Read the forum code of contact
By: - 19th December 2014 at 23:01 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Somebody does care and has been trying to raise help.....http://twittervforce.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=89
By: - 19th December 2014 at 23:23 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
They are a fantastic museum. Their constitution even has it mapped out where the airframes will go in case of closure.
By: - 20th December 2014 at 00:24 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thanks for the link. I wonder if the elevons couldnt be repaired by apprentices like say BAE or something as a training scheme?
By: - 20th December 2014 at 10:20 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Looking at the site -repairing elevons with expanding foam is different ! The simple fact with this aircraft is that its falling apart ! If this is the scale of corosion after thirty years -maybe its time to think long and hard about her future.
By: - 20th December 2014 at 10:29 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
When I visited CNAM this summer, the staff member who took me on the cockpit tour said they have a planned program of restoration for XM612 which includes the elevons getting attention in 2015.
The jet pipes were being repaired earlier this year, the ones I saw that had been completed looked like new.
Norwich's main restoration project for 2014 was their unique Fokker F-27 Friendship which was off site for a complete respray when I visited in August.
I agree with Sad Shack, CNAM are extremely organised, everything works to a plan. I was luck enough to be able to see part of their archive, I was amazed at what they hold. They were very busy when we visited, but the young guy who dealt with us took time to answer all my questions and has a real pride in his job. I am sure that he said he was one of three employees which is fantastic for a medium size museum.
By: - 20th December 2014 at 10:47 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Just read the Twitter post relating to XM612.
From what I was led to understand on my visit, they had had to part company with one of their members who had been involved on the Vulcan restoration and I think that this is the poster of the Twitter comments which are not taken from CNAM's own Twitter account. So the idea of foam filling left with the departed member, I understood the plan is for a full rebuild and re-skin.
By: - 20th December 2014 at 11:14 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Is there magnesium in the skin? Looks pretty bad :/
By: - 20th December 2014 at 11:16 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
XM612 has been outside at the museum since arriving in 1983.
Probably also spent most of her previous life outside too apart from major servicing.
As any museum with an Aircraft the size of a Vulcan will know , looking after such a thing is a major task .
The museum is run by volunteers and everything you see has been achieved with very little other than very hard graft and determination, for many years without mains electric or water !!!
And believe me , it can be very bleak on an open airfield in winter.
I know this , I was a member for many years.
XM612 has been repainted before , it's a big lump to repair , prep and paint , awkward too in places.
The Jet pipes and trailing surfaces have always been a problem .
Please give the museum a look if your in the area , and I'm sure any support is welcome too.
By: - 20th December 2014 at 12:19 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
...for many years without mains electric or water !!!
Funny you should mention that, the last time I tried to visit (2 or 3 years ago) they couldn't open the museum that morning as they couldn't get the electricity on!
By: - 20th December 2014 at 15:57 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thanks Keefy and Mizpah, I was very sceptical about the foam filling.. fine for tires not so much for flight control surfaces...
By: - 21st December 2014 at 11:23 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
As you go in there is a cabinet of models on your left. Some of them are mine :)
By: - 21st December 2014 at 16:03 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I have several up there in cases too.
By: - 21st December 2014 at 16:11 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
If you keep an aircraft outside is it inevitable that it will be scrapped at some point?
Or can the effects of the elements be kept at bay indefinitely?
To me it always seems inevitable that an external exhibit will one day be chopped up.
By: - 21st December 2014 at 16:45 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
If a small group can continue with basic mtce inspections, regular airing out or better yet keeping the electrical system operable then it will help in the long term. Externally, if the paint and metal are regularly looked after and any signs of deterioration dealt with early one that will be cheaper than having to do extensive repairs later on.
By: - 21st December 2014 at 17:20 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Glad to say Hampden that outside display does not always spell doom,i can think of several that sat outside as gate gaurdians and are now flying and a fair number of museum ones, from Blackpool the Seafire,Mew Gull are airworthy and the Lancaster is being restored to fly.
By: - 21st December 2014 at 17:57 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
The former Spitfire guardians were rebuilt . As a part of that various skins would have been replaced . The Mew Gull was rebuilt after Blackpool to the extent
that it was a new aircraft.
Certainly anything that has been outside can be rebuilt - however when we start talking chemically etched skins and complex castings it gets difficult .
Posts: 10,169
By: Peter - 19th December 2014 at 22:12
Vulcan XM612 is looking a bit worse for wear lately. I understand that the costs of looking after such a huge exhibit can run high but hopefully they can get her sorted and repainted...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/vwhdkh/sets/72157647141842571/