Finishing touch

All the hardware is in, on goes the P-47 fin and the trim system for rudder and elevators.

Busy week ahead

The picture shown is the P-47G as received with the second seat. This has now been removed and the structure brought back to stock condition.
Volunteers continued the work on front and rear end of the P-47G at the weekend. Progress was slowed by the lack of a few special bolts but hopefully they will arrive tomorrow and we will be able to hang the fin and then fit the trim systems. I think Kym gave himself a hernia today lifting the tail ballast into place.

Dave has been clearing the area around the Sea Fury, this for two reasons. One,so that he can make a start with James on finishing the rebuild of G-BUCM and two, VZ345 should makes its move from Yoevilton to Duxford on Wednesday. Keep an eye open on the motorway and visit the blog to see the progress.

Ground runs on the Spitfire XVIII on Sunday proved all was good, just one more to set up max. rpm on the propeller, then we await the paperwork from the CAA.

Spotted at Duxford

Skyraider night stopping at Duxford on its way to the US. Picture by Martyn during a break from the assembly of the P-47G fin.

On run up this morning, Thursday, things did not sound good, cowlings now opened up and heads peering inside! More news later.

Thursday 1600 hrs., ground run just carried out, still not sounding good, just taxied back into its slot.

Thursday 1700 hrs., just moving up to ARCo possibly for rectification.

Memory Lane No. 1 - Flat hat brigade

Hangar 5, no heating, limited lighting, no stores, those were the days!

Busy Sunday......Again!

Work continues on the Spitfire Mk. XVIII, Beaufighter and P-47G. The jig-saw that is the P-47G cowling mounting ring has been fathomed out and the cowl gills installed. The fin spar is complete, ready for Martyn to paint on Monday.

P-47G update

Kym has now moved on, still at the back end of the Thunderbolt, but from the tail strut to the fin. The fin spars had cracked so replacements are being fitted. Martyn has disappeared inside the fuselage to connect up the elevator controls.

More Sunday Work

It's Sunday and we're keeping up the momentum on the P-47G.
The tail plane was mounted on Friday, replacement of the damaged fin spars will commence as soon as the tail strut assembly is installed.

Jim continues to re-stock the consumable stores so there are no holdups.

Just a normal day!

Jim our back room boy in the stores has been busy ensuring that we have enough hardware on hand for the assembly of the P-47G by Kym and Martin. They are seen working on the tail strut assembly prior to installation. This weekend our willing volunteers should give a hand by installing the tailplane.

What the blog authors do at weekends

Well two of them anyway - helping to keep up the momentum of work on the P-47G.

Today saw a start being made on the P-47G by Kym and Martyn, assembly of the tail strut and locking mechanism was the first job as well as sorting through the boxes of pre finished parts.



James refitted the rudder to the Corsair after fabric repairs were carried out. Fabric had become frayed during Legends weekend.

Pick up of the Sea Fury from Yoevilton, never a dull moment.

Busy day ahead tomorrow on the Mk XVIII, the end of a long tunnel.

A new arrival

Quote from a few days ago 'Talking of arrivals, P-47G fuselage in its box, 0900hrs Wednesday.'
Well here it is!!

Engineering Update.

The injector for the Mk. XVIII Spitfire has left Martin King in California and has disappeared into the big black hole which is FEDEX. July 4th celebrations have caused a glitch to their tracking web site. It looks like it has not been picked up from California but we have paperwork from Stansted that says it has arrived! All will be revealed.

Thursday saw the issue of the Permit to Test on the Gladiator but a mix of engineering, pilots and weather have prevented us taking to the air. Better luck tomorrow.

The Nimrod flew on Friday but over the weekend it was found to have a leaking brake sac. The wheel has been removed and we are organising a fix.

Today the pilot gang start to arrive from California. Keep an eye on the blog where we hope to feature a photo of all participating pilots.

That well known forumite "Freddo" will have his hand on the helm of ground control for "Legends 2008". The various jobs get shared around each year so all get a bite of the stress. Sunday saw him busy with Excel doing a parking plan, "Where do we put the ????".

Talking of arrivals, P-47G fuselage in its box, 0900hrs Wednesday.

Late news, Steve Hinton and Matt Nightingale have arrived, off to Cambridge to get their head down after the flight from California.

"Liberty Belle" is back on the pan parked up next to "Sally B" after the crew had a weekend in London. Had to search the UK today for a flap relay for the "Belle" as she had intermittent flap operation. More news on that tomorrow.

Greg at the work face looking for a flap relay.

Days to do getting few!

The pressure is on! Some problems solved, some not.

The injector for the Mk. XVIII shipped to the US has not arrived at Vintage Carbs., this will really be a tight one to get done, back and fitted.

Good news on the Gladiator front. Aeroplane Restoration Co. have loaned us some brake bags from their Lysander project which are the same size. They are now fitted and tested all ready to go. The Working Draft of the Airworthiness Approval Note has been issued and the CAA Airworthiness Surveyor is due tomorrow.

Tomorrow we also hope to clear the P-40B ready for Legends.

The P-47G fuselage was due to arrive tomorrow but paperwork has stepped in the way, maybe another week. Meanwhile in Australia the wings are nearing completion.

P-47G at Legends.

Now, that really got your attention!
Just come off the phone with Matt Nightingale in California, "When does it arrive Matt?"

It is on the high seas and will be with us on or about the 29th June at Felixstowe docks. Afraid it is only the fuselage but it will give you an insight into what is going to be at Legends 2009. Sticking my neck out here! Hurry up Murray we need the wings.

With all the servicings coming to an end James has come off "Miss Velma" and is ensuring our ground equipment is up to speed for Legends 2008. Not only do we need the tractors for towing we need the power sets for starting the many different aircraft, hydraulic rigs, jacks, towing arms etc etc.

Drama on the upper deck! Rooms were booked at a local hotel a year ago, they now want to move our guests elsewhere. Whatever next!

A call from Kearsley's tells us that the battery contactor from the Gladiator we had sent for servicing was damaged. No problem another, new old stock in stores, still in original packaging. Would you believe it, undo the seal, it too is damaged. In quick time Greg scours the world and finds another. Fingers crossed!

Roy picks up the Gladiator undercarriage spring units from Hanley Smiths, that gives him a job for Monday, put them back on.

Beaufighter corner is quiet today, Kym is probably fishing, nobody knows what Andy is up to.

TGIF.

Good day, bad day!

Phew! Sigh of relief, the Constant Speed Unit drive did turn, much relief all round. No need to take the engine out of the Mk. XVIII. The magneto sent to Tony has been repaired so pickup is arranged for early morning. More runs tomorrow afternoon.

E-mails to write to the CAA and questions from the Gladiator Test Pilots to be answered. What boost, what rpm, how does it differ from the Shuttleworth aircraft? TFC's Gladiator has a Mercury XX whilst Shuttleworth have a Mercury 30. There is also a weight difference between the two aircraft to consider, TFC's aircraft does not have the wing guns installed at the moment.

Out on the airfield the Gladiator has an engine run, the rpm indicator has failed and there is no output from the generator. Back into the hangar, get the items removed ready for sending to the repair shop tomorrow. Greg arranges the works orders for the repairs and finds somebody to do cadmium plating on newly arrived parts for the Gladiator which have been manufactured by our friends at the Shuttleworth Trust.

Email the US for weight and balance details for the P-47G, continue writing the Design Report ready for submission to the CAA.

"Miss Velma" on compass swing, both compasses fail. Ah well, tomorrow is another day!

Now about those engines for the Beaufighter?