WV-903.Hello Alan,
Long time no see M8. Interesting info here that seems to ring a very old bell from a long time ago. It’s the “AVRO” pack that is nudging the brain cells. It looks familiar and thinking back to my mob time in Aussie on 4 JSTU. (1962-65 ) The back (rear Crew members ) non ejection seats fitted into our Victor (XL-161 ) and Vulcan (XH-539) Trials Aircraft had these white looking Harnesses and Parachute packs installed. The Crew member sat on the parachute, but whether your pack pictured here is one of those , I’m not sure. It certainly looks the part. The AVRO marking is significant too, because AVRO’s were doing the Trials before we (RAF ) took over, but we worked along side these guys for the “Transit In” period, As we also did with The Handley Page teams.
AVRO’s then morphed into:- HAWKER SIDDELY DYNAMICS” about the time We (RAF ) took over (Late 1963 ). Our Unit was re-supplied from Woodford and place down SARF!!! that the name escapes me now. I think your harnesss and pack comes from the AVRO / Woodford Blue Steel trials period. Might even have come out of our Victor or Vulcan on return to UK, so packs would have been dumped or stored as Aircraft were re- big time serviced and re-modded for the now role changes taking place. That makes it a rare interesting beastie now (If I am correct.)
Also during early 1965, we were advised of a modification to Victors and Vulcans that was to install new swivelling type rear crew members seats. ( Turned seat around and “Booted” crew member across cabin floor). The big cancellations of early 1965 knackered everything, (as we all know ) and this Mod was just forgotten about.
Alan, —-do you know how this pack attaches to parachute , (in all respects ) ? And what is the ink stamp on this parachute pack saying (or referring to ) ?
Also, if this Pack is possibly an “Observers” one, then it might not be early V Bomber, cos I don’t remember V Bomber rear crews having these stored in cabin and having to clip them on. Also (again hope I’m not boring you) I cannot remember where the PSP was fitted, I think it might have been attached on front bottom of seat. ( Maybe –possibly ) Maybe someone else will have sharper memory than about this then I do. However, the fact that harness and Pack came as a unit and is marked AVRO hints at V Bomber connections.
I’ll have to go and collapse into a smouldering heap now, as aforementioned brain cells are becoming overloaded–:confused: —– It was over 55 yrs ago after all. Hope this helps with the confusion. lol !!!
Bill T.
ps:- Just noticed that your harness has:- HP marked on it That has to be HANDLEY PAGE, so that fits the picture as well, because the seat Bay out at 4JSTU would service stuff and re-issue as each aircraft reqd. IE, Vulcan bits would be fitted to Victor and vice versa to meet Trials timing demands for Aircraft servicibility.
pps:- Whats the “interesting Story” that goes with these 2 items Alan, or is that not for public consumption –lol !!! :very_drunk:
WV-903.Hi Tony T,
In your post #15. 5th picture down. Lance Kiggell was definitely an ex-Halton Apprentice. He was in 88th Entry with me, in same 20 man H Barrack Block room initially, knew him well, he was a good pal. — now I know what direction he went in, ( Thanks for that Tony ) It’ll be 50 yrs come this December since last saw him. As not seen most of these old RAF Ads before. (If I did never took any notice of em ). Like us ex Brats, he’ll be a white haired gentleman now, might even still be in Cyprus. Trying to now accept the fact we of that era are now “Historic”—jeepers !!!!! :confused:
Robert Parker is almost certainly forumite TERRY P’s brother, Terry will be in here sometime to confirm that. He went up to Wing Commander rank as I remember Terry telling me. Well out of the “Mob” now, still going strong he resides over East Coast somewhere. Great posts guys.
Bill T.
WV-903.Hello Dave,
Got my Dunlop Aviation Wheels and Tyres list out and get this lot:-
Your Tyre (5.50″x4″ ) was fitted with a DUNLOP Wheel type AH 5007 (Tail Wheel ) and fitted to the following WW2 Brit Aircraft:-
Typhoon—Whirlwind–Tornado ???? (Dunno what A/C that was )— Lysander—-Firebrand—-Blenheim Mks 1—4 and 5. Nothing mentioned about 1950’s or 1960’s Aircraft though.
Must be a museum or private project or so around could use that tyre. I believe USA firms preWW2 were supplying Goodyear tyres to the German aircraft /Auto Industry. That ended at WW2 start. Prescott Bush would be a good name to start researching that.
Bill T.
WV-903.LOL !!! I’ll have to pass on that one. 😎
Bill T.
WV-903.Ha hahahaha !!!
Good thread guys !!! I’ve definitely heard about the using the shovel experiences during the UK “Steam Engines” days. And the Port-a-loo ( Poss an elsan ) under the drivers seat would also be needed if any one had an attack of the you know whats !!! You couldn’t really put that on the shovel or W**-*** either as both would blow around in the drafty cab and would make the sandwiches taste awful. And passing a number 1 to outside via the cab doors would have the same effect. Hardy souls indeed those crews.
The shovel going back into the fire box would be well cleaned of any dregs /infections, so still be OK to cook B/fast on. Don’t we get some interesting threads in here.
Bill T.
WV-903.Hi Fiat 12-2,
During my time of owning and operating Triumph twins (Motorcycles ) (50 yrs. ago ) The Triumph Grand prix machines and engines were highly valued. So no doubt that’s where your Cylinder block and head ,etc went to. I knew that these generators were used in RAF Aircraft, but never checked what ones. The Triumph Grand Prix Barrels would fit on same crankcase studding as a “Speed twin” set of barrels, so almost certainly your generator crankcases would take a set of “Speed Twin” Barrels if you wished to re-build it. I say that because “Grand Prix” barrels would be “Un-obtanium” these days. The Speed twin exhausts are splayed outwards wheras the Grand Prix ones run straight out in front, then curve down. You’ll also need a Twin magneto ,head and rocker boxes, oil drain pipes, oil pump, etc, etc. It looks like the std. Crankcases (Speed twin ) parts would fit your (well stripped ) engine, so an interesting project there and historic.
First time I’ve actually seen a pic. of one of these Triumph Generators too. Presume they pumped out 24 Volts DC current. All the best with it,
Bill T.
WV-903.Hi Old Eagle,
They look like Magneto spanners to me, used on British Classic Motorcycles and the Older Light Aircraft Engines Mags. Kind offer indeed.
Bill T.
WV-903.Many thanks everyone, for the excellent diagram and comments. That really has nailed the I.D’s The Dragon Rapide housed in MOSI Museum in Manchester is a TAC Long Term loan and these items must be left over from that time it went in there. We’ll keep them as spares as you never know. Much appreciated guys. Of the 2 struts here it looks then like one has a failed or broken spring inside.
Bill T.
WV-903.Thanks for that Jon,
Never thought they would belong to a Dragon, but checking thru Dragon pics on Web,found one with the U/C outside fairing off and sure enough. It all seems to match. The 2 struts are handed as they go either side of mainwheel. The alloy Flanges are at bottom and they clamp (bolt up ) to caps on axles . The struts held in place by fore and aft strutting on aircraft and you can see the leather gaitor in situ. I guess the internal suspension is a coil spring or rubber do-nuts and the 3rd strut is probably from somewhere inside U/C bays.
So all is well that ends in the Well. I’ll clean em all up, and oil em ,put on ID labels and return them to TAC in a week or so. Job done.
Bill T.
WV-903.This certainly is a good one to puzzle on. Been looking at pics. for a couple of nights now and cannot think of an Aircraft application, even though it seems to have come from a crashed one. I’ve been trying to think what sort of loads it worked and if the sprocket was 90mm dia. (I have to convert to imperial, lol ) that means it is 4-1/2″ dia. just measuring the sleeves dia. against my computer screen and they came out at 35mm, so great. That worked out then for sprocket to have some 21 teeth of 3/16″width x 1/2″ pitch. Looking at the hefty cog drives makes me think this would take same sort of loading that a 500cc British single M/cycle would put on its drive system as a 3/16″x1/2″ chain was used on the primary drive in virtually most makes circa 1930–40–50-s. And they would be REYNOLDS (UK Made ) Chains. Brit aircraft used REYNOLDS Chains too. So, definitely this unit carried hefty loads.
Dunno if I’m mis-looking at pics. but it looks like that steel “Band” on left unit up by bevel gear has been brazed on. If it has, that suggests motor cycle design thinking involved here, because up to 1960 all Brit Bikes frames were brazed up and pinned. These kept the build stresses low as against steel welding. This makes me think this Aircraft part is from 1940-50’s. Of course, that “Brazing” might just be corrosion so then back to start again. Anyhow, those are thoughts this unit throws at me. Keep it going guys, we all like a challenge.
Bill T.
WV-903.Nice one Papa Juliet,
Not often you can pick out first flights Aircraft ID’s. And get subsequent final history. Bill T.
WV-903.My Gosh !!
Would have worked on that one back in 1958. As a Halton Apprentice of 88th Entry undergoing Airframes training those Prentices in the airframe workshops were used for our first taste of dismantling and re-rigging. They certainly vanished at the time the Percival (Piston) Provosts were delivered, which I guess was 59. Didn’t realise the Prentices were scrapped on site though, as I would have nobbled an instrument or 2 off them. Thanks guys !!!
Bill T.
WV-903.Hi MGMan,
Think that is a Miles Aerovan flying over from left to right. They had a large crew glazed area and the nose looks right too.
Bill T.
WV-903.Used to have a light alloy box with lid out of a Vulcan PSP kit. It had a wire handle that clipped on top so you could use it as a food cooking / eating container as well as cup/collect berries in, etc, etc. Box measured 9″x 5″x 2+” approx. Might still be kicking around in attic. probably full of old RAF bric-a-brac. Got it from a time ex-kit during my stint at Goose Bay in early 1970’s.
Bill T.
WV-903.Hi Brian,
Pic. 1 lower item looks like a filler neck ( Open line ) for oil/ coolant / or even fuel to me. Pic. 6 could well have pitot static light alloy pipes amongst that bundle. The centre pipe with what looks like a valve of some sort on top end could be from a very low pressure part of a pneumatic system. Nice clear pics.
Bill T.
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