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.

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.

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

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.

End of the Belfast?
 

Seems the info on the 'Belslow' is somewhat premature. Better that the Ozzie spotter gets out more!

I took a peek at Hockham's link to the RAF Museum. Seems there's more to the old Belfast than meets the eye. :eek:

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.

rrtyne, Hi

If my info is incorrect please let us all know what the situation is. The PM was dated late October and I only opened it today.

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. :cool:

Working on grubby cessna's ( all different colours ) out in the bush now.

Heavy Cargo, Hi

That's great news. Is that the FAA 121 certificate you mention?

So what's the registration now, please?

Probably a filipino 121 FWIW :}

What a great looking Aircraft. Does anyone have a picture of the cockpit ?

Try this link for pics -

HEAVYLIFT

Take what HeavyLift says with a pinch of salt

Thanks for that Tspark.

HC. You have to be joking! :suspect:

Sounds like the story of the ex OzJet staff pay cheques? :mad:

Engine runs
 

Transited through Cairns a few weeks ago and saw the Belfast with some engines running. Obviously not dead yet. Nice sound too!

My father-in-law Gerry Garforth (sadly passed away) has a ton of hours on XR371. We still have have copies of his log books. Encaladus looks a real treat at Cosford IMHO.:O

Captain Webb.......is this the Gerry Garforth who was on 215 Squadron in Singapore in the mid 60's? Bit of character.

What is happening to the Belfast that is sitting next to the Dakota at Cairns - is it still airworthy?

HF