109sterThe concrete was used as ballast in the Tornado F.2’s whilst they were awaiting their radar to be completed. The depleated uranium is actually what metals are bombarded with to increase their mass.
Wasn’t the Tornado’s Dummy (concrete) Radar nicknamed “Blue Circle” at the time? 😀
109sterWould there be issues co-locating to Bruntingthorpe?
This is why Classic Aviation Projects moved Canberra WK163 away from Bruntingthorpe to Coventry in the first place. The approvals and permits require hangarage for yearly maintenance and also there are so many other activities on the runway, it makes operating a nightmare at times. Many is the time that we were kicking cones off the runway when XH568 was almost overhead waiting to land!! 😮 Not an ideal senario?
I would guess that Bruntingthorpe needs that revenue to survive but sadly, that makes it difficult to operate from regularly.
Regards
Chris
109ster(Middle photo…..)
“Perhaps a little lighter on the brakes next landing Sqd Leader?”
109sterCaption Competition for the sparky Picture
Ok…I’ll kick off then…..
How about….
“She can’t fly until we’ve found that spanner”
😀
109sterDave,
Exactly the same time in fact…I was an apprentice in the 1985 intake and was there right up to the bitter end.
I did Airframes and Engines mostly on the Canberras and the Buccaneer. Did a long stint in Hangar one and a slightly longer one in Hangar 4.
Wonderful days and sorely missed.
It was a bit of a family affair really, My Dad worked over at NAD for a while on the catapult and arrester gear (when it was operational long before my time) My sis worked there for a while in Admin and my dear old Mum was there for years and years doing Admin and security.
Does the surname ‘Cawdron’ ring any bells? Not sure if any of us had much to do with ATC?
Regards
Chris
109sterPhoto’s
Ok here goes…..it was a long time ago now so my appologies if I get it wrong…..
From the right then…..
Cliff Knox (I think? I may have got that totally wrong but the name rings a bell as one of Pete Gills good friends who used to photograph for us)
Neil Lawes (ex RAE Rigger)
Graham Hackett – Pilot
Francis Gill – Owner (facing camera)
Dusty Miller – Navigator (almost hidden from view in front of Francis)
Graham’s wife Mary Hackett (back to camera and clearly pleased to see Graham safely back on terrafirma!)
Terry Moore – Crew Chief (right at the back)
Peter Gill – Owner (in the hat)
Finally the guy at the cockpit door, name totally escapes me but I’d probably kick myself when I remember as he wasn’t with us long…..Ex armourer from RAE Bedford.
I’ve also got some nice pictures of the full Canberra line up at Bedford. It was the 306th Bomber group 50th anniversary in August 1992 and we put on an airshow for the Veterans.
I must get them converted from Negs so I can post them. Got some nice shots of the Bucc, Harrier and BAC111 (XX105 Yellow Belly) down at the eastern dispersal on the day too.
Regards
Chris
109sterThanks for those pictures Andy, it’s wonderful to see all that activity around WT333 again.
In a way, it takes the sting out of dismantling XH568 a little to see one of her old stablemates so nicely preserved. If I’m correct, WT333 will be the only Raspberry Ripple Canberra complete (and in running order to boot) in the UK now? 😎 I’ve heard the cockpit is immaculate.
I must get over to see her fast taxy when the time comes.
Keep up the wonderful work guys!!
Regards
Chris
109sterWe’d unbolted the majority of the upper half bolts so as not to damage the No 1 Fuel tank. The lower half was cut down the centre of the battery bay to save time and to allow the recipients to carefully unbolt the rest of the nose at their leisure.
The disc cutting photo was taken as we were cutting off the Anchor Nuts in one or two places where the bolts inside the upper equipment bay were difficult to reach without stripping out some of the electrical trays ect. We were then able to just tap the bolt through without damaging the nose. (shame we didn’t think of that earlier in the day 😮 )
I’m not sure if any of the WT333 guys post on here yet so I wouldn’t want to steal their opportunity to reply fully to the question about the engines fitted to 333.
I believe they are new/overhauled (Roger or Arthur could expand on that maybe) but are not airworthy for various reasons.
Hat’s off to those guys for what they have done with that aeroplane.
When we (CAP) recovered WT333 from Farnborough she only had one engine fitted. We removed a servicable engine from XH568 and trucked it down there to make up the pair and we were able to ferry her back to Brunters along with WK163. XH568’s engine then went back to it’s rightful place so we could continue the airshows and the remaining engine in WT333 was removed as a possible emergency spare. It had only 50 hours left to overhaul but we have since used a few of the parts to get WK163’s engines through the CAA’s latest permit directive (hence the long break in flying) so that engine is now disassembled.
WT333 was then passed on to Roger Wintle minus powerplants.
Regards all
Chris
109sterYes it’s correct that the Nose has been removed along with some other possibly useful parts to go to the States.
My belief is that she is going to Air Platforms but I can’t add any weight to any other rumors I’m afraid as I simply don’t know for sure what she’ll be used for?
All I can say is that it’s the best outcome out of an unfortunate situation which has seen her sit and molder away for many years. 🙁
I’m sure people will understand that you simply can’t maintain two Aircraft in two different locations with a small team like CAP, especially when the demands from the CAA are getting ever greater on us to keep WK163 airbourne.
It’s such a shame that XH568 had to be left in that state especially as she was the first Canberra we (CAP) operated, but WK163 had the history with the Altitude record and so there was no contest really as to which one we would fly.
Many useful parts have been recovered from her which have been and will be used on Wk163 and some spares from one of her old engines have even gone to help Roger and Arthur with WT333 ( another wonderul tribute to RAE’s Canberras I’m sure everyone will agree).
I think the remains may just be scrapped now as there is nothing left worth saving I don’t think.
I’m looking forward to seeing the nose tacked onto another Canberra in the future and flying again.
Do check out Air Platforms website, I had a little correspondance with one of their crew a while back while I was searching for parts for 163’s Avons and it’s incredible how enthusiastic they are about WT327 and XH567’s history. They have just stuck the American reg on the sides in unassuming black letters and left all the other markings and raspberry ripple colour scheme untouched from when they left Bedford / Boscombe.
At least 568’s nose will be an instant match 😀
Regards all
Chris
PS…added a few of my own photo’s from the day….how did we get that Ally to spark like that?? :confused: (answers on a postcard to the usual address 😀 )
109sterYes I remember Plazz. We also were finishing off that evening under Car headlights 😀
I used to work on the Buccaneer XX897 at RAE Bedford as an Engine man. I think it’s my second love next to the Canberra.
XX897 was doing Foxhunter Radar trials for the Tornado at the time hence the Tornado nose. I remember the wing fold lever was fitted in the lower forward hatch as it had been moved to make way for some of the Boffin Equipment for the trials and so we did the wingfold on start up.
I also remember (vividly) the jettison pipe having a small hole where it had fretted against the fuselage, the pilot jettisoned loads of fuel on a quick RTB and filled the rear electrical compartment with Avtur!!
Oh happy days.
She’s now down at Hurn I think?
I’m sure of got some nice pics during her research days at Bedford I could post if you are interested?
Regards
Chris
109sterOoo, Ive been censored! They’ve made it look worse than it was now!
109sterI don’t think you’ll see the last of the CAA directive I’m afraid?
I’ve seen a draft proposal and it’s identical to the one we got issued for the Avon Engine. We raised every sensible arguement possible to try to get it abolished but to no avail. Once the seeds are sown ect ect
I pity the poor ******s who are going to have to prove their engines to carry on flying like we have. 🙁
Engineers motto……if it ain’t broken…don’t fix it!
Nuff said!
Regards
Chris
109sterI think Waxoyl is very similar to the NATO PX32 so I would definately second bloodnok’s reccomendation.
The Canberra Main Spar has to be Crack Tested on a regular basis and is left paint stripped for just that purpose. We apply PX32 to the bare area’s of the spar between crack testing and have had no corrosion onset at all, and that’s even with flying the summer months.
regards
109sterCorrosion X isn’t acid based at all? It’s a thin film lubricant which displaces water and provides a moisture and air barrier thus preventing further oxidisation of the aluminium. You spray it around inside panels ect and it’s supposed to penetrate all the corners and gaps to provide full protection, not really something you’d want to do with Acid based fluids!! 😮
I don’t think it would seep out as RPSmith has advised with WD40.
I guess it’s a recent development of the WD40 / PX24 genre which has been designed specifically for inhibiting aircraft structures.
It would be rather expensive I should think but just thought I’d mention it as it’s supposed to be “Sierra Hotel” if you get my drift 😀 (plus you may be able to scrounge a few cans if you can find someone who uses it).
I should think PX24 would also be hard to come by unless you have contacts in her majesties services so out of interest, PX24 can be obtained in civvy street under the name “Ardrox 3961”
Hope that helps and good luck with the preservation.
Regards
109sterNot sure there is a lot you could do about the UV light problem, but I have come across a fluid called “Corrosion X” which when sprayed on aluminuim components, supposedly almost eliminates corrosion altogether.
We’ve used it on our Canberra in places but have not really had the opportunity to evaluate wether it works well or not as we are hangared most of the time.
Here’s a link to have a look.
http://www.corrosionx.com/aviation.html
Not sure where to get it or how much it costs tho?
Best of luck keeping her tip top.
Regards
Chris
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