XM655

[Bovril]

noo, as we don't play with one aircraft. We preserve and maintain it

So do we but with lots of aeroplanes

glad you get to play with DW's aircraft, and use all of that lovelly free fuel and parts he provides i do love seeing all those old jets running

[Bubbles]

Cool innit, all the fun and non of the cost. Don't be bitter about it, your aeroplane is very nice

[@XM655]

Hi folks!

Hoping the Boulton Paul Association Open Day and the 655MaPS stall went well on Sunday!

Planning to pop down to Wellesbourne, probably on Saturday to say ello!

Dave
Twitter @XM655

[Sooty655]

Planning to pop down to Wellesbourne, probably on Saturday to say ello!

Dave
Twitter @XM655

So where were you? We waited all day and you didn't show up.

[@XM655]

Sorry guys, fully intended being at Wellesbourne today, best laid plans went wrong!

However, will try again! May even bring jaffa cakes!!

Dave
Twitter @XM655

[Sooty655]

Sorry guys, fully intended being at Wellesbourne today, best laid plans went wrong!

However, will try again! May even bring jaffa cakes!!

Dave
Twitter @XM655

Why?

Methinks you mistake us for the Yorkshire replica.

[@XM655]

Oooops!! Nuff sed! No jaffa cakes then!

Dave
Twitter @XM655

[Minty4371]

Do the engines of XM655 need to be turned over / run every 14 days, or are there different rules for a taxying aircraft?

[Ramshornvortex]

Do the engines of XM655 need to be turned over / run every 14 days, or are there different rules for a taxying aircraft?

There are no "rules" per se for non-airworthy aircraft. We operate a relaxed version of anti det measures that fits our requirements. Our engines are only run about four times a year - perhaps five hours annually....

[Dougs]

ok silly question time do 655MaPS do retration tests on the gear (i think i saw a photo of her on jacks)?




now headding for the bunker for the backlash (bet XP is first! lol)

[Mayfly]

No it's me but only to point out there are no silly questions - only silly responses!!!

[Sooty655]

ok silly question time do 655MaPS do retration tests on the gear (i think i saw a photo of her on jacks)?

now headding for the bunker for the backlash (bet XP is first! lol)

You lost the bet.

The gear on XM655 was retracted sometime in the late 90's when the aircraft was jacked up for other work. Although the aircraft has been jacked up since then, and will be again soon, no further retraction tests have been carried out, and the present MaPS management have no intention of ever doing it again.

Imagine the scenario ~ aircraft on jacks (outdoors and subject to the weather), undercarriage retracts ok then fails to deploy due to a failled jack or burst hose or similar. Not a situation I would want to find myself in.

We have no reason ever to require the undercarriage to retract, so there is no point (and much risk) in carrying out a test.

[Dougs]

Thanks, totally understand why you would not want to risk it, why is she headed skyward? Assumption would point to brakes but i have seen leg jacks used for that.

[Sooty655]

Wheels and brakes can be done with bogie jacks ~ the cadets from 150 (City of Oxford) Sqn A.T.C. were trained to check XM655's brake wear a couple of weeks ago.

We need to take all the weight off the main undercarriage to allow the fluid in the liquid springs to be "recuperated" ~ basically the aircraft hydraulic system is used to push the special fluid from a reservoir into the liquid spring. This can only be done with the liquid spring at its lowest internal pressure, i.e. with no weight on it.

[Dougs]

Thanks sooty

[Sooty655]

Thanks sooty

You're welcome.

I should have added that in service (and in XH558) the liquid springs were/are recuperated each time the undercarriage unloads on take-off. We only need to make special arrangements for it to occur because we are "ground-based".

[Sooty655]

Initial details of Wings & Wheels 2013 now posted - http://xm655.com/events.php

Fast taxi run 17th.June 2012
Image Copyright © Dave Hewitt-Hulin

Our Aircrew is confirmed as SgnLdr. David Thomas (Ret.), WngCmd. Mike Pollitt (Ret.), GrpCpt. John Laycock (Ret.) and SgnLdr. Barry Masefield (Ret.).

[Robdsn]

Date is in the diary. It was my first visit this year and really enjoyed. I keep meaning to come down one Saturday to have a look around and see about joining up.

A couple of my photos from this year.

[Ramshornvortex]

Just one problem Robdsn........you were at the wrong side of the airfield, so you couldn't have paid your entrance fee!

Therefore you HAVE to come along one Saturday and become a member of MaPS at either £15 single membership or £25 family membership and make up for your error......

[Robdsn]

Well spotted, I was with a friend at the flying club..

[Cdproject]

Wow an amazing thread. As matter of interest I had the honor of working in RAF Waddington Operations when Joe L'Estrange was still flying. An amazing character who was extremely well respected. As you eluded to he was aircrew in WWII, maybe a little known fact is that he appears on the Station Honours board as both Sgt Aircrew and as a Sqn Ldr! I will forever have the memory of him being as deaf as a post and trying to talk to someone on one of the encrypted systems, which was hard to hear at the best of times, and slamming the phone down in frustration. Also as an aside Gp Capt Laycock was my station commander and took me flying in a Chipmunk, for my first ever flight! Great times and some very colorful characters of which I some very fond memories.

[Sooty655]

Welcome to Iconic, cdproject.

Why not go over to the New Members section and tell us a bit about yourself.

And if you are anywhere near Wellesbourne, come over and visit XM655 on Saturday.

[Cdproject]

Welcome to Iconic, cdproject.

Why not go over to the New Members section and tell us a bit about yourself.

And if you are anywhere near Wellesbourne, come over and visit XM655 on Saturday.

Thanks for the welcome Sooty, unfortunately I won't be able to make it to Wellsbourne, I'm currently in Germany working for the Army Air Corps. Not quite cutting edge aviation but it pays the bills Roll on the day I get back to mainstream life in the blue suit!

[Bovril]

http://www.xm655.com/news.php

[Xplumberlives]

Thanks Roger!