Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[tggzzz]

The last flying UK mossie I rememberer seeing at the Southend annual (or used to be) airshow many years ago and I hope that someday we might get another one airworthy and flying at airshows, a very capable aircraft.

I think it's almost criminal that the UK has no flyable Mossie's. There are several flying in other parts such as here and I think in Canada, NZ, and perhaps in Aus. Part of the problem is it's greatest strength....being made of plywood.....is it's biggest downfall because the plywood rots.

With wooden gliders, the glue becomes a problem.

[med6753]

The last flying UK mossie I rememberer seeing at the Southend annual (or used to be) airshow many years ago and I hope that someday we might get another one airworthy and flying at airshows, a very capable aircraft.

I think it's almost criminal that the UK has no flyable Mossie's. There are several flying in other parts such as here and I think in Canada, NZ, and perhaps in Aus. Part of the problem is it's greatest strength....being made of plywood.....is it's biggest downfall because the plywood rots.

With wooden gliders, the glue becomes a problem.

Remember the movie "633 Squadron"? It was made in 1964, about a year after the RAF retired the last Mossies. The production was able to gather up about 8 to 10 in decent shape to make the movie. And they actually destroyed one in a crash scene.

[tggzzz]

The last flying UK mossie I rememberer seeing at the Southend annual (or used to be) airshow many years ago and I hope that someday we might get another one airworthy and flying at airshows, a very capable aircraft.

I think it's almost criminal that the UK has no flyable Mossie's. There are several flying in other parts such as here and I think in Canada, NZ, and perhaps in Aus. Part of the problem is it's greatest strength....being made of plywood.....is it's biggest downfall because the plywood rots.

With wooden gliders, the glue becomes a problem.

Remember the movie "633 Squadron"? It was made in 1964, about a year after the RAF retired the last Mossies. The production was able to gather up about 8 to 10 in decent shape to make the movie. And they actually destroyed one in a crash scene.

I always intensely disliked that movie. You've just given me one more reason.

[nfmax]

The last flying UK mossie I rememberer seeing at the Southend annual (or used to be) airshow many years ago and I hope that someday we might get another one airworthy and flying at airshows, a very capable aircraft.

I think it's almost criminal that the UK has no flyable Mossie's. There are several flying in other parts such as here and I think in Canada, NZ, and perhaps in Aus. Part of the problem is it's greatest strength....being made of plywood.....is it's biggest downfall because the plywood rots.

With wooden gliders, the glue becomes a problem.

Long term durability was not a design goal.

Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre now have Mosquito HJ711 (belonging to Tony Agar) running on both engines and taxying.

[Specmaster]

The last flying UK mossie I rememberer seeing at the Southend annual (or used to be) airshow many years ago and I hope that someday we might get another one airworthy and flying at airshows, a very capable aircraft.

I think it's almost criminal that the UK has no flyable Mossie's. There are several flying in other parts such as here and I think in Canada, NZ, and perhaps in Aus. Part of the problem is it's greatest strength....being made of plywood.....is it's biggest downfall because the plywood rots.

With wooden gliders, the glue becomes a problem.

Remember the movie "633 Squadron"? It was made in 1964, about a year after the RAF retired the last Mossies. The production was able to gather up about 8 to 10 in decent shape to make the movie. And they actually destroyed one in a crash scene.

I always intensely disliked that movie. You've just given me one more reason.

Personally, I thought it was a great film, I know that there was a crash scene in it but I find it rather hard to accept that they sacrificed a good airworthy machine for that scene. Don't they normally use mock ups for scenes like that

[bd139]

It was an awful film IMHO. Although now I refuse to watch war films and have done for at least 20 years. They seem to be responsible for the mental illness a large quantity of the populace here due to being utterly devoid of anything other than semi-nationalist glory propaganda. This is now regurgitated verbatim by dickheads who weren't even alive for the last war, fought for freedom in middle management and manufacturing their entire life and now reside in flat roofed pubs in suburbia hating anyone different to themselves and talking about the good old days when you could kill nazis and stuff, then nipping off to get their state rations from Farmfoods.

Edit: back to TEA, I am now down two scopes. 2225 and 475A have departed to new homes, leaving me with the 2235A, 465, 2235, DS1054Z and half a D83 and a significant chunk off the credit card bill 

[Specmaster]

For those interested in the film 633 squadron my research shows the following aircraft were used in the making of the film and what is known to day of their whereabouts and they did indeed destroy some on purpose for the film. 

'633 Squadron ' used no less than eight Mosquitoes plus a fuselage ; all were either TT.35s or T.III trainers and in the main had been bought from the then-disbanding No 3 CAACU at Exeter.

The aircraft and their last known whereabouts were as follows ; -

RS 709 - now at USAAF Museum, Ohio
RS 712 - now with Kermit Weeks, Oshkosh ( ?? sold to Canadian owner 2003 ?? )
RS 718 - deliberately burnt and destroyed during filming
TA 639 - now at RAF Museum, Cosford
TA 642 - destroyed in accident
TA 719 - now at IWM, Duxford
TA 724 - deliberately wrecked during filming
TW 117 - now at Norwegian AF Museum, Bodo

And last but not least, all the cockpit scenes were shot using the fuselage of TJ118, which is now at the MAM, London Colney where it's used for parts donations for other rebuilds.

Plenty of information about all these aircraft can be found in 'Mosquito Survivors' by Stuart Howe ( Aston, 1986 ) and Gary R Brown's article in 'Warbirds Worldwide' no. 29, April 1994.

[med6753]

I saw that movie as a teen when it first came out and I enjoyed it other than the even then obvious poor special effects with the models. Fast forward to a month or two ago. It was available on either Netflix or Prime (Forget which) so decided to watch it. I could barely get myself through it. Boy did it suck. And knowing that they purposely destroyed aircraft compounded my dislike.

[beanflying]

I wouldn't be getting down on a movie for destroying an Aircraft how many thousands were stripped and burnt at the end of the war by governments and continue to be in the modern era? The effort to keep some of them flying is huge and to be commended but how long before they become like grandfathers axe to keep them in the air?

Need a Jig to hold and engrave pens but none of the Keysight and Agilent rubbish just a 4x5.5mm HP Logo after realigning the Laser and mirrors.

[tggzzz]

It was an awful film IMHO. Although now I refuse to watch war films and have done for at least 20 years. They seem to be responsible for the mental illness a large quantity of the populace here due to being utterly devoid of anything other than semi-nationalist glory propaganda.

My objections were based on a plot so stupid that I didn't "willingly suspend disbelief", and ISTR some dodgy special effects (albeit not as bad as the water plumes in The Dambusters!).

As for no good war films, I rather like "A Walk in the Sun" (1945) simply because it reflects grunts experiences and is so different to most war films.

This is now regurgitated verbatim by dickheads who weren't even alive for the last war, fought for freedom in middle management and manufacturing their entire life and now reside in flat roofed pubs in suburbia hating anyone different to themselves and talking about the good old days when you could kill nazis and stuff, then nipping off to get their state rations from Farmfoods.

Difficult to argue with that.

I'd add "pissed off that their life isn't like in the adverts and sitcoms, facing old age and its indignities, and looking for someone (else) to blame or a way to get even".

[med6753]

I wouldn't be getting down on a movie for destroying an Aircraft how many thousands were stripped and burnt at the end of the war by governments and continue to be in the modern era? The effort to keep some of them flying is huge and to be commended but how long before they become like grandfathers axe to keep them in the air?

That's very true but I figure by the 1960's it would have been kinda obvious that "heritage" or whatever you want to call it was being destroyed and alternative means of simulating a crash would have been used.

[Specmaster]

Agree with the bullshit about destroying aircraft of historic value, especially as there are so few left in the world. That's why  I'm so glad to be living within easy reach of an ex RAF airfield that happens to have a few collections of ex military aircraft from WW2 and more recent ones including a Folland Gnat display team who also have a Huey helicopter and their latest acquisition is a Sepecat Jaguar, currently sitting in their hanger undergoing preparation for getting its airworthy certificate with the intention of flying it and they say that they have checked with CAA about whether they would be allowed to fly it following the recent (again local to me at the same airfield) Hawker Hunter crash at Shoreham airshow a couple of years ago and getting a favourable response before buying the plane.

I used to go regularly to their old base in Norfolk while their were operational and if they are allowed to fly it, it will be the only one in the UK, 

 

[Specmaster]

I wouldn't be getting down on a movie for destroying an Aircraft how many thousands were stripped and burnt at the end of the war by governments and continue to be in the modern era? The effort to keep some of them flying is huge and to be commended but how long before they become like grandfathers axe to keep them in the air?

What about the world famous Shuttleworth Collection with planes dating back to 1909 through to 1950 and they are all still being flown at their regular airshows?
http://www.shuttleworth.org/the-collection/

[bd139]

I'd add "pissed off that their life isn't like in the adverts and sitcoms, facing old age and its indignities, and looking for someone (else) to blame or a way to get even".

Spot on.

Agree with the bullshit about destroying aircraft of historic value, especially as there are so few left in the world. That's why  I'm so glad to be living within easy reach of an ex RAF airfield that happens to have a few collections of ex military aircraft from WW2 and more recent ones including a Folland Gnat display team who also have a Huey helicopter and their latest acquisition is a Sepecat Jaguar, currently sitting in their hanger undergoing preparation for getting its airworthy certificate with the intention of flying it and they say that they have checked with CAA about whether they would be allowed to fly it following the recent (again local to me at the same airfield) Hawker Hunter crash at Shoreham airshow a couple of years ago and getting a favourable response before buying the plane.

I used to go regularly to their old base in Norfolk while their were operational and if they are allowed to fly it, it will be the only one in the UK, 

Shoreham was pilot error rather than inherent danger of the aircraft for sure. I think AAIB actually concluded that as well.

Incidentally on the subject of aircraft I managed to obtain a free ticket for RAIT at Fairford in July on the Friday. Should be an interesting day 

[mnementh]

Reading in the '90s about all the Corsairs and Mustangs that were sold off as scrap when they "downsized" MHV made me cringe. I understand that there was also a large lot of moonshot rocketry that was scrapped at the same time as well. 

   

I felt the same way about the "Dukes of Hazzard" TV show too, though. I've always had a soft spot for the A & B-body Chryslers; built several of them. They destroyed between one and three 68-69 Chargers per episode; so somewhere around 250-350 total. They went through so many that the "General Lee" had AMC Ambassadors as "stand-ins" for later seasons. 

   Yeah, good luck widdat. My entire living room is occupied with dozens of 55L storage bins strewn from hell to breakfast right now. Both couches, even the kids' play table.    I'm trying to power through one major JENGA obstruction before both my kids are up my butt for the summer. 

That is a serious amount of binning. How many will there be when you are done?

So far, approx $350 worth. The final number remains as yet undisclosed. Even to myself. 

mnem
Coffee NOW!!! Adulting later...

[Specmaster]

Incidentally on the subject of aircraft I managed to obtain a free ticket for RAIT at Fairford in July on the Friday. Should be an interesting day 

It will be a great day as long as it doesn't rain heavily as the off field car parks tend to flood and go boggy, you are a jammy git with that ticket as they are valued at £57 each, which to my mind is excessive so I'll not be going. I used to when they were around £30 a pop, but it'll cost me £114 for the 2 of us and I think its bad value for me as I can access to so much around here for free.

[beanflying]

I wouldn't be getting down on a movie for destroying an Aircraft how many thousands were stripped and burnt at the end of the war by governments and continue to be in the modern era? The effort to keep some of them flying is huge and to be commended but how long before they become like grandfathers axe to keep them in the air?

What about the world famous Shuttleworth Collection with planes dating back to 1909 through to 1950 and they are all still being flown at their regular airshows?
http://www.shuttleworth.org/the-collection/

And what percentage of that Axe is actually still in the Air? Preserving 'an' example is one thing but at what point to you draw a line on how many to 'save'?

The DC3's and similar had a post war purpose, bombers and fighters apart from maybe racing them aside from historical interest had none. Do we keep everything ever made and why should aircraft be different?

[bd139]

Incidentally on the subject of aircraft I managed to obtain a free ticket for RAIT at Fairford in July on the Friday. Should be an interesting day 

It will be a great day as long as it doesn't rain heavily as the off field car parks tend to flood and go boggy, you are a jammy git with that ticket as they are valued at £57 each, which to my mind is excessive so I'll not be going. I used to when they were around £30 a pop, but it'll cost me £114 for the 2 of us and I think its bad value for me as I can access to so much around here for free.

Bloody hell. I had no idea it was that expensive. The ticket I got doesn't have a price on it. Thought they were about £20. Bonus. I certainly wouldn't have paid up full price either

Thanks for the tip with the muddy car park!

[nfmax]

Agree with the bullshit about destroying aircraft of historic value, especially as there are so few left in the world. That's why  I'm so glad to be living within easy reach of an ex RAF airfield that happens to have a few collections of ex military aircraft from WW2 and more recent ones including a Folland Gnat display team who also have a Huey helicopter and their latest acquisition is a Sepecat Jaguar, currently sitting in their hanger undergoing preparation for getting its airworthy certificate with the intention of flying it and they say that they have checked with CAA about whether they would be allowed to fly it following the recent (again local to me at the same airfield) Hawker Hunter crash at Shoreham airshow a couple of years ago and getting a favourable response before buying the plane.

I used to go regularly to their old base in Norfolk while their were operational and if they are allowed to fly it, it will be the only one in the UK, 

One of the Queen's best bargains, the Jaguar. Even if you did have to shut off everything not absolutely needed, prior to a take-off run so long that you eventually got into the air owing to the curvature of the earth.

Once, I had to stop my car at a traffic light to let one of them take off, before I could drive across the runway

[nfmax]

In other news, I just scored an HP 6209B 320V/0.1A bench supply in very good condition off the 'bay - thanks to our delayed departure from the EU (and long may it continue to be delayed)

[bd139]

Nice  ... much zzzt to be had at 320V out 

[Specmaster]

I wouldn't be getting down on a movie for destroying an Aircraft how many thousands were stripped and burnt at the end of the war by governments and continue to be in the modern era? The effort to keep some of them flying is huge and to be commended but how long before they become like grandfathers axe to keep them in the air?

What about the world famous Shuttleworth Collection with planes dating back to 1909 through to 1950 and they are all still being flown at their regular airshows?
http://www.shuttleworth.org/the-collection/

And what percentage of that Axe is actually still in the Air? Preserving 'an' example is one thing but at what point to you draw a line on how many to 'save'?

The DC3's and similar had a post war purpose, bombers and fighters apart from maybe racing them aside from historical interest had none. Do we keep everything ever made and why should aircraft be different?

Over 30 of the military version DC47 will taking part on the Normandy anniversary in a few days time. https://www.daksovernormandy.com/

[worsthorse]

So far, approx $350 worth. The final number remains as yet undisclosed. Even to myself. 

mnem
Coffee NOW!!! Adulting later...

yeah, that's probably a good idea. for everyone involved. 

[Specmaster]

Incidentally on the subject of aircraft I managed to obtain a free ticket for RAIT at Fairford in July on the Friday. Should be an interesting day 

It will be a great day as long as it doesn't rain heavily as the off field car parks tend to flood and go boggy, you are a jammy git with that ticket as they are valued at £57 each, which to my mind is excessive so I'll not be going. I used to when they were around £30 a pop, but it'll cost me £114 for the 2 of us and I think its bad value for me as I can access to so much around here for free.

Bloody hell. I had no idea it was that expensive. The ticket I got doesn't have a price on it. Thought they were about £20. Bonus. I certainly wouldn't have paid up full price either

Thanks for the tip with the muddy car park!

When you go, you want to take the M40 and then the A40 and follow the the signposted route when you get closer, the RED route and that way there is a strong chance if you get there early in the morning certainly before 8.30am, that you may get into the on base parking which is concrete. If you get there later or via other coloured routes, you will more than likely be directed to farmers fields surrounding the base. Be warned it is going to get very very busy and the later you leave it the busier it gets and you can be queuing for miles and hours so arrive early, there is plenty to see and do when you get there before the flying starts which I think is 10.00 am?

https://www.airtattoo.com/airshow/visiting/visitorinformation/travel

In other news, I've just secured myself a rare Hacker Herald FM only radio for restoration from a charity shop which should be with me Tuesday

[med6753]

Beautiful day here and I'm out in the garage cooking up something not exactly TEA but related. Yes, it involves sawdust and stain. 

Hope to have it done by Monday at which time I will reveal. By Tuesday I should have the additional parts for the OL-1.

I'm also itching to get a crack at the RCA WO-505A scope now that I have the manual and schematic. But after the OL-1 is done.