End of the Belfast?
Thread Starter
End of the Belfast?
I received this message recently from an Aussie PPRuNer and it sounds like bad news for the Queen of the Skies:
Re Belfast RP-C8020, (9L-LDQ) and prior
Hi,
I do apologise for not responding to your message received months ago regarding the Belfast. The Shorts Belfast has not flown commercially since late 2008. It seems rather disasterous for the old girl and no doubt the crew would be suffering and just forget the maintenance. Most recent reported crew being Brian Porter with Rash and McKeever as engineers. The previous support and guidance of Dave Duffy and Geoff Leach appears long gone.
The aircraft without registration ( RP-C8020)cannot be used commercially and this is a worry for its future. A suggestion would be a Museum rather than just waste away or whoever the owner be he should sell it.
Re Belfast RP-C8020, (9L-LDQ) and prior
Hi,
I do apologise for not responding to your message received months ago regarding the Belfast. The Shorts Belfast has not flown commercially since late 2008. It seems rather disasterous for the old girl and no doubt the crew would be suffering and just forget the maintenance. Most recent reported crew being Brian Porter with Rash and McKeever as engineers. The previous support and guidance of Dave Duffy and Geoff Leach appears long gone.
The aircraft without registration ( RP-C8020)cannot be used commercially and this is a worry for its future. A suggestion would be a Museum rather than just waste away or whoever the owner be he should sell it.
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The aircraft has long been operating with no sources of spares other than what GL managed to salvage out of Heavylift and the old hulk Christmas Tree at SEN. God only knows how it was determined airworthy for commercial ops with no formal support from vendors or the OEM. It was only a matter of time.
Still, I'd rather see it go to a museum rather than a hole in the ground.
Still, I'd rather see it go to a museum rather than a hole in the ground.
Thread Starter
Dodo 56, I absolutely agree. I flew these aeroplanes between March, 1980 (HLA's first commercial flight to Tripoli, with Captain Peter Jobling,) through to September, 2002 on the last UK commercial flight into Southend.
I don't know if there are museums in Oz but I doubt you'd ever get anyone to pay to bring her home.
The only other Belfast I know of is the one at Cosford:
Short Brothers Belfast CI airplane pictures & aircraft photos - RAF Museums
I don't know if there are museums in Oz but I doubt you'd ever get anyone to pay to bring her home.
The only other Belfast I know of is the one at Cosford:
Short Brothers Belfast CI airplane pictures & aircraft photos - RAF Museums
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Geoff Leach
Anyone know where and how Geoff is these days? do not suppose the Belfast issue could have been good for Him, he took me on when Polar just had the line facility at PIK he single handedly got the hangar build the place sure went downhill when he left.
Dave McG.
Dave McG.
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I took a peek at Hockham's link to the RAF Museum. Seems there's more to the old Belfast than meets the eye. 
Apr 70. XR371 and four other Belfasts participated in exercise Bersatu Pardu, the biggest airlift exercise ever undertaken by Air Support Command, flying return flights between Brize Norton and Singapore. Named Enceladus in keeping with the naming of each aircraft after a giant.
The pilot’s logbooks of F/L Graham Humberstone record a number of flights during this period. Copy on file with Aircraft Department.
15 Apr 1970 2.20-hour flight, Changi-Gan.
Changi - Gan 1,852 nautical. Maybe he meant days.
Apr 70. XR371 and four other Belfasts participated in exercise Bersatu Pardu, the biggest airlift exercise ever undertaken by Air Support Command, flying return flights between Brize Norton and Singapore. Named Enceladus in keeping with the naming of each aircraft after a giant.
The pilot’s logbooks of F/L Graham Humberstone record a number of flights during this period. Copy on file with Aircraft Department.
15 Apr 1970 2.20-hour flight, Changi-Gan.
Changi - Gan 1,852 nautical. Maybe he meant days.
I took XR371 to die at Kemble on 26 Aug 1976. We thought that that would be her last flight ever but luckily she made one more to Cosford and is now tucked-up safe and well at the end of the new Cold War hangar.
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The Belfast is on a 121 certificate and will be crew training in a couple of weeks, for the new transport contract starting February. Several Captains/FO/and FEs are rated and also fly the 727s.
Lots of support from the UK vendors and truck loads of spares and engines. 10 years to run at least.
Since Geoff Leach ran away ( tried to take over the running of the company rather than fixing the planes ) the dispatch has gone back to 100% on all birds especially the 727s. He was penny wise pound foolish.
Working on grubby cessna's ( all different colours ) out in the bush now.
Lots of support from the UK vendors and truck loads of spares and engines. 10 years to run at least.
Since Geoff Leach ran away ( tried to take over the running of the company rather than fixing the planes ) the dispatch has gone back to 100% on all birds especially the 727s. He was penny wise pound foolish.
Working on grubby cessna's ( all different colours ) out in the bush now.
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The Belfast is on a 121 certificate and will be crew training in a couple of weeks, for the new transport contract starting February. Several Captains/FO/and FEs are rated and also fly the 727s.
Lots of support from the UK vendors and truck loads of spares and engines. 10 years to run at least.
Lots of support from the UK vendors and truck loads of spares and engines. 10 years to run at least.
Sounds like the story of the ex OzJet staff pay cheques?
