Avro RJX - Manchester
Discussion
I just sent an application form to volunteer on the Avro RJX at Manchester Airport, my mate (J4ckos mate on here) told me about it, not got any particular aviation skills but would love to get involved, am guessing if it isnt never going to be returned to flight they may let me near it ?
Anyone got any interesting stuff about them, anyone else want to get involved ?
Would be a pretty good way to spend a Sunday I reckon.
Anyone got any interesting stuff about them, anyone else want to get involved ?
Would be a pretty good way to spend a Sunday I reckon.
Been on a few 146s but not for ages, amazing how effective those airbrakes are, it really does feel like the pilot has jumped on the brakes like in a car.
I remember talking to a 146 pilot, a female one and asked if they were good to fly "Not really" was the response, I said that as a non pilot I guessed that four engines would make it pretty powerful and fun to fly, she just said "Yeah, it has four engines but they are really weedy ones", couldnt wait to get off it she said, "onto something decent".
I remember talking to a 146 pilot, a female one and asked if they were good to fly "Not really" was the response, I said that as a non pilot I guessed that four engines would make it pretty powerful and fun to fly, she just said "Yeah, it has four engines but they are really weedy ones", couldnt wait to get off it she said, "onto something decent".
Spent a full day on it with sunburn to prove it, spent most of the day trying to get the nose cone fasteners to work as one of them was stuck out at an angle, mainly as it had been butchered a little, must have had it open and shut 30 times, ended up removing the locking pins from three of the four clips so it just shuts on one but they all now sit flush, after all, its not going anywhere.
Loads of work to do, paint is looking a bit ropey, tyres are flat, front gear has lost pressure, just a general air of dishevelment about it.
Apparently there is scope to work on the other aircraft there as well.
Loads of work to do, paint is looking a bit ropey, tyres are flat, front gear has lost pressure, just a general air of dishevelment about it.
Apparently there is scope to work on the other aircraft there as well.
We have done a few days on the RJX now and work is going well, a definite improvement and further work being planned, the airport are fully on board and are helping where they can, they have repainted the lines on the fake runway that the plane stands on and the whole thing is starting to look a lot less neglected, still loads to do though. We want to make this aircraft look like it did back when it was built, its the last airliner built in the UK, seems a shame for it to go to wrack and ruin and get chopped up, other countries tend to have a bit more pride in their heritage, ok, Concorde is tucked up but this is far rarer than one of those, common as much those things in comparison 
We have sourced new wheels and are looking at getting the Oleo (suspension strut type thing) at the front jacked up, they have lost pressure over the years so the aircraft is sitting low, new steps have been donated as have various other parts.
We are struggling with the paint side at the moment, getting a match for 15 year old airliner paint from Halfords isnt that easy, neither is painting outside, we are also struggling with the heights involved, health and safety is paramount, we cant have anyone get hurt so we are going to need some ideas around working at height, lots of rules and regs, plus we need the equipment to get us up there, it is however early days.
The airport are pleased like I said and have said that potentially we will, when the RJX is complete, may be able to work on the other aircraft at the AVP, they are also showing their gratitude via the medium of Bacon butties and tea.
If anyone can offer any advice, equipment or anything else that may help us preserve these historic aircraft for future generations then please drop me a line, this is very much a volunteer thing, we have very limited equipment and are providing tools and materials, a lot of the time from our own pockets.
Also, feel free to volunteer if you would like to get involved and like spending your weekends T-Cutting large aircraft for free !
Or just come down and have a nosey, there is a "Prestige and High Performance Car" day this weekend (19th - 10 til 6)
Details below,
The “Show us your metal” event will be open to visiting Prestige and High Performance cars from 10.00hrs til 16.00hrs. Over 100 cars have already accepted their personal invites from the Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porche stables. One of the famous “Missing Six” E Type Jaguars (Value £8.6 m) will be appearing at the event together with a unique gathering of old and new high performance motor vehicles.
The vehicles will be displayed in the Concorde Hangar and on the RVP Lawns outside the Hangar / Concorde reception.
If you are coming, get there early, it gets busy !
We have sourced new wheels and are looking at getting the Oleo (suspension strut type thing) at the front jacked up, they have lost pressure over the years so the aircraft is sitting low, new steps have been donated as have various other parts.
We are struggling with the paint side at the moment, getting a match for 15 year old airliner paint from Halfords isnt that easy, neither is painting outside, we are also struggling with the heights involved, health and safety is paramount, we cant have anyone get hurt so we are going to need some ideas around working at height, lots of rules and regs, plus we need the equipment to get us up there, it is however early days.
The airport are pleased like I said and have said that potentially we will, when the RJX is complete, may be able to work on the other aircraft at the AVP, they are also showing their gratitude via the medium of Bacon butties and tea.
If anyone can offer any advice, equipment or anything else that may help us preserve these historic aircraft for future generations then please drop me a line, this is very much a volunteer thing, we have very limited equipment and are providing tools and materials, a lot of the time from our own pockets.
Also, feel free to volunteer if you would like to get involved and like spending your weekends T-Cutting large aircraft for free !
Or just come down and have a nosey, there is a "Prestige and High Performance Car" day this weekend (19th - 10 til 6)
Details below,
The “Show us your metal” event will be open to visiting Prestige and High Performance cars from 10.00hrs til 16.00hrs. Over 100 cars have already accepted their personal invites from the Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porche stables. One of the famous “Missing Six” E Type Jaguars (Value £8.6 m) will be appearing at the event together with a unique gathering of old and new high performance motor vehicles.
The vehicles will be displayed in the Concorde Hangar and on the RVP Lawns outside the Hangar / Concorde reception.
If you are coming, get there early, it gets busy !
Edited by J4CKO on Tuesday 15th August 10:08
Eric Mc said:
What airline scheme do you want to paint the aircraft in?
Airliner model builders usually have a good handle on paint shades and modern paint equivalents. I use Halfords paints quite a bit in my model building.
Eric, not painting the whole plane, its in its promotional livery from when it was built, its just getting a bit flaky from 14 years in the elements, so its just a case of tidying up the bits that have flaked off and perhaps re-doing the coloured bits so they stand out, the red "RJX" ont he side has a hint of 1998 Corsa paintwork, i.e. going more towards the pink end of the spectrum.Airliner model builders usually have a good handle on paint shades and modern paint equivalents. I use Halfords paints quite a bit in my model building.
StephenP said:
Looking good.
Not been to the AVP for years, not since my mate stopped working there. Pity really, it took a lot of hard work (and money!) to move Trident ZK there, I ought to drop in to take a look how she's doing these days.
Some photos of the RJX on a grim November night in 2004 ...
Cool photos, will upload them to the renovation groups shared drive.Not been to the AVP for years, not since my mate stopped working there. Pity really, it took a lot of hard work (and money!) to move Trident ZK there, I ought to drop in to take a look how she's doing these days.
Some photos of the RJX on a grim November night in 2004 ...
We are done for the year now, plane look a whole lot better, still work to do but we are pleased with progress made.
Just thought I would resurrect this.
We are still there and are now working on all the aircraft, apart from the very special pointy one thats inside.
Aside from the RJX we have the first 30 feet of a DC10, a Nimrod and the Trident.
I share responsibility with another chap for the Trident, its been there a good while and time has taken its toll, it has an overpowering mouldy smell which seems to be down to poor ventilation and the dehumidifier not draining properly. Plans are general tidying and repainting the BEA livery to make it look less weathered. We would also like to make it so the public can access if without needing a tour.
The Nimrod is in much better order, just a bit grubby really.
Always open to suggestions, help and anyone wanting to get involved.
We are still there and are now working on all the aircraft, apart from the very special pointy one thats inside.
Aside from the RJX we have the first 30 feet of a DC10, a Nimrod and the Trident.
I share responsibility with another chap for the Trident, its been there a good while and time has taken its toll, it has an overpowering mouldy smell which seems to be down to poor ventilation and the dehumidifier not draining properly. Plans are general tidying and repainting the BEA livery to make it look less weathered. We would also like to make it so the public can access if without needing a tour.
The Nimrod is in much better order, just a bit grubby really.
Always open to suggestions, help and anyone wanting to get involved.
Krikkit said:
J4CKO said:
Always open to suggestions, help and anyone wanting to get involved.
I'd be interested - when does it go on?https://www.facebook.com/Rjx100/
Thats me, second from left, message the group or me via PM on here, its not glamorous but a belting bunch of people and you get to fanny about with old planes for free !
dirky dirk said:
J4CKO said:
towser44 said:
Saw the de-weeding around the Nimrod and Trident on TAS Manchester the other week, looked much better! Keep up the good work on all the aircraft :-)
Cheers noticed they were coming back through already, need some decent weedkiller !Hedge done, grass immaculate and only a limited number of turds, mostly the dogs.
Simpo Two said:
Well that was disappointing - I saw 'Avro RJX - Manchester' and thought an RJX was a prototype Manchester...
Well, the Avro at Manchester is a prototype aircraft, an evolution of the BAE 146/Avro RJ. Three were built, one was cut up, one is a crew trainer (fuselage only) and this is the only intact one left, these were the last full airliners built in the UK, so is quite significant in its own right.
The 146/RJ is dwindling, but there are still quite a few flying, quite a few have ended up in the developing world making use of its design capabilities, namely landing on unmade runways, high wing and sturdy construction.
Shame nobody saved an Avro Manchester.
There is also a Trident, Nimrod, 1/5 of a DC10 there, and obviously the pointy thing in the hangar
CobolMan said:
Hi J4CKO, I've been going through my late mum's house and found a Dan Air BAe 146 Operations Manual that my old man must have kept. Would your guys be interested in having it?
Cheers for the PM Cobolman, didnt clock your post here.All go at the AVP, so cool stuff going on with the aircraft, finally all getting the attention they deserve, just been and slapped a coat of Hammerite on the steps of the RJX ready for its new graphics.
We are still at work looking after the planes at the viewing park.
We are after something along the lines of workshop/storage, open to suggestions but thinking containers and wondering if the PH massive can assist ?
We have a modest budget apparently, and approval to sort something out but if anyone knows where there are containers/portakabins or similar that aren't beyond redemption near Manchester airport we can buy then drop me a message.
We are after something along the lines of workshop/storage, open to suggestions but thinking containers and wondering if the PH massive can assist ?
We have a modest budget apparently, and approval to sort something out but if anyone knows where there are containers/portakabins or similar that aren't beyond redemption near Manchester airport we can buy then drop me a message.
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