Post by baz62 on Oct 22, 2018 15:32:04 GMT 12
A couple of weeks ago on Facebook I spied a posting from a chap who uses the unlikely username of "Tiger Moth Raised Shoulder Harness Mod". This is actually Glen Thompson and this is actually a modification he raised to improve the harnesses on Tiger Moth after a good friend of his was badly injured (both him and his passenger) and another accident where the front passenger drowned. Greg is a very experienced LAME (Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer) and has years of experience on all sorts of aircraft and engines from DC3s to the Tiger Moth. He decided it was high time someone started writing down some of the tricks and traps on the Tiger Moth as far as care and maintenance goes but also to a certain extent what to look out for when you are actually putting one of these aircraft back together. So he posted on Facebook about his Tiger Moth Forum to be held at Rangitata Airfield on the 22nd October.
I asked Glenn if a couple of Auster owners would benefit and he said yes as a good third of the course covers the Gipsy Major so definitely applicable to our aircraft.
So Anthony Galbraith and I made our way south to Rangitata Island. The weather was perfect and outside for morning, afternoon tea and lunch it was quite hot there. We got to meet some interesting people including Jerry Chisum who own the DH 60G Moth ADT, Wayne Tantrum who some here will know, Michael and Nancy Lagunowitsch who are rebuilding a Tiger Moth at Omaka, Greg MacDonald who owns Auster 5D BGU but has years of Tiger Moth experience both in the workshop and in the air plus is a TVAL pilot and of course the hosts Russell Lynda and Ross Brodie. There were a few other people there too whose names escape me.
Glenn had some hilarious stories about things that went wrong but also some down right horrifying examples of people (and we are talking in some cases aircraft engineers) putting things together incorrectly or in one UK Tiger Moth leaving an important part out altogether! (And the aircraft had flown in for maintenance!) There were even photos showing the errors.
But as Glenn pointed out if an engineer wasn't familiar with the aircraft type he wont get any help form an exploded parts manual showing how things go together on the Tiger Moth as apart from the Canadian built Tiger Moth there isn't one! So if someone had put something together incorrectly another engineer would see it and think thats how it goes together. And this is the problem. Engineers like Glenn and Stan Smith and past legends like Temple Martin knew how things went together and all the dos and don'ts because that's what they were trained on as apprentices and just about every workshop serviced Tiger Moths and Austers every day. But with less aircraft around and more to the point new engineers getting trained on modern aircraft. Whens the last time an Airbus needed it's flying wires and wings rigged? Yeah they don't go together that way so why would you teach it.
Glen pointed out that the manual for (I think it was the Puss Moth) says to rig the wings first ensure the center section is square and the fuselage sides are square and parallel. Then rig the wings. That's it. It doesn't tell you how to actually rig the wings because back then apprentice engineers were taught how to do it and it was standard engineering practice.
And everytime an old engineer dies if he hasn't passed on his tricks he's learned they are gone forever.
So it was fantastic to listen to Glenn about some of the foibles of the Tiger Moth in his first ever training forum. We each were given course notes too so the information is easily available.
So a few photos.
Glenn explaining a particular point and on the table behind him are bit of Tiger Moth and Gipsy Major to pass round to clarify things.
October 22 2018 117 by Barry Tod, on Flickr
Anthony Galbraith trying to hide behind his hand......Greg MacDonald 5th from right. Milling around after the forum ended.
October 22 2018 121 by Barry Tod, on Flickr
With such a beautiful day it was mandatory for the 3/4 Eindecker to go up for a short flight. Ross Brodie in the cockpit while his Dad Russell is on his knees praying it will start.........ok not really it has a pull start and he is pulling like mad to get it started.............
October 22 2018 124 by Barry Tod, on Flickr
And it's running with Jerry Chisum ready to remove the right chock.
October 22 2018 125 by Barry Tod, on Flickr
Of course there was a Tiger Moth to actually look at along with the Eindecker.
October 22 2018 126 by Barry Tod, on Flickr
October 22 2018 119 by Barry Tod, on Flickr
Anthony getting a workout helping Russell put her to bed. Go Anthony!! I would have liked to have helped but hey someone has to take the photos right?
And we also learned the correct way to do what he's doing in the photo. Hands on each end of the tail strut. NOT in the middle. 10 out of 10 Anthony.
October 22 2018 131 by Barry Tod, on Flickr
Glenn plans to do more of these so if you are a pilot or owner of a Tiger Moth or an engineer or rebuilder of one or even fly something with a Gipsy Major then I highly recommend it. We both found the Tiger Moth specific part of the course interesting and also some of it is basic engineering so applies to anything really. A great day out and Anthony and I have been invited back by the Brodies so Anthony can get to see some of the other treasures that he didn't get to see, this being his first visit.
I asked Glenn if a couple of Auster owners would benefit and he said yes as a good third of the course covers the Gipsy Major so definitely applicable to our aircraft.
So Anthony Galbraith and I made our way south to Rangitata Island. The weather was perfect and outside for morning, afternoon tea and lunch it was quite hot there. We got to meet some interesting people including Jerry Chisum who own the DH 60G Moth ADT, Wayne Tantrum who some here will know, Michael and Nancy Lagunowitsch who are rebuilding a Tiger Moth at Omaka, Greg MacDonald who owns Auster 5D BGU but has years of Tiger Moth experience both in the workshop and in the air plus is a TVAL pilot and of course the hosts Russell Lynda and Ross Brodie. There were a few other people there too whose names escape me.
Glenn had some hilarious stories about things that went wrong but also some down right horrifying examples of people (and we are talking in some cases aircraft engineers) putting things together incorrectly or in one UK Tiger Moth leaving an important part out altogether! (And the aircraft had flown in for maintenance!) There were even photos showing the errors.
But as Glenn pointed out if an engineer wasn't familiar with the aircraft type he wont get any help form an exploded parts manual showing how things go together on the Tiger Moth as apart from the Canadian built Tiger Moth there isn't one! So if someone had put something together incorrectly another engineer would see it and think thats how it goes together. And this is the problem. Engineers like Glenn and Stan Smith and past legends like Temple Martin knew how things went together and all the dos and don'ts because that's what they were trained on as apprentices and just about every workshop serviced Tiger Moths and Austers every day. But with less aircraft around and more to the point new engineers getting trained on modern aircraft. Whens the last time an Airbus needed it's flying wires and wings rigged? Yeah they don't go together that way so why would you teach it.
Glen pointed out that the manual for (I think it was the Puss Moth) says to rig the wings first ensure the center section is square and the fuselage sides are square and parallel. Then rig the wings. That's it. It doesn't tell you how to actually rig the wings because back then apprentice engineers were taught how to do it and it was standard engineering practice.
And everytime an old engineer dies if he hasn't passed on his tricks he's learned they are gone forever.
So it was fantastic to listen to Glenn about some of the foibles of the Tiger Moth in his first ever training forum. We each were given course notes too so the information is easily available.
So a few photos.
Glenn explaining a particular point and on the table behind him are bit of Tiger Moth and Gipsy Major to pass round to clarify things.
October 22 2018 117 by Barry Tod, on FlickrAnthony Galbraith trying to hide behind his hand......Greg MacDonald 5th from right. Milling around after the forum ended.
October 22 2018 121 by Barry Tod, on FlickrWith such a beautiful day it was mandatory for the 3/4 Eindecker to go up for a short flight. Ross Brodie in the cockpit while his Dad Russell is on his knees praying it will start.........ok not really it has a pull start and he is pulling like mad to get it started.............
October 22 2018 124 by Barry Tod, on FlickrAnd it's running with Jerry Chisum ready to remove the right chock.
October 22 2018 125 by Barry Tod, on FlickrOf course there was a Tiger Moth to actually look at along with the Eindecker.
October 22 2018 126 by Barry Tod, on FlickrOctober 22 2018 119 by Barry Tod, on FlickrAnthony getting a workout helping Russell put her to bed. Go Anthony!! I would have liked to have helped but hey someone has to take the photos right?
And we also learned the correct way to do what he's doing in the photo. Hands on each end of the tail strut. NOT in the middle. 10 out of 10 Anthony.
October 22 2018 131 by Barry Tod, on FlickrGlenn plans to do more of these so if you are a pilot or owner of a Tiger Moth or an engineer or rebuilder of one or even fly something with a Gipsy Major then I highly recommend it. We both found the Tiger Moth specific part of the course interesting and also some of it is basic engineering so applies to anything really. A great day out and Anthony and I have been invited back by the Brodies so Anthony can get to see some of the other treasures that he didn't get to see, this being his first visit.
