Vulcan Bomb-bay question
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ECM
‘Even the ECM gear was left in, and the ECM bay is 100% complete. Work on the bay is continuing to bring it back into fully working condition’.
That page of the website was written an awfully long time ago, and maybe also with an element of wishful thinking. There is now no intention to power up any of the ECM gear.
We do still have the complete suite, although the two forward cans are normally left out to shift the cg forward and ease access to the rudder pfcus.
We did once have an AEO power up the glycol pumps with incomplete pipework, which made a nice mess.
Sooty
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Nope.
A clue.
The aircraft would not be in or near a hangar. It would be on the far side of the airfield, all on its own.
A clue.
The aircraft would not be in or near a hangar. It would be on the far side of the airfield, all on its own.
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It would be on the far side of the airfield, all on its own.
Cunning Artificer
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Next?
The duty armoury team would be crouched behind the GPU, fingers in their ears, while their electrician's mate gingerly approached the aircraft.
The duty armoury team would be crouched behind the GPU, fingers in their ears, while their electrician's mate gingerly approached the aircraft.
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Or far end of the Sunspot dispersal, no GPU 'cos the Malties have all gone to church, and the crew chief wants to get his bike out of the pannier.
Lots of reasons why you might need to open the bomb doors without electrical power. Including removal of a hang-up.
Lots of reasons why you might need to open the bomb doors without electrical power. Including removal of a hang-up.
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But neither a bomb hang-up nor a crew chief's bike would explain why CAA required FFM to make it work on 558. It would have been much easier to take it out, like all the other stuff which was junked.
Sooty
Sooty
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Suggestion
Having given all the explanations above some thought, I have a suggestion.
Maybe the idea was not specifically to be able to open the bomb doors without electrical power available, but that by doing it manually, it was possible to open only ONE door.
That would allow access to a loose 1000 pounder sitting on the other door, without dropping it on the tarmac.
Nomex knickers on, awaiting flaming.
Sooty
Maybe the idea was not specifically to be able to open the bomb doors without electrical power available, but that by doing it manually, it was possible to open only ONE door.
That would allow access to a loose 1000 pounder sitting on the other door, without dropping it on the tarmac.
Nomex knickers on, awaiting flaming.
Sooty
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Sooty....
How many times have you or I dropped something when we've been working in the bomb bay - it always rolls to the lowest point, i.e. the rubber seals between the two doors....I haven't tried it personally, but I'm pretty sure that's what would happen to a 1,000 pounder! 
RHV
RHV
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RHV
The outer doors are sloped in the (possibly forlorn) hope that the loose banger will roll to the side. Even if it doesn't, access through the hatch would allow it to be secured. Then with one door open, a small crane could access it.
Dropped something? ME????
And how come your fingers were sticky with OM15 picking 2BA nuts out of the SIDE channel?
Nomex knickers still on.............
Sooty
How many times have you or I dropped something when we've been working in the bomb bay - it always rolls to the lowest point
And how come your fingers were sticky with OM15 picking 2BA nuts out of the SIDE channel?
Nomex knickers still on.............
Sooty
