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Rebuilding the Canbe

Judging by the comments we've received, a few people were surprised by the heavyweight measures used to disassemble the Canberra...

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New VC10 Pages

I've finally found the time to build the information pages for the VC10....

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Monster Moves

Just watching Monster Moves on Channel 5 to see our Canberra making its journey to Newquay...

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Good and Bad

So much for summer... The Goodwood Revival this weekend was more about gallons than miles per hour...

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She's Here!

Speaking as one who, I'll admit, has a preference for aeroplanes with propellers (and, ideally, guns), I wasn't among the most...

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Jem Shaw

Jem Shaw

20/09/2013 20:51:12

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Monster Moves

Just watching Monster Moves on Channel 5 to see our Canberra making its journey to Newquay. Disassembling an aircraft of this age is a damn sight harder than it looks! Think about the skin you've lost removing the exhaust from a ten year old car, then multiply by a thousand for major disassembly of a fifty year old construction of alloys that were apparently designed to weld themselves together on exposure to oxygen.

If you missed  it you can get in online for a while here

gareth

20/09/2013 21:19:10

good to see. this type of plane was part of a lot of my younger life. hope to be visiting next week!

Margaret Hooke

20/09/2013 21:20:15

Have just watched 'monster moves' which has evoked some strong emotions. My Uncle Peter flew Canberras, and my Dad was stationed at St Mawgan for ten years being AEO on Nimrods. I grew up there and my Husband I were married at St Mawgan in 1980. A visit is now planned.Please rescue the Nimrod!

stefanie

21/09/2013 01:57:50

Enjoyed this very much & have added the museum to our 'to-do' list. A bit curious though - a plane on show early in the film looked like a Bristol Blenheim (very distinctive nose)but had four engines - any thoughts what it was & was it at Coventry or with yourselves? Thanks

Wallace Shackleton

21/09/2013 07:55:56

Entertaining programme, could have done without the unnecessary drama. It would be really great to see another Canberra back in the air again. Some engineer that using a claw hammer with an impact screwdriver!

David Dyer

21/09/2013 08:43:33

Watching the Monster Moves programme and seeing the blue bomber again brought back some very very good memories of my time on 39 Sqn at RAF Marham. I wonder how many of the engineers who worked on her were laughing at the problems the dismantling guys faced because they faced them too!

Mick Hill

http://www.mickarchies.synthasite.com

21/09/2013 11:16:29

Watched Monster moves last night.Will be visiting the museum soon. do you have a Motorhome site where we could stay. Monster moves is a very interesting program.

Mick Hill

http://www.mickarchies.synthasite.com

21/09/2013 11:33:34

Don't know how heavy the Canberra is but couldn't some of it have been hung under a Chinook and flown there,or aren't Chinooks that strong.

Jem Shaw

21/09/2013 11:51:18

No Blenheim unfortunately, Stefanie. I suspect you were looking at the Shackleton, which is at our Coventry base, but sadly regulations forbid it flying. We're hoping to acquire another "Shack" for Newquay as they have great history down here.

Jem Shaw

21/09/2013 11:57:07

I'm with Wallace that the drama was a tad over-done. One 200 mph gust of wind, power lines and a stray meteorite could have killed everyone!

Mick, we don't have a motorhome site, but if you call us we'll try to hook you up with a local site.

And Chinook, power aside, is VERY expensive!

Andy Temple

21/09/2013 12:44:54

I watched Monster Moves last night, doing my best to ignore the hype and staring open mouthed and amazed at the "big hammer" engineering. I can only pray that the old lady will be re-assembled with a bit more TLC, and that the screw extraction method didn't wreck too many tapped threads.

Steve T

22/09/2013 01:05:58

Had to check out your site after watching "Monster Moves", and I'll be visiting CAF very soon from home in Plymouth. The programe took me back to my days as an A/F fitter with 53 sqn based at Abingdon, then Brize Norton, working on the mighty Shorts Belfast. Now there's one for the shopping list!

Rich McDonald

22/09/2013 11:55:12

Amusing program, went to the museum next day to be greeted with "was that you on the telly last night?" It seems I had a walk by part. Loved the can do attitude of the drivers and all others involved.

adrian hughes

22/09/2013 21:16:34

Great to watch Monster moves on Friday. I was based with 7 Sqn at RAF St Mawgan. My last day on the Sqn, 1 Apr 81, they flew me low level in our Canberra T4 (think it was WH849) Awesome. Good luck with your refurbishment & getting it in the air again ..

Wendy Berry

23/09/2013 19:38:24

Watched Monster moves after finding out my sons, the crane lads, had been involved and intrigued now to see the 'bomber' up close. Hoping to visit in a few weeks when down your way on holiday

Richard Willett

24/09/2013 06:29:48

Watched program on catchup after missing it on Friday, Fab. But!!!! Went up in the CAF black chipmunk last Friday last day of Holiday. A great experience. Thanks John for a very smooth flight. Keep up the good work you guys.

Paul Adey

26/09/2013 10:24:25

I have just watched the programme on catch up TV, so my comments are a bit late. Firstly the Avro Shackleton was a marine reconnaissance version, which were in service when I was in. I had first hand involvement with the Canberra when I was in Libya in the early 60s.

Richard Martin

28/09/2013 11:11:29

My first thought during the dismantling process was "why on earth hadn't the Canberra been completely drained of all of it's aviation fuel when it originally arrived at the Midland Air Museum"? All that kerosine gushing everywhere inside the hangar would give most 'Health & Safety' staff apoplexy !!

Jem Shaw

28/09/2013 11:16:47

The problem, as I understand it, is that you can never completely drain the tanks. All of the fuel that could be removed via the drain cocks had been taken long ago (and much of it used in our other jets!) But there are always a few gallons left to upset the H&S; people - that's old aircraft for you!

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