cypherusHystrical nonsense
It is more than probable that this uproar regarding the discovery of Radium on the beaches in the area is fueled by fear of loosing house values than any true sense of danger from the product itself.
However it should be pointed out to those having this problem that the risks of receiving anything near a fatal dose even over a long period of time are far outwieghed by the risk posed from Radon gas eminating from the natural bedrock beneath the properties these people so fear to loose value from and which is known to collect in homes and buildings in quantities that can be harmful to health over the short term.
So it could be argued that it is more than likley that it is the afore mentioned homes that pose the greatest potential threat rather than what might be washed up on the nearby beaches.:diablo:
As for locked cockpits, fair precaution really being as Radon gas is also a decay product of Radium impregnated paint materials and like homes can collect in significant quantities in areas of low air circulation also like it’s parent can contain significant Alpha and Gamma ray emissions.
Good case really for wheeling them outside every now and again and giving them a good airing out, and of course the chance of great photo shoots as well.:cool:
cypherusHystrical nonsense
It is more than probable that this uproar regarding the discovery of Radium on the beaches in the area is fueled by fear of loosing house values than any true sense of danger from the product itself.
However it should be pointed out to those having this problem that the risks of receiving anything near a fatal dose even over a long period of time are far outwieghed by the risk posed from Radon gas eminating from the natural bedrock beneath the properties these people so fear to loose value from and which is known to collect in homes and buildings in quantities that can be harmful to health over the short term.
So it could be argued that it is more than likley that it is the afore mentioned homes that pose the greatest potential threat rather than what might be washed up on the nearby beaches.:diablo:
As for locked cockpits, fair precaution really being as Radon gas is also a decay product of Radium impregnated paint materials and like homes can collect in significant quantities in areas of low air circulation also like it’s parent can contain significant Alpha and Gamma ray emissions.
Good case really for wheeling them outside every now and again and giving them a good airing out, and of course the chance of great photo shoots as well.:cool:
cypherusCredit were it is due please.
From experience particularly with the BGA I have found that the most unlikly people can and often do produce the most amazing reconstructions back to flight from boxes and bags of smashed pieces of airframes that so called experts had written off being not worthy of there attention, and by the way done it myself more than once.
It is not a case of having the technical qualifications that matter to the heart of any restoration it is the will and drive to actually start, run and complete it, expertise, information and materials are available, money can be obtained and often as not over time the product presented for all here to enjoy.
To howl down anyone who attempts a restoration to flight as has been seen in this thead alone is a very negative attitude to take, better to accept that there is a proposal to do this and maybe some here could better make use of there time not in critisim but in assistance and support to such projects.
cypherusP51 crash
The crashed P51 did so through engine failure.
quote from ‘Little friends website’
504th Fighter Squadron. P-51D 44-14321 5Q-I/ “B” / “Esther” This is Frank Guernsey’s 5Q-I either reassigned to an as yet unknown pilot or merely recoded from 5Q-I. This belly landing happened at Church Farm, Wendy on 5 February 1945 due to engine failure. Pilot at the time was Lt. Vernon N Barto.
Some other interesting comments and pictures can be found here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49024304@N00/2952058391/in/set-72157608125792619/#comments
cypherusP51 crash
The crashed P51 did so through engine failure.
quote from ‘Little friends website’
504th Fighter Squadron. P-51D 44-14321 5Q-I/ “B” / “Esther” This is Frank Guernsey’s 5Q-I either reassigned to an as yet unknown pilot or merely recoded from 5Q-I. This belly landing happened at Church Farm, Wendy on 5 February 1945 due to engine failure. Pilot at the time was Lt. Vernon N Barto.
Some other interesting comments and pictures can be found here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49024304@N00/2952058391/in/set-72157608125792619/#comments
cypherusAnother look.
Speculation aside as it hides a multitude of information, looking at the scene, the general level of activity and the type, the oil trail and length of same and the casual nature of the stance of the people.
I would say that this picture was taken some time after the event when the airframe had been deemed safe and was probably being prepared for recovery.
As for the guy with Gun/Chute whatever, who is to say he had anything to do with this airframe and was not just curious on his way from or too the flight line and reaching into his pocket for a …….??? what ever it was.
cypherusMore accomodating eviroment required
As SA has now lost the only remaining flyable fleet of lightnings to economic and regulatory problems, it’s my guess that the only possible country you may and I stress ‘may’ ever see one fly again would be the US.
It interesting to note though that the SA fleet has been placed for sale for sometime now and is still sitting outside awaiting it’s fate with no visible buyers running hot foot from any quarter to purchase them, again probably due to the current economic climate.
Pity really that things ended this way for them but lets hope that at least some can be saved as statics.
cypherusSold a pup more like!
The disposal piecemeal of the Harrier fleet and it’s carriers was always going to be a contentious in the extreme, that this story has ‘Leaked’ should be of no surprise really, not as a tool for the so called ‘Harrier Admirals’ but in the governments favor as they can now once again lay down the terms that led them to order the disposal and correct things they feel they need to, or rather ‘Spin’ this one again if required.
Truth be known the Harriers were fast approaching there sell by date but did not need to be withdrawn in the manner they were, little thought was apparently given to obtaining replacement assets equal to the job the Harrier fleet undertook so very well and anyone that for a moment believes that replacement Carriers and Aircraft will come of this shake up are sadly deluded.
If the UK government was serious about having a Blue water air capability then it would have obtained replacements and had them in service long before the Harriers were withdrawn, as it stands this country is going to be hard pressed to cover it’s NATO/International armed forces commitments and will be forced to withdraw effective current forces due to lack of resources in the very near future citing lack of money as the cause.
Leaves one wondering who actually voted this bunch in and what mandate they are working to, not one I recognize anyway.
cypherusJust a one of those minor questions
Great to see the move to Finingley has gone without serious problems, except for the airport operators that is who now have hoards of 558 fans flocking to there boundaries.
Also great to see that TVOC are once again planning there biggest ever season yet, subject to handouts of course.
But a recent publication from TVOC describing the move contained a guarded but ominous warning that XH558 was fast approaching the end of her second flying life with both airframe and engine hours racking up faster than possibly predicted as she enters her probable penultimate year on the show circuit
It came as no surprise to me when a group I was with began a heated discussion about 558 and drew conclusions that maybe TVOC management were possibly stretching things to the very end in favor of there own financial returns, all as we know utterly dependant on the aircraft they possess while at the same time placing the aircraft in a convenient place were they can maybe just walk away and leave it unsupported like so many others to rot until scrapped.
While I disagreed with some of this argument, I have to admit, TVOC have not been the best choice for management to date in the eyes of many and have for the most part been very ignorant towards there loyal supporters particularly to those not members of the TVOC club.
I have tended to make donations over time through outside organizations like the Vulcan village rather than join the TVOC again as my mistrust of the managements intentions is on a high level and of the trustees in particular as to date they have not made any realistic indications as to what will happen to this national possession once the flying is done with.
No comment regarding how her upkeep is going to be maintained, what plans are in place to ensure this is ongoing for the future, nothing about security of tenure for the airframe or it’s upkeep staff if any remain, in truth nothing of substance on any level about this subject as those who benefit financially on a large scale appear to intend to continue to do so right till the end when presumably they will thank all very much and leave 558 to her fate.
Sorry to chuck cold water about but I wonder if I am the only one considering her future to ask these questions above the usual ‘were will she be retired to’.
cypherusGoxhill airfield
Odd how a simple web search turns up some old experiences of that area.
The track mentioned was still in occasional use to service the oil terminal based alongside the former Royal Navy Seaplane base that had been there during the war, the original naval tank farm can still be seen and I belive is still used.
The rails were still in place for some considerable distance beyond this point out towards the airfield at ‘SouthEnd’ were I was told there had once been a ‘Halt’ to allow service personell access via rail to the base though I was never able to confirm this.
On occasions Drivers including myself would take illicit excursions down the old line beyond the terminal as far as the Chapel field road crossing, this had long since been removed and from that point on only the track bed remained out to were it joined the Ulceby to New Holland line, sadly this is no longer possible with the line becoming seriously overgrown and erroded
As for the airfield, The runways look to have been lotally grubbed up for hardcore leaving only a few of the dispersal pans and the hangar areas intact unlike South Killingholme which apart from buildings has remained almost complete.
Long after moving away from the area I did hear rumour that a recovery operation had been made in the area of the railway embankment adjacent to the airfield but have not looked into this.
In all the area has a long history related to aviation sad to see so much of it idly discarded.
cypherusTo Fly or not.
Oh Dear Politicians and Airplanes really do not mix do they.
If in the end the deal hinges on were the rebuild takes place then let it be were the owner can best accomplish this and not allow anything to stand in the way of the restoration of these airframes particularly political rhetoric and chest beating.
cypherusWill it …won’t it ????
Twas my understanding from the original notice issued that the group was intending to perform a feasibility study on the aircrafts engines with a view too starting them once again and from there to possibly taxi the aircraft around the airport, no information was given at that time as to why they wished to do this.
Since this time hysteria seems to have swept the forums with all manner of wild and woolly dreams being aired so without wishing to pour water on those heated dreams a small taste of sanity might be in order.
They have announced they are looking at the engines to see if are safe to start and how much work would be required to achieve this aim, from there a full survey of the airframes systems will be needed to be undertaken to asses what work is required to rectify years of deterioration so that a start can be undertaken then on to the ancillary systems required to taxi the aircraft, again a lot of work just to get the brakes operational again, 15 million is a conservative estimate to attempt this work.
Top this off with the question, not if they can do it but should they even attempt to do it considering this airframe is a museum piece, retired from service and parked up for that expressed purpose, a very large ornament for people to gawk at, take endless pikkies of and remind them selves of the days when the aviation industries of both involved countries was not so timid and could produce such icons of imagination.
I would love to see it fly once more, but have to resign myself to fact that it never will.
cypherusDid not look as if she was in anyway hindered by her years while she was manouvering alongside the M25 between Gates 9 and 10 this afternoon, real nice break in the boredom of Motorway tramping.:p
cypherusDP…I Know.:diablo:
cypherusI wonder why the structural tests were deferred…….. Who called for it.
Was it lack of time, money or for another reason.
I’m sure that the engineers from Marshall said these tests need to be done, but did the owners ask for the tests to be deferred, or come up with the idea of testing another comparable airframe.
Is 603 easily accessible, does it need dragging into the hangar for these tests to carried out, is it a state that it can be tested.
This isn’t as simple as someone forgetting to fill in a few forms properly, there are a whole host of reasons why it may have been the best option to see if they could have the tests deferred again.
The CAA may well have had a hand in it, it’s often commented on forums how obtuse they can be when it comes to getting something into the air.You also have to wonder how sensible it is having your CofA needing to be renewed right at the height of the display season.
It,s to be hoped that when this testing takes place the results are favourable or we could all see the project dead in the water.
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