Cosford Conservation Centre Open week ...14 November 2011 - 19 November 2011

ChrisF · August 09, 2011, 11:35:23 AM

http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/news/article.cfm?headline=Cockpits+open+to+aviation+fans

See ya there folks ?

The Wooksta! · August 11, 2011, 04:38:55 AM

Hmmmn. Given the "radiation risk" due to luminous paint, I'm surprised the Health & Safety Gestapo haven't put a stop to this.

ChrisF · August 11, 2011, 12:07:07 PM

Shhh ! dont tell them... just enjoy till they figure it out on their own...

The Wooksta! · August 11, 2011, 02:53:39 PM

Done it anyway back in '99. Pilot and Navigator pits. Nav has loads of room but the pilot would be a little snug.

oz rb fan · August 11, 2011, 11:41:35 PM

damn it i'm back home

but i did look at this one (and try to work out how to bring it back as hand luggage

DamienB · September 09, 2011, 03:37:59 AM

Cosford have just confirmed to me that the TSR2 cockpits will be open - but you will NOT be allowed to sit in it.

PR19_Kit · September 09, 2011, 04:03:02 AM

I suppose that fulfills the definition of 'open cockpit' but I bet it's not what Joe Public understands by the phrase.... $:-\$

deathjester · September 09, 2011, 09:43:36 AM

It's not as though you can reverse it out of the hangar and clear off with it - I did check....

ChrisF · September 09, 2011, 05:28:04 PM

"beep beep" this nuclear bomber is reversing... "Beep beep.." lol

deathjester · September 12, 2011, 03:30:08 AM

It's a point I've been wondering about - XR220 is supposed to be the most complete of the two, but how complete is she? I mean, if re-introduced to her engines, could she at least fast taxi? That would be incredible! And then, armed with a copy of the Pilot's notes, I could sneak in and......

DamienB · September 20, 2011, 07:33:51 AM

What does 'rapid' mean to you...?

XR220 is in pretty good nick but the cockpits were pretty comprehensively 'souvenired'/spares recovered back in the day and the equipment bays likewise. Much of the flight test equipment was removed in a hurry by chopping through the wiring looms rather than spending the time required to disconnect everything individually; however systems like hydraulics etc. are intact to my knowledge. I've had most of the bays opened up and there's still plenty of oil around and most of the bay interiors look like they were built months ago rather than more than 40 years ago. A little damage was caused to the wing when moving it to Cosford and I'm not sure if the wing to fuselage attachment has been completed correctly in terms of plumbing for fuel and flight controls.

Could you get her running again with suitable engines? Sure. It'd just cost millions and you'd need to murder everybody at the RAF Museum first! And frankly, I wouldn't stand anywhere nearby when you started it up (due to likelihood of engine blowing up - and, of course, your history of murder).

PR19_Kit · September 20, 2011, 09:08:41 AM

'222 by comparison is pretty empty inside.

When she was at Cranfield we used her as a systems development example, and our Prof had to get some of the control equipment from 'friends', presumably within BAC or somewhere. With the aid of external power we could get most of the control surfaces moving, but not the fin. Bu she never did have any engines fitted AFAIK, they were just vast gaping holes when I knew her, and most of the cockpit instrumentation had gone too, or was never fitted.

I'd like to see inside her now and see what she's like at Duxford.

deathjester · September 21, 2011, 02:21:50 AM

Quote from: DamienB on September 20, 2011, 07:33:51 AM

Could you get her running again with suitable engines? Sure. It'd just cost millions and you'd need to murder everybody at the RAF Museum first! And frankly, I wouldn't stand anywhere nearby when you started it up (due to likelihood of engine blowing up - and, of course, your history of murder).

Good point with the early -320's, but on that point, would -593's fit? No self destruction woes with them!

Also, would Cosford not have sufficient examples of suitable instruments from that era to fit her out with, at least, the basics?

DamienB · September 21, 2011, 07:17:22 AM

No to 593s - they're larger and wouldn't physically fit in the tunnels, never mind the plumbing problems.

The RAFM's stores have all sorts of stuff but most TSR2 instruments were type specific and I would have thought they'd have identified any TSR2 ones by now.

ChrisF · September 21, 2011, 02:10:49 PM

In all seriousness considering the teething problems the type had during its build i think its probably best to keep it in our fantasies....