Concorde DG 180 at Brooklands

[DaveB]

Hi Guys...

Just been sent a link showing the Brooklands Concorde doing a 180deg move in 'time lapse'. It looks like quite a simple operation but took a long time to plan.. in particular the ground at the extreme part of the turn which was a mixture of grass and rubble until a couple of weeks ago! One thing I didn't see was the ex-LHR Concorde model (the one from the roundabout which we have at Brooklands) being moved to a position where it can cross the bridge into Mercedes Benz World This is now probably 'Plan F'!

Anyway.. enjoy 3mins of video http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=XZXN-p1Q5zc

Oh.. a major reason for the move is to protect DG's rudder which where it was, suffered a lot of flutter being tail-on to the prevailing wind

ATB
DaveB

[Garry Russell]

Nice one Dave

Trying to imagine why so many bods had to walk around in so many circles for so long to help achieve this

One stupid question to satisfy my simple mind ...what didn't they just lock the rudder up solid with some purpose built gadget

[airboatr]

How long did the take?


Kinda funny watching the human form at that frame rate.
Thanks for sharing that.

Hopefully your plan F does have "oh" before the F like mine.

[tonymadge]

Interesting video, I tried to count the number of yellow coats standing around with their hands in the obligatory pockets
Shame about the colours she is wearing I think the worst BA livery ever applied to Concorde...
So what was the point of the 180? Also is it destined to sit outside or are they covering it like the other ones at Manchester, Scotland etc?

[FlyTexas]

Neat video. Here's some nice background music to listen to while watching the Concorde video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK6TXMsvgQg

Brian

[DarrenL]

That's also how they built the Pyramids

[DaveB]

Some interesting comments

Rudder lock..
Yeh, I guess they could have fabricated some contraption to stop the rudder fluttering but by and large, these are not a great success and they (generally) look poor. That said, I'm sure the Concorde team (they were the ones wearing white overalls) could have come up with something elegant. You want to see the door locks they made. The uninitiated would be forgiven in assuming they were a listed part!

BA Red Tail..
Like it or not, that was the only official 'in service' livery DG ever wore DG being a flying test aircraft, she never flew scheduled passenger ops and when the production run and major modifications were complete.. she retired to Bristol as a training aid/source of spares. The last time she flew, BART was the current livery. The purpose of the move was as mentioned, primarily to stop tail flutter (the elevons fluttered too) while at the same time, giving them space (during the move) to get the LHR model into position ready for it's next resting place.. on the roundabout at the entrance to MBW.

Cover..
There are plans to move her again at some point.. likewise ASYD. The latest in a long list of plans is for the aircraft in the main aircraft park (Vanguard, Viscount, Viking, Varsity, VC10) to be moved closer together with SYD slotted in front of the Vanguard and DG in front of the VC10. Though no 'complete' cover is planned (at the moment) the museum are looking at some sort of plastic construction similar to that of the soon to open London Transport Museum which would cover the aircraft but would be open at the sides. Not ideal but certainly better than them all sitting outside at the mercy of the weather.

Incidentally.. the chap driving the tractor is current at LHR

ATB
DaveB

[Garry Russell]

Hi Dave

As to the plans...reading between the lines (I should've gone to Specsavers), I'm getting the feeling that engine runs on 'EP are not a consideration??

Seems quiet already on that front...have they officially ceased?

[DaveB]

Hello Mate

The museum are still very keen on PEP doing more engine runs.. especially as she's 50yo this year but there are a number of issues the 'team' are worried about. The last engines we ran (over a 2 year period) were 3 and 4 so 1 and 2 haven't been run at all for 2 years. On the same side as 1 & 2 is the new bus/transport museum and while it is some way away, it IS covered in plastic. No's 3 and 4 haven't been run since Oct '09 and sitting almost directly behind no.4 is the Viking.. now gagged and on a hard standing. If any engine were to be run, the logical choice would be no.3.. that is as long as the Viking team don't fit her LH wing. Although not 100% necessary for any engine run, the last generator to run was off no.4.. no.3's hasn't run since she did the last taxi in 2004. Add to this cocktail the fact that no real maint has been done since she belonged to Hunting Cargo in '96 and our concerns become more valid. Not including the engines, what state are the prop hubs in The museum have asked about getting 'someone' in to check them but they're still attached to engines that haven't been touched for coming 15years!

With all this taken onboard, few if any of the crew are willing to participate in any further runs. I exclude myself as I'm still a kid at heart but when the last 'die hard' pro engine run bods don't want to be involved in future runs, I have to take note. We've had a darned good run out of the old girl who has already exceeded everyones expectations of remaining 'live' but the overwhelming feeling among the crew is that we should not risk losing the worlds only complete Vanguard. Were RR to offer to take one of the Tynes (complete) to refurbish it as is often the case with Merlins, then of course.. we'd have no option but to reconsider but the chances of that happening are similar to those of a 'Green Party' mp becoming the countries next Prime Minister

ATB
DaveB

[Garry Russell]

It sort of sounds like it's getting itself to 'that point' despite the crowding issues.

Shame ...but as you mention they were run for many years and it has to stop sometime and the real issue is gratitude that it was run for so long grounding.

When you get the tent, heating should not be an issue..just run up 'DG and stick in a bit of reheat