Actually the Vanguard last ran on 31 October 2009 as far as I know, at which point she was in the same place that she is in now. Her spot in the Aircraft park has hard surfacing below the engines placed there specifically to discourage stones and such to be thrown up. So she is parked in a place where she can still be live.
Video from that run is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2Nnf6IVmN8 and here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWquHGw83oo
Unfortunately the team that looks after her has had some problems with the starters on the Tyne engines. So depending on whether the starters can be fixed or replaced, G-APEP may run in the future!
Other ‘live’ aircraft at Brooklands are (or should be):
- Sopwith Camel replica (last ran on 3rd February)
- Demoiselle replica (currently undergoing engine overhaul)
- Bleriot is normally live but currently has tech issues
- Kronfeld Drone should also be a runner but is also tech
- The Hurricane’s Merlin II needs testing in a ground rig off site after which she will also be live.
- The Vimy is also live but is too large to get out of the hangar easily.
And if you’re after more aero-engine noise after that, go visit on a day when the Napier Railton is exercised. The Napier Lion in that doesn’t spin a prop but is well worth listening to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwDSBxxfigo
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