The major problem with the Rapide is that although she’s built around a steel skeleton, Mike has tried to build the rest of the aircraft in much the same fashion as a real Rapide – and that sort of construction does not stand up well to ignorant visitors and the pretty severe winds’n’weather we can get up here.
There are plans in the works now (we hope) at last to get some sort of fence around her but the hotel don’t have staff or a budget to maintain the Rapide.
We do what we can to look after her as a courtesy to the hotel, as a thank-you for letting us keep our aircraft on the old apron not only free of charge but we also get free electricity for the J41 simulator, free coffee, access to the staff toilets’n’showers – and when we have an event, we get free use of a nice plush hotel conference or event room too. Yes, we’re lucky b’stards! 😀
Sadly, none of us have any experience working on fabric aircraft but I suspect these are skills we’ll have to pick up pretty soon! 😮
Mike has passed photo’s of the Rapide build to me and when time permits (about 2012 at this rate) I’ll put together a web page or two documenting the build.
Jon is right about the livery change, the original silver (G-AEAJ) was a swine to keep clean and the current dark green railway services scheme is not only easier to maintain – but is appropriate for Rapide’s such as G-ANZP that used to fly from Speke.
Sign In
