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WL405

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February 27, 2009 at 11:29 am in reply to: Gloster Meteor T7 at Bruntingthorpe #1186919

WL405
Participant

She looks in good nick, is it a potential flyer?

Well the Meteor Flights www states that it was bought with the aim to restore it to flight and Ive heard that there is enough hours left on the airframe.

However a request for info on the airframe on another forum turned up this little jem of information. I hope that the poster doesnt mind me copying and pasting his text.

“I was an apprentice at the RAE from 1978 to 1972. As you know WL405 was a training aircraft for apprentices and as a fresh faced 16 year old she was one of the first aircraft I worked on (Boy she was different to the 777’s and A330’s that I work on now!) When we first started she was complete but as we moved into a smaller hanger (A shed) we were told to remove the tail and wing and mount her on three stands so we could user her as a hydraulic training rig. The wings and tail I believe were sold to a museum up in the northeast.
Between the inner wings, aft of the fuselage joint we manufactured a false spar so that the electricians could mount various lights and black boxes as training exercises. I removed and re fitted the speed brakes as an exercise. The other apprentice who I worked with went on to be the manager of the engine bay of a well known formula one racing team!
As for WL405’s previous life I know very little except that she was grounded because she had stability problem. All aircraft when you disturb them from straight and level flight should return to straight and level flight when you release the controls. WL405 didn’t! In pitch the oscillations got worse. There is a name for the effect but I cannot think of it at the moment. But any way she was deemed non airworthy and the apprentices got her”

And below is the false spar which will shortly be removed.

February 27, 2009 at 11:22 am in reply to: Gloster Meteor T7 at Bruntingthorpe #1186931

WL405
Participant

what is the plan with the meteor?

static or taxi

pop over to the beech hangar and see us anytime

philip

Hi Philip,

The aim long term is to have her running again. Wont be for a long time yet though.

I will definately come over to meet you at somepoint. I have been around your hanger before and hats of to you the work you guys do is amazing. I did in all honesty have to try very hard not to dribble all over your hanger floor while walking around.

Likewise if you see a confused looking sod scratching his head whilst looking at the Meteor please do come over and say hello.

February 27, 2009 at 4:43 am in reply to: Brunty Arrivals since 1988 #1187334

WL405
Participant

As per Peters suggestion all Brunty Meteor talk now under its own thread.

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=88653

February 27, 2009 at 4:34 am in reply to: Gloster Meteor T7 at Bruntingthorpe #1187339

WL405
Participant

Taken from the “Brunty Arrivals since 1988” thread

Especially as youre next door to us
will have to discuss a few common parts i noticed on the
airworthy restoration that the ignitor boxes seem to be the same as
vixen, we’ve got quite a few working ones

when do you plan to re-assemble and get on her feet again

Hello Matt,

I have seen you around at Brunty but Ive not had a chance to introduce myself yet. Yes we will def have to see how we can help each other out.

The plan ? well………………………. two things to do next. I have a large container full of Meteor spares and I need to sort it all into some kind of order so that I know what Ive got and whats missing. Obviously looking initially for the bits and bobs to reassemble tha airframe but also for undercarriage related parts.

I also have to sort out the canopy. One came with the airframe purchase but its in a dismantled format. The Meteor Flight stripped one to overhaul and then stopped work on it to concentrate on another one that they had.

If anyone has a complete T7 canopy or knows of one thats available Im more than willing to take it of your hands to save me a lot of hard work 😀

February 27, 2009 at 3:57 am in reply to: Gloster Meteor T7 at Bruntingthorpe #1187350

WL405
Participant

Last of the pics taken whilst at Yatesbury.

February 27, 2009 at 3:52 am in reply to: Gloster Meteor T7 at Bruntingthorpe #1187395

WL405
Participant

OK to the cockpit shots now then chaps.

February 27, 2009 at 3:35 am in reply to: Gloster Meteor T7 at Bruntingthorpe #1187432

WL405
Participant

So with the centre section safely loaded we next wheeled out of the old gymnasium the rear fuselage followed by the cockpit section ready for loading. The rear section is actually from an F8 and has never been fitted to an airframe before and the condition has to be seen to be believed. Please ignore the bird sh*t that can be seen in picture 2.

Despite the fantastic condition of the rear fuselage IF anybody knows of an early style rear fuselage thats available to swap or purchase then please contact me.

Orange jacket is Simon, other two bods in view are Ritch (facing camera) & Max also from the forum & of course Brunty.

February 25, 2009 at 8:15 pm in reply to: Brunty Arrivals since 1988 #1189005

WL405
Participant

Well youve all been talking about it and upto now Ive sat on the sidelines watching Ritch enjoy winding you all up.

I can now confirm that this afternoon Meteor T7 WL405 arrived safely at Brunty so can now legitimately be added to the Brunty arrivals thread.
Heres a pic anyway. Rear fuselage section hadnt been unloaded when this picture was taken.

I dont want to hijack a thread thats not about this Meteor so if anyone wants to see more pics from todays move let me know and I will start a seperate thread up.

Many thanks to my mate Simon for sorting mates rates Haulage out. Ritch & Max for coming and lending a hand today, all the other guys at Brunty who helped unload her.

Also a big thank you to Dave Walton for allowing me to bring the Meteor to Brunty.

February 23, 2009 at 6:16 am in reply to: The XH558 Discussion Thread (merged) #1194406

WL405
Participant

All of the above is pure speculation Chox and and Im inclined to agree with Mark that there is nothing to be gained in sending it to the US.

No disrespect meant to our American friends but in many ways they are a very insular nation and apart from the odd aviation enthusiast many would, if asked what a Vulcan was reply with the answer “an alien race from Star Trek” so why would they wish to fund the biggest money pit historic aviation has seen? This comes at a time when numerous press has already highlighted the difficulty in funding US Historic large aircraft projects.

No disrespect but I think that the “should it go to the US discussion” has ran its course and we are going around in circles.

Maybe we should start a new equally relevant discussion and discuss the pro’s & con’s of disposing of the aircraft through ebay. Maybe we could focus on whether we should put it in international ebay or just UK ebay. Thoughts please gentlemen. :rolleyes:

February 22, 2009 at 9:17 am in reply to: 1980 Biggin Hill Invader Crash (New Thread) #1195166

WL405
Participant

Can anyone confirm if the aircraft was ever at one of the old RAFA Coventry Airshows either displaying or as static?

February 15, 2009 at 10:53 pm in reply to: Brooklands. Those Magnificent Men and Our Flying Machines. #1203489

WL405
Participant

What a fantastic looking museum and some lovely pictures.

Excuse my ignorance but what is the history of the two Lancasters shown?

February 15, 2009 at 9:52 pm in reply to: Brunty Guppy Whoops #1203640

WL405
Participant

If anyone interested Ive been there for most of the Brunty arrivals over the last 20 years, got some nice piccies 😉

Im thinking that sounds like a good idea for a new thread Andy 😎

February 12, 2009 at 2:15 pm in reply to: Why Dakota? (The origin of aircraft names in general now) #1208255

WL405
Participant

Cheers for that info pagen01

Thats the documentory I was thinking off.I do have a copy here somewhere (only saw it the other day) and was thinking then that I really must find a way to trf it to DVD.

February 12, 2009 at 2:01 pm in reply to: Why Dakota? (The origin of aircraft names in general now) #1208381

WL405
Participant

The Shackleton was named so by Roy Chadwick out of the fact that he had designed a float plane for long range coastal exploration by Ernest Shackleton on one of his forays, not because of any official naming by the same design

I thought that Chadwicks wife was related to Shackleton. There is a video about the aircraft where I think its his daughter is interviewed and mentions that he comes home from work one night and tells his family theyve chosen the name Shackleton.

Unsure if the name was chosen for that family link though or just coincidence.

February 12, 2009 at 12:24 pm in reply to: Aerobatic/Display Museum #1208442

WL405
Participant

As an Aerobatic Teams historian, I would think the best place to set up such a museum would be Kemble. Although the Red Arrows first formed at Fairford, Kemble was their first real base and many people associate Kemble with them. Delta Jets already operate Hunter T.7s in “Black Arrows” and “Blue Diamonds” colours, as well as a Gnat in “Yellowjacks” colours. There is also a Gnat in Red Arrows colours near the control tower. Therefore, you already have a ‘living’ aerobatic teams’ museum that just needs all the other static material brought to it under one roof.

Am I remembering correctly that Air Atlantique Classic Flights Jets are relocating there with the eventual aim of setting up a living museum? Might just fit in nicely with their future plans and with the airframes that are there as AMB states it would compliment them nicely.
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