WIX Archives

Re: Tempests in store

Posted by Tom on Tue Jul 30, 2002 04:50:27 PM

In reply top Re: Tempests in store posted by john fawke on Tue Jul 30, 2002 05:11:16 AM

I think you're right John, it is down to money and the lack of it, the projects were available at quite low prices but it takes LOTS more to get them anywhere near even static status. Just look at Jerry Cooper's efforts to get one flying again, they are a very complex aircraft to get flying again, we found out recently that all of them used a specially heat treated type of rivet, only found on Hawker aircraft which was a good thing since the wings would've started being riveted up a while later. You have to heat treat the rivets then use them within a specific time period or they become too brittle, but are more than three times stronger than the normal rivets we use otherwise, you learn something new every day ;) I think lots of the trouble too is that nobody has restored one to fly yet and therefore the knowhow and support like you see for spits, hurris, ponys etc isn't available, maybe in the future we will see a II fly but I'm not too certain who would be mad enough to go up in a V unless it was Griffon powered which is one conversation I've had recently. Should be posting some updated pics of 693 in the near future if I get the chance, cowlings are nearly done :)

Tom ;)

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