Victor K2 XL231

[Sploosher]

just want to wish all you guys who look after `Lusty Lindy` a very merry Christmas and a happy new year, keep up the good work and I hope to get to see you all and her next year......................

[Blue_2]

That's STILL not quite it for the year from us! Saturday saw Lindy's 52nd birthday, so I had a wander down to the museum to pay her a visit and do some housekeeping. Ian appeared in the afternoon too, to wish her a happy birthday.

As we'd had some unpleasant weather I did a walkaround and was pleasantly surprised to find I only had to re-fit one blank! However I did find a bit more water had gathered in the lowest part of the cockpit than the dehumidifier could handle

There is what is best described as a small trough at the bottom of the step between the pilots' seats. If the wind is propelling the rain from a certain direction a bit can get in, handily it gathers here though and is easy to mop out.
I also gave the windscreen inside and DV windows a good clean as some pilot-types had left paw marks all over them after the recent taxy run! :mad:
All this was done while hiding from a shower, which left Lindy looking nice and shiny as the sun went down

Yesterday saw John, Ian, Andre and myself in attendance to give the jet an anti-det run to celebrate her birthday with some noise. Before this I cleaned the maxaret tracks again, a job which for safety reasons needs keeping on top of. We then de-blanked her and did the usual intake checks, disturbing a couple of very large hibernating wasps in the process! Needless to say, these are now ex-wasps.

Andre got the wash bucket out; Lindy's nose was less than pristine after the local bird life chose to use her IFR probe as a perch!

Needless to say, all is pristine now

We then adjourned for lunch, after which we ran. I have no pics of this as I was a bit busy being on the long lead, but I can report she ran well. First we wet spun the engines, then exercised all the control surfaces and the autopilot. After this the hyd pumps were switched on, and the airbrakes, flaps, nosewheel steering and RATs were all exercised. The flaps were left down for a while to let the inevitable collected water drain out, and it appears we've finally put the starboard RAT scoop gremlins to bed! The engines were then given a final dry spin before shut down. I'm pleased to say the jet performed faultlessly, and after she'd cooled down we blanked her up and put her to bed 100% serviceable. Being able to run her more frequently this year is really paying dividends, as the regular exercise means there are less annoying little snags popping up.
I guess that really is it from me this year now, happy new year to all of our readers, and if you haven't already make 2014 the year you get around to visiting the world's only 100% complete serviceable Victor!

[Ray C]

Thanks for this years up dates….All the best & "Full Power" for 2014...

[Sploosher]

:ymapplause: Thanks for this years up dates….All the best & "Full Power" for 2014...

ditto that one...................hope to see her next year a few times,

[Blue_2]

5/01/2014 Update
Well here it is, the first update of 2014 from Ice Station Elvington. Sunday dawned bright but cold, not unlike a Yorkshire Summer some might say!

We decided to get back on with work preparing the insides of the undercarriage doors for repainting. Steve and I concentrated on the Port door, while Ian and Rich went to do a bit on the starboard door. Before lunch some progress had been made, with shiny metal where previously there was surface corrosion and flaky paint

After lunch and a warm we were back to slogging away at the doors. By now ear defenders were needed as Andre and Rick needed the Houchin on to do some work on the electrical systems.



It takes a lot of elbow grease to get your rivets this shiny!

By the time we were ready to call it a day, both outer thirds of the port door were prepped, and work had progressed well on the middle third. A little finishing off next week and hopefully it'll be in primer!

I went to visit Ian to see how the starboard door was going

Rich was supposed to be helping him, but chose to loiter in the warm air issuing forth from the Houchin's radiator!

I disappeared into the cockpit to try and get warm, however I got roped in to another job. We have a fuel tank in the port wing over reading, so it was back to the port gear bay for me to see if there was any evidence of corrosion lurking on the terminals on that really easy to reach (ahem) junction box which can be seen on the front wall of the gear bay in this photo

Nothing untoward was found, so that'll be a fun job for those who understand Lindy's electric string better than I...

[Aceyone]

Fascinating,thanks for the updates

[RLN]

You really spoil the girl. Regarding access to junction boxes, you do well leaving it to people who will fit into the bay. Too big for small jobs, and too small for big jobs is a motto I hold dear.

[Sploosher]

thanks for the update..........................will come and see `Lindy` soon.,....................

[Blue_2]

Regarding access to junction boxes, you do well leaving it to people who will fit into the bay. Too big for small jobs, and too small for big jobs is a motto I hold dear.

Oi! What are you trying to say?!! There's only me tall and nimble enough to reach across to them!

Anyhow, want to see a video of our last run?

http://vimeo.com/83790509

Apologies for the choice of music, Lindy's own soundtrack would've been preferable. Hey ho...

[RLN]

Agree about the music, but a very nice film. Was that Martin Withers in the background?

[Ray C]

Indeed a good film….did you use one of those camera drone Jobbies….?

[Sploosher]

Agree about the music, but a very nice film. Was that Martin Withers in the background?

It was indeed, and very happy he looked too............................

great video.......................shame about the music though

[Blue_2]

Indeed, Martin visits us quite often and has sat in on the last 2 runs. Guess he fancied a go in a V-bomber with a bit of poke for a change...!
12/01/14 Update
The scene which greeted us yesterday on arrival at the museum was a tad on the wintery side!

The plastic Spitfire looked unimpressed with the cold weather

After a warm, a bacon sarnie and a brew in the NAAFI it was time to head to the jet.

We re-commenced battle with the undercarriage doors, while Andre went and hid in the nice warm cockpit under the pretence of removing a panel for refurbishment. Rich and I carried on with the port door

While Ian continued to battle the starboard one

By lunchtime there was more visible progress on the port door

And I'd even found a Handley Page inspector's stamp on part of the door!

After lunch and thawing out our extremities, we returned to battle. Andre emerged from the cockpit looking triumphant, with things to take home and refurb.

Before disappearing back into the cockpit with his little red friend to keep warm!

We soon ran out of daylight, but not before Rich and I had pretty much met in the middle of the door. Another 10 minutes work next Sunday and it'll be ready for the primer I've been promised will be there.

Ian was hiding behind the gear leg

making great progress on the starboard door, with a little help from John and one of the lads who'd escaped the Handley Page workshop to come work on a real aircraft for a change!

In other news, I haven't updated you with the Hunter's progress for a while. We haven't been involved with this bit of the aircraft's refurb, but the cockpit really has come on leaps and bounds

And the seats have been refurbed to a really high standard too

The Gannet looks on, patiently waiting for its engine change...

[Blue_2]

It was a tad moist yesterday morning...



Seeing that the inside of the port door was wet left me disgruntled, as I had hoped to get the door in primer!

But after a warm in the NAAFI we decided to crack on. Ian got busy on the starboard door

While I set about getting the steel fixings on the port door spick and span. Not bad eh?!

After a long lunch the weather finally gave us a break

I went round to visit and get a different view of the Javelin, freshly washed and now on its own little hardstanding

Before playing in the puddles!



By the time I got back from playing and brush hunting the door was dry enough to start priming. Here the front section is done

And after Ian came to assist the door was soon looking much happier with a fresh coat of primer!



A coat of silver, new data plates and the door will be good for another 20 years exposure to the Yorkshire weather hopefully!

There is of course still the starboard door to do, hopefully weather permitting it too will be in primer by close of play next weekend.

As I departed the tide was starting to recede, and Andre and John were still chasing electrical gremlins around the jet...

[Ray C]

Have you considered a "Seaplane" for the collection…..?

[Spitfire]

Aren't those tyres thin They look like Lightning tyres

[Sooty655]

Aren't those tyres thin They look like Lightning tyres

They're the same as the Vulcan ~ one of the very few areas of commonality.

[Dougs]

Awsome work cant be much fun painting in that weather I cant even work in my workshop at the mo, cant imagine woking out doors

[Blue_2]

Can't see much painting occurring today, looking at the forecast...

25/01/14 Update
Slight change of scenery this weekend, as a few of us ventured into deepest darkest South Yorkshire to visit Aeroventure at Doncaster. We'd been asked to pop down a while back as they have a Victor airbrake on display which has been looking tired for a while. We finally were able to get down there yesterday. After much banter and great amounts of fun moving the airbrake out of the main display into the workshop, Rich and I cracked on with the prep.
The airbrake before battle commenced. It is from XL160, one of Lindy's less fortunate sisters (although the nose section is in the care of Garry O'Keefe; more on 160 here: http://thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/vic ... php?id=573)



With 160 being one of the earlier retirements, we didn't have to go through 3 million layers of hemp to find the old camo!

We were glad of the luxury of a workshop for a change, as outside it was decidedly unpleasant

We soon had the airbrake prepped, and the worst of the damage put right

And found plenty more green!

We then summoned Andre forth to earn his keep by applying the paint.

And soon the airbrake almost looked good enough to fit to Lindy! Job done.

Another bit of Victor history preserved

Many thanks to Steve Hague and all at Aeroventure for the hostility, sorry hospitality! Now don't scratch it putting it back in the main display hall!

[Sploosher]

nice to see a helping hand in action Graham..................

we were there a couple of Saturdays ago and enjoyed it very much, but must remember to go back when its warmer............

[Blue_2]

It's a cracking little museum, plenty to see there. And I like the way the main display is laid out.

Weather was not our friend, I can report we did not get out and do anything on the jet yesterday. This was a hurried shot taken on my way to hide in the warmth of the NAAFI!

The wind and rain only increased in strength up to then past lunchtime, so we stayed put! After lunch we decided to do the rounds to make sure all was well. The tide had risen around the Lightning once more, alarmingly quickly too

After taking the pic we rescued the Firestreak from the puddle, and stowed it safely in the hangar away from the wet.
I then headed to Lindy, to discover as you can see that the weather had wrenched the blanks out of the starboard intake!

I soon had them back in place, after checking nothing untoward had got down the intakes. After doing one little job on the Houchin we retreated to the NAAFI once more. 10 minutes out in the cold left Ian and I cold, wet, and unable to feel our fingers!
After a while the weather did finally break. We went to look at our port gear door to see if we could make any progress. It looks good now the primer has settled

But was just too wet to make any further progress, so we called it a day

Assuming Lindy hasn't become Yorkshire's latest diving attraction, more next week...

[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

[Ray C]

Quite so David…I watched some footage of Pilots doing a "Limbo" between the probe & ladder
recently…+ last year i was allowed in the Binbrook Lightning last March, after doing my
"Arched back" assent up the ladder..

[Spitfire]

Funnily enough I too have done that precarious 'limbo' ascent - having 'cabbed' (when I was a nipper getting on the footplate of a famous steam engine was known as 'cabbing' it ) the Brunty Lightning XS904 after it had just been on a reheat run so it was still very warm and smelly .... it's a brilliant experience to sit in a 'live' jet rather than one in a dank musty museum.

[Blue_2]

it's a brilliant experience to sit in a 'live' jet rather than one in a dank musty museum.

Especially while the jet is hoofing it up the runway at a vast rate of knots!