Swordfish over Somerset

[Durruti]

The last surviving flying Swordfish takes a rare trip out of its Hangar.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/somerset/hi/people_and...

[Total loss]

Durruti said:

The last surviving flying Swordfish takes a rare trip out of its Hangar.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/somerset/hi/people_and...

What can you believe in the news ?, as usual why let the truth get in the way of a good story.
The Royal Navy have at least two airworthy Swordfish,if not three & there is at least one flying in Canada.

[tog]

Total loss said:

Durruti said:

The last surviving flying Swordfish takes a rare trip out of its Hangar.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/somerset/hi/people_and...

What can you believe in the news ?, as usual why let the truth get in the way of a good story.
The Royal Navy have at least two airworthy Swordfish,if not three & there is at least one flying in Canada.

That's OK then - it means they will have something to fly from the new carriers after all. Port Stanley can be protected!

[Eric Mc]

Total loss said:

Durruti said:

The last surviving flying Swordfish takes a rare trip out of its Hangar.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/somerset/hi/people_and...

What can you believe in the news ?, as usual why let the truth get in the way of a good story.
The Royal Navy have at least two airworthy Swordfish,if not three & there is at least one flying in Canada.

The RN only have the one airworthy Swordfish at the moment - and this one only got back into the air after a lengthy rebuild and a long delay due to mysterious engine problems - which were only cured in Septembetr.

[Total loss]

Eric Mc said:

Total loss said:

Durruti said:

The last surviving flying Swordfish takes a rare trip out of its Hangar.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/somerset/hi/people_and...

What can you believe in the news ?, as usual why let the truth get in the way of a good story.
The Royal Navy have at least two airworthy Swordfish,if not three & there is at least one flying in Canada.

The RN only have the one airworthy Swordfish at the moment - and this one only got back into the air after a lengthy rebuild and a long delay due to mysterious engine problems - which were only cured in Septembetr.

There own website lists 2 airworthy with another one on long term restoration back to flying , other info also says that one is flying in the USA & one in Canada with another 2 airworthy in Canada but not flown.

[Eric Mc]

The website is wrong then.

I went to the Yeovilton Air Day this year and spent a long time chatting to the pilots and ground crew who operate the Historic Flight Swordfish. They were very unhappy that the Swordfish that is NOW flying was still not airworthy back in June because of the engine problems. They have one other machine which is potentially airworthy but not at the moment and anther is the FAA museum as a static exhibit only.

[williamp]

so as the "mystery" engine problem is now solved, what was it?

[Waynester]

Piston rings I believe, but due to rings being of unobtanium....they had to get new metal foundered/made, then the rings of course. Along with re-honing bores etc...

Love the string bag

Oh bugger! Bloody iPod! Sorry can't delete additional posts..

Edited by Waynester on Tuesday 16th November 15:43

[Eric Mc]

williamp said:

so as the "mystery" engine problem is now solved, what was it?

As explained by Waynester, teh rings were allowing oil to creep past after a few minutes of running. This meant that the engine would run until it warmed up at which stage the fuel started getting contaminated, causing the engine to stop.

There was no source in the UK for the alloy from which the rings were forged so they had to be found abroad.