Just a quick tip...

[DangerMouse]

Quick one for the people here:

ZD242 (1 of only 2 K4's in service today, the other being ZD241 in the Falklands!) is about to be retired from operational service in a matter of days, and last I heard, leaving Brize in 1 week before going down to Boscombe Down (Although I might slightly be wrong on this.) So, if you want to get any photos of a K4, now is the time!!

[LSS]

You might be right

[DangerMouse]

Nope, I am

It's just sitting on Bay 41, doing absolutely nothing. Good job as well after all the work that has been done on it in the last couple of weeks - unnecessary apu changes, pain in the arse jobs on the hdu etc!

Still, with the evidence that the K4's are worst for the wing root corrosion, I would not want to be a test pilot at boscombe down for its trials !

[Tonkenna]

Nothing wrong with 242!! Flown it many times recently... and it is a great jet and we have had some excellent use out of the HDU!

it is going to Boscombe for a particular trial that does not involve flying... it will be taken apart however...

She will be sadly missed

And I think LSS was being somewhat sarcastic with his comments

Tonks

[LSS]

Who me Sarcastic

[mag243]

VC10 ZD242 did fly into Boscombe Down, from RAF Brize Norton, on Thursday 28th August.

I believe that this aircraft was flown to Boscombe Down to become a test bed in a 2 year research project.

[Laurieg]

Just got back from a family bereavement, heard that some of our guys have gone down to defuel the jet. I am not too sure how far our involvemnet goes but they were talking about doing system EGRs every now and again so it is not totally gone. (However, there was another rumour that the wings were coming off).

[DangerMouse]

Evening, 1st time i've been back since my (what-seems-like-monthly!) trip away. Was on the last trip away on rates for the 10! Almost had a stopper, but we didn't . I thought 109 was going to kick me up the arse, as I consider it the 'problem jet' of the squadron (many reasons!!!) but we got home in the end.

Anyway...

I gathered it was sarcastic.... hence the wink on my 2nd post.

242 was a great jet, correct, however, clearly you didn't have to work in unbelievable space constraints to fix a HDU!!

I'm guessing the wings would be coming off, considering K4's are the worst for wing root corrosion. Makes sense to check this if there is only 1 k4 left.

1 down... 15 to go unfortunately for the Queen of the skies!

.... in my opinion, the k4 was slightly, ever so, a bit of a waste. Massive amount of space not utilised. More C1k's or K2/3's would be of better use, no?

But as the aircraft enters its final years, I suppose the point is somewhat a few years too late!!!

[LSS]

Not surprised the wings will be coming off.
When I was on the tens at Abingdon on the storage flight they were defuelled, hand mopped out and then left with all the manhole covers only tacked on with a couple of screws. Yes we did have them all off at once and not stress jacked or trestled (We were told to do it that way.The amount of water that got into the tanks was amazing before the dehumidification bags got fitted (Thats another story).

As for the HDU yes worked on them, changed them, fixed them, done setups, you name it.

LSS

[Laurieg]

Got back from Boscombe the other week. We are doing the Anti-Det runs for the next couple of months. Fixing a couple of snags as we go, #1 wouldn't start ,HP Stop, some of the guys hadn't done a spanner start before so that was good training. APU was playing up so found a real Palouste, (must be the only one left in the world)!

242 is in good nick at the moment. One of the neatest flight decks I have seen, even the fuel panel back lights worked . Qinetiq are looking after her well, shame it will come to an end.

[Charlie]

242 is in good nick at the moment. One of the neatest flight decks I have seen, even the fuel panel back lights worked . Qinetiq are looking after her well, shame it will come to an end.

As Tonks said, possibly the most reliable jet we had!

(and yes, it had a HDU, which pleases some people!)