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Vulcan XH558
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Job-Rated
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 6:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Superb!
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XL391
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 2:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Late August Engineering Update
24 August 2007 - TVOC
What a noisy week this week has been! by Kevin Stone


Greetings everyone, I take it you would like what has now turned into the weekly update so here it is.

The majority of this week has been dedicated to ground runs, last week saw all four engines started for the first time and then taken up to max to see if they all worked. The runs we have been carrying out this week has been checking the various systems on the aircraft such as the alternators, fuel tank pressurisations, adjusting the engine idles and max as well as tests requested by Rolls Royce.

Not everything went as smoothly as hoped, the engines themselves were superb, however there were a few electrical problems, these took a while to sort out as fault diagnostics were carried out but could not be checked until the next ground run, unlike new aircraft which have quick box changes our lady has good old solid state boxes with valves and all sorts! But with perseverance these have now been resolved.

Mid week saw a little break from the runs allowing the leckies to fix the various problems while the airframe lads went about the task of setting up the flying controls. If that was not enough we have also been panelling up as we finish off in the various areas and of course our favourite pastime clearing off paperwork.

As we get closer to our goal the work load and manpower decreases as we now start to move towards the operational stage and at this stage as we reduce in manpower I would like to add my personal thanks to everyone who has worked or assisted us to reach this stage of the project THANK YOU!

Well that’s this weeks update complete, sorry there is not a lot of pictures or video’s but it’s quite difficult to actually carry out the work and provide pictures.
















Click here for high power engine run and click here to see number 4 going to the max from the pilot seat...
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XL391
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 11:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

August Engineering Update
31 August 2007 - TVOC by Kevin 'Taff' Stone
A quiet week this week?


After the last couple of weeks this seems a slightly quiet one, only managed to work 50 hours but there again we did have a day off!

This week has flown by and I was wondering what I could put up for the weekly update but as usual when you sit back and think quite a lot has gone on as usual. This week has seen 558 stay at home, only venturing just outside the hangar doors a couple of times to play with the bowser. The start of the week 558 went outside and was defuelled completely, this was for a number of reasons one so the aircraft could be weighed and the Centre of Gravity checked (see the News section for a competition), the other reason is to do what is called a fuel zero, which is to calibrate all of the fuel gauges. Once these tasks had been completed we went back outside to refuel again ready for the next round of ground runs.

The other main event going on this week has been setting up of the flying controls, as with everything on this aircraft it’s not been straight forward. All of the control surfaces have been away for overhaul, along with the motors and other bits and some had to be re-manufactured. All of the baselines have now been set up and the final set up is underway, once this is complete we can then set up the artificial feel and stability aids.

Well that’s all I can think of except for the panelling up and the never ending paperwork see you all next week.














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Rick
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 5:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

really is something else isn't it! thanks for the update Smile

Rick
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Rick
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 8:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

While driving on the A50 over near East Midlands today, I spotted, heading in the Stoke direction, what looked like the lower nose section from 903 on a car trailer - has Bruntingthorpe finished with it? it certainly looked right, and was painted white all over. I remember XL saying something about them borrowing it for a while..???

R
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XL391
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 9:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rick, it was 603's nose you saw. They have finished with it and it's back at Woodford now, although not attached to her... Crying or Very sad

If you want to follow what happens to XM603 @ Woodford, click here.
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buzzy bee
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 9:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi

I know a bloke that has a cockpit of a fighter type plane, he takes it to shows and exibits it. I will try to find out more, and some pictures!

Cheers

Dave
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XL391
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Early September Engineering Update
08 September 2007 - by Kevin 'Taff' Stone


Another week gone and a paperwork milestone achieved.

The days are now starting to blur into one and another as we start to wrap up the workload and concentrate on the paperwork. What may seem to everyone watching on the webcams a quiet week in the hangar has been as busy as ever for the engineers.

So what has been going on, the airframe lads have been tidying up the flying controls, after setting them up last week they have now had to go around and locking wire or split pin every nut, bolt and connection (and trust me there quite a lot!). Most of the panels are now back on and 558 is looking like a complete aircraft again.

The middle of the week was taken up with the new avionics kit, this has not been without some ups and downs as the system had to be designed and then try to integrate the old and new technologies together. Most of this is complete but there were a few problems which should be sorted early next week. The electricians have also started setting up the flying control indications and as with the mechanical setup proving tricky but achievable (eventually).

Thursday saw 558 back outside for some more ground runs, the setup of three out of the four engines is now complete with a little more work required on the fourth. As for the electrics there are still some problems on the alternator system, the original faults have been cleared and in doing this it has highlighted a few more. These should hopefully be resolved when we do the next run to complete the last engine.

Well that’s all I can think of what’s gone on this week, except to clarify the opening statement, at present we now have fewer than 1,000 work cards left to clear. You may think that is a lot and you’d be right, but to achieve this figure we have had to sign and clear over 5,000.

Unfortunately there are no photo’s or video’s this week as we have been too busy doing the actual work, as there are now only a handful of us engineers left.

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XL391
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mid September Engineering Update
16 September 2007 - by Kevin 'Taff' Stone


So close and yet so far! Another week gone in the process of getting 558 back into the air.

You would think after coming towards the end of the two year overhaul, things would ease of a little, but as with all major projects little things tend to crop up time and time again delaying the inevitable.

This week started well with the electricians carrying out the Artificial Feel setup and warning tests before handing over to the airframe for their force deflection tests. The new avionics have been tested and the integration issues solved, so all in all a good start to the week.

Wednesday saw us re-weighing the aircraft again to double check the calculations. The figures have now been assessed and the required adjustments will be carried out next week.

On Thursday as it was such a lovely day, we went back out to complete the remaining ground runs. All went well at the beginning with the final setup of No4 engine now complete. On our second set of runs to check out the electrical systems and complete the electrical functions, there was a failure on one of the hydraulic pipes above No3 engine causing us to abort the runs.

Friday was taken up by investigation the burst pipe and raising the aircraft back on jacks in preparation of the undercarriage retractions required post rectification of the fault.

With all of our time taken up during the week carrying out our normal work, a working weekend was arranged for the TVOC engineers. The purpose of this was to concentrate on the operational aspect by carrying out training on such things as A/F and B/F, fitting of the Brake Parachute, Refuelling of the aircraft etc. This has been altered slightly as we had to remove No3 engine on Saturday. This proved to be excellent training for our engineers working well as a team; the engine was lowered onto the stand in just over 7 hours not bad for the first engine removal since 1999. Sunday was spent tidying the hangar and relaxing with public and attempting to do some training as it’s very important for the team to get use to the PR as well as the work on the aircraft.

Well I think that’s enough for this week, next week’s work will comprise of repairing the hydraulic system, U/C functionals and hopefully more ground runs to complete the electrical work and check the refitted engine.












Last edited by XL391 on Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:24 pm; edited 1 time in total
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Some videos here.
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Rick
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 11:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Getting closer Cool

http://www.tvoc.co.uk/default.asp

Rick
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XL391
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mid October Engineering Update
13 October 2007 - TVOC - by Kevin 'Taff' Stone


Are we now beginning to achieve the un-achievable!

Ah well the end of another long week of functional set ups and paperwork, so where shall I begin?

Most of this week has been taken up with the set up and independent checks on the Flying Controls which was finally completed in the early hours of Thursday morning. With the last of the functionals complete the aircraft can be finally panelled up for good!

The final preparations are also being carried out such as fitting the Brake Parachute and servicing the aircraft (topping up all the gases etc) ready to hand over to the aircrew for the ground handling checks, these will consist of general handling, a slow taxi, a medium taxi and a fast taxi run taken over several days. Only when these have been carried out and the aircrew are happy with the aircraft will first flight be considered.

The later part of the week saw 558 outside a couple of times, Thursday the aircraft was pushed just outside the hangar to be refuelled ready for the taxi tests and for the aircrew to have some familiarisation time on the new systems as well as brushing up on the old! Friday morning saw 558 taken out to the runway to show her where it is and to carry out a confidence compass swing to ensure the compasses are pointing in the general direction!

Of course the majority of the week has been taken up with clearing the remaining 250 work cards. With most of the cards cleared and the remaining cards put in as a limitation on the aircraft, 558 was released to the aircrew late on Friday afternoon to carry out the first of the taxi trials.

So around tea-break on Friday afternoon XH558 moved off the engine running pan under her own power and made her way to the runway, whilst on the runway she made a couple of slow taxi runs up and down the runway before being handed back to the ground crew to be towed back in.

As we now have a serviceable aircraft, we are beginning to achieve the un-achievable and next week will see us hopefully completing the rest of the paperwork along with the runs and all that will remain then is the authority to take to the air!!!

PS Why not pop down to the hangar on Sunday and if you’re lucky you may see some of the Engineer’s in the afternoon, as we prepare 558 ready once again for Monday morning.


















Also, see the website for some videos of her taxying under her own power. www.tvoc.co.uk
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XL391
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 12:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Taken during fast taxying on the 17th:

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Rick
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 7:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

the effort that has gone into this is just staggering!! Concorde next anyone? Very Happy

Rick
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Rick
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

she flies!!!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7050000/newsid_7051100?redirect=7051162.stm&news=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&nbram=1&bbwm=1
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