Vanguard Engine Run 31.10.09

[Tomb]

sorry fellas, chemo brain, i barely know who i am most days, never mind what day it actually is, LoL.

tommorow is a whole new day

it bloody well better be "grins"

[DaveB]

Hi Guy's..

Did anyone go in the end??

The AM run was a disappointment No.4 started without too many complaints but despite out best efforts.. No.3 flatly refused. We're not entirely sure what the problem was but we ended up low on pwr (a drawback of having to start off the batteries) and had to give in We need around 2000HPRPM to effect a start and No.3 ended up showing less than a thousand!!

A.M. run finished, the batteries were put on charge again and fortunately, the 3hrs they got on high charge was enough to beef em up again. No.3 was tried first this time and fired then No.4 which also fired About 10mins into the run, the generator on No.4 had warmed enough so we ended up in business.. emergency inverter off and running on 2 and 3 40galls burned on the last run (20mins approx) and with everything turning and burning.. it sort of made up for the mornings disappointment. A good day for ex-Vanguard pilots too. We must have had at least 4 turn up and they left happy bunnies I think that will be it now until the new year so see ya next time

Incidentally.. if anyone has the November edition (I think it's Nov) of Aeroplane magazine (the one with the Trident feature) one of the Vanguard team members is mentioned along with a small phot.. Donald Bassett

PeterM..
One of the Vanguard pilots I spoke to knew you (he flew them from '71 to around '75/'76) but sadly, I didn't get his name Hopefully.. he'll have signed the Pilots book we have on the flightdeck so I'll check next week He's still flying.. A319's I think

EDIT..
We also had a Bell 47G pop in. Didn't realise they were cartridge start until it left!

ATB

DaveB

[Techy111]

Glad it went OK in the end Dave...wish i was there again....

Just the 2 eng's mate....? saw bout Gen 2 and 3 so was that 3 engines or the 2....not 4 or was it 1.....ohhhh me head....

Tony

[DaveB]

It can get that way mate. The '2' bit comes into play (or came into play) in the PM run after the genny on No.4 lit. With the aircraft supplying it's own power, we were able to turn off the Emergency inverter (which gives you the minimum required to fly) and use 2 and 3 instead.. which would be the normal state

Someone, somewhere MUST have a 28v GPU that is sitting there doing nowt that is surplus to requirements. We could really, really do with one

ATB

DaveB

[Garry Russell]

Sorry it was a bit dicey but sort of OK everntually

Just think....in this weather a 1961 Mioni left outside wouldn't have started at all

Garry

[DaveB]

1961.. I had a 'Y' plate Mini and that wouldn't have started either

Happy as a pig in do-do mate. I oiled both engines and bled the fuel lines AND.. was in the P2 seat for the run (the LH one) I must say I could have cried after the mornings efforts but as it all started working in the afternoon.. so increased the grin and I'm still in a good mood now. Handy as I've a table of 13 due in 45minutes

ATB

DaveB

[Garry Russell]

Good for you mate

Glad you had fun

Garry

[TSR2]

Really glad to hear you got her up and runng Dave. A successful day in the end

[DaveB]

Yep.. cheers mate. I'm still smiling now For years, I've wanted to be the man who controlled the START/OFF switches and today, that was realised I was also on Comms (privilege of the LH seat) and I gather from the Tony (connected to the nose bay headset) that we had the nose gear jumping (it felt like it on the FD too ) and as a consequence, we lost the tail steady Yeeee Haaaaaaaa
Importantly.. not only did the rain hold off, the sun came out.. something I gather that didn't happen in Berkshire while I was out galavanting

On day's like today.. it's good to be alive

ATB

DaveB

[DaveG]

Nice one Dave

Glad you got both going in for the second run