NZ Bristol Freighter

[Baz62]

Baz I've split this post from The Guppy Thread so the info doesn't get lost amongst the Guppy info -MF

I just joined this site and thought I would help you out with your goal and joined the website you have setup. You certainly have a large aeroplane to look after!!

We sure do! There is a battered up old 747 at Bruntingthorpe so we COULD have gone bigger

You're more than welcome round these parts mate

Believe me if I lived in the UK (actually I was there back in late 2000/early 2001 for a few months) you would have a willing volunteer!! I'll certainly try and get in touch and see the beast in person next time I'm there!! I worked on a Bristol Freighter here off and on last year (its about a 3 hour drive away sadly) and I thought she was a big aircraft.
Here's couple of shots.
This one shows me holding onto a cunningly shaped pipe which made it easy to top off the oil tanks. Chap with the drum is Al Marshall. He;s ex-RNZAF engine tech and now a 737 pilot. He brought the engines on the Freighter back to life after nearly 20 years of silence.


And later on we fired her up.




Currently she is the only Bristol Freighter in the world being ground run and taxied. Plan is to build a hangar for her as although the fuselage is in very good condition, the wings have a bit of the moth in places.
If you would like to read a thread about Al's mammoth undertaking to breath life back into the engines here's a fascinating link. LOTS OF PHOTOS!!!!
http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?bo ... hread=2581

[Jigsaw]

Very interesting

Building a hangar for her? Now there is a novel idea. I wonder if it's been attempted before

[Mayfly]

Yours certainly looks better than this one that took I at Ardmore airfield last January when I visited the Mossie build

[Jigsaw]

I hate to see that sort of thing

[Checkflaps]

Nice

G

[Saracenman]

gotta love the old Bristol Freighter - a fat and ugly thing, but with bags of charm

a little like me, except for the charm bit

sm

[Baz62]

The one up in Ardmore is a bit sad looking. When Al was looking for parts to help get the engines running he did have a chat to Dwen Aermotive (who own the aircraft). They actually have containers of Bristol Freighter and engine spares and they have stated they would only sell the aircraft with the spares. So if someone in the UK has oodles of cash she would be a good one to return to the UK and possibly fly. I think its sad you have no surviving Freighters there. We seem to have corned the market with them. I think there are 4 or 5 complete ones here including the RNZAF Museum's example of which I also used to be involved with.
Al is also restoring a Bristol Hercules (out of a Freighter) to running condition. He got given (yes for free) a complete set of Pistons, sleeves and cylinder heads from Canada. His engine has no logbook and it was a mission to remove the original cylinders and sleeves. Some had to be cut vertically and I have a sleeve as a memento sitting in my lounge!

A few more pics.
Heres ZK-CPT's cockpit which apart from the avionics is complete. Pretty much everything works as advertised.


Heres a few shots of the engine project. Al has just moved to Christchurch (my home) after getting his 737 rating in Australia. He has decided to build the trailer for the engine now so he can move it here. (I may be slightly pleased about this )


Looking at the front case of the engine ready to fit the propeller reduction gearbox. We struck a small problem as after if was put on the studs you see here were only poking up from the flange about 5mm!! Yep we had a later mod gearbox with a thicker flange. Al has removed the studs and found/made new longer ones. The gearbox that came with the engine was not attached you see.


Here is the gearbox in question.


Close up of the inside.


Here's Al fitting some important o-rings before lowering the gearbox. The blue tubes hanging below his foot are the induction manifolds. The blue colour is the colour the Safe Air engines used to come back from overhaul in. Good for spotting them pesky oil leaks!


And the gearbox temporarily mated.


Oh and for those who love the sound of a Bristol Hercules here's a video I took of Al tweaking the mixture on the port engine. Yes the ladder was tied securely Mr Health and Safety Inspector!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7kWkGaeIbM

And the engine run from the photo I posted:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gvlVNeKo3k

[320psi]

Very interesting

Building a hangar for her? Now there is a novel idea. I wonder if it's been attempted before

Baz 62, looks like your doing a grand job with the old girl, nice one

Jigsaw, ummmmmm, I wonder

[Mayfly]

I think this is brilliant - there is no end to the support some enthusiasts give. Well done all, whether its Baz, 320psi or Gaz & his merry band - you all deserve

Sorry if I've missed anyone.

[Gaz]

This is just brilliant! I love to see these grand old girls coming back to life!

Keep it up mate!

[Vulcan Bomber]

This is just brilliant! I love to see these grand old girls coming back to life!

Keep it up mate!

Yours next Gaz!!!!!

When I get a few things sorted i'm gonna try and give you a hand but it'll be a little while yet!

[Jigsaw]

Superb update. pics are fantastic

Me MF...you missed ME ( she's a crap shot with that stick )

[Mayfly]

I may have missed you Jiggy but I would never forget you!!

[Baz62]

And how about this for some accommodation?

http://www.woodlynpark.co.nz/planemotel.html

One of the New Zealand aviation forum members is going to go have a close up look and I have demanded photos!!
If he obeys I shall ask to post them here for you rabid photo hounds!

Heres a few more Bristol shots.


Before the Classic Fighters Airshow last Easter I helped repaint most of the fuselage. The gray paint didn't need touching but we did redo the white and the red pin stripe. And of course those important propeller tips!




Just to give some scale, here's my son Daniel. He is nearly 6ft!


It was hard work masking out all the lettering before painting (and on a tall ladder combined with a windy day.which made the aircraft move a little on occasion!! The Name "Marty" is for one of the legends involved with the Freighter (and a few other aircraft restorations!) "AL" is written on the port side!



During the airshow they wore Safe Air uniforms as seen here. Marty is still in Uniform and Al being most at risk of being dripped on is wearing overalls. The old girl waited till the last day of the airshow to play up. As she was taxiing back she was leaving a trail of smoke from the starboard engine. This was if I recall caused by a blocked non return valve which empties the sump at the bottom of the engine. It got to full and the engine started burning oil!!. An engine run after this was sorted showed oil running out the bottom of the engine cowl. Corrosion in the bottom of the sump decided now was the time to join hands!!!! In the photo Al is carrying out a temporary repair by screwing a self tapping screw with sealant into the pinhole the oil was coming from. And hey presto success!



And finally another classsic British aircraft which is just up the road a few miles from the Freighters home is this Argosy which also flew with Safe Air. She has no engines(apart from one inside on display) and is part of a Cafe just to the left of picture.


Don't be fooled by this photo. The instruments are painted on!!


Here's my wife trying out the seating for the passengers. It is actually a removable pod that could be removed for pure freight. Even had windows that lined up with the Argosy ones.

[RLN]

Great pictures Baz, please keep them coming. Say hello to Mrs. Baz.

[320psi]

Lovely stuff, nice one

[Dan4th]

Baz, you is just what we needs!

Keep 'Em Coming!

Danf.

[Baz62]

Thanks guys, I have a lot more pics which aren't Bristol Freighter so I'll start another thread shortly. Oh and Mrs Baz (Teresa) says hullo RLN

[Gaz]

Isn't the Argosy gloriously ugly! I love it!


Keep up the good work Baz

[Mayfly]

Thanks Baz - lovely pics!!

[see I knew it was a good idea to split your original post]...

[Jigsaw]

love it.

[Sploosher]

Thanks for posting this, the last time I saw one of those was in a Morecambe and Wise film........................