Well said Robmac 😎
Nothings ever definate until it happens and these things get blown out of all proportion. Until such time as we are told otherwise, Classic Aviation Projects and WK163 arn’t going anywhere.

regards
Chris

By the way, if anyone is interested in volunteering to help us out then please do drop me a line. There’s always plenty to do and not necessarily mechanical stuff either (we make our own tea btw so don’t worry 😉 ).
We’re definately not a closed shop and make everyone feel welcome and an important part of the team (as Alanl will testify.)
There are many and varied tasks which need to be carried out to keep these things running and each is just as important as the engineering side.
We are keen to find a signwriter who would be able to paint on a dedication to WK163’s altitude record as we no longer have her in the Scorpion markings. If you are / know of such a person who would kindly do that for us, then please get in touch.
You can mail me on [email]a109ster@ntlworld.com[/email] (eve) or [email]chris.cawdron@gb.mahle.com[/email] (day).

Regards
Chris

The maintenance on said Avons was done by yours truly and CFS kindly provided their workshop and facilities for me. To be fair to them, they provided me with a hell of a lot of assistance with the restoration of any parts that I deemed unfit to re-use in their removed state and I am very grateful to them. CFS don’t currently hold their own approvals for the Avon which is why it fell to me as an approved engineer for Air Atlantique. I carried my approvals across from when we were just Classic Aviation Projects based at Bruntingthorpe.
Hopefully in the future, I can assist AA and CFS to get their own approvals for the type. I’m still only a volunteer at the end of the day and I guess from a company’s aspect, they shouldn’t rely soley on volunteers to keep their aeroplanes flying…..eggs in one basket and all that?

On the subject of the recent ‘off roading’ incident, I must learn to taxy her one day, I’m sure I could stay on the grey bits! 😀

Regards
Chris

Oh so that’s where that piece of card with the writing on goes! 😀
I nearly threw it out Friday, it was getting in the way by the throttles!
I’ll stick it back up at the weekend LOL 😉

Cheers

WK163 runs

Hi robmac,

I hold my hands up (but definately don’t bow my head in shame) I was the responsible ‘sooty’ 😀

Glad to have provided you with pleasant and much welcomed ‘audibles’.
Sorry oh moaning villagers of Baginton but these things just have to be done :p you probably wouldn’t understand?

It was good from our side too to fire the Avons up again after two years of overhauling (in our spare time I might add). WK163 although supported heavily by Air Atlantique, is still largly operated and maintained by volunteers hence the long periods of maintenence. The engines runs were very successful and hopefully now we have appeased the CAA with the deep maintenance of the Engines, we should be regulars on the airshow circuit once again.
Looking forward also to the prospect of helping AA to return the T4 to the air again.

The thought of flying the two together as a pair is too good for words I’m sure you’ll agree. 😉

regards
Chris

WK163 Progress Report

There seems to have been a bit of discussion here about the future of WK163? I thought I’d add a bit of input from the Maintenance Team.
The lack of activity has certainly not been due to lack of Manpower (as DaveJ has already pointed out). The Core team that first came to Coventry with the Aircraft is still very much in place, and we have other Volunteers who are also eager to help.
The main delay has been with meeting some new Regulations from the CAA who have imposed a Calender Life limit of 15 Years on all Avon Engines fitted to Permit Aeroplanes.
As with Delta Jets (ref their Website) and all the other Avon operators in the UK, a calander life extension program has been been agreed with ourselves (Classic Aviation Projects / Air Atlantique) and the CAA, and we are currently carrying out an in-depth corrosion and integrity survey on both of our Avons before we are able to get Airbourne again.
I believe we are the only operators now in the UK of the Avon Mk 109 (Hunter 122’s being very similar tho), and we have had an uphill struggle in obtaining necessary spares and documentation to support the program as this is the first time these engines have been dis-assembled to this level outside of the OEM’s Overhaul facility.
However, over 12 months later (and after a global response…thanx for everyones support), we are finally reaching a conclusion, and are putting every effort into getting the Avons servicable again for some flying activity this year.
It must be bourne in mind that this is not a commercial venture, it is very much a Voluntary organisation still, but with much needed and appreciated support from Air Atlantique and CFS Aeroproducts at Coventry (who are kindly hosting my work on the Avons). We have been putting in long and arduous hours outside our normal (non aviation) working days, to make Flying this wonderful and historically important Aeroplane, a reality again.

Hope this has been informative.

Regards all
Chris