Aircraft General Discussion

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

I'm a bit puzzled, the aircraft has been under restoration for years, apparantly using original drawings and materials so I wonder why the change of plan?

The money would be better spent to get it flying again but then there would not be an exhibit in the museum.

Brian

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

With an overhaul or replacement of the engine alone at something like £1 million it does get expensive. If they have the log book they can see if it is flight time expired and then every part has to be replaced or overhauled.

It will cost a great deal of money and time. Seeing how they do it, visit Duxford.

Clive

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

The propeller will cost 55k.

Ian S C

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Stoke's Spitfire work will be done by MAPS, and the majority of their work is for static/museum displays.

More telling methinks is the fact that it is expected to be done by next year, and of course it is going back in the museum. Most Spitfire restorers wouldn't be working to a timeframe that short to get one airworthy again.

There's no real shortage of Spitfires in the UK at the moment anyway, and many more flying than there were 20/30 years ago.

Getting more of the real workhorses of the BoB back in the air, the Hurricane, now that's a different kettle of fish 

 

 

Edited By David Standing 1 on 16/01/2018 11:05:43

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Reading the original linked to page I think the money would include extending the museum, expensive enough in itself I would imagine!

I have looked at this exhibit a few times over the years (last time 2015), it is tucked away in part of this fine museum/gallery, the present display area can hardly be described as eye catching.

My take on this is:- if money is spent on making the plane look top notch and displayed in a new glass fronted gallery area then (hopefully) more visitors will be attracted to the museum itself via a “come and see our Spitfire effect”.

As to a flying restoration – surely it is hardly a case of just restore and fly? The ongoing costs of doing that would probably be horrendous, plus as Brian points out the exhibit would no longer be in the museum.

 

 

Edited By V8Eng on 16/01/2018 11:06:46

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

My guess is it's £1M to restore the plane and £5M to install a glass portico on the museum…

Neil

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

Well I understand people who say they like to see them flying and so do I, but in Stoke museums defence I do remember just sitting with the aircraft in it's room just on my own for 20mins or so musing of all the things it and it's ilk did over the years. Call it quality time if you like, and you don't really get that up close and personal feeling when they wizz overhead at a great rate of knots. So here is one vote for a static display in addition to the flying versions.

regards Martin

[Chris TriceParticipant @christrice43267]

There are some advantages for the average man in static displays that you won't get from flying example.

Edited By Chris Trice on 16/01/2018 16:29:00

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

One of the late photographic reconnaissance versions?

Neil

[Chris TriceParticipant @christrice43267]

Mk XVI Cannon armed clipped wing.

[Chris TriceParticipant @christrice43267]

Had about twenty minutes in the cockpit as the museum was near deserted. The staff knew their stuff too. I went through an engine start up (which scared the s**t out of me when a recording of a Merlin coughing into life just happened to start as I hit the starter buttons). The reflector gunsight was demonstrated with the aid of a torch, something I never expected to see while sat in the pilot seat and all the controls could be operated (suitably disconnected and made safe where applicable). I found it more spacious than I was expecting and similarly a better view forward than expected although that might be a product of being relatively tall and slim and not wearing a sheepskin flying jacket. Certainly the nearest thing I'm going to get to flying one sitting in the front seat and definitely a life moment.

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Just seen on the BBC1 news that the fastest helicopter in the world was retired today, four Lynx helicopters did a 500 mile tour of bases to say goodbye.

Re sitting in cockpits, seven years at Duxford volunteering got me sat in many aircraft including flyers, I worked on the basis of if you don't ask you don't get.

Martin P.

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

"the fastest helicopter in the world was retired today, four Lynx helicopters"

Gordon Bennett, that makes me feel old.

I was operating on D Sqdn at Boscombe when the Lynx was being tested for entry into service – and a fearsome beast it was!! First of our hingeless rotor system 'fling wings' and it had an initial tendency to collect engine oil in the exhaust which made Firemen's attendance at engine starts essential!! One also shed a blade weight, which caused a degree of excitement. The trial flights for max speed checks were exciting (to watch!!) as were the series of negative 'G' pitch-ins, Only managed one working trip – a Navex to check the mobile moving-map display. No idea whether that went into service or not … hope not

rgds

Bill

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

They did it! Rocket Lab put three satellites in orbit this afternoon, after having to abort yesterdays attempt when two boats entered the launch zone.

It must have been in NZ, because on the quiet shots on the site video you could hear birds twittering. and gulls(doing what gulls do), then every now and them, BAA, BAA.

Ian S C

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

Ian – presumably the video included here was what you were watching?? – VERY impressive, especially the manufacturing specs!!

**LINK**

rgds

Bill

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Sad news report today, about Martin Baker

**LINK**

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42773834

… a firm whose very purpose is life-saving.

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

**LINK**

http://martin-baker.com/2018/01/22/press-statement-monday-22nd-january-2018/

MichaelG.

.

… and this from HSE

http://press.hse.gov.uk/2018/statment-death-of-red-arrows-pilot-2011-company-pleads-guilty/

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 22/01/2018 16:07:09

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Stoke-on-Trent Pottteries Museum (using GJD Services) has now dismantled their Spitfire.

I am linking to a You Tube 90 second time laps video of the dismantling process here:

**LINK**

 

 

Edited By V8Eng on 01/02/2018 20:31:38

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

We recorded this on 06-January-2018, but have only just got around to watching it:

**LINK**

The Mosquito Reborn: Gaining Altitude

Lots of good Archive footage. … Catch it next time round

MichaelG.

.

PBS America is currently on FreeView Channel 96

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 01/02/2018 21:14:24:

We recorded this on 06-January-2018, but have only just got around to watching it:

**LINK**

The Mosquito Reborn: Gaining Altitude

Lots of good Archive footage. … Catch it next time round

MichaelG.

.

PBS America is currently on FreeView Channel 96

PBS America is on 94.

Martin P

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by martin perman on 01/02/2018 21:28:00:

PBS America is on 94.

.

Apologies for the typo.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by V8Eng on 01/02/2018 20:30:34:

Stoke-on-Trent Pottteries Museum (using GJD Services) has now dismantled their Spitfire.

I am linking to a You Tube 90 second time laps video of the dismantling process here:

**LINK**

"And then all of my wings fall off…"

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

How many people does it take to change a Spitfire comes to mind.

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Gentlemen,

I can't remember the rules but I've just watched a Harvard perform at least a dozen consecutive loops over the top of my house, to watch him I looked vertically straight up, I'm very interested in aviation but I'm sure he is not allowed to do aerobatics directly above a large village with others very close by, he had a dark blue/black underside and light blue top and he only left when he realised that a very black hail cloud was about to invade his space, He headed off to wards Gransden airfield. Anybody know him.

Martin P

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

We get a regular display by some noisy b*****d in a Pitts Special, it is quite entertaining unless you are working nights and he wakes you up.

Mike

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