Visit to East Fortune

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11 years 3 months

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Had an interesting (and well-timed!) day at East Fortune last weekend. Last day for some time that a couple of the hangars will be open to the public as they are to be renovated/restored. The Bolingbroke was barricaded off having just been given its final coat of paint. However, from the glimpse we could get, it obviously looks amazing and a real credit to the team there. Just visible behind the Auster in the following pic -

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The DB601 belonging to Rudolf Hess's Bf110 is in great condition considering he baled out and the aircraft crashed! -

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And there is a beautiful cut-away example of a Bristol Hercules 100 -

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But prize exhibit of the engines must be the Napier Nomad used on an Avro Lincoln in 1949 -

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Member for

11 years 3 months

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Most of the aircraft are well photographed so thought I'd post a few possibly less documented items -

The Comet sports a set of Dunlop retreads (is that normal for an airliner?)

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The Twin Pioneer with extra "plates" on the middle tailplane and hatch marked No Stowage on port side - anyone know what this was for?

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A couple of information plates - first the Meteor Limitations -

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Then this one attached to the steps leading up to the Comet -

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A lot of original buildings still remain and the Para Store has been beautifully restored -

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12 years 4 months

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On the Twin Pioneer the extra 'plates' on the fin are to direct the airflow and improve the effectiveness of the rudder. The hatch is for access to the avionics that live in there.

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19 years 2 months

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Have they managed to get the right yellow for the Bolingbroke and does it have black stripes? (Like this Battle model in Oslo)

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16 years 2 months

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One has to wonder what mind altering substances the designers of the Nomad were on.

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19 years 1 month

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Traditional Napier design philosophy LOL - why make a simple engine when you can make it really complicated :D

ISTR that its claimed fuel consumption has never been bettered ?

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11 years 3 months

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On the Twin Pioneer the extra 'plates' on the fin are to direct the airflow and improve the effectiveness of the rudder. The hatch is for access to the avionics that live in there.

Thanks for the info, Gipsy 1 :)

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11 years 3 months

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Have they managed to get the right yellow for the Bolingbroke and does it have black stripes?

The yellow looks correct, Robert, but I can't vouch for the stripes - wasn't really much visible over the barriers. It is possible that they hadn't been applied yet or maybe it isn't being finished as a target-tug.

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9 years 6 months

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I was there earlier this year. A good museum, and it is good to hear that the hangars are in for some restoration work. Ideally the Vulcan, BAC-111 and Comet need to come indoors though, and I had heard that they were planning to build a bigger hangar just off site (as the site has some sort of preservation order) and put together a cold war exhibit. However it sounds like the current curator isn't in the business of acquiring new airframes.

Now for the obligatory "how was the Beaufighter looking?"

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19 years 2 months

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However it sounds like the current curator isn't in the business of acquiring new airframes.
Now for the obligatory "how was the Beaufighter looking?"

Well the Auster is a new addition. I don't know why because the AOP5 Auster on display and owned by the APSS had to be moved off site and sold when Concorde arrived.
All you can say about the Beaufighter is that its on view, with no work being undertaken. There is no information about it and most visitors will just pass by unaware of the use of Beaufighters at East Fortune. To be honest I think it looks fantastic but I have heard people commenting on the "pile of junk". We can anticipate enhanced displays once two hangars are renovated but I don't know of any firm plans for any new building. I think this is more of an aspiration than a plan but I would like to be wrong about that. I have been visiting since the early 1970's and I think its a great place.The museum Staff and the APSS do a great job with very limited funding.

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9 years 6 months

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I agree that what they get done is amazing. I don't recognise that photo, above, of the Auster. Is that an older display with the original Auster?

I quite enjoyed the layout of the museum, but it is a bit chaotic. There is something fun about stumbling across airframes set out the way they are, but I thought, for example, that the Spitfire looked a bit neglected in a corner boxed in by fast jets.

Are there any photos out there of the APSS building interior? I tried to grap a look when I was up there checking out the Viscount wings, but with no luck. Oddly the curator I spoke to suggested that there was nothing up there to see, and never once mentioned the APSS.

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19 years 2 months

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I agree that what they get done is amazing. I don't recognise that photo, above, of the Auster. Is that an older display with the original Auster?

I quite enjoyed the layout of the museum, but it is a bit chaotic. There is something fun about stumbling across airframes set out the way they are, but I thought, for example, that the Spitfire looked a bit neglected in a corner boxed in by fast jets.

Are there any photos out there of the APSS building interior? I tried to grap a look when I was up there checking out the Viscount wings, but with no luck. Oddly the curator I spoke to suggested that there was nothing up there to see, and never once mentioned the APSS.

The Auster photo was taken in 1993 when the "Concorde" hangar was filled with aircraft and displays. The photos depict some of the dioramas. The Bensen and Brantly were APSS machines and the Tiger Moth was rebuilt and painted by them also.
Did you see the APSS 1 1/2 Strutter and the APSS radar display?

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9 years 6 months

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Those photos take me back to being a boy. I would go there with my older brothers (I'm 25) when we visited my grandparents in Edinburgh. I remember that continuous plank of wood that ran around the exhibits, and I especially remember my brother being told off for putting a foot beyond it. It seems like they have lost some exhibits along the way, as I didn't clock either of the gliders, that blue copter or the autogyro when I was last there. I was also amazed that you could go up and prod the aircraft now, and witnessed several people spin the prop on the front of the Komet (no wonder the thing sucked, have you seen the wee tiny propellor ken?) and saw a kid have a hearty tug at the rudders on the Beechcraft.

Makes me wonder if the acquisition of Concorde was worth it...

The APSS shed was all shut up when I was there, and at the time I didn't know what it was. I was informed that the rest of the 707 was in the APSS shed, because the curator was certain that an entire 707 was brought onsite then chopped down to fit in the Concorde hangar.

Errrr... right enough...

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19 years 1 month

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AFAIK the Auster is slated to go on display offsite along with a couple of other airframes.
It is a great place for getting close up to some of the aircraft and I hope that does not change when the museum is revamped !
Also if they are planning a 'cold war' building please please please make it an attractive building - the 'landmark' buildings so far have neither been attractive or practical !

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9 years 6 months

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I did hear chat that some of the airframes would come to Chambers Street to join the Bulldog and the autogyros.

Getting up and close to the aircraft is good, but letting your kids meddle with the exhibits is not so good. My partner's father also clunked his head on the Twin Pioneer. If you want to create that sort of environment then I think a few more curators are needed, even if they have to take the place of feckless parents at times. I also think the fast jet hanger was a bit crammed, making it difficult to take in the full might of the Lightning, to give one example.

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That Napier Nomad is an absolute beauty, thanks for posting the photos.
Interesting to note that a further development of the Wyvern - the MK.5, was considered first using a Nomad and then two Napier Elands arranged side by side!

Rob

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17 years 1 month

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The Bolingbroke will be displayed in all over Canadian training yellow, much to the disappointment of some who want the black stripes of the target tug aircraft.
I believe that the Tiger Moth, Ikarus and the Auster will be displayed in Chambers Street in due course.

The Tiger Moth has had a new coat of paint and the Beech 18 and or the Dove has received a little bit or tarting up.
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The Civil Aircraft hangar will be renovated, receiving new cladding on the doors and much needed improvements to the floor.

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19 years 2 months

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The Bolingbroke will be displayed in all over Canadian training yellow, much to the disappointment of some who want the black stripes of the target tug aircraft.

And some who would prefer it in RAF markings to commemorate use in Scotland.

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11 years 3 months

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Now for the obligatory "how was the Beaufighter looking?"

Unfortunately blocked off by the same barrier as the Bolingbroke!

As to the APSS building - it was closed.

Quite agree with your comment about bringing aircraft indoors, Meddle. Particularly the Comet.

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11 years 3 months

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That Napier Nomad is an absolute beauty, thanks for posting the photos.
Rob

A couple more close-ups -

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The Wyvern would have been quite a sight (and sound!) with one of those in front. I was impressed by the sheer bulk of it!

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20 years 8 months

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Considering how much use the Beaufighter and Mosquito squadrons made of EF it is indeed sad that more effort is not being put into restoring it. Both EF and the Beaufighter deserve better.