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Avro Lancaster NX611 winter restoration 2019 - UPDATE

23 October 2019

We have an update to the projected work this coming winter.

 

**UPDATED PROJECTION FOR WINTER 2019**

We have unfortunately had some setbacks with the planning of the 2019 winter restoration work.  We had hoped to achieve the following-

- All 4 engine servicing
- Rear turret removal
- Rear fuselage internal paint strip
- Rear fuselage internal equipment removal and wiring removal
- Tailplane, fin and rudder removal
- Rear fuselage jig
- Rear fuselage skin removal
- Rear fuselage skin, former and stringer assessment and replacement where required.
- Complete rivet replacement

We had hoped to be able to receive the fuselage stringer extrusion in time for it to be fitted this winter.  Unfortunately due to a problem with clearing the material modification and a struggle to find a company who can extrude the material in the required lengths we have lost valuable time required to ensure the extrusions would be with us by the time the rear fuselage is apart.

Due to the delay above we now plan to no longer start the work crossed through in red but will replace it with the work in blue-

- All 4 engine servicing

- Rear turret removal

- Rear fuselage internal paint strip

- Rear fuselage internal equipment removal and wiring removal

- Tailplane, fin and rudder removal

- Rear fuselage jig

- Rear fuselage skin removal

- Rear fuselage skin, former and stringer asessment and replacement where required.

- Complete rivet replacement

- Port and Starboard wingtip removal and rebuild

- Rear turret replacement

- Rear turret lower fuselage and ring rebuild

- Rear turret deflector rebuild

Doing this alteration to the scheduling will enable us to start planning 2 years ahead to be certain of acquiring all of the required parts in time for the relevant restoration period. 
For example, this year we have ordered the first size of extrusion for production ready for the 2020 winter, we will then order the next size of stringer for 2021 and the mid fuselage rebuild.  This winter/next summer we plan to make intercostals for the rear fuselage floor on our new box bender (which has just cost us £2,500) ready for the 2020 winter.  The key to successfully completing this whole project is to make sure we have the required parts ready and waiting before we even start the winter restoration period.  We have such a short turn around over winter that we cannot risk and major delays to the programme.

This updated winter work is estimated to cost £130,000.00 over the 6-month period as we also intend start some of next winters work to help with the tight timescales.

We have this week placed an order with an American company for the first size of stringer extrusion and the extrusions for the fins and rudders.  This extrusion amounts to $10,500.00 USD and will take 18 weeks to produce and a further time to ship.  If you would like to help with these costs then we would be grateful of your donations HERE

If you would like weekly reports on the restoration work during that period please sign up to the Rivet Club HERE

We will endeavour to provide winter restoration tours as we did in 2016, 2017 and 2018 as they proved extremely popular so if you would like to do a tour please keep an eye on our website.

 

Categories Lancaster NX611 Return to flight?