Engine corrosion - XH558

[Gully]

Thanks, Sam. Fingers crossed it's good news and the test flight can be completed ASAP! Be more than a pain in the bum to have to change two engines.

Gully

[Saracenman]

i don't think an engine's been changed since No2 at Brize last year has it?

[Sad Sam3]

......On the bright side I hear rumblings about progress on No.2

ooooooooooooo

[Gully]

i don't think an engine's been changed since No2 at Brize last year has it?

Not that I recall. I did think No.3 was to be changed as part of the Winter service in line with the planned rotation of the engines, but apparently not at the moment as Smiler's latest missive reports the 6th engine being prepared "in case it is needed" during this season.

Maybe with the small number of flying hours completed since the Major a decision's been made to hold off until the 2009 / 10 Winter service for the first planned changes? Plus there wasn't a lot of time this year to fit in the service, undertake the necessary test flight and get into the display season!

Gully

[Gully]

Today's update from Dr. P indicates that three engines are affected by corrosion (presumably those that completed the full season last year), but they expect to change only one before the post-service test flight.

Gully

[Bovril]

cant afford to swap all three no spares then

[Dee]

Thanks Sam, was feeling quite depressed to see talk of corrosion, feel a bit happier now thanks

[Hungry Haggis]

Evening all,

You will all be relived to know that Mark and Ray (Watts, the new sooty) are at present working out a method of getting about a gallon of demineralized water and paraffin down the intake during the shut down.

Hope I'm not speaking out of turn but there were encouraging noises at work on Friday and with a bit of luck we won't have to change the affected engines.

For what it's worth we think harm was mostly done sitting next to the beach in Scotland during the monsoon season.

Edited to include the word bum. (which we will be saying quite a lot next week if we have to change 2 engines next week)

Just Caught up with this thread.Monsoon season Scotland OH you mean that burst pipe I had and directed it at Leuchars .Got to admit all that moisture was ever so slightly over the top .Lets hope for warm weather this time round.

[Gully]

Well, according to the latest engineering update from Smiler, tomorrow (Tuesday 9th) is the big day: MA and RR in attendance to inspect the removed No. 4 engine now it's in a controlled environment enclosure with part of the casing removed to expose the affected blades. Keeping everything crossed for the team: they deserve a good outcome.

Replacement for No. 4 being installed today by the looks of the activity on the webcams.

Gully

[Hungry Haggis]

Any further word on 558 appearing at Cosford I see she's confirmed for the 14th June but When are the test flights and DA flights being done .looking on Web cams just now looks like they are still beavering away on starboard outer engine area or is that the undercarage bay they are in .Answers on a stamp please .

[Mayfly]

well if you think about it - today is Wednesday & they want her to appear at Cosford in 4 days time, I assume there is an engine run yet to do & various other checks, a test flight of which she must be serviceable, & 3 practise displays !!!!!!! whilst the 3 displays could be & probably will be done on the same sortie it is asking an awful lot of the aircrew, so much for them getting 2 weeks to build up the routine and train. [I know the aircrew if its possible they will do it] but I get cross thats its their training time that gets eroded but there is still a general air of EXPECTATION that if 558 is servicable by then they will make Sunday. It is 7 mths since MW has flown 558, in my PERSONAL opinion I think it is asking devotion above & beyond of what should be expected of the aircrew.

....And there was me believing this year would different to the last minute pressures of last year.

hopefully no feeling were hurt in the posting of this reply, it was not my intention....but running away to find a tin hat


[And breath & out .....and think serene thoughts]

[Hungry Haggis]

well if you think about it (don't really want to think- today is Wednesday & they want her to appear at Cosford in 4 days time, I assume there is an engine run yet to do just to find out if they put everthing back the right way round & various other checks[d]make sure Smiler or BB hasn't been left s leeping in the jet pipes[/b], a test flight of which she must be serviceable Smiler and co have never let her down yet, & 3 practise displays !!!!!!! not practic ones with the man who can say yes in the tower whilst the 3 displays could be & probably will be done on the same sortie it is asking an awful lot of the aircrew, so much for them getting 2 weeks to build up the routine and traindid we ever believe they would get more than 3 days to do this. [I know the aircrew if its possible they will do it] but I get cross thats its their training time that gets eroded but there is still a general air of EXPECTATION that if 558 is servicable by then they will make Sunday.I am living in hope that she will be there got me a private flight aranged to go see her It is 7 mths since MW has flown 558, in my PERSONAL opinion I think it is asking devotion above & beyond of what should be expected of the aircrew.or taking the urine

....And there was me believing this year would different to the last minute pressures of last year.

hopefully no feeling were hurt in the posting of this reply, it was not my intention....but running away to find a tin hat why


[And breath & out .....and think serene thoughts]
Appologies to Mayfly for repling using her post with additions .And I also mean no offence to any living person by raising the question .Smiler and his lads have my undying respect for how hard they work at all times to get and keep 558 in the air .
Climbs in cave pulls rock over ,{stronger than a tin hat}

[Gully]

You don't need a tin hat, MF! We all recognise the efforts that both the engineers and aircrew put in to ensure '558 appears at shows. However, given the disrupted start to the season (small money issue ), coupled with the engines questions (in respect of which I've still not seen an answer), I'm amazed that Sunday remains a possibility! If '558 fails to make Cosford, it won't be because the engineering team and aircrew involved didn't try!

Your point about expectation is an interesting one, though. The general public don't see / hear / appreciate all the issues in the background. All they know is that they've donated £1 million (again) to see her fly, so their expectation is obviously that if '558 is serviceable, she should fly. Very difficult to argue otherwise IMHO!

Gully

[Saracenman]

the mighty Avro's out of the hangar for refuelling!

all looking good for Cosford then!

very well done Smiler & Co!

sm

[Gully]

the mighty Avro's out of the hangar for refuelling!

all looking good for Cosford then!

very well done Smiler & Co!

sm

Having been watching the webcams all afternoon (off and on!), I believe they refuelled her earlier when the bowser was parked outside of the hanger (with hoses snaking into the undercarriage bays). The giveaway was the nose dropping lower over a period!

Hopefully, engine runs in progress!

Gully

[Mackrick]

Providing the air test goes ok Fingers crossed.

[Coastergirl]

the mighty Avro's out of the hangar for refuelling!

all looking good for Cosford then!

very well done Smiler & Co!

sm

Having been watching the webcams all afternoon (off and on!), I believe they refuelled her earlier when the bowser was parked outside of the hanger (with hoses snaking into the undercarriage bays). The giveaway was the nose dropping lower over a period!

Hopefully, engine runs in progress!

Gully

I understand they will be done tomorrow morning first thing, Gully.

Rach

[Gully]

Yep - just read ES's confirmation over on t'other side!

Cheers,

Gully

[Wizzy]

The man from Rolls Royce, he say yes!!
http://www.vulcantothesky.org/news/anmviewer.asp?a=569&z=1

[Saracenman]

on the VTS website - latest news

News Update – Wednesday 10th June 2009

We have all been on tenterhooks waiting for the result of an on-site review by Rolls-Royce specialist engineers of the corrosion discovered in three of our engines, two of which are currently installed on XH558. I am delighted to let everyone know that Rolls-Royce has agreed that it is acceptable to continue to fly using the installed engines.

We can therefore proceed with final preparations for the display season, starting with a ground test, air test and practice display sorties in the next few days. We are on a timescale which could get us to the RAF Cosford airshow on Sunday 14th, assuming the weather remains favourable, and we hit no further snags.

Finally, I would like to thank TERBERG DTS UK for their kind donation of a van to act as our Engineering Support vehicle.



Look for XH558 in the air shortly!

Best Regards,

Robert Pleming Chief Executive – Vulcan To The Sky Trust.

sm

edit - beat me to it Wizzy

[Wizzy]

beat me to it Wizzy

[Saracenman]

[Wizzy]

[Saracenman]

[Mackrick]

Cameras ready