This morning the Boss had a flight in the new P36C……
Blog
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How to build an aeroplane part 3
Previously we have brought you how to build a Carbon Cub in 60 seconds and how to build a P-40C in 60 seconds. This time we bring you “How to build and fly a P-36 in 2 minutes”. With thanks to Matt Nightingale,Steve Hinton, the guy in the blue overalls and team.
And here is a quick photo of Steve Hinton putting it through it’s paces on Tuesday!
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Another Sunny Day in July
‘Hot off the press’ – CAA Surveyor has issued the full Permit to Fly for G-CIIO which now makes it officially the one and only certified P-40C in Europe…..
Grateful thanks to Mike and Neil (and all at GA Unit), not forgetting Dave and John at ACRO Aeronautical Services for making this possible.
Oh and we flew a few aircraft with the Corsair up a couple of times – Keith Skilling at the helm, the P36C made it’s first UK flight and the Mustang was also up. The Harvard was busy with crew currency flights in between.
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News from the hangar
Our chief engineer has found a gap in his schedule to update everyone on where we are with aeroplanes.
“With the ‘Tea’ things washed up (giving away my northern roots here) it was time for a strong coffee and think about a hangar update……!
This weekend has seen us busy completing the shakedown flights and test flying of the Curtiss P-40C which has gone remarkably well with nothing but a couple of minor snags (or squarks for our US cousins) to deal with.
As I write this update our surveyor has emailed to say the (CAA) Design team are happy with the submitted flight test report and he is calling by tomorrow (Tuesday) to issue the full Permit to Fly.
We also got the opportunity between rain showers to complete the grounds runs on the Nimrod which has now been refitted with its long tail pipes as it was originally configured. These new pipes were hand-crafted for us by Chris Baglin at Merlin Engineers and are a beautiful piece of fabrication being hand rolled and welded from sheet stainless steel. We opted to fabricate from stainless steel as the original pipes were made from mild steel and rotted out all too quickly as Nick (Grey) will attest having nearly set fire to the aeroplane when one of the pipes had corroded out under its mounting clamp. (video in last diary report)
P-51 Miss Velma has completed her annual inspection and was flown on check flight last week to verify some adjustments we have made to the engine valve timing and maximum take-off boost.
Corsair FG-1D is the last fleet aeroplane to undergo its annual inspection and with that now complete will undergo a short check flight this week at the hands of a certain travelling kiwi warbird pilot, Keith Skilling, to ensure all systems are operational and function as required.
Flying Legends is just around the corner (had anyone noticed) and this week will see more aerial activity as TFC and Guest pilots alike get familiar with their chosen mounts; Watch out for the first flight in the UK of the Curtiss P-36. We are indebted to our group of volunteers who are hard at work helping prepare the aeroplanes for the weekend, there’s still a handful of aeroplanes to ‘spruce up’ before the weekend; the days are likely to be long, but spirits are high and we look forward to welcoming friends new and old to Flying Legends 2015.
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‘Twas the week before Flying Legends
A busy weekend with P-40 C and Spitfire MkVb flights and P-40F and Nimrod engine runs. Matt and team have been putting the P-36 together in record time as you have seen. Elsewhere pre-display briefings for volunteers and last minute checks, ground power units, who is available which day, double checking arrangements for the Friends marquee and ensuring all our team have their lunch tickets (no lunch, no display!). This is some of Sunday, the week before Flying Legends 2015. Does anyone think the Nimrod looks a bit different?
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It breathes, it lives, it runs!
P-36 Engine run Sunday July 5th -afternoon, Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire
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Desktop and a little extra!
First the July calendar and thank you to everyone who reminded us we were late! Then a couple of snaps from Saturday at Duxford. Who would have guessed this months aeroplane? How about the P-36 as a desktop?
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We promised a little extra so how about some photos of Saturdays action!?
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Just another sunny day in July
No less than three flights from the P-40C (Sunshine and Silver aeroplanes, yes), then one from Miss Velma. The American team have arrived and wisely stayed in the hangar (and shade) while they put the P-36 together
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It isn’t all about aeroplanes
The Fighter Collection recently took delivery of some rather nice jacks which will make the engineers life a lot easier and speed up maintenance. The jacks were bought by Friends of TFC with funds raised this year. So a really big thank you to those who help support through FofTFC
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What’s in the box?
Thursday 25th June , Duxford Airfield:
More to follow.