Super Guppy Restoration

[Mayfly]

You don't want to get me started on this subject

[Gaz]

Had a very busy day today.

Drank some coffee, showed a few people around, drank some more coffee, showed a few more round, watched Clive fly his Gyrocopter, eat Dickons cakes, had some coffee. Oh and got scared a bit by a Jet Provost.

Didn't know you were up there today mate!

So, Clive does actually use his gyro then!?!? Pics??


Did they manage to find the keys? I put a big enough label on the hook!

[Bubbles]

Was a last minute decision to go, have even more time on my hands now i unlocked today so no trouble with the keys, some pics from today

Clive taking off.


Flying high.


Phil Ridell's Pitts.






I think he was using me for target practice.


As you can see i had a very busy day.

[Saracenman]

like the autogyro

some years ago i had ideas to learn to fly one of those

[Bubbles]

Clive built it himself, they can cost around £50,000 and its harder to get the licence for them nowadays. you need a PPL with a gyrocopter extension.

[Gaz]

Well, Ian, must have, worked like a bitch today:




He'd gone before I got there but all the green has gone off the engine cowlings! Good work mate!

I've almost finished sanding the orange bits. Hopefully, next week, I'll get the primer on.

Things are bubbling away behind the scenes too. I'll update when we know for sure

[RLN]

Good news, Gaz. Look forward to having a look at the LPG do.

[Gaz]

Good news, Gaz. Look forward to having a look at the LPG do.

Well, if you come and find me I'll open her up

[Xplumberlives]

Good news, Gaz. Look forward to having a look at the LPG do.

Well, if you come and find me I'll open her up

Shall I bring my own CANOPENER?

[Gaz]

Good news, Gaz. Look forward to having a look at the LPG do.

Well, if you come and find me I'll open her up

Shall I bring my own CANOPENER?

No need, I have a key.

[Dan4th]

Here's a pic taken by IA Forumeer Round_Engine back in 2003:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Airbus-Skylink/Aero-Spacelines-377SGT/0375037/L

GAZ: I have some info for you -- will send a PM later today.......

Danf.

[Mayfly]

I know there is only 1 super guppy left in operation, operated I believe by NASA,

but what other very similar looking aircraft are still flying? I ask because about 6-9 months ago I saw something very similar very high - 30-35,000ft fly over my house going from north west - to south east - it certainly had the guppy styling about it.

[IanM]

I know there is only 1 super guppy left in operation, operated I believe by NASA,

but what other very similar looking aircraft are still flying? I ask because about 6-9 months ago I saw something very similar very high - 30-35,000ft fly over my house going from north west - to south east - it certainly had the guppy styling about it.

Probably the Beluga

[Mayfly]

thanks Ian it could well have been

[Gaz]

Ok, so the weather was against me a bit yesterday, so, I did some, long overdue, cleaning in the cockpit. I don't think it's ever been done before. My poor rag didn't know what had hit it!

Pilot's side console before:




And after:



I know it looks the same on the photos, you'll just have to take my word for it!


Top of the panel, before. This was really bad. Rotting flies and moths and I'm pretty certain, some authentic former pilot saliva!:




After. Again, not really noticable on the pics, but, I did do it.....Honest!





We're still waiting for news about our possible new(ish) nose leg.

David Walton has just bought a job lot of aviation grade cleaning agent. I'm hoping for a barrel or fifty!


Danf, I look forward to hearing from you!

[Saracenman]

you'd best not let the missus see your cleaning abilities Gaz! even IF there's no before/after difference!

sm

[Mayfly]

yeah I can just imagine it - Mrs Gaz, here Gaz just dust the lounge for me ------ look of utter shock & misunderstanding crosses his face

[Gaz]

yeah I can just imagine it - Mrs Gaz, here Gaz just dust the lounge for me ------ look of utter shock & misunderstanding crosses his face

Ah shut yer face!


Anyway.....


So, despite the weather doing its best (It was bleedin windy up there today!), we got some decent work done.

Dickon has stumbled across some sheet aluminium. Along the very bottom of the fuselage and around one of the engine cowlings, there is some fairly major puncture wounds in the aircraft's skin. Dickon has measured all of the fissures and will now cut some ally to rivet in place and patch the holes. It probably won't be a permanent fix but it will stop the water getting in for now.

A lot of the work to do was off the ground but with the wind being so strong we decided against going up the riser and do some work at ground level.

Me and Ian set about the main landing gear. It had got in an awful state after she was last moved, off road, by accident! Before:



And after some serious scrubbing:





And after an age of prep work, I got to do a test section of the "Orange Bits"

Before, but, after being primed:



After:




We were pretty happy with the outcome so, if the weather behaves, I'll crack on with it on Wednesday.

[Saracenman]

it's work like that which makes it seem worthwhile - there's nothing like hours of invisible work to dampen the spirits

looking good Gaz

sm

[Xplumberlives]

If I bring my old floats round could you brighten the tips up for me?

[Gaz]

Yeah, SM, it was nice to do something that seemed like REAL progress.

XP, I thought most of your old floats were hanging from the trees, on the far banks of, several, fisheries around Cambridgeshire after many years of wayward casting.

[Xplumberlives]

XP, I thought most of your old floats were hanging from the trees, on the far banks of, several, fisheries around Cambridgeshire after many years of wayward casting.

No, you'd be wrong again!

[Gaz]

XP, I thought most of your old floats were hanging from the trees, on the far banks of, several, fisheries around Cambridgeshire after many years of wayward casting.

No, you'd be wrong again!

Oh no, that's right, you do most of your fishing in Northants!!

[MadNaddy]

This is all very impressive little bro - well done to you and the gang

[Gaz]

The weather did behave! For once!

Before:




And after running out of, both, paint AND daylight:




It'll need another coat or two but I'm happy with it!