Super Guppy Restoration

[MOD]

Gaz might I make a suggestion? Can you publicize the times when there will be someone in attendance at the Guppy during these 'Open Days'. On the last 4 occasions that I have visited her (during a public meeting) she has been in darkness with no one around.

Unlike the day 5 years ago when Sophie (my eldest granddaughter; then aged 3) and I were given the VIP treatment because I had made a (sizeable) donation and even now Sophie still talks about the day she fell in love with the Guppy.

BTW Is this the rope that is now redundant?




Looking forward to the cargo-hold 'Film Shows' ...

ibw

[Gaz]

That rope is no more!

On any of the CWJ days, I am at the aircraft all day, from 07:00 until about 16:30. Once the crowd has died down, we close up.

On LPG/TBAG days, I'm usually at the aircraft all day, leaving only to watch the runs.

I'm sorry if you've missed us, but, if it's a CWJ day, I can assure you, somebody is there

If you've tried on a Sunday, well, it would depend who was curating the museum. It's up to them to get the keys and open her up.

TVOC days, when we used to have them, I will have nothing to do with. Again it would depend who was there.

If it's been a recent CWJ day (Within the last 2 years) you were unlucky to miss us and must have come over after we'd closed. Most people visit us when the less interesting stuff runs throughout the day

[MOD]

Actually I think the last four occasions were either LPG or T-Baggers run days.


Just bad timing then.

Ian

[Xplumberlives]

Actually I think the last four occasions were either LPG or T-Baggers run days.


Just bad timing then.

Ian

Much easier to just ring Gaz on his mibile and arrange a visit!

[Gaz]

Must be about time for an update:

7th November

Brrrrrrr!! It's getting a bit cold up there these days!!

Today was spent, trying, to avoid the icy gusts that were blowing about the place. I also helped Clive (CWJ) fit an interior door to the kitchen in our crew hut, all in the hope of keeping the heat up in the kitchen so the pipes don't freeze this year.

As far as the Guppy goes: We're hoping that the tyres from NASA are imminent, so, I've decided that it would be good to clean and repaint the MLG nacelles BEFORE the new tyres go in. I had a bit of a go at the port side hole today, but........







It's HORRIBLE in there! We're gonna need some MUCH stronger cleaner, probably brake cleaner, still, at least it keeps you out of that breeze!


10th November

We piggybacked on the LPG's day, today, and used it as an excuse to light up the night with our exterior lamps.

She looked good!:




It's the first time EVER we didn't receive a single donation, but, hey-ho, it wasn't our day and the LPG do charge quite a lot to get in. We're not doing too bad financially as it goes


18th November

Nipped up for a few hours this morning. Ash and Ollie have spent a while in the old 747 and have liberated a bunch of dials and switches, so, we spent a couple of hours this morning seeing if any of them fit the holes in our cockpit:







and they did!

Now, these ARE NOT the same as the ones that were stolen, but, it's nice to fill the holes nonetheless. We're debating whether to paint them black or not, they do stand out a bit.

We still have a few holes, mainly in the pilot/co-pilot panels so, if anyone has a spare artificial horizon or an 8" RADAR screen knocking around, let us know


21st November

An up and down day today. I finally finished setting up the computer in our unit. The Guppy manuals are already loaded onto it. We now have instant access to them.

BUT

Ash and I were doing a systems check before our visitors from #2 arrive on Sunday. Something went horribly wrong and we were plunged in to darkness. Hoping it's just a fuse or a relay, but, it was too dark to have a good look around today.

I've involved people that know WAY more about the guppy than we do. Hopefully we'll get it sorted soon!!


22nd November

Right, so we went up today to see if we could get the electrics sorted. We made some progress, the emergency lighting is working again and the emergency inverter spun in to life, BUT, the panels still didn't light up.

We've checked all of the breakers we can find and none of them have popped. Gonna wait for an answer from NASA, but, it's thanksgiving so nobody will be there until Monday.

Ash has his nose in the wiring manuals and Gregg and I are going through the service manuals.

We WILL sort it out!!


23rd November

FIXED!!

Ash is a legend!!

A blown fuse in the main DC junction and two in the panel behind the AEO's CB board. I wasn't there today but Ash was providing regular updates via text message and sent me these:





A massive relief.


25th November

It was our pleasure to welcome Pierre, from SGT-2 in Toulouse, and his fiancée Anne, to Bruntingthorpe today. Pierre helped us with things we didn't know about and gave us some pointers for things that have been troubling us.

We also exchanged manuals, I would say we both have a full set now!

It was nice to meet you both, nice to exchange knowledge and a pleasure to welcome you aboard #1


28th November

Well, after Pierre told us what to do, Gregg, Emma and myself set about locking the flying control cables. They have a quick release attachment that needs to be locked off in order to operate the mechanism. We managed to secure the locks in place, apply the gust locks and finally....



REMOVE THAT TATTY OLD ROPE!!!!!

It looks so much better in there now. THANK YOU, PIERRE!!

Also, we've had this bad boy donated to us:



Can you guess what it is yet...



Movie nights in the Guppy shouldn't be too far away now!!


A busy old month!

It's not getting any warmer up there either!!

Just quoting to put this on this page.


Looks like bad timing, Ian

[Sickbag_andy]

Gaz sent me a nice video of the NASA Super Guppy still earning a living, I've posted it on the Guppy forum:

http://superguppy.yuku.com/topic/139/VI ... -in-action

[Dan4th]

Thank You SBA!!!!!!!!

A very nice bit of video

Danf.

[Dan4th]

Here's another vid for all the Guppy
Addicts out there



Gotta admit that's one clean machine!

Danf.

[Gaz]

Love, love, love it!!

Apparently, they are advertising for a crew to buff her up again, told them I'd do it but the £1,100 air fare made the wife put me off the idea

[Dan4th]

Maybe you could hitch a ride over
on a military flight?

NASA has connections, you know......

Danf.

[Gaz]

It's a thought!

I did like what my freind, Stuart, said about the buffing job on 941 (He's head engineer on her), after I offered our services:

Oh boy then I will get to learn some British swear words firsthand! The fun thing to watch is the guys who start at the tail and work forward. They get so pumped because they are moving swiftly towards the nose, but, as you know, they gradually slow down, then they can no longer see the end of the tunnel. Then the swearing begins, the buffers burn up, the quality drags, etc.

[Dan4th]

1) Think of all you could Learn!

2) Think of all the bits and pieces they no
longer need you might bring back!

3) DW might even chip-in for expenses

The Mind Boggles

Danf.

[Gaz]

1) Think of all you could Learn! Undoubtedly

2) Think of all the bits and pieces they no
longer need you might bring back! That'd be amazing

3) DW might even chip-in for expenses I can only imagine how that conversation would go

The Mind Boggles

Danf.

Joking apart, Clare has said that she would be fine with me going over for a few days, but, it's an awful lot of money that I would feel quite guilty about spending. I'd be looking at the best part of £2k by the time I'd paid for flights, accomodation, car hire etc...

If anyone wants to front me some cash, I'd be out there like a shot!

[Dan4th]

US Military Transport to and from.......

Put up by NASA while there....

It could happen

Danf.

[Gaz]

It's a nice thought

I wouldn't know where to start though

[Dan4th]

An E-mail to Stuart might be a
good way to get things rolling....

You must know how foolishly
Generous we Americans are....

Work for free and be paid-off
with transport and accomodation....

Sounds like the classic Quid Pro
Quo to ME!

Danf.

[Sickbag_andy]

I forgot- the SuperGuppy forum was 3 years old on monday and the website celebrated 3 years sinc egoing live on tuesday. Many thanks to everybody who has read, contributed and supported us in any way.

[Gaz]

I forgot- the SuperGuppy forum was 3 years old on monday and the website celebrated 3 years since going live on tuesday. Many thanks to everybody who has read, contributed and supported us in any way.

Largely thanks to you, Mr. Sickbag!

[Sickbag_andy]

but I need things to write and photos to post (when I get round to it)

we always welcome stories or photos posted on the forum by the way

[Dan4th]

This was posted recently::::::::::::::::::::



I just love seeing a piece of 1950s technology
moving modern stuff like this around

Danf.

[Xplumberlives]

nice to see one with a working door and engines!

[Dan4th]

nice to see one with a working door and engines!

Who knows what might eventually
happen with "#1" ?

I don't think she'll ever fly, but if
things break correctly????????

Danf.

[Xplumberlives]

nice to see one with a working door and engines!

Who knows what might eventually
happen with "#1" ?

I don't think she'll ever fly, but if
things break correctly????????

Danf.

Dangerous use of that word Mr West!

[Dan4th]

Not with "Correctly" right after it

D.

[Gaz]

"I'll get that f*****g door open, if it f*****g kills me!"

Gregg Finch - Nov.2012