At last!

They are here, arrived this morning, quickly unloaded and now parked in the hangar.
See the link to the right when she was last flying, incentive to get her together.

Memory Lane No.21

While you are waiting here is another P-47 that passed through Duxford. Get digging and googling to find the story to this one.

This time it was the truckers!

Two o'clock came and went, no container. Half past four, new deadline. Sorry now it will be 1830 hrs. Forget it, my chips will be cold by then. New arrival time for the P-47 wings is 0900 hrs. tomorrow morning.

Hope we do not have the same trouble next week. Spitfire high cube container should be in on Tuesday, stuffed Wednesday and out of the door by Thursday lunchtime.

Taking you back a few years is a nose on of another Spitfire. Awsome machine!

It was supposed to happen today.....

but the banks mucked up the money transfer for Customs Clearance on the
P-47 wings. Delayed one day, let us hope the sun shines again tomorrow and not to much of a frost.

Work continued in the hangar to finish the Permit inspection on the P-39 with the surplus manpower moving to help Fred with the dismantling of the Spitfire XVIII which should depart the hangar a week Thursday.

Just to remind you ......

of summer on such a bleak dark day. More news and updates tomorrow with pictures from the hangar by Martyn.

Going together, coming apart

At the end of the hangar the Mk. XVIII is coming apart. Elevator and rudder controls disconnected. Fuel, oil and coolant drained, prop removed, electrics disconnected. Have to get a move on, P-47 wings should be with us on Wednesday.

Mellow fruitfulness !!!!!! What is he on?

Sorry guys didn't get back on to tell you the story as the home computer has taken a dive and not surfaced yet.
Back to the story. Jim Beasley of "Bald Eagle" fame is the new proud owner of Spitfire XVIII G-BRAF, in future to be known as N969SM. Currently being pulled apart by "Freddo", also known by the colonials as "Achmed", and Jim "The Stacker". At the weekend they will be ably assisted by TFC volunteers, keep watching the blog for progress.

In order to cope with the increased work load when the Spitfire arrives Jim has been hiring some new mechanics.
Sorry the list has now closed for those wanting to help re-assemble the Spit.

I wonder if this was just a ploy to get more hits?

Autumn- mellow fruitfulness

We were sent some pictures from the US to remind us that autumn isn't always a grey cloudy experience. We thought we ought to share them with you. Beaufighter will probably be along later on to fill in the facts and figures.

Found It!

Here we are more Spitfire s and P-39 having a bit of attention earlier this week:

Memory Lane No. 20

Martin seen packing G-FIRE ready for shipment to the US.

Whats' happened this week - no new posts?

OK. It's my fault, spent the other afternoon getting photos for the News bit of Fighter Log - "don't worry Pete, I'll stick a few on the Blog if you are busy." was my parting shot.

So, if anyone knows where I last put the camera down you can have the pictures up on the Blog. Probably means I'll have to muck out the back of my truck.......

Fighter Log is also moving closer to the printers. We just have a few last minute bits (there are always a few last minute bits) to put in and then it will be all go.

Spitfire MkV Sunday Service

It's the turn of the Spitfire MkV to receive some attention this Sunday.

P-40 Archive time

As promised, again from '98 - How to paint and weigh a P-40. Left the film running because there were a few "faces " hard at work on it!

Have you ever wondered?

...what happens on an airfield at 06:30 am the morning of an air display?

The time code confirms the time - taken at Duxford Legends 1998....that Sunday morning feeling. Oh and tomorrow we will show you how to weigh a P-40!

Memory Lane No. 19

The boss in ML417 with Ray Hannah to the rear.

Tail end again

The boys have been busy on the back end this week setting up controls, fit rudder, trial fit closing panels. For those that have asked, no final decision on markings but the time for that will soon be upon us as the wings are not far away. Seen at top is how she was.

Underway

The P-39 is up on jacks ready for retractions. Unlike our other aircraft which have their gear operated manually (Wildcat) or hydraulically, the P-39 gear is raised by an electric motor driving shafts connected to gearboxes at each leg. In an emergency the gear can be cranked down by hand.


The Spifire V rudder is off and un-zipped, soon be ready for its new covering. Propeller off next, to be sent for its six year overhaul.

The winter push is on

The inspection on the Corsair is almost complete with engine runs being carried out today. Hangar floor was washed and aircraft moved around ready for the next two inspections, which are Spitfire MK. V and P-39. The Spitfire propeller is due overhaul and the rudder and elevator are going to be recovered. Nothing to much to do extra on the P-39 apart from install an original compass system.

Fighter Log

We are starting to receive the big question - 'When's the next Fighter Log coming out?' Well rest assured the Log is well into production and at the 'fine tuning' stage. No hints of what is in it, you just have to wait. For those of you who are not yet Friends of The Fighter Collection, go to the web site http://www.fighter-collection.com/ and join.

Memory Lane No. 18

Jeff Rushen with the Tempest prior to delivery to the RAF Museum. Jeff was the lead man on its restoration.

What a nice day ........

.... for an engine run followed by a compass swing. Spitfire is ready to roll.

More progress

Almost ready for the oven

Continuing on.....

The tail strut is back on the Mk. XVIII Spitfire, just awaiting the issue of the Permit to Test by the CAA.

Corsair propeller

Peter and Fred have re-fitted the tail strut in the Mk. XVIII Spit. On the hangar floor Bob, Andy and Roy have been dismantling the Corsair prop to carry out the Airworthiness Directive and a CAA Generic Requirement which means the prop bearings and blades have to be inspected.

A better day

After missing out on his trip in the Bearcat yesterday, due to the rain at his slot time, Stephen took the Gladiator around the circuit.
On the day for the CAA visit the Mk. XVIII misbehaved itself and leaked hydraulic oil on the floor. The tail strut has been removed and is being resealed.
Kym is pleased with himself as he has sorted out an installation problem with the new fuel cock for the P-47.
No major problems with the flyers yesterday so all is good.

Thanks to all for your support of the blog, we have now had over 100,000 hits

Memory Lane No. 17

"Grumpy" has a problem.

1700 hrs Sunday - now we have the sun

I stayed away today. Woke up to pouring rain, wind blowing a gale, not going to be a good day. The school in Duxford does cut price parking, by eleven o'clock they still did not have a customer. By one o'clock some brave hearts appeared with their wellie boots, not the usual crowds tucking in to the burgers.
As soon as I heard the sound of big pistons I was at the bedroom window. Sad person I am I can lay in bed and see the aircraft display!
Appropriately the Catalina was first to display. There appeared to be several gaps in the programme but I did see P-39, P-40B and Hawk 75 do their stuff.
Almost as soon as the display had ended out came the sun, ironic! Now we have a great sunset.

Another week flashes by

Where does time go, it always seems to be Friday. Yesterday and today saw the preparation for the Autumn Air Day. Brian Smith checked out in the P-39 yesterday, tomorrow will see check flights in the Hawk 75 and Staggerwing. The Bearcat was run and aircraft were re-fuelled ready to go.
The Beaufighter has been pushed back further now the tailplane has been removed, more room for the public walking through.
The log books have all been made up to date on the Spit XVIII ready for the CAA next week.
All we need now is fine weather on Sunday.

Memory Lane No. 16 - G-HURI

Rebuild at Duxford

Back in time again - An Engineer goes flying

Many years ago and the TFC chief engineer decides to defy the laws of gravity - encouraged by many of the TFC volunteers of the time in this endevour


(film source "anon")

Sadly the tape we have runs out before the flight takes place...any one have the evidence?

Year anyone?

What Chris does not tell you is the reason for the test flight. The test involved shutting the engine down in flight and starting it up again. Why were they so enthusiastic to get me in the back seat?
Beaufighter

Memory Lane No. 15 - G-HURI

Start of the rebuild in Coventry


Continuation at BBMF RAF Coningsby

Airshows, Sunday 5th October, update

TFC's Gladiator will not now be attending the Shuttleworth Autumn Air Day on Sunday.

Booked to appear at Duxford are :-

Hawk 75, Bearcat, Hellcat, P-40B, P-39 and the Staggerwing.