Worst aircraft
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 18
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From: YORK
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
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
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 170
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From: canada
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.
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.
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 368
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From: brisbane, Australia
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
Cheers
Cunning Artificer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,125
Likes: 7
From: The spiritual home of DeHavilland
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
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
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 18
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From: YORK
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
allright bloke wonder what he is doing now?
cheers
Avgasandy
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 61
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From: England
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?)
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?)
Pilots' Pal
Joined: Nov 1998
Posts: 1,158
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From: USA
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.
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.
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1
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From: Hampshire
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!
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 184
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From: East Anglia
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!
