a way of showing their regard. Would you prefer it if all topics of conversation were downbeat and defeatist, or instead pandered to every question you could dream up, protesting loudly if some could not be answered at the time? Your comments regarding the “Little People” also ring a little hollow, when it would seem in fact that you consider the people posting on the TVOC forum, to be so far beneath your good self.

As far as mocking the need to “practice that Roll Out thingy” don’t be so ridiculous. Of course a practice run was going to be neccessary. The thing has been on jacks for 6 years, do you really think it wise to do your first ever move in front of a crowd of people? There were timings and proceedures which had to be found out and practised, as unfortunately you can only guess so much :rolleyes:

Rlangham,

Your snide remarks regarding the “what will happen after 31st August” thread, are unwarranted, as this has again been repeated countless times, many times by myself. The decisions regarding this have not yet been made. The trustees have yet to meet and come to a final concrete decision. Obviously if the money is secured, then it will continue onwards to flight. The possibilities and action plans are obviously being discussed at great length, at very high levels and there will be, as you’d expect, many different options to consider. As I have said, NO DECISION has yet been made, but I can assure you that there is a hangar full of employees, who would like to know for far better reasons than simply satisfying their curiosity.

You could always employ your time a little more productively, by attempting to find out for yourself the answers to the issues troubling you, than photoshopping pictures to accompany your comedy posts.

Flipflopman

The reason temporary undercarriage is currently fitted to 558 and not the final flightworthy gear, is because the final set is still away at the OEM for reconditioning, and there is still a degree of work to be carried out which requires the U/C to be removed. This has never been hidden, and was it was always known that there was still work to be completed after Roll Out.

Before the usual posters pop up and start flaming, it is worth considering that although the U/C fitment may seem a big job, in reality, it can all be fitted and functionalled in little more than a week. This is true for much of the major assemblies.

It astounds me that so many people have such a strong opinion, and such deep seated views, on a subject it is clear they know so very little about. :confused:

I expect a flaming now, and to be told all the usual ‘dead in the water’, ‘pie in the sky’ comments, but perhaps with a little more info by visiting the hangar, coming to the Brunty open day and talking to the Vulcan engineers, or even just ringing the office, you may change your opinions. Or even just have a little more fact to base your posts upon.

If not, you should probably make a nice little pledge,

To the Shuttleworth Collection :diablo: