The Bluebird Project

It looks amazing... if we didn't have a boat to build I'd love to come and do some spannering on the engines - or make the tea.

Don’t let him make the tea !

Is he checked out on the kettle?

last time I was there he managed to put the kettle on and then forgot the rest

The Jaguar was a hulk when we got it. Most components stripped out. However we didn't have to rebuild the structure (thank God!)

Where'd the engines come from? I know Everetts had some.

Yes Bill, the engines came from Everett Aero, a few years ago. They certainly are not flight worthy, but anything that is will be sold to dealers that will pay more than what Chris Wilson or James will pay for them. the modules have value if they have any life.

Thought as much. Not had the pleasure of finding my way around an Adour. Must put it on the list. Seen them up close at Scampton but not worked on one... Yet.

Cracking day in the workshop yesterday. We've lost a little time lately with a delay in our painting, our media feast and the weather last week so we got stuck in. The hyd system is now fully installed thanks to Rich and John. It's been in before but not with all its nuts and bolts and proper fixings. The water brake hoses are in too. We had doubts about how they'd install once the floors were on because they run through the floor corrugations and where they pass under the transverse bulkheads the rivet tails holding the outer floors on make it a squeeze. Glad to report that Rich did something at the back to get them passed safely to their destination.
After that they set about fabricating the strap that loops over the fuel tank to hold it down. It's a little 'suck it and see' because all that was left was a few lace-like crumbs of its ends so how it passed over the tank without getting in the way of the filler cap remains a mystery.
At the other end, the air intakes and fuel tank are bolted down too. Again, they've been on before but never bolted in solidly at every station with the closing plates on the sides. Ken didn't want that thing coming apart. There was a small glitch when we discovered that four captive nuts hadn't been installed so we took it off again and popped the captives in.
Mike did something technical with the instrument panel and our French friend, Jean-Michel came over to spanner check for us and provide croissants, as has become his small tradition, (or 'emptee pasties, as Mike insists on calling them)
Rob is munching away at the sponson tops installing stiffeners and captives and such and next week Checkie is coming to install the electrical system so we can get an engine in ahead of some full power tests to be sure we're getting 100% when we want it because John and BFG have now set up all the control runs to give the requisite travel.
Onwards and upwards...

Wow!! Some serious progress there Bill, it can't be long before an engine goes in and stays in. When you say 'get an engine in ahead of some full power tests to be sure we're getting 100% when we want it' do you mean 100% as Bristol Siddeley intended or 100% as in derated for the rebuilt K7?