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Worst aircraft

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Old 15th Aug 2003, 04:34
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Worst aircraft

Whats the worst type of aircraft you have had the pleasure of maintaining? and why.
The one for me is a italian partanavia, engines set back into wing so lots of cursing on 500hr mag overhaul and any overhauls to cylinders 3 & 4.
Please let me know yours i would like to know.
All the best
Avgasandy
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Old 15th Aug 2003, 05:55
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Comet, the epitome of British Aircraft at it’s best for the Engineer.
Don’t know but I’ll wager that the pencil is a pretty fair effort as well.
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Old 16th Aug 2003, 11:46
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Turbo Commander, 19 fuel tanks, dud pressurisation system, ridiculous gear, no space in the cabin, terrible access in the tail, books? what books?
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Old 16th Aug 2003, 14:32
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The HS 748 has to be one of the worst.
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Old 16th Aug 2003, 15:00
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F-28. Just about anything you may need to take off has had the A/C built around it. And the fire walls surounding the twinpack on the Bell 212/412.
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Old 16th Aug 2003, 16:05
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BAE146 !! If you have ever had the pleasure(misfortune)to change a flap control unit you will know what I'm talking about !!
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Old 16th Aug 2003, 21:57
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Fruitloop how about a leading edge on the h-stab, or any part of the interior. I think the interior was designed by three diferent people who didn't talk to each other, as the bulkheads are all diferently secured. Also they had lousy engines. Bae stood for bring another engine. But the old 146 was a solid machine.

Ever change an APU in a Dash 8, or elevator trim cable.

Bleed air duct in a F-28. Rig flaps in an F-28 can not be done by the book. You will never get the cable tension within limits.

But the real lousy job I have had to do a few times is change a twin pack in a Bell 212/412. What were they thinking?

How about the airstair in a 737. Not fun. Changing bladder tank in a 727-100, could be the death of someone.
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Old 16th Aug 2003, 22:32
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rwm Agree with the f-28,even the stab actuator couldn't be done by the book,another one for the 727-200 were the stupid pre-coolers in the pylon,changing the fish plates in the wing centre section and then rigging the gust-lock on the F27,BAE 146 (one aisle,four engines,needs six)The 737 airstairs were a pain but I recon the DC-9 was more of a nightmare.Sounds like the Bell is a bit like the Sikorsky !!The trick I discovered (if the right sealant was used)for removing the leading edges was to use a hairdryer and start at the inboard end.I had to many (heated)discusions with BAE in the late 80's and early 90's regards systems ops (including MELS)so it has to be my most hated !!
Cheers
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Old 18th Aug 2003, 05:56
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Fairchild Metroliner!
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Old 18th Aug 2003, 09:09
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Thumbs down Ireland's revenge...

Aah, that'd be the Shorts Belfast - not an aircraft as such, more of an aeronautical contrivance.

The design engineers were dressed in straight-jackets and driven from the asylum to the office every morning. We used to imagine them sitting chained to their drawing boards, giggling hysterically all day as they dreamed up yet more and more peculiar systems and odd equipment locations, to bamboozle the production line and maintenance men. I'm sure they would have put in flapping wings if they could have got away with it.

I was amazed when Heavylift decided they could operate the abominable contraption as a commercial venture and stay in business...

**************************
Through difficulties to the cinema
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Old 18th Aug 2003, 23:23
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From an engine bods point of view, try the all leaking Twin Pioneer or much on the same lines the Pembroke/sea Prince.

For me, the best were Canberras and Meatboxes
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Old 19th Aug 2003, 04:21
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Reply to blacksheep

Did you ever meet Alan the man with the hook on the end of his arm, when we got our 360s we got him sent from Shorts to give advice on the engineering side of the aircraft.
allright bloke wonder what he is doing now?
cheers
Avgasandy
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Old 19th Aug 2003, 05:00
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F28, mostly crap & filthy (inside ctr section outboard tanks, anyone?)
146 quaint but fiddly (inside ctr section tanks, anyone?)

Agreed re 212 twin pac, but 58T twin pac no better (eng fuel filter in yer face, anyone?)

Top of the sH/T pile has to be anything rotary out of la belle france (books cost HOW much, for inaccurate, badly written techno babble?)
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Old 19th Aug 2003, 13:56
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OK, so maybe the '748 is not the worst!
Blacksheep, I worked on the Belfast in the mid-80s when Heavylift were restoring G-HFLT. I remember loads of space, especially in the wing root/fairing area. Working on the electrical equipment in the cabin required a long ladder.
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Old 20th Aug 2003, 06:54
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BAC111, without a doubt!
Cramped,dirty noisy. And why do so many jobs entail standing on slippery main u/c doors with skydrol everywhere? So many variants too.
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Old 21st Aug 2003, 17:47
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DH Devon/Dove for me! arrghhh ........ Dash 8 102 APU was almost as bad, the fwd bulkhead on the 146 freighter would also rate.
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Old 23rd Aug 2003, 00:36
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Working for Her Majestys airlines the most painful thing was a "Spark Plug" change on a Shakleton, I believe 24 cylinders and something like 4 plugs per cyclinder. All had to be change apparently at one go. And the eyeballs really turned inwards if all four engines had to be done!
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Old 23rd Aug 2003, 02:42
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The Griffon on a Shack, drop one plug into the Vee Block and you spent the rest of the day trying to fish it out, worst still was working on a P&W Twin Wasp on a Sunderland on the water and drop one, tinkle, tinkle splash!
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Old 24th Aug 2003, 09:14
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The Wessex, and I miss her.
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Old 24th Aug 2003, 17:19
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If I may indulge. 74series. Body gear steering position switch. 0300, in the rain with a torch that wont stay put anywhere other than between the teeth. Joy.
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