XM603 - Woodford

[Pujgnie]

603 is in pitiful condition - moss, grime algae etc... How come she has gotten into this state ? Have her owners deserted her ? Painful to see any Vulcan left to rust and be neglected like that. IMO

How long does she have left on this planet - before she is carved up by a 'heartless' scrap merchant ?

[Saracenman]

603's sad (but initially great) story is well documented elsewhere - suffice to say that the 603 Club encountered difficulties accessing, working on and preserving 603

sm

[Sooty655]

603 is in pitiful condition - moss, grime algae etc... How come she has gotten into this state ? Have her owners deserted her ? Painful to see any Vulcan left to rust and be neglected like that. IMO

How long does she have left on this planet - before she is carved up by a 'heartless' scrap merchant ?

I agree it is painful to see, but she is probably suffering no worse than many other outdoor museum Vulcans. She looks a lot worse because the green mould is on a white aircraft - if she was painted in cammo it probably wouldn't show as badly.

She also looks a good deal better now all the panels and doors are fitted and closed, but that is another story

The Woodford factory will close when the current Nimrod project is finished - current best guess is 2012.

[Pujgnie]

The Woodford factory will close when the current Nimrod project is finished - current best guess is 2012.

Are you guys going to be there when she gets cut up ?

May be some things you can salvage for EBay as a freebie come the day. Tail fin logo.. ser No etc... ?

Only ask.. coz a certain doghandler I knew of old - hacked out a 35 Sqn loggo as a keep sake, hid it under his mattress for days .

[Xplumberlives]

Where have you got it stashed now?

[Sooty655]

Are you guys going to be there when she gets cut up ?

Almost certainly not. Anyone working inside Woodford has to be very safety conscious, and that would probably mean only the salvage crew will be there.

We hope to be able to visit immediately before the scrapping to remove external items which were not available to us on our recent visit because of the requirement to maintain the overall appearance intact.

[Pujgnie]

Where have you got it stashed now?

Not guilty to that one !!!

[Ducati Boy]

Just a little word about the state of 603. When we went to do the survey preparation for MA inspection, she was very much on her last legs. Panels were off all over the place, the undercarriage legs suspension had collapsed, u/carriage struts were removed and she had all the appearance of awaiting the scrap man. After our survey we actually put several panels back on and covered all the drill holes as required.

Contrary to those who seek to blaim us for the state of the a/c we did not cause the state she is in. Like it or not she is scheduled for scrap and sadly, with the loss of a dedicated team to maintain her, she will only get worse.

Oh by the way, I assume H&S rules were applied and steps taken to secure the airframe from moving, before any work involving possible weight transfer,. This is because the undercarriage strut and locking system had been removed by "someone" in the past (definitely NOT TVOC), leaving the aircraft somewhat precariously balanced on her legs which, seeing as they retract forward, could have collapsed with any rearward shift of weight.

[Sooty655]

Oh by the way, I assume H&S rules were applied and steps taken to secure the airframe from moving, before any work involving possible weight transfer,. This is because the undercarriage strut and locking system had been removed by "someone" in the past (definitely NOT TVOC), leaving the aircraft somewhat precariously balanced on her legs which, seeing as they retract forward, could have collapsed with any rearward shift of weight.

Undercarriage ground locks were and are in place and secure, and all CofG transfer was forward. The main gear suspension (liquid springs) are fully operational.

[Ducati Boy]

Oh by the way, I assume H&S rules were applied and steps taken to secure the airframe from moving, before any work involving possible weight transfer,. This is because the undercarriage strut and locking system had been removed by "someone" in the past (definitely NOT TVOC), leaving the aircraft somewhat precariously balanced on her legs which, seeing as they retract forward, could have collapsed with any rearward shift of weight.

Undercarriage ground locks were and are in place and secure, and all CofG transfer was forward. The main gear suspension (liquid springs) are fully operational.

Well I guess "someone" must have pumped her up since we saw her then. Well done, pity she can't be kept, but I bet with the potential value of Woodford for building land is probably zillions so she is definitely a gonner.

[Sooty655]

Well I guess "someone" must have pumped her up since we saw her then. Well done, pity she can't be kept, but I bet with the potential value of Woodford for building land is probably zillions so she is definitely a gonner.

We got the impression there is a good chance the cockpit will survive.

The cost of moving her will almost certainly ensure the rest of the airframe is scrapped.

[Pujgnie]

We got the impression there is a good chance the cockpit will survive.

Nice if it can be saved.. as a potential museum piece somewhere (maybe even a main bogey undercarriage too - that wouldn't go amiss in any museum ?)

Does anyone know what state the cockpit is in.. or has it been raided of stuff for 558 ?

[Ducati Boy]

I have a massive wish list of stuff to save for 558 including several instruments which are zero stock or very rare, but we are told they cannot be touched. That makes me think the cockpit section may well be already allocated. If it is I hope they have the sense to cut it behind the pressure bulkhead and make it easy to secure and keep dry. Also it would be easy to power up via the sockets at the PB.

[Nickolas]

I have a massive wish list of stuff to save for 558 including several instruments which are zero stock or very rare, but we are told they cannot be touched. That makes me think the cockpit section may well be already allocated. If it is I hope they have the sense to cut it behind the pressure bulkhead and make it easy to secure and keep dry.

Can't the zero stock / rare items be swapped out with life expired stuff so the cockpit still looks authentic?

[Ducati Boy]

Thought of that already, but we dont actually have any u/s stock to swop either or I would just get them fixed.

[Bovril]

whats on the list?

I have a massive wish list of stuff to save for 558 including several instruments which are zero stock or very rare, but we are told they cannot be touched. That makes me think the cockpit section may well be already allocated. If it is I hope they have the sense to cut it behind the pressure bulkhead and make it easy to secure and keep dry. Also it would be easy to power up via the sockets at the PB.

[Ducati Boy]

As I said its a massive list from fuses, relays to instruments, all the bits I know from experience will be in short or no supply in the future.

[Bovril]

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'

[Xplumberlives]

Blimey, that lorry must potentially be the FASTEST in the world!

[Mags]

Blimey, that lorry must potentially be the FASTEST in the world!

[Saracenman]

[Bovril]

i started to wonder if it would go completely un-noticed

[Nickolas]

It's all starting to look a bit sad...............

Where are the 301's heading?

[Mags]

Hopefully the 301's are headed eventually for a nice cosy home inside 655

[Bovril]

they all safe and sound at welles