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Topic: Buccaneer SMk2B XX894 - Progress (Read 4831 times) |
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Plazz
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Re: Buccaneer SMk2B XX894 - Progress
« Reply #90 on: Aug 31st, 2009, 3:24pm » |
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After working all through the summer months trying to sort out the wings, XX894 has finally moved up a gear and now enters the higher speed testing phase.
This new phase of testing sees me relegated to the back seat whilst our pilot Damien starts putting 894 through her paces. Although I am disappointed in no longer being up front, I am extremely pleased and excited that we have finally got to this point of 894’s restoration.
The wings fold mechanism now functions correctly (without sticking) and the brakes still need some fine tuning, but on the whole we are almost there!
The first clip shows one of the two fast runs performed on Saturday. This is nowhere near what 894 is capable of, but a little at a time for now. The last thing we want is to reach in excess of 110 knots only to find something doesn’t work correctly!
http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f39/plazzdaman/XX894%20Videos/?action=view¤t=XX894FastRun.flv
The third (more sedate run) was performed in front of the crowd on yesterdays open day.
http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f39/plazzdaman/XX894%20Videos/?action=view¤t=XX894ShowRun.flv
A couple of photos from the open day…
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| « Last Edit: Aug 31st, 2009, 3:30pm by Plazz » |
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Plazz
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Re: Buccaneer SMk2B XX894 - Progress
« Reply #91 on: Sep 3rd, 2009, 8:35pm » |
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XX894 gets airborne on her penultimate flight from RAF Lossiemouth on the 26th of March 1994.
Its last ever flight took place nearly two weeks later on the 7th April when it flew in to St Athan for disposal. Photograph Via Norman Roberson. (polished up by Paul) 
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| « Last Edit: Sep 3rd, 2009, 10:47pm by Plazz » |
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Plazz
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Re: Buccaneer SMk2B XX894 - Progress
« Reply #93 on: Sep 3rd, 2009, 9:46pm » |
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on Sep 3rd, 2009, 9:40pm, XV867 wrote:She looks in better fettle now than she did then!!!!  |
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I agree Hugh, but then I'm biased anyway 
Also, I've been meaning to mention to you, I met and had a very long chat with Ken Ward last weekend. Very interesting feller!
Cheers, Francis
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Buccsociety
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Re: Buccaneer SMk2B XX894 - Progress
« Reply #94 on: Sep 3rd, 2009, 11:20pm » |
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Ken's a right character, is he still at Chop Gate?
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Nigel J Goodall - Blackburn Buccaneer Society - Coordinator.
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MJR
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Re: Buccaneer SMk2B XX894 - Progress
« Reply #95 on: Sep 4th, 2009, 09:40am » |
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definitely a "character" Nige. love the vids Francis. it seems the old serviceability curve is finally flattening out for you guys, nice when you are just left with niggles to sort out rather than massive head aches, isn't it!
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Plazz
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Re: Buccaneer SMk2B XX894 - Progress
« Reply #96 on: Sep 27th, 2009, 9:34pm » |
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With the show season now well and truly over, work on restoring the cosmetic side of XX894 can now begin.
First on the list to be repaired/restored are the two Radar Warning Receivers and the Pitot Tube mounted under the wings.
The Radar Warning Receivers have been held together with tape for years and half of the screws are either missing or corroded whereas the Pitot tube is ok in itself but the fairings have been in a collision with something in the past and it just looks awful. These items will be worked on away from the aircraft over the coming months.
The big plan is to source and fit under wing stores. We already have a flight refuelling pod in our possession and can lay our hands on at least one pylon. What we would really like is a slipper tank (or two) but they really are like rocking horse S**t!!
Photos below taken just prior to yesterday’s anti-det run (notice lack of Radar Warning Receivers and the Pitot Tube)…
Port Radar Warning Receiver location…
Pitot Tube location...
Starboard Radar Warning Receiver location…
The collection of parts ready to be repaired…
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| « Last Edit: Sep 27th, 2009, 9:38pm by Plazz » |
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Plazz
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Re: Buccaneer SMk2B XX894 - Progress
« Reply #97 on: Oct 24th, 2009, 9:35pm » |
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Repair and repaint of the Radar Warning Receivers is progressing nicely!
The access fixings have been missing for years and the panels were always held closed with tape! The panels have had their old fixings removed and replaced with modern day equivalents (M6 screws)
Also, all of the dents have now been knocked out of the Pitot Tube fairings. Filler was used to tidy them up before a first cote of primer. This will be painted in the next week or so.
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| « Last Edit: Oct 24th, 2009, 9:37pm by Plazz » |
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Plazz
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Re: Buccaneer SMk2B XX894 - Progress
« Reply #99 on: Nov 8th, 2009, 12:01pm » |
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The newly painted Radar Warning Receivers have now been re-installed on the wings. The only problem is that they show how badly the rest of the aircraft has faded! The paint used is 2-pack so this should last well. We have enough paint to do the whole aircraft which will be happening in due course. The paint previously used on the nacelles and tail plane was synthetic and after being exposed to the elements for three years it is not lasting that well.
A flawless anti-det run was carried out late in the afternoon…
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| « Last Edit: Nov 8th, 2009, 12:07pm by Plazz » |
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Goosey
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Re: Buccaneer SMk2B XX894 - Progress
« Reply #100 on: Nov 9th, 2009, 6:15pm » |
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It certainly looks in good health but would look lovely in matt green and grey wrap around and a foxes head on the engine cowling.You mention concentrating on the wing fold working correctly as I remember it was usual practise for somebody to have to leap up onto the wing and bounce up and down until it would start to fold then leg it onto the spine wait for the wings to fold then slide off down the flap used to make the riggers cringe
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paul12
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Re: Buccaneer SMk2B XX894 - Progress
« Reply #101 on: Nov 9th, 2009, 8:33pm » |
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steady goosey I remember which fat geordie used to have to do the jumping and always with a hangover.
cant fault your thoughts on the colour scheme
geordie 
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Plazz
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Re: Buccaneer SMk2B XX894 - Progress
« Reply #102 on: Nov 9th, 2009, 8:54pm » |
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on Nov 9th, 2009, 6:15pm, Goosey wrote:| You mention concentrating on the wing fold working correctly as I remember it was usual practise for somebody to have to leap up onto the wing and bounce up and down until it would start to fold then leg it onto the spine wait for the wings to fold then slide off down the flap used to make the riggers cringe |
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You mean something like this...
Bloody things always stuck when you least wanted them to.
I forgot to mention in my last post that the wings are now shimmed and the locking pins have been re-fitted and are now operational. This of course means that as soon as the brakes are tweaked we can begin the fast runs!
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Plazz
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Re: Buccaneer SMk2B XX894 - Progress
« Reply #103 on: Nov 9th, 2009, 9:09pm » |
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on Nov 9th, 2009, 6:15pm, Goosey wrote:| It certainly looks in good health but would look lovely in matt green and grey wrap around and a foxes head on the engine cowling. |
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I understand your comments about the colour scheme and tend to agree somewhat but, this particular Bucc was the last ever one to go through the Lossiemouth paint shop and was painted up to represent all of the Buccaneers that flew with the Royal Navy so it would be a real shame to paint it green and grey wrap round and loose that piece of history, even more so when you appreciate that there are two other Buccaneers at Bruntingthorpe already coloured as such.
Anyone know any of these guys…
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buccaneer01
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Re: Buccaneer SMk2B XX894 - Progress
« Reply #104 on: Nov 9th, 2009, 9:46pm » |
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Noooo! Please don't repaint it she looks stunning in the all over grey scheme!
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Long live the Buccaneer
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