By: Thunderbird167
- 22nd June 2018 at 13:21Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It is all traditional wood and fabric except for the engine which is all high Tech 3D printed.
The project has been a collaboration with the local ATC squadron and the museum and was backed by a small grant from HLF of about £7,000
It will be out and about at several more events including the Yorkshire Wartime Experience
New
By: Anonymous
- 28th August 2018 at 00:10Permalink- Edited 14th February 2020 at 00:17
The NELSAM Morane was out at the North East Military Vehicle Club show this weekend. The event was held at the Ryhope Engines Museum, a Victorian era steam powered water pumping station. Here's a few pictures of the nearly complete aircraft, now with just a little finishing off here and there still to do.
By: Thunderbird167
- 6th June 2019 at 21:15Permalink- Edited 6th June 2019 at 21:17
Long overdue update
Collection re-orientation has been underway since the end of last year.
To date the following has happened
Westland Wessex XM833 has been donated to the South Wales Museum where it will go under cover as NELSAM simply did not have room for it and leaving it outside for the next 10 years was not a good plan
Meteor NF11 cockpit WD790 departed to Boscombe Down with a Jet Provost cockpit travelling in exchange to NELSAM. This used to fly from Northumberland
Auster J1N G-APKM arrived from Doncaster as a swap for Dove G-ARHX which was on loan from NELSAM. This aircraft was based with Sunderland Flying Club many years ago
Spennymoor built Brookland Mosquito arrived from its owner. Another local addition
Voltair electric microlight arrived from Hartlepool College in a deal that has seen four engines go to the college on loan for their new engine course. This unusual aircraft was built at Eshott in Northumberland
The Spitfire Society Replica Mk9 has arrived for display later in the year and is currently in the storage hangar
On the restoration front work is progressing slowly with Whirlwind XN258 which is now primed ready for final paint
The Bluebird team have been taking an active interest in Vulcan XL319 with spanners in hand. This will be followed at the end of June by preparation and painting
The end of July will see some rearrangement with the Dragonfly, Gazelle moving from the main hangar to the Navy Romney and Military Romney respectively.
By: Bluebird Mike
- 7th June 2019 at 07:16Permalink- Edited 7th June 2019 at 07:16
The Bluebird team have been taking an active interest in Vulcan XL319 with spanners in hand. This will be followed at the end of June by preparation and painting
Indeed, a few short sessions have seen us get No.4 spinning over on the air starter. No reason with some more work why the engine wouldn't light and run. Early steps with videos etc can be followed on our twitter-
What a fantastic gesture and an excellent start by the sounds of it. Just getting one turning and burning would be an achievement after so long being dormant.
By: Bluebird Mike
- 15th June 2019 at 18:49Permalink
Another good day on site, we tested instrumentation to the cockpit (JPT and RPM both working), fitted the inlet trunk to No.4 engine and got some kerosene pumped into it with a wet crank on the starter. Pics and vids on our twitter. (Link above)
Thanks for keeping us updated on this! It's good to hear things are moving within that Vulcan! Just curious, but will you need to do any work on gear/brakes before applying sparks? Or is that big, triangular test stand bolted down firmly enough to withstand a bit of a push from an Olympus?
By: Bluebird Mike
- 17th June 2019 at 14:48Permalink
The brakes are very seized and the tyres are very flat...and we don't plan on taking the single engine we're going to try and start above a cautious idle!
For some time after the Vulcan landed at Sunderland, by various means we made the APU made operational.
Has it been considered to get the APU running again?
From a distance the the APU sounded like a Olympus at idle speed.
By: Bluebird Mike
- 1st July 2019 at 07:38Permalink
Our painting weekend went well- we had some BBP members and other assorted keen volunteers, and although lots remains to be done, we really broke the back of the topside painting. Plenty of pics on our twitter feed-
By: Anonymous
- 1st July 2019 at 08:22Permalink- Edited 14th February 2020 at 00:17
Good to see further painting, so long after it was first started. XL319 is looking really good. I think the picture of 319 from 2010 tipped up in the snow, is one of my pictures taken shortly after 319 was found trying to reach for the sky again. Have you made, or will you be making repairs to the damaged tail?
The Bluebird twitter feed has changed from ‘start a Vulcan ‘ to ‘started a vulcan’ so I’m guessing they may have had success in the attempts to breath life into XL319
Posts: 993
By: Thunderbird167 - 22nd June 2018 at 13:21 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It is all traditional wood and fabric except for the engine which is all high Tech 3D printed.
The project has been a collaboration with the local ATC squadron and the museum and was backed by a small grant from HLF of about £7,000
It will be out and about at several more events including the Yorkshire Wartime Experience
By: Anonymous - 28th August 2018 at 00:10 Permalink - Edited 14th February 2020 at 00:17
The NELSAM Morane was out at the North East Military Vehicle Club show this weekend. The event was held at the Ryhope Engines Museum, a Victorian era steam powered water pumping station. Here's a few pictures of the nearly complete aircraft, now with just a little finishing off here and there still to do.
Posts: 1,966
By: WP840 - 10th April 2019 at 09:01 Permalink
I'll be popping in this morning with my family for the first time in 25 years, I'm a touch excited!
Posts: 993
By: Thunderbird167 - 6th June 2019 at 21:15 Permalink - Edited 6th June 2019 at 21:17
Long overdue update
Collection re-orientation has been underway since the end of last year.
To date the following has happened
Westland Wessex XM833 has been donated to the South Wales Museum where it will go under cover as NELSAM simply did not have room for it and leaving it outside for the next 10 years was not a good plan
Meteor NF11 cockpit WD790 departed to Boscombe Down with a Jet Provost cockpit travelling in exchange to NELSAM. This used to fly from Northumberland
Auster J1N G-APKM arrived from Doncaster as a swap for Dove G-ARHX which was on loan from NELSAM. This aircraft was based with Sunderland Flying Club many years ago
Spennymoor built Brookland Mosquito arrived from its owner. Another local addition
Voltair electric microlight arrived from Hartlepool College in a deal that has seen four engines go to the college on loan for their new engine course. This unusual aircraft was built at Eshott in Northumberland
The Spitfire Society Replica Mk9 has arrived for display later in the year and is currently in the storage hangar
On the restoration front work is progressing slowly with Whirlwind XN258 which is now primed ready for final paint
The Bluebird team have been taking an active interest in Vulcan XL319 with spanners in hand. This will be followed at the end of June by preparation and painting
The end of July will see some rearrangement with the Dragonfly, Gazelle moving from the main hangar to the Navy Romney and Military Romney respectively.
Photographs to follow
Posts: 2,446
By: Bluebird Mike - 7th June 2019 at 07:16 Permalink - Edited 7th June 2019 at 07:16
Indeed, a few short sessions have seen us get No.4 spinning over on the air starter. No reason with some more work why the engine wouldn't light and run. Early steps with videos etc can be followed on our twitter-
https://twitter.com/bluebirdk7
Posts: 2,446
By: Bluebird Mike - 12th June 2019 at 11:12 Permalink
Plans for a cleaning/painting session on the Vulcan--
http://bluebirdproject.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=744&p=26752&sid=341788470d02b2e041f45e02f97d8178#p26752
Posts: 5,999
By: Wyvernfan - 12th June 2019 at 12:33 Permalink
What a fantastic gesture and an excellent start by the sounds of it. Just getting one turning and burning would be an achievement after so long being dormant.
Keep us informed.
Posts: 2,446
By: Bluebird Mike - 15th June 2019 at 18:49 Permalink
Another good day on site, we tested instrumentation to the cockpit (JPT and RPM both working), fitted the inlet trunk to No.4 engine and got some kerosene pumped into it with a wet crank on the starter. Pics and vids on our twitter. (Link above)
Posts: 1,713
By: Archer - 17th June 2019 at 13:30 Permalink
Thanks for keeping us updated on this! It's good to hear things are moving within that Vulcan! Just curious, but will you need to do any work on gear/brakes before applying sparks? Or is that big, triangular test stand bolted down firmly enough to withstand a bit of a push from an Olympus?
Posts: 2,446
By: Bluebird Mike - 17th June 2019 at 14:48 Permalink
The brakes are very seized and the tyres are very flat...and we don't plan on taking the single engine we're going to try and start above a cautious idle!
Posts: 37
By: JDA - 17th June 2019 at 15:38 Permalink
For some time after the Vulcan landed at Sunderland, by various means we made the APU made operational.
Has it been considered to get the APU running again?
From a distance the the APU sounded like a Olympus at idle speed.
Posts: 2,446
By: Bluebird Mike - 17th June 2019 at 15:45 Permalink
We've considered it, though for reasons unknown it's currently removed from the aircraft!
Posts: 2,446
By: Bluebird Mike - 1st July 2019 at 07:38 Permalink
Our painting weekend went well- we had some BBP members and other assorted keen volunteers, and although lots remains to be done, we really broke the back of the topside painting. Plenty of pics on our twitter feed-
https://twitter.com/bluebirdk7
By: Anonymous - 1st July 2019 at 08:22 Permalink - Edited 14th February 2020 at 00:17
Good to see further painting, so long after it was first started. XL319 is looking really good. I think the picture of 319 from 2010 tipped up in the snow, is one of my pictures taken shortly after 319 was found trying to reach for the sky again. Have you made, or will you be making repairs to the damaged tail?
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Posts: 1,713
By: Archer - 1st July 2019 at 10:25 Permalink
Great job on the painting! I may have to revisit NELSAM sometime this summer so I can admire it up close.
Posts: 2,446
By: Bluebird Mike - 1st July 2019 at 11:06 Permalink
Nothing done on the tail damage yet, but never say never. We're concentrating on the engine work and basic painting for now.
Posts: 2,446
By: Bluebird Mike - 4th July 2019 at 09:38 Permalink
A little compilation video from our painting weekend on XL319-
https://youtu.be/NXvc7JmNIzM
Posts: 5,999
By: Wyvernfan - 4th July 2019 at 10:56 Permalink
Superb. Just like the Newark Shackleton and Vulcan it’s always a joy to see something big getting some TLC.
Posts: 80
By: phil103 - 5th July 2019 at 01:03 Permalink
The Bluebird twitter feed has changed from ‘start a Vulcan ‘ to ‘started a vulcan’ so I’m guessing they may have had success in the attempts to breath life into XL319
Posts: 2,446
By: Bluebird Mike - 13th August 2019 at 13:19 Permalink
Some recent progress....more to see on our twitter/You Tube.