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Story added 10th November 2012 by
Sopwith Camel Update November 2012
The external bracing wires, which with one exception are all streamline section, were delivered just after Christmas and have now been fitted. With all the engineering closures over the past 50 or so years, it is quite surprising the firm that made these wires during the First World War is still extant.
It took several workshop sessions to fit these, but finally this was accomplished and (with unjustified trepidation!) the large jig which had supported the airframe/wings for so long was taken down.So now we have the Camel standing unsupported and looking as it should do. It is just unbelievable to see it like this after so many years work.
The bomb carrier, complete with 4 dummy Cooper bombs, is also fitted. This is just the sort of detail we want to achieve with the Camel which is commensurate with the project being completed from Sopwith drawings and fitted with the correct engine, namely a 130/140hp Clerget rotary engine, similar to the engine which very effectively powers one of our other aircraft, the Sopwith Triplane. More usually referred to as Dixie (after the large name on the fuselage side), it has regularly performed at Old Warden these past 20 years.Last month we were visited by the then Aviation Trustee, Tony Hague-Thomas and the present Trustee Sir John Allinson, accompanied by Chief Engineer Jean-Michelle Munn and our Inspector Rob Millinship (also a Collection pilot). It was decided we should continue working on the Camel until July next year when it will be delivered to Old Warden for completion, covering, engine installation and flight testing. The reason being that it will give the Old Warden Engineers time to complete all this in time for the 2014 commemorations. That, is the intention anyway, but obviously there is no guarantee with aircraft construction.
Once the wings are removed, and this may now be a little later than planned, as we hear the Chief Engineer of the Light Aeroplane Association would like to see the aircraft with wings on. Once this has taken place, it may well assist Jean to have the wings collected earlier as once they are removed, and we complete a 'snagging list', we really have no further use for them.Sad to relate that after July next year Northern Aeroplane Workshops will be wound down. We have been in existence for 40 years and it is quite remarkable what a small group of volunteers has achieved in this time. Like many organizations these days we have no youngsters following us. We also have no further projects and building lease terminates in October 2013.
Hangar 3 is the home for our other two aircraft, the Sopwith Triplane and Bristol M.1c monoplane, so it will be good to see them joined by the Sopwith Camel in 2013. (This hangar was further enhanced late summer by those wonderful aircraft from New Zealand, the RE8, Albatros and Snipe- it gave Old Warden a certain freshness)It's always good to walk into that hangar and see the fruits of our labours, accompanied by the whiff of caster oil. I hope they are seen as a memorial to the many thousands of young and very inexperienced airmen who climbed into these machines and head off into the sky, perhaps wondering whether they would ever make it back.
Easy Fundraising
Story added 8th November 2012 by
Raising funds for the SVAS
Over recent months we have launched two new methods of generating additional funds for the SVAS to help us support the Shuttleworth Collection. Now you can support the SVAS whenever you shop online by using easyfundraising and if you are an eBay seller you can donate a portion of the selling price to the SVAS. For more details please see below:
Support the Shuttleworth Veteran Aeroplane Society and raise money whenever you shop online
It's very simple - just visit Easyfundraisingto register and allow you to shop with over 2,000 well known retailers such as Amazon, Argos, M&S, eBay and many more. Then, whenever you buy something, the retailer makes a donation to the SVAS. Easyfundraising has helped other causes raise over £2,000,000 and we've already raised over £150 with a small group of volunteers - so it really does work.
We would be really grateful if you could use easyfundraising too. It won't cost you a penny extra to shop through easyfundraising and there are even opportunities to save money with special offers and voucher codes.
So, please make a difference to the SVAS and take a look at easyfundraising at the above web address today.
Once you have registered, if you are a UK Tax payer, please remember to enter your GiftAid settings by doing the following:
- Log on to your easyfundraising account
- Click on Account menu and select Settings
- Scroll down to the Your GiftAid Settings section where you will need to enter the following information:
the first line of your address
postcode - Tick to confirm both that you are a UK Taxpayer and that you would like GiftAid to be added to your donations.
- Finally, click on Save Changes
Hints and Tips
- When making a purchase online you must remember first to log into the easyfundraising website and use their link to the retailer of your choice, otherwise your purchase will not qualify for a donation.
- Check your Internet browser settings are optimised to reduce the chances of donations not being made. Details may be found here.
- If you don't receive a donation you believe you should have, you should contact easyfundraising using their 'Contact Us' form and selecting the correct subject from the list. Via: http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/support/contact-us/
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are also a good source of information. Find them here.
Sell items to raise funds for the Shuttleworth Veteran Aeroplane Society via eBay
This lets you sell items and allow the SVAS to benefit by donating all or a percentage of the sale value in increments of 10% up to 100%. The donation is then handled by Ebay's partner MissionFish who are able to claim back the tax via the GiftAid scheme.
For full information on how to sell for the benefit of the SVAS, please visit this link which explains how to go about it.
More information about Ebay for Charity is available at this page.
To see how it works, please click on this link.
Spitfire Update 2012
Story added 10th April 2012 by
Update on the progress of the Spitfire
Port wing now riveted up and undercarriage and brakes refitted, plus oil cooler and wing faring’s, oil cooler faring’s are being rebuilt and work is underway on re-riveting port flaps and port aileron to be riveted also.
The stb wing spar will be made by airframe assemblies using our original as a pattern, the spar booms and webs are made and are being anodised, our spar is now with them on The Isle of Wight.
Volunteers are now working on the stb rear spar and various components for stb wing that need repair plus a jig for the radiator faring and flap and aileron re-rivet.
There are not any up to date pictures as the wing remains the same state, (ed)
NEW ARRIVAL TO THE SHUTTLEWORTH COLLECTION
Story added 2nd March 2012 by
A wildcat was delivered to the Collection last week as you can see it does not appear to be in a bad condition, but the Collection sources says that it will need to be completely overhauled before it is able to fly
CAR WORKSHOPS UPDATE
Story added 21st January 2012 by Fred
With the winter season well under way and the Christmas holidays a distant memory, work is progressing towards the spring and the start of the 2012 season.
MERCURY REBUILD
Story added 19th January 2012 by Fred
It seems to becoming an annual event for the engine department as just towards the end of the flying season when we are thinking about an uninterrupted spell of restoration work one of our current projects that something else comes along to upset our best laid plans...
Scale Model Exhibition
Story added 13th January 2012 by Fred
It's the SHUTTLEWORTH COLLECTION'S SCALE MODEL EXHIBITION
Modifications to the Restaurant at Shuttleworth
Story added 10th January 2012 by
conservatory is being erected adjoining the restaurant, which will be a vast improvement
Wanted for Security
Story added 9th October 2011 by Fred
THE SVAS URGENTLY REQUIRES SECURITY VOLUNTEERS
Mercury 20 and Hurricane update
Story added 24th November 2010 by Fred
Looking back to my last update on the Mercury 20 I note that about this time of year I was saying that I had been significantly interrupted
Camel Progress
Story added 14th October 2010 by Fred
Since the last report, frames to accommodate both the lower and upper wings have been constructed. Following this, the lower wings were married to the
SPITFIRE UPDATE MAY 2010
Story added 25th May 2010 by Fred
As many of you will have seen the fuselage has been moved, to build the wing jig in this main workshop
Tony Haig-Thomas's Book
Story added 2nd October 2008 by Fred
This book is an personal into the insight RAF service life
New merchandise
Story added 12th October 2007 by Damien
The new SVAS merchandise has proved to be quite successful and we have now added three new designs to those available - these are the de Havilland DH.88 Comet racer, the Bristol M1C and the Hawker Hind. An SVAS mug is also now available...