Common skill sets

I personally know sheet metal workers, who have gone from aircraft to the racing industry, so the kinda skill (the one-of fabrication) you need is close or identical.

Since alot of restoration is metal work, my guess is that you would be in high demand. Aluminium shaping is a skill thats slowly dissapearing from the aviation buisiness, and ANY warbird project needs people who can do that.

have you tried talking to any of the companies?

You are right, there seems to be more commonality between the motor racing industry and the skill sets required in traditional aircraft manufacture, required for later day restorations.

I started out as a Formula One engine builder, where working to high accuracy on small batches was common place. Practically everything was hand made, and hand assembled. Replace “wood composites” with “carbon composites”, and there you have your similarities! I managed to get this job, because of previous experience at my local airfield working with, and learning from the older types (aircraft and people) 😀

http://www.spitfirerestoration.com/ for drawings.

Anything by Crecy Publishers, Ian Thirsk/Phil Birtles/Stuart Howe for photo references.

I like the Q/A at the bottom of the listing!

Q: Hi I dont really want the propeller but I would like to bid on the other Item in the photo…..Do he have his own teeth? Is he house trained ? 31-Aug-07

A: Hi. No sorry his teeth are missing and he has the odd accident at home ! The Propeller is far less trouble and a bit lighter.

😀 😀 😀

Genius!

How will the British meeja report it?

“The first of a handful of restored Bristol Vulcan nuclear bombers has made a surprise first flight from Bruntingham airfield in Lincolnshire. Powered by 4 huge Olympic afterburning engines, the supersonic Vulcan was just too late for the second world war, but went on to serve the RAF and Australian Air force, as well as serving as the prototype of the Anglo-American Concorde airbus at many Farnborough air shows in the 1950’s. The Vulcan also served as an airborne tanker for the Vickers Victors which carried out the Royal Navy’s famous raids on Mount Pleasant airfield during the 1982 Falklands war, credited with putting Argentina’s deadly Pucara fighters out of action. With its twin bat-like wings and ability to carry both crew and bombs if required, the Vulcan was even said to be the inspiration behind the American B-2 Stealth Boeing. The hush-hush restoration was carried out at the top secret RAF base by British Aerospace personnel over the course of several weeks, but an RAF Ministry of Defence spokesperson refused to either confirm or deny the Vulcans would be pressed into service in Afghanistan”

😀 😀 😀 😀

Hi alan

I have sent you a pm.

cheers,

From my experience in the ATC in the 80’s of “Guarding” ‘558 on the saturday overnight stop at the North Weald Fighter Meets on a couple of occasions, I don’t recall there being a huge amount of ground support equipment being present.

What did make me laugh was the “No-Step” symbol(s) on the underside of the wing though! Are they still there? Were they a ground crew prank, or are they indeed required?

Happy memories…

…The quality of this rebuild appears second to none. Bruce

I couldn’t agree more! 😎