As promised;

Nimrod XV250 – enjoy an end to end guided tour of the interior of this majestic Cold War surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft. Learn more about the specialist radar systems and see behind the scenes of Nimrod XV250 and meet some of the team who care for her.

Buccaneer S2B – A very, very rare chance to climb aboard our pink Buccaneer and see the interior of this Gulf War veteran aircraft. Buccaneer XX901 had an illustrious service record with the Royal Air Force. In 1983, it took part in the only deployment by Buccaneers to the Falklands and later saw action over Beirut.

Lightning – This interceptor jet was designed with one objective, to launch, climb and attack incoming nuclear bombers. Climb inside the cockpit and see what it was like aboard this supersonic fighter.

Canberra T4 – Our Canberra is a very rare training aircraft, with dual controls and additional seats.

Meteor F8 – the single seat version of the fighter aircraft that was one of Britains very first jets.

Meteor NF14 – As the restoration of our NF14 Meteor continues, the cockpit area is now restored. Be amongst the first public visitors ever to climb abaord this night fighter jet and talk with the team who are restoring here.

Harrier – The Museum’s early Harrier VTOL jet is currently undergoing a complete repaint. However, for Cockpits Day we have suspended the work to allow visitors to climb aboard this famous jet.

Tornado GR4 – The Museum’s Tornado is one of two Tornados based here. Take an opportunity to climb aboard the pilot and navigator positions of this multi role aircraft and learn more about the systems.

Dragonfly Helicopter – Lovingly restored by one of the Museum’s volunteers who passed away a short time ago, Mac would have been proud to see the Dragonfly helicopter enjoying so much attention.

Vampire – just like our two Meteor jets, the Vampire was an early generation jet aircraft. These post World War Two jets have a completely different cockpit environment to today’s glass cockpit systems, so enjoy seeing what life was like as an early generation jet pilot.

Dakota – our C47 Dakota is famous from our Thunder Days. Take a glimpse aboard the cockpit area. She’s a live aircraft, ready to start so while we cannot allow you all the way to the pilot’s seat (we think you’d be too tempted!) everyone can climb aboard and explore her all the way to the navigator / radio operator position and take a closer look than ever into this live aircraft cockpit

Not all of our aircraft are robust enough to allow a large volume of visitors to climb aboard them. Our rare biplanes are constructed from wood and fabric, so it’s not really fair on them to expect a great many visitors to climb all over them. While others are simply very difficult to climb into, even for able bodied people. So instead, the following aircraft can be accessed from the ground or view from a platform.

Victor – We would love to be able to allow everyone to sit inside the Victor, however she is a live jet and has a tiny access hatch. Instead, Andre and the team are allowing visitors to climb the crew ladders and take a look inside of that famous cockpit.

AVRO 504 – a beautiful yet delicate aircraft, our AVRO can be viewed close up, from ground level.

SE5a – Our live SE5a, just like our AVRO, is a delicate WW1 design and needs to be handled with care. However, you can easily see inside the cockpit of the WW1 fighter for a glimpse of what life will have been like for history’s very first fighter pilots.

Eastchurch Kitten – you didn’t really think you could fit into the tiny Kitten did you? Here’s a chance to see inside of the tiny cockpit of this WW1 aircraft and talk with engineers Brian and Graham who take care of them

Devon – Not the easiest of aircraft to climb aboard, our Devon can be viewed from the open doorway, with a great opportunity to talk with the team who take care of her and keep her in top shape

Fairchild Argus – a delicate light transport aircraft, the Argus will be available to take a closer look at.

Hawker Hunter T7 – The bright blue Hunter T7 will be available to take a closer look at from the viewing platform.

WACO Glider – the delicate WACO glider was only ever intended to be used once. With the anniversary of D Day upon us, take some time to take a look at the perilous way that troops were transported into battle behind enemy lines in June 1944

If anyone wants some jet noise as part of their Fathers Day come along to Elvington tomorrow (17th) as Nimrod XV250 will be carrying out an anti det run, 11:30 start. As far as I am aware we are the only ones running, but hey once you have had the best the rest ain’t worth running 🙂

Not a problem mate, only reason I remember is that I tripped over a can of OM-15 the other month on the jet and ‘polity’ enquired why it was there? the fairies were happy to inform me it belonged to them!

As Ian alluded to earlier last Sunday was the last anti det runs of the year. The whole team were in the day before to once again wash the port side of the Nimrod. It had become obvious during the year that in its current position the port side of XV250 was not getting any sun and was therefore staying wet which was leading to the start of corrosion issues and continual green gunk building up. To try and solve this the previous weekend we had turned the aircraft on the pan by 45 degrees, early results look positive, however if need be we will rotate her even more.

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Also last weekend we had another first for us (and I suspect many other aircraft) when a young chap proposed to his lady! she said yes!! Congratulations to you both.

Back to washing the jet, the team assembled dressed to resemble the Michelin men with more than an eye on the cold freezing weather. We started on the tail area as this was the most contaminated area

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A couple of hours hard graft and the jet was gleaming as a new pin with all the green crud removed.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]249865[/ATTACH] A happy, damp and worn out crew decamped to the pub to thaw out.

Sunday was a cold but dry day, the jet was prepped and debris guards fitted to protect those valuable Spey engines. She ran perfectly, it does seem the colder it is the happier she is. All her systems were exercised, bomb doors rotated and control surfaces moved. The engines were throttled up, no dramas with these either, the banking behind held so we know we are in a good position. Speaking of positions, When we moved around last week we were limited by the tractor and as such we were about 4-6 feet to far back, to solve this the chocks were removed and the guys on the flight deck taxied her forward the required distance.

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All in all a very productive couple of weekends for the team. There is lots to be done over the coming winter and we will keep you updated along the way.

As Ian alluded to earlier in the thread this weekend is the first static ‘Thunder Runs’ of the year here at Elvington. The Nimrods ground crew will be moving onto site on Friday and will be staying to Sunday to ensure the aircraft is in top condition for her public performance on Sunday afternoon. If you cannot make Sunday try Saturday where we will be carrying out onboard tours at certain times.

The timings for Sunday are as follows:-

Engine runs of the Museum’s live jet and propeller driven aircraft!

10:30 Fire Team Activities
11:15 SE5 and PV8 Kitten
13:00 Devon
13:45 Dakota
14:30 Nimrod
15:15 Victor
15:50 SE5 and PV8 Kitten
16:00 Aircraft Emergency Rescue (from Nimrod)

Please note: Thunder Days admission will be £12 Adult, £10 Concession, £5 Child & £30 Family (2A & 3C).

Please note. As always with historic aircraft we cannot guarantee 100% serviceability of the above listed aircraft however we will do our best to ensure they run

Hi Folks.

This weekend at Elvington the Nimrod groundcrew will be in attendance on both days. We have a couple of issues to resolve aircraft wise and the another look at the troublesome Houchin :apologetic: We are hoping to get to the stage on Sunday where we will be carrying out a check start on at least two engines, no guarantees but we are very hopeful.

If you are free on either day why not come across and say hello, we don’t bite honest.

As it stands at the moment during the Battle Group North event on the 8-10th May only Lusty Lindy will be off the museum site and onto the airfield and Nimrod XV250 will remain on site. During the weekend both sets of groundcrews will be in attendance working on both jets as one team 😎 I personally wil be looking forward to seeing the guy with his fully restored Sherman tank!!