XM603 - Woodford

[Mayfly]

I was going to say she looks like shes had a bit of a clean.

[Ramshornvortex]

I was going to say she looks like shes had a bit of a clean.

......a bit more than that I think!

[Sooty655]

"No attention since 2007, except for (allegedly!) a brief visit from the Brunty team last year when they didn't even close some of the underwing panels."

Allegedly?? Some proof that Brunty engineers did not close panels would be a polite thing to do before publishing what sounds like hearsay evidence/accusation. Got any??

Perhaps the panels were robbed for 558! Lots of 603 stuff has been removed to support 558 over the last two years??.

Sad to see a white one going to the skip, but at least she helps to keep a flying Vulcan flying!

The panels weren't robbed for 558, they were just left lying around.

And the main gear doors were left flapping in the wind because the jack brackets had been removed. How many Vulcans do you know that need lots of main gear door jack brackets?

[Dougs]

whats the latest on her fate? how long has she got?

[Ramshornvortex]

whats the latest on her fate? how long has she got?

....Probably until Woodford is closed upon completion of the Nimrod MR4 project in 2012 - at that point everything goes!

[Air]

Isn't the tail or something going to be ripped open for destructive testing by the TVOC engineers soon.

Sad that its going to be lost, but it didn't have any future anyway so it's good that it's keeping other Vulcans alive.

[Gully]

Isn't the tail or something going to be ripped open for destructive testing by the TVOC engineers soon.

Sad that its going to be lost, but it didn't have any future anyway so it's good that it's keeping other Vulcans alive.

I believe a method was found that didn't require the destructive testing.

Gully

[Bovril]

there are lots oh holes drilled all over the airframe. i suspect for scoping

[Air]

Isn't the tail or something going to be ripped open for destructive testing by the TVOC engineers soon.

Sad that its going to be lost, but it didn't have any future anyway so it's good that it's keeping other Vulcans alive.

I believe a method was found that didn't require the destructive testing.

Gully

Oh right. Not that it matters really, as it's going to be scrapped/squashed/blown up/minced or whatever at some point soon anyway.

[Sooty655]

I believe a method was found that didn't require the destructive testing.

Gully

Oh right. Not that it matters really, as it's going to be scrapped/squashed/blown up/minced or whatever at some point soon anyway.

We are hopeful that when she is finally scrapped, we will be able to harvest more spares for XM655. Our arrangement with BAe Systems was that on this occasion we would not take anything external. and that we would try to improve the visual appearance of XM603, which had been left in a rather sorry state.

We reckon we did a pretty good job of tidying the old girl up a bit.

In future, immediately before she is scrapped, we hope to obtain external items such as doors, panels, antennae, etc.

[Xplumberlives]

Good luck with your plans

[Mackrick]

agreed XPL hope 655 gets some useful bits and pieces...

[Ramshornvortex]

Nos 2 and 3 zero-houred 301s safely dropped out of '603

The engine bay seems cavernous without an Olympus in it!

A view you don't see too often! We did replace the blanks at both ends before we left Woodford...

No 3 jet pipe took a bit of persuasion to move back sufficiently to clear the end of the engine. Cue the MaPS 'strongest man in the world'

[Mackrick]

Nice photos

[Dan4th]

RHV:

Why'd you have to crop-out the guy
with the WHIP in that last one?

Danf.

[Sooty655]

RHV:

Why'd you have to crop-out the guy
with the WHIP in that last one?

Danf.

Didn't need a whip - Kev is 100% volunteer

[Mayfly]

Has anyone got any before and after photos of the clean please - or are there any posted on here anywhere?


She certainly looked in a state...

[Sooty655]

Has anyone got any before and after photos of the clean please - or are there any posted on here anywhere?


She certainly looked in a state...

I'm afraid we weren't able to give her a clean - no time and no way of safe access

She looks better because we refitted all the covers and panels which had been left off by previous raiders, and generally tidied up the pan. We also got all the elevons pointing in the same direction.

If she also looks cleaner, it is either a trick of the eye or the quality of RHV's photography.

[Mayfly]

oh sorry from my post at the top of the page & RHV reply I thought you had....

[Saracenman]

what's the state of the jetpipes then? are they useful as spares?

sm

[Bovril]

yes they would be good for spares , but we had agreed not to take and external parts and to make her look as good as we could during operation jordan

what's the state of the jetpipes then? are they useful as spares?

sm

[Sooty655]

yes they would be good for spares , but we had agreed not to take and external parts and to make her look as good as we could during operation jordan

We would certainly look at them when she is scrapped, but they are very bulky. The cost of transport plus storage availability would have to be considered, and let's face it, jet pipes don't wear out very fast.

The best bet would probably be to take the nozzles and thermocouples and let the pipes go for scrap

[Bovril]

the endcaps looked ir reasonable nik for definate

[Mayfly]

hasn't 655 just had her endcaps refurbished?

[Bovril]

yes Rich, had a good go at no. 4 almost at rebuilding it as this was one was an original, and 1 to 3 got replaced with good ones a while back (no. 4 was not present in the set of new ones)

hasn't 655 just had her endcaps refurbished?