d/c 4 at North Weald

[arthur harbrow]

Does anyone have any news on the D/C 4 which was being preserved at North Weald? MTIA

[Quemerford]

It's a C-54 IIRC (rather than DC-4) and I think they have a Facebook group "Save the Skymaster". Can't find a website however: I'm sure I've seen one!

[c52]

https://www.facebook.com/savetheskymaster/

the website is down at the moment: https://www.savetheskymaster.org/

[ATNotts]

I wondered what happened to it. When it was moved and no longer visible from the M11 I assumed it had had an encounter with the axe. Really good to see that video but is it really realistic to see her back in the air? She must be riddled with corrosion after so many years in damp Essex.

[treadigraph]

The other C-54 that arrived at the same time was scrapped and I imagine contributed useful parts. Love to see the old girl flying again...

[horatio_b]

The nose and forward fuselage section of the scrapped DC-4, 44-42914, survives, appropriately, as an exhibit at the RAF Burtonwood Heritage centre near Warrington
https://www.gulliversworldresort.co.uk/burtonwood-heritage-centre

[stevef]

The other C-54 that arrived at the same time was scrapped and I imagine contributed useful parts. Love to see the old girl flying again...

I haven't seen the aircraft but I wouldn't be optimistic about its chances as it hasn't been hangared for a long time. Even when these old airframes have been maintained under a regular inspection programme, exfoliation corrosion can appear on forgings and blending out the the delamination often puts the part beyond limits. Depending on where the corrosion is on the structure there may be a repair scheme such as, typically, CM4130 doublers on wing spar caps but in landing gear and flap bays corroded beams and supports it would often entail stripping out components for access and finding more delamination on exposure. Then Boeing (they'd absorbed McDonnell Douglas) might need to come up with a special repair scheme to suit the damage as a whole or 'repair by replacement'. Or perhaps they wouldn't be interested in product support.
Maybe the restoration team has carried out a deep structural survey and found nothing major amiss, then good luck! Keep on top of it, I've seen major floorbeam and spar cap corrosion appear within six months of a heavy check.

[SWBKCB]

Just been announced that the charity is to close - "no longer economically feasible to continue or project". From their FB page

During the last three years and in particular during the Covid pandemic all of our grants and funding which was promised was subsequently withdrawn and redirected to Covid related causes. during this time the members and volunteered did their very best to keep the project alive and in fact managed to get three engines running after rebuilding the number three engine during this period.
The extreme elements have also taken its toll on the airframe and a recent survey uncovered the need to replace the main spar and wings of our aircraft should we want to get it to flight condition. The estimated cost for this repair alone exceeds £300,000, and there is uncertainty about the extent of other potential corrosion issues that we would uncover. After careful consideration and consultation, we have determined that proceeding with such a significant financial burden would not be prudent.

[DaveReidUK]

The last time I visited North Weald, probably about 15 years ago, both the C-54 and DC-4 were gently rotting away in the open. Even then, I didn't dare breathe too heavily on them.

[treadigraph]

That's a shame.

I can't remember when I last went to North Weald and I can only recall seeing them as a pair of fins peeping over the top of the embankment as one zipped northwards on the M11!