Victor K2 XL231

[Spitfire]

Yes I see that.... a la Victor

If only it were possible on a reheat Lightning as a 'passenger'

[Dougs]

Yes I see that.... a la Victor

If only it were possible on a reheat Lightning as a 'passenger'

it is XS458 is a live lightning at cranfield and you can have a thunder run if you have a big cheque book

[Spitfire]

if you have a big cheque book

And there lies the problem

Nice though it would be... it ranks behind a Just Jane Lancaster Taxi Ride .....when my ship comes in

http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/store/lancaster-taxy-rides/taxy-ride-experience/

The Lightning one doesn't tell you how much either ...
http://www.lightningt5.com/component/content/article/21-cockpit-chat-dennis-brooks.html

Those side by side bang seat cockpits remind me of a Blue Peter presenter years ago - in the briefing the pilot said ..."If I turn to you and say EJECT EJECT EJECT .. don't turn to me and say 'Pardon' .. because I won't be there"

[Molerat]

This is a bit off topic I know ..... but as with the 2 Lightnings that the Brunty boys have in their Q Shed - and this photo of yours just confirms it - I am always totally astonished at how much of a lash up jury rig the refueling probes are on Lightnings

It's a wonder more didn't get snapped off or bent what with attaching the cockpit entry ladder behind it etc etc

We had a few come back with the probe missing, I remember a farmer phoning about a "15ft drainpipe" that just missed one of his cows and was sticking up out of the ground

[Spitfire]

This is a bit off topic I know ..... but as with the 2 Lightnings that the Brunty boys have in their Q Shed - and this photo of yours just confirms it - I am always totally astonished at how much of a lash up jury rig the refueling probes are on Lightnings

It's a wonder more didn't get snapped off or bent what with attaching the cockpit entry ladder behind it etc etc

We had a few come back with the probe missing, I remember a farmer phoning about a "15ft drainpipe" that just missed one of his cows and was sticking up out of the ground

Just as I thought

[Blue_2]

Indeed, going up the runway in the Victor is something special. The acceleration is very impressive for a large jet, but there again she is a tad over-powered.
That said, being on board the Dakota for an engine run just days before the anniversary of D-Day was also a bit special...

[Blue_2]

02/02/14 Update
A new month, and fortunately for us, new improved weather!

Being Yorkshire, it'll not last. We spent most of the morning doing museum admin work, but after lunch we were finally able to get our hands dirty. Rich, Ian and I were on a mission to try and get the starboard undercarriage door rub-down finished, and the door into primer. John was also busy, cleaning the maxaret tracks and checking the tyres. This is done every couple of weeks anyway, but John did it yesterday as the jet is being rolled out onto the airfield on Saturday to allow a bit of a reshuffle.
We got on with continuing the prep work, this door seemed to need more work than the port one. I was cracking the whip a bit, as I was determined the door would be done by close of play! So Rich, Ian, Sam and I were soon attacking the door with a vengeance.

Our hard work soon started to pay off and the old paint began to yield. And we found more HP inspector's stamps than you can shake a stick at!



After much graft, and a break for a brew and cake, we had the door ready. Here Rich deals with the last nooks and crannies, while I'm getting ready to mask off the data plates. We have decided to leave them on this door as they are in much better condition than the ones which were on the port door and for which we have new replacements.

On with the primer! Ian and I got busy with the brushes

All done, and already curing nicely

last job, de-mask the plates.

Andre's been busy too, as you can see his rub-down of the Mirage continues and has revealed much of the original French paintwork, stencilling etc.

[Sploosher]

thanks for the update Graham.......................

hope to visit soon...........

[Ray C]

Have you considerd a small "sand blaster" for Christmas this year......

[Sploosher]

Have you considerd a small "sand blaster" for Christmas this year......

is that designed for small sand Ray?.....................

[Ray C]

Have you considerd a small "sand blaster" for Christmas this year......

is that designed for small sand Ray?.....................

Used one on my MGC body restoration some time back....It saved "Loads Of Rubbing Down"

[Blue_2]

It'd certainly be a labour saver! We do it the old fashioned way to try and avoid damage to the aluminium Ray, it's a bit kinder to the metalwork. Plus sanding pads and fingertips are cheap!

[Blue_2]

10/02/14 Update
Busy weekend for us at Elvington, I was in on Friday after work to re-check the tyres, nip up a couple of fastenings on the engine doors and put the towbar on ready for Saturday's fun and games.
We then had an early start, as Saturday's plan was to move Lindy out onto the airfield, Then move the Nimrod out and turn it around, before bringing it back in and parking it on the pan next to Lindy, and finally bringing Lindy back to her usual place.
The Tractor God moved Lindy faultlessly as usual

Before Mal took over the tug for positioning the Nimrod

Both big girls back in place

Which led to a new view from Lindy's side window

And indeed from the tower roof!

After everything was put back Andre refitted some of the interior parts he's been refurbing at home, such as the flare rack

And I went to have a good look over my new side project, getting the museum's Flying Flea back up to running order. Should be fun!

[Crew chief]

So why the reshuffle Graham?.

CC.

[Blue_2]

Just to free up a bit more space on site. And allow a certain French aircraft space to be reassembled and displayed when it arrives...

[Blue_2]

You may recall a couple of weeks ago Rich, Andre and I went to Aeroventure to repaint their Victor airbrake for them? It's now back out in the main display and I've just received some photos of it, courtesy of Steve Hague.



Looks good, I reckon!

[Blue_2]

17/02/14 update
Sunday was the Devon's first post hibernation/servicing run. I only had my phone with me to capture it on, but better than nowt I say!
I wouldn't say it was a smoky start for the Port engine, but...

While I was stood watching the Devon I was able to appreciate how much of a difference moving the Nimrod has made to the site; it's really opened the place up!

I was in guide mode for much of the day as we had a special visitor all the way from Australia, though I did pop back to check Ian's progress on the doors



There is still much to do to get a decent finish, but they are getting there.
I'm still not quite sure what that glowing ball in the sky which was illuminating the aircraft was yesterday!

One other thing, I was also distracted yesterday by looking over and assessing a project aircraft I've been handed by the museum, as a side project from my duties on the Victor. You'll have to wait and see what it is, but if everything goes to plan it should see another prop turning at the museum

[Sploosher]

thanks for the pics and update Graham...................

is that `prop` in the singular ....................

[Blue_2]

Aye, prop, one, for the use of...
Though speaking of multiple props, the Gannet's replacement engine has had a good check over, and some other good works were carried out too by an 'away team' from RAF Coningsby recently, trying their hand at some good old-fashioned engineering for once!
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/1099471 ... placement/

[Sploosher]

hhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm rather intrigued now Graham, good to see the news about the Gannet having some time spent on her, would be great to hear that beast of an engine running


does it growl like on the Shack

[Blue_2]

It make an ungodly row!

23/02/14 Update
It made a nice change to turn up at the jet this morning and not find her surrounded by the North Sea!

After the obligatory bacon and a brew the first job of the day was to refit the Nav. radar's altimiter. This had stuck so Andre had taken it home to service it

And all refitted

We got on with keying the undercarriage doors, ready for a couple more coats of silver.

While it was far too windy to spray any more silver on, there was no harm in getting on with the prep just in case the weather Gods are kinder next week!
After lunch we had some jobs to do on site, while Andre got on with refitting the starboard side console he's been refurbishing



Testing to make sure all those switches are wired up correctly meant putting power on. Lindy always looks good with a few lights on!

But on-board looks particularly good lit up, specially on a murky day like today...

[Sploosher]

thanks for the update and pics Graham.....................

that single prop...................is it at Elvington now.................

[Blue_2]

All will be revealed in due time!

[Blue_2]

02/03/14 Update
March, already? The year is sure flying past... It was time for our first engine running day today, with both Lindy and the Nimrod due to make noise. First though, the museum's newest running addition was given it's debut, the Eastchurch Kitten replica. It appears Brian the Tractor God has been entrusted with it's running, due to his less than towering stature...

It makes an SE5a look big!





The only problem Brian had was getting out after the run!

The cockpit looks the part,

And the Lewis gun Brian made for it is most impressive!

After lunch it was the turn of the normal incumbents of this thread to make some noise. The Nimrod was first, it's first run on its new pan.

I caught the strobe for once!

It seems the Nimrod is now officially the world's most expensive leaf blower...

After the Nimrod did it's horticulture bit it was Lindy's turn. We intended to run the APU, wet spin the engines, exercise all the hydraulic systems, then dry spin the engines to finish.

The Artouste gave a little flame on start-up, probably in appreciation of the drink of oil we'd given it.



Rich dealing with the port outer collector box

Ian hiding in the dry of the cockpit!

Everything went well, as usual Lindy was very well behaved.

One final job was to remove the last 5 good tyres from our stores from the back of my car into the Handley Page building.

We really are getting desperate for mainwheel tyres, at 250 quid a go we'd struggle to afford a set of new ones. We really need some tyres which, while not airworthy, are suitable to fast taxy on. So, VTST, if you're reading this..........

[Blue_2]

10/03/14 Update
Only a little bit of Lindy news for you this week, as I was only able to attend on Saturday this weekend. When I arrived I found Ian and Andre taking advantage of the good weather and hard at work washing the old girl. After a hasty lunch I joined in, and also managed to catch a couple of pics of Ian throwing water over the Starboard tank to rinse it off. Sadly he didn't 'do a John' as it's known on the team, and get more water on himself than the jet!



While doing the Port tank he managed to drown me though; cheers mate!
On board the jet there has been a couple of changes too. One Ian is justifiably proud of, he has re-decalled the captions on the copilot's side console recently refurbished and refitted by Andre.

The other was a win by Andre, in that he's finally managed to acquire the correct morse key for a Victor!

The RAF very kindly reclaimed Lindy's original one while decommissioning the jet after her arrival, so it's nice after all this time to have the correct one back in place on the AEO's desk. I suspect Lindy's original is either in a loft somewhere gathering dust, or in landfill like so many Victor spares...
After I had dried out from my impromptu shower I had some other matters with another aircraft on site to attend to. Namely removing a part from my 'secret project' to take home as it requires some TLC from my welder.
When I returned Andre was struggling to get the jet to accept ground power. Eventually after a struggle she took it, we thought a sticking contactor must be the culprit but this would be investigated further on Sunday.
When I left, the ground power was still on to top up the charge in the jet's batteries

And the jets were enjoying the late afternoon sunshine