|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 15, 2008 20:30:59 GMT 12
Sounds great!
|
|
|
Post by nzompilot on Jun 16, 2008 16:51:31 GMT 12
From today's Marlborough Express Bristol shows sparks of new life Blair Ensor - The Marlborough Express | Monday, 16 June 2008 They rattled, smoked and sent out showers of sparks, but the engines of a piece of aviation history are running again. The Bristol Type 170 Freighter Merchant Courier was last flown in 1986 after the Marlborough Aero Club rescued it from the scrap heap and it brought to Omaka. About 70 aircraft enthusiasts turned out on Friday and Sunday to witness the revival of the aircraft. Many of them had previously been involved with the Bristols. Pilot, and former RNZAF engine technician Alastair Marshall, is leading the push for the plane's restoration. Trustee of the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, Graham Orphan said, "it was great to see the aircraft come to life again like that. It was really special." The plane is planned to have a starring role at next year's 2009 Classic Fighters airshow, where it is hoped the plane will taxi down the runway, shut down in front of the crowd and then have a car driven into it. Mr Orphan said it would still be some time until the aircraft could taxi down the runway. Mr Marshall hoped to have a public "firing up" of the engines. Source
|
|
|
Post by Brett on Jun 16, 2008 18:17:04 GMT 12
There is a small write-up on the project in the latest Classic Wings, as well.
|
|
|
Post by Radialicious on Jun 16, 2008 18:26:19 GMT 12
Hi all! Thanks for all the responses. I've been working out of town for the last few days and have only found the chance to post. Friday really was a special day. That old engine took very little convincing at all and the result was a very satisfying and quite beautiful sound. Quite an audience had gathered by the time I flicked the switches and they seemed just as chuffed as I was.
Yesterday, we ran the STBD engine briefly. It started even easier than the port one but decaying oil pressure led me to shut it down. Because of this, I wasn't able to run them both together. That will happen though as soon as I can! The port engine started immediately on Sunday and it is the coolest feeling coaxing life out of it. Paul is right about about feeling and hearing the response to flicking the mags on. It was a surreal feeling to feel the warmth of the big engine as we cowled her up for the night.
Allan Udy has very kindly posted an almost 9 minute clip of Fridays adventure on YouTube and it is a lot of fun to watch.
I have to duck out shortly but do want to post a more thorough report of the exciting part of the project. I'll do that ASAP!
|
|
|
Post by nzompilot on Jun 16, 2008 18:35:20 GMT 12
For those who can't be bothered searching youtube here is the quick link to the video Al mentions. Absolutely awesome
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 16, 2008 19:04:40 GMT 12
I'm looking forward to the next debrief report Al, again well done.
Thanks to to Allan for posting the video. I am slowly loading it now and look forward to seeing it.
|
|
|
Post by Gavin Conroy on Jun 16, 2008 19:17:27 GMT 12
|
|
|
Post by Bruce on Jun 16, 2008 19:21:34 GMT 12
I like how all the puffs of smoke appear in sequence out of each of the pipes! Very cool.
|
|
|
Post by Gavin Conroy on Jun 16, 2008 20:16:01 GMT 12
I like how all the puffs of smoke appear in sequence out of each of the pipes! Very cool. Yip I thought the same thing
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 16, 2008 20:59:35 GMT 12
I loved that video! Though my cat didn't when i cranked the volume up. Nice photos from Sunday Gavin. Is the problem with the starboard engine a big one, or small?
|
|
|
Post by Allan Udy on Jun 16, 2008 21:38:51 GMT 12
Hi guys, Sorry the video took so long to post -- took almost 7.5 hours of editing work over the weekend to get it to that stage -- had a couple of issues with the in-cockpit cameras that needed to be sorted out, and then it's a fiddly job getting the footage from each of the cameras properly in synch. As well as the YouTube version, there's also a QuickTime version on our website: www.aviationfilm.com/bristol/engine.htmlAnd for anyone who wants to see it BIG, and hear it in CD quality, there's the option to buy and download a copy for your iPod. This is something we've decided to test as we have an awful lot of really cool footage from the past seven years that needs to see the light of day, but isn't really suitable for DVD releases.... It makes some sense (to us at least at the moment) that these shorter segments be released as paid, but cheap, high quality downloads. However, we realise that it's quite likely that the advent of YouTube, and all sorts of free video footage on the web will mean that this avenue to generate sales (and thereby covering costs to make even more videos) is not going to fly, even though YouTube's quality is pretty darn awful, compared to hi-res standard def footage (i.e. not even talking about HD here). We are interested in everyone's thoughts and comments.....? Now I'll get back to the Classic Fighters 2007 DVD production. Narration was recorded last week. Final editing over the next 3-4 weeks. Then off for manufacturing. Hoping for a release last week in July or first week in August. Over THREE hours of material on the disk. And as with the last three, you'll be able to turn the narrator (Jim Hopkins) off if you want, and just listen to the sound of the aircraft. Now I ask, can you do THAT with the Wanaka disks.....? And anyone who makes the smart a***ed comments that at least you can watch the Wanaka disk, and that it only took two months for them to produce it..... well, fair point, but then they were probably being paid to do so! ;-) Cheers, Allan
|
|
|
Post by shorty on Jun 16, 2008 22:20:17 GMT 12
I see Mike Nichols head sticking up out of the hatch!
|
|
|
Post by avro683 on Jun 17, 2008 2:00:34 GMT 12
Fantastic video Al! Look forward to seeing more video of the stbd engine run!
|
|
|
Post by flyjoe180 on Jun 17, 2008 9:52:46 GMT 12
I just watched the video. I have seen better. Just kidding!! ;D Brilliant work on the video, and great to see the Bristol fire up in motion and with sound. How much oil did that engine use???
|
|
|
Post by Radialicious on Jun 17, 2008 22:46:11 GMT 12
I have watched Allans video many times now and it is still pretty exciting as I haven’t yet seen or heard her running from outside. Friday’s jobs were pretty straight forward but a lot had to be squeezed into a couple of hours after I finished work before we could shut her up and flick the switch. The port engine had been considered good to go for a couple of weeks whilst I concentrated on the STBD one. An important task was the hot oil prime. SoundsAero lent me their hot oil rig which was easily connected up to a priming connection on the engine oil pump. An electric element in the rig heated about 3 gallons of oil up to about 60-70 degrees C and a pump was used to force the oil into the main pressure system. This was done whilst the engine was being cranked to circulate the oil as much as possible. Then there was a quick dash to refit the spark plugs and leads. While this was being done, I rounded up some trusted helpers to cover such things as external power, fire extinguishers and my very important advice crew that would join me in the cockpit. I was encouraged to give a short address to the growing and expectant crowd before we climbed upstairs. Bill Ashley, Reg Taylor, Lester Hope and I settled into the cockpit and discussed the technique that was most accepted for starting these big old engines. We decided that we would use the tried and trusted technique that the pilots had used for many many years. First up, three guys were used to pull the prop through 8 blades to clear any oil from the lower cylinders. It was fun watching them struggle with the compressions! Considering the number of cylinders and the reduction gear ratio, they battled one compression every 11 degrees or prop rotation. From there the technique used was mags off, throttle closed, fuel on, crossfeed open, booster pumps on, fuel pressure checked, carb fuel cutoff open then closed, throttle set, primer pump on, starter on, 4 blades, primer switch to port for four more blades, mags on and when the engine began to run, fuel cutoff selected to run. As the video shows, she fired into life immediately the mags were switched on but was quite reluctant to run smoothly. It was clear that the slow running mixture was terribly rich, as after the oil in the cylinders began to burn off it was replaced with a dark, sooty smoke and lots of raw fuel draining from the exhausts. The applause from the crowd was more than encouraging after she died on the first attempt. It felt very much like a hung start in a turbine where you achieve light off but the engine fails to accelerate. Wait a minute, what did I just say? SLAP, OUCH! It felt nothing like starting a turbine. It felt and sounded like an angry monster! I had seen them start years ago and was reminded not to expect anything immediately from the starter motors. They are hilarious to watch and listen to and aren’t inertia operated like the video would suggest. On selecting the starter on, the blades twitch as the starter dog turns to engage the rear of the crankshaft. Nothing happens until something inside the starter decides that it is angry enough to start cranking. The buildup to this is almost comical but very exciting. Some of the most ridiculous sounds came from the starter at this time. Once the blades are turning past the window, you have to count them fairly fast. The booster coils in the ignition circuit are hooked into the low tension magneto switches in the roof so nothing serious happens until they are selected on. When they are though the fun begins! There was a coordinated effort between those of us in the cockpit to find the sweet spot that would keep the engine running. She was very sensitive to throttle lever position and at 800-900rpm ran very rich. On the first attempt, as Reg described at the time, she had a few ‘lazy cylinders’. Very understated… A certain amount of experimentation was needed with throttle and primer and whilst she would run on the primer only, she was hardly a swiss watch! On the third try, we opened the throttle a wee bit further and it seemed the carb was suddenly out of the slow running setting. The Hobson carb manual says that a richer than normal fuel mix is provided to assist in starting and also for cooling on the ground. As the throttle was advanced, above 1000 rpm, she really responded and settled into a beautiful crackling rumble. In many ways she sounded more like a V-12 than a twin row radial. I suspect than is because of the 14 exhausts that she barks out of instead of the usual collected manifold more common to us on a twin row Pratt like the R-1830. There were a few moments when I just stared out the window at the monster that was literally at arms reach from me. It was a very satisfying moment to say the least! I didn’t get her above 1400rpm for the main reason that we didn’t have any brakes and although the tail was chained to the ground, the concrete pads under the wheels were quite oily. The chocks, I thought, wouldn’t need much encouraging to skid forward. Plus, it would scare the life out of my audience! 1400 rpm was incredibly loud but was the kind of sound you’d quite happily go deaf listening to. I can only imagine what 2800 rpm must sound like on both sides on takeoff. There was no way I was going to slide the side window closed and keep it out though. The four of us sat there for about 10 minutes enjoying the sound and the old boys who have many many years of Bristol experience sat there with the biggest grins on their faces. Bill hadn’t flown the Bristol for 35 years and said it took him right back in time. It was also satisfying that we had arranged for the 88 year old pilot who delivered the machine from the factory to attend. He was chuffed to bits also. Not so chuffed (perhaps) was the owner of the car parked on the roadside directly behind us. The smokey awakening left an oil slick on his car that will guarantee it will never rust. A mate of mine was driving to Omaka and was 2 km away when he first saw the smoke. He was right in guessing that it was me.
On Sunday it became the turn of the other engine to receive similar attention. In the cockpit this day were Kevin Hodson, Steve Petersen, Mike Nicholls and myself. Hoddy and Steve are old school Bristol and Mike is a Warbird fanatic and my former Commanding Officer in the RNZAF. The STBD engine took no coaxing at all and burst into life with no dramatics at all. It is hard to say why but my technique was slightly better second time round. Sadly we shut that one down quite early as it started to lose oil pressure from an initially steady 80-90 psi. The audience that was there to witness a possible two engine run were to be disappointed but their smiles were soon back after I started the port one. It is a real honey now and started first pop and ran beautifully. Afterwards, the aeroclub bar was a very festive place to be and many drinks were enjoyed by many people.
I now have a bit of a battle on my hands to get to the bottom of what appears to be a bad case of ‘sleeve nip’ on the STBD side and a puzzling lack of oil pressure. In saying that, Marlborough is a great place for Bristol advice so hopefully I’ll have a battle plan in the next few days. Supporters of this project will be pleased to know that we can expect a full ground run before the next phase to restore her to taxiing condition.
I’m looking forward to that!
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 18, 2008 0:42:34 GMT 12
That was great to read your full account of the engine runs Al. I really laughed when I read about the poor bloke's car. Perhaps some traffic cones there before future runs might be in order. ;D
That's superb to hear about the old pilots getting a real kick out of it all. Did you get a group photo of all the old pilots at this little reunion?
I guess Allan and his film team have probably already considered this but it would be good to interview those ex-Bristol pilots about both their own experiences, and the re-awakening, for the film. Especially the 88 year olf delivery pilot.
|
|
|
Post by paddy on Jun 18, 2008 9:01:33 GMT 12
Not to take anything away from the amazing job done getting her running again but some kudos should go to the engineers that inhibited the engines all those years ago.
Well done guys both past and present.
|
|
|
Post by james007england on Jun 18, 2008 10:24:16 GMT 12
Good evening chaps,
I used to watch these buggers taking off and landing every half hour or so, Bristol Frieghters and Super Freighters, along with Dakotas, Doves, Herons and Austers betwix. My father worked on all of them - hydolics - in the latter years soley on the Freighter's landing gear.
I didn't realise how wonderfull these buggers were .... ARE! I was lucky enough to recently have a seat on one of the last flights in a Dakota before EEC regulation forbid the carrying of passenger by these gorgeous old ladies. England's new masters in Europe have managed to do what Hitler's Luftwaffa failed to do .............. ground these eternal flying wonders.
If ever your Bristol Freighter taxies along the runway (let alone flys) please, please - I beg you - let me be aboard (or even in the proximity). I will sell my home, my dog, my family and all my frilly underwear - ANYTHING - just to hear the musical throbbing of those wonderfull engines.
soz bout waxing lyrical................ Sincere regards, Edward James (and the ghost of my Father!!) Southend-on-Sea (a spits throw form the airort) ........................................
|
|
|
Post by Allan Udy on Jun 18, 2008 16:36:23 GMT 12
Hi all, For those of you with an interest in Bristol Freighters, Argosy's and Safe Air in general, Paul Davidson, (Bytesize Productions & The Argosy Trust), has given us permission to distribute his 1990's documentary 'The Final Flight' on DVD. Check out the details at: www.aviationfilm.com/shop/dvd_fflight.htmlIncluded on the page is link to a YouTube preview of the disk, although some of the material in this short movie doesn't actually appear on the DVD. This is probably a good point to note that in the coming months, we're planning on making a number of items available as either download movies, or DVD releases. If you want to be kept up to date with what we're releasing, send us a message to the address below, and we'll add you to our periodic newsletter mailing list. info@aviationfilm.com Cheers Allan
|
|
|
Post by corsair67 on Jun 18, 2008 17:59:59 GMT 12
Allan, that is great news about the Argosy dvd. I've been wanting a copy of this film for ages, so will be placing an order with you soon.
|
|