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GNIPR

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December 4, 2012 at 10:29 am in reply to: G-UIST Jetstream 31 Project Update. #946762

GNIPR
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Oz,
Thank you.
The answer to your question is not entirely starightforward and subject to personal opinion. My opinion is that it shouldn’t have been. The reason is that HWY had several PSO (Public service obligation) routes, as well as a good contract with BAe. These contracts mitigated any low load factor risks. However the JS31 reliability was not the best, and frequently these contracts had stiff penalty costs for not flying, or delaying. Therefore the company would move heaven and earth to keep them airborne, including frequently flying spares from Inverness to wherever they were needed to get them up again. I personally flew from INV to Cardiff more than once carrying nothing but an avionics box and an engineer! Dead leg flying at its worst.
Other folk will have other opinions, but for what it’s worth, that’s mine.
The JS31 was, however a nice pilots aircraft I reckon. I enjoyed flying it, and it was typically British and overengineered. I felt happy in rough weather, can’t say that for all that I have flown!
Cheers,

Paul.

December 4, 2012 at 9:46 am in reply to: G-UIST Jetstream 31 Project Update. #946906

GNIPR
Participant

Since I got the Jetstream home I have spent time cleaning it up internally and externally, and also preparing a list of parts required to complete.
I am fortunate in that most of the cockpit is complete, although a few of the instruments are mock ups fitted by the film company. They are surprisingly good though and fooled me until the panel was removed! Some will be replaced for real instruments, others will be left as they are.
I have spoken to several Jetstream parts suppliers and have strong leads in the USA. Some companies will not sell to individuals for end-user reasons, or because they say they exist to support Jetstream operators, apparently some parts are dwindling. Because it is still a current aircraft parts prices can be high, and I have been trying to source U/S bits to keep the price down. It doesn’t matter if an HSI is U/S to me, as long as it is cosmetically good. There is no plan to ever apply power to the panel, other than perhaps lighting.
So far I have had two covers made to protect against the harsh winters up here, and have ordered an HSI and 2 RMI’s. I also managed to get a ‘Jetstream 31’ yoke badge from ebay in new condition – amazing.
Please see the attached pics for more detail….

The first three pictures show UIST in service with Highland Airways, including a shot of me with her in a snowy Aberdeen!
Picture four shows her being low loaded off to Pinewood for the filming project, I thought this would be the last I saw of her.
Picture five shows the preparation for taking her from Dunsfold back to Inverness, did it all overnight and was exhausted whe I got home.
Picture six shows her current resting place on my drive.
Picture seven shows the cockpit in service, and eight shows how it was a few months ago.
Finally, pictures nine and ten shows the covers that I had made, reflecting her two lives as regional airliner, and minor film star!

Some changes have happened recently, I will update pictures soon.

Paul.

May 12, 2012 at 7:00 am in reply to: Jetstream Fuselage Needed #1024307

GNIPR
Participant

Hi Gary,
Yes you are right. I have only seen the brief bit of footage too, but you can see the destroyed Jetstream (EDAY was one apparently), the rest were ex-Mil.
I have been told by the man closest to the project that they got through six!
UIST was the only partial survivor.
Her role in the fim was as internal cockpit shots. Various lights and LED’s have been fitted to make it look brighter, but I have whipped most of those out already.
UIST has a special place in my heart so I had to save her, if it had been a non HWY J31 that had survived I would have passed it by.
See you in the hangar sometime,

Paul.

May 12, 2012 at 7:00 am in reply to: Jetstream Fuselage Needed #1034159

GNIPR
Participant

Hi Gary,
Yes you are right. I have only seen the brief bit of footage too, but you can see the destroyed Jetstream (EDAY was one apparently), the rest were ex-Mil.
I have been told by the man closest to the project that they got through six!
UIST was the only partial survivor.
Her role in the fim was as internal cockpit shots. Various lights and LED’s have been fitted to make it look brighter, but I have whipped most of those out already.
UIST has a special place in my heart so I had to save her, if it had been a non HWY J31 that had survived I would have passed it by.
See you in the hangar sometime,

Paul.

May 11, 2012 at 9:31 pm in reply to: Jetstream Fuselage Needed #1024553

GNIPR
Participant

Hello all,
As an update to this old thread, I am pleased to say that I have purchased and collected the flightdeck from G-UIST and have returned her to the Inverness area.
Plans are fluid at the moment, but subject to allowing funds to recover somewhat, will involve trailer mounting her, returning the paint to Highland Airways colours and using as an educational tool, and a living memory of HWY.
She is pretty much complete, with some of the rarer items still in place. However I am missing a few items and any leads to Jetstream parts would be appreciated. Cheap and unserviceable is what is required!
I will post some pictures in the coming few weeks.

Paul.

May 11, 2012 at 9:31 pm in reply to: Jetstream Fuselage Needed #1034411

GNIPR
Participant

Hello all,
As an update to this old thread, I am pleased to say that I have purchased and collected the flightdeck from G-UIST and have returned her to the Inverness area.
Plans are fluid at the moment, but subject to allowing funds to recover somewhat, will involve trailer mounting her, returning the paint to Highland Airways colours and using as an educational tool, and a living memory of HWY.
She is pretty much complete, with some of the rarer items still in place. However I am missing a few items and any leads to Jetstream parts would be appreciated. Cheap and unserviceable is what is required!
I will post some pictures in the coming few weeks.

Paul.

November 23, 2006 at 9:15 pm in reply to: A jet go-kart !! #1296338

GNIPR
Participant

Hello All,
Just a quick note for those who are/were interested in the Jet Kart.
I was fortunate (or stupid) enough to buy the thing.
It is powered by a Jet Fuel Starter as was previously mentioned, and was originally fitted to start the engine (Spey?) of the Vaught A7 Corsair 11.
The whole thing has been very nicely put together by a light aircraft engineer, and he has spent a few quid on the assembly.
Starting it is impressive. It needs an auxilliary 28 v supply and gets spun up to 18-20% RPM before the autostart switch is turned on and the rest happens within around 3 seconds. It idles happily at 58%.
Throttle control is by foot pedal.
There is an afterburner unit fitted which is controlled by two buttons on the steering wheel. One for fuel the other for ignitor.
The kart is really only suitable for fairly straight tracks. I have yet to test it properly.
Pull away is pedestrian (but loud) to start with, but the addition of reheat gets it moving. It then wants to go as the kart accelerates just as I run out of space. I have found a suitable straight line disused road and hope to get out there soon.
The only limitation which is a pain is that it should only be run for around 5-10 mins per hour to prevent overheating of the oil supply.
Some American guys have been playing with these things for years, see :
http://www.turbokart.com for their version of it.

Best wishes.

GNIPR
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Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)