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Post by jp on May 18, 2014 12:40:58 GMT 12
Spending half a million on engines is just the tip of the iceberg - prop blades are about $20K each to overhaul(x12), tyres, hangar at an airport, operating costs, spares package, systems checks/overhaul, no revenue when it spends a season grounded for servicing, insurance.... and I don't think MoTaT would be overly keen to trade their prize exhibit for a replica....
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 18, 2014 13:32:59 GMT 12
Exactly. Look how many years that the Pantons have been working on getting their Lancaster back to flight status, and how much money they have had to raise, and their one flew a lot more recently than the NZ Lancaster.
The idea of basing it Omaka - surely the runway wouldn't be long enough would it?
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Post by baz62 on May 18, 2014 13:40:54 GMT 12
No i doubt it. Nice idea to fly her but she's preserved, indoors and lovingly looked after just like I want to be at her age!
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Post by pjw4118 on May 18, 2014 16:07:47 GMT 12
Questions , questions , and I have only been away three days. I hope this will help,
The spars were not cut , the outer wings were removed for transport , but on reassembly were not re plumbed. Hence only the inners were fired up on live days. The aircraft was never grounded , all the engine and airframe logs are on file and are "current" so in theory a qualified engineer could sign it off it is a potential flier , with a couple of million dollars help. Peter Jackson was keen to take the front of the hangar off to get it out and running. The Pattton aircraft had a lot of cosmetic work done not to aircraft standards and this would need reworking to come up to requirements.
The machine gums are fully operational and police permits are held. The breaches are stored. The engines are pulled through regularly and one has very low hours , the others are not time expired.
Nothing is free. The NZBCA did an accounting exercise in 1999 and by then over $200,000 had been raised for the hangar and restoration, and about the same in voluntary man hours. We have an honours board recording all the companies that donated time and materials , it runs to over 60 listed. Without the drive of Bill Simpson , BCA President and John Barton restoration boss , we would be looking at a very different aircraft today. As it stands now the NZBCA spends around 2000 hours a year in cleaning and maintainance and around $10 ,000 , so nothing is free
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