CockpitFest 2012

[Rocketeer]

Ok, here goes....a thread to record preparations for this year....whose first?!

[Anon]

It's still last year:diablo:

Anon.

[Ritch & Max]

Hi all

Happy new year!!

Max and I spent a good part of the 31st working on the Chipmunk, which we are determined we will display, whatever the condition she is in, this year.

Max is also working on two or three new instrument panel displays, which will be new items from him this year. Not as impresive as most of you other guys, but by getting in first, at least we will be noticed!!

Look forward to seeing everyone again.

Ritch and Max.

[TwinOtter23]

Don't forget the albums in here that should whet your appetites!

Happy New Year!

[Rocketeer]

It will be great to see you Ritch and Max.

I have probably bitten off more than I can chew! At CF 2011, I was looking at my Seafire and thought wouldn't it be nice to put a Spit 1 next to it! Anyhoo, I have been feverishly acquiring stuff and making bits. Frame 8 was hideous and is about 85% complete. Big rivetting session yesterday.

I hope it will make it. I have also acquired a couple of largish Nimrod bits that should make a nice/poignant display.

[Binbrook74]

If all goes to plan i shall bring my C3 / Ant-18 Link Trainer project if this counts ?
Just need to find the correct instruments for it as that is all i am missing as well as wings and rudder so far .

[TwinOtter23]

I understand that NAM has also recently acquired some Nimrod avionics / radar kit – I’m not sure how they’ll be displayed!

Binbrook – don’t see why the Link wouldn’t be welcome – will make some interesting comparison with units already on display!!

I’m not sure when WOS will start to get the paperwork together for the event – a lot of effort currently focused on April’s V-Force event.

[dcollins103]

Happy New Year to you all!

As thoughts turn to Cockpitfest again, I would like to bring the Meteor F4 panel to CF2012.

[ollieholmes]

Does writing the dates in my diary and making myself a promise to finaly attend count?

[redhillwings]

Hi Tony,

Count the Cobra in, will also try to bring some other "chuncks" to boost the World War Two era a bit. Hope to have some new goodies fitted to the P-63 and have started work fabricating the steel front canopy frame, I suspect first attempts will end up in the bin!! but hopefully will have mastered a final one before June.

We had a new baby daughter born on the 30-12-11 so my forum time has been challenged a little of late, otherwise I would have replied sooner.

[TwinOtter23]

Does writing the dates in my diary and making myself a promise to finaly attend count?

It counts for me – the more the merrier!!

[Rocketeer]

Congrats Redhill old chap!

[FLYING SAUCER]

I have big plans for our newly allocated position in Hangar 2 - let's all hope for a lovely warm weekend eh?

[Jasonp51d]

Congrats Redhill - daughters are a special challenge

On the Bottisham front progress is slow as we are getting bogged down with the fight to save the museum.

We hope to have the P-51 cockpit at cockpitfest but a display of cockpit items may have to suffice - we'll see.

Cheers

J
www.bottishamairfieldmuseum.org.uk

[Firebex]

It will be great to see you Ritch and Max.

I have probably bitten off more than I can chew! At CF 2011, I was looking at my Seafire and thought wouldn't it be nice to put a Spit 1 next to it! Anyhoo, I have been feverishly acquiring stuff and making bits. Frame 8 was hideous and is about 85% complete. Big rivetting session yesterday.

I hope it will make it. I have also acquired a couple of largish Nimrod bits that should make a nice/poignant display.

You mean one of these ??? Try Frame 11 that can be very interesting !!!!


Mike E

www.whirlwindfighterproject.org

[Firebex]

You can count us in for the Kraguj 30131 (minus wings).
Whirlwind display stand.

Possibly Flying Flea
and possibly a Spitfire exhibit of some description.
depends on bodies and trailers available.

Mike E

www.whirlwindfighterproject.org

[Rocketeer]

Very nice Mike....thanx to a bout today, mine is now 99% finished. I did a frame 11 for my Mk5, not in a hurry to do either again!!

[GOKONE]

Hi,

I e-mailed the attached ‘Before & After’ XN696 compo in to the website contact (who was it?) many months ago last year for uploading but it still hasn’t appeared yet so I thought I’d get it up here as its the most notable example I could never afford to bring along to the ‘Fest, after restorer Murray Flint did a lovely prep and respray on the cockpit.

I acquired her in the aftermath of the wind-down at Vulcan’s End in Halesworth around 5 years ago and she originally had a bog-standard RN paint scheme as seen at top. After seeing an old b/w line drawing of the Bullpup missile trials aircraft however I decided on the new scheme immediately after a ‘Thunderbirds’ moment. After inevitably losing her sheen somewhat while making an impressive outside exhibit for some years at Flixton I’m pleased to say she is now under cover at NEAM where her new keepers will ensure that she makes an excellent RN ‘triple’ presentation there with two other related cockpit sections.

I don’t think her history is generally known so here it is as compiled some time ago:

Sea Vixen FAW.2 XN696 : Service History
18.1.62 De Havilland Christchurch to RNAS Abbotsinch: 25.6.62 to 899 Sqn Yeovilton: 19.7.62 to RNAS Abbotsinch: 14.8.62 to 899 Sqn: 15.4.64 to ‘H’ Sqn Boscombe Down: 4.5.64 to 899 Sqn: 6.11.64 to Boscombe Down: 26.5.66 from ASU Brawdy to 893 Sqn, Yeovilton: 12.12.66 to NASU, Changi: 16.1.67 to AEA, UK: 22.3.67 to ASU Belfast: 30.5.68 to NASU, RNAS Brawdy: 6.8.68 to HSA Ltd Chester: 16.11.68 to RNAS Yeovilton: 21.1.69 to 899 Sqn: 11.5.70 to RNAY Belfast: 13.12.71 to NATIU, Lee: 8.2.71 Transf to FRU Yeovilton: 5.2.74 to F/Refuelling Ltd Tarrant Rushton: 15.1.76 to RAE Farnborough with Sea Vixen XJ494: 12.83, sold by MoD tender with XJ494 and on to Blythe Valley Aviation Collection, Halesworth Suffolk; 9.05 sold to Cockpit Classics and on to refinishers in Norfolk; 30.1.07 to N&SAM, Flixton; 2.3.11. to NEAM, Sunderland.

C.FEST 2012
Besides a special Falklands display and other Harrier/possibly Lightning exhibits along with some V material and memorabilia I also hope to bring along some temporary examples (though not necessarily all) of the following: Marston’s Burton Beer, Oak-Aged Innes & Gunn, Hobgoblin, Ruddles, Trafalgar, Spitfire, Abbot Ale, Gales Trafalgar, Gentleman Jack, Whitechapel Porter, and Golden Champion.

These may prove to be be available to view for only a relatively short period of time but I will endeavour to secure a group shot as with previous Popham affairs etc. Perhaps the overall 2012 champion might be rewarded with some appropriate samples of the last ale along with the trophy, but then again, perhaps its best that the general public are not encouraged to think that some cockpiters necessarily covet such beers in these PC times.

Great to see the preparation work on the NAM website re the new hangar which looks to be coming along very impressively at ground level, a great effort that will give protection to deserving aircraft I’m sure. Here’s to 2012, I’ll drink to that already

[rgb]

Hi Guys,

We at the Essex MVT would really like to get some cockpits along to our show on the 4th and 5th of August at Damyns Hall Aerodrome, Upminster, Essex. We can help towards transport costs and low loading if it's needed. heres the link to our website

http://www.militaryandflyingmachines.org.uk/

and some youtube links

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raW_3...watch_response

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soHQx...watch_response

Although from 2010 they are a good representation of the show ..

If you think you might be interested, or know someone who might be, either send me an email at richard.brew@mvt-essex.org.uk or give me a call any evening on 01245 328 910

Many thanks,

Richard

[TwinOtter23]

Just back from some ‘r & r’ in northern climes and there are a few interesting Cockpit-Fest emails waiting for me on my email system – more info to follow and as and when firmed-up!

Great to see the preparation work on the NAM website re the new hangar which looks to be coming along very impressively at ground level, a great effort that will give protection to deserving aircraft I’m sure. Here’s to 2012, I’ll drink to that already

As for the recent ‘infrastructure work’ at NAM, yes this will ultimately lead towards Hangar 3, but not before the New Visitor Centre is in operation and we have perhaps tested some new layout options for Cockpit-Fest and the summer Aeroboot!

Apologies if anyone is waiting for an email reply – I’ll get round to everyone in the end!!

[Bunsen Honeydew]

I've noticed that the cockpitfest name is being abbereviated in some quarters to "the fest",

If that's the case should exhibitors be called festers and the act of exhibiting called festering?

If everything in a cockpit functions, within the realms of safety, would that be called festering with a running nose?

Sorry, just a thought and it is late.

[FLYING SAUCER]

See you under the Gnat in Hangar 2 Bunsen.....

[TwinOtter23]

Sorry BH - but the best description for each participant is still ‘Cockpiteer’ and the more we have the merrier!

[David Burke]

That can be abbreviated if you dislike them!

[geedee]

As usual, I will be bringing my '51 along for the weekend.

I get a real kick out of looking at the pics on the CF website and see not only how much my project has moved along but also all the progress made by all the other guys 'n' gals that attend.

And to re-iterate, if you havent been to the event yet, make sure you do this year, you absolutely wont regret it

[mistyar66]

I've already nabbed my spot next to the Lightning!! Goes without saying that my HS125 will be there - time permitting, I may even get round to installing a few bits and bobs once we get moved and I get them back close to me . . .

[TwinOtter23]

I was over at the museum today and before everyone gets too comfortable with current locations, it seems likely that cockpit moves may be required in the coming weeks.

It is planned that the Lightning T5 will be turned round before Easter and this will require other moves first to allow sufficient space for the ‘Lightning Turn!’

Hopefully fairly soon I will be able to pass on some news with regard to ‘new’ Cockpit-Fest supporters for the 2012 event.

[12jaguar]

Still keeping my fingers crossed that we can bring our Stirling flightdeck; hopefully with seats installed

[TwinOtter23]

Fingers crossed that the Stirling flight-deck is ready for display – I promise that it won’t be overlooked by the photographer this time!

[12jaguar]

There will be 2 big neon arrows pointing downwards so you can't miss us