F27 G-CEXD pictures/info sought.

[Beechsim]

Hi all,

I've just bought the nose of the above and whilst I have researched it's previous identities and airlines, I wonder if anyone has any pictures,stories,experiences or history about the aircraft.Particularly flight deck photos.

I will be converting it into a simulator. Anyone intersted can have a look at pictures of my previous Queenair project at http://simflight.fotopic.net

[RoyHudd]

Hope your sim flies better than the original a/c. One of Phil's specials, no a/p's, no F/D's, no heating, no toilets, but at great expense a primitive GPS was eventually provided. (his airline was forced to comply with Euro RNAV requirements). Couldn't fly straight when trimmed, creating extra problems for guys like me, who also couldn't fly straight anyway! We made it though.

The planes, as re-configured, were not suitable for the job, as the CAA eventually figured, following the sad demise of 'NL. I believe 'XD and the others were then forcibly restored to crew-adequate flying condition, lives having been lost. (I got out and onto safer kit, into a professional company). Doubt that many tears were shed by the responsibles, which again include our benighted and costly "Authority".

Sorry, ranted there, but with some justification. XD was a sound aircraft, nonetheless. And the excellent engineers and pilot colleagues made sure we stayed safe in it.

[Engineer]

Pictures here

[Beechsim]

Hi Roy,

Many thanks for the info. If you're ever up North, maybe in about 6 months time, and you're interested to reaquaint yourself with XD you could pop in and give me some feedback on the sim when it's up and running.

Engineer, thanks for the info, I already have those pics and also the ones of XD in her previous guises as PH-KFE and HB-AAX.

If anybody has anymore,perhaps personal pics that they are willing to scan and send me, they would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Dean

[mighluss]

Some google work...

http://www.luftfahrt.net/galerie/showpix.php?id=9729

http://www.flugzeugbilder.de/show.php?id=6059

http://dereks-aircraft-photos.fotopic.net/p8299187.html

http://images.google.es/imgres?imgur...LD:es%26sa%3DN

BTW, Very good work with your simulator!

[om15]

F27 G-cexd.

Roy,

One of the problems to be overcome in converting XD and the other F27s to a cargo role was the introduction of the requirement for a class E freight compartment ( this came out in the early 1990s), prior to this simply removing the pax seats re roled the aircraft to cargo.The modification required the elimination of ventilation air to starve a fire in the cargo compartment of oxygen. The heating system consisted of ducting warm air into the cabin sourced from the Rootes blowers, this failed to be completly satisfactory even when the system was serviceable, but after the mods there was no way to keep the cockpit warm.
After NL attempts were made to improve matters, a rather gash electric heater was approved to be fitted under the cockpit floor, this was wedged in amonst all the flying control runs, as for the A/P, F/D and lav, got to save weight somewhere you know!
Beechsim, you may find this heater in there somewhere, should be ok for your greenhouse.
It really was trying to made a silk purse out of a sows ear converting the F27s, also the aeroplane just was not as robust as the 748s and HP7s for freight work, very glad that you have saved a bit of it though, and good luck with the sim.

Regards,
om15

[RoyHudd]

XD

om15, thanks for the explanation, interesting stuff.

And I will be happy to help out with the sim, as I am often up north. (MAN) However, having been a 'bus driver for the last 6 years, I reckon my physical strength developed from manhandling the F-27 has waned somewhat. X-wind landings in the Channel Islands, (Belfast, Liverpool, BOH and everywhere else) were good for legs and upper body work, bad for the nerves, and often caused one to develop a big beer-thirst.

[Spirit of st. Louis]

AHHHHHH, XD, The wonderful times we had. Build originally in 1968 if memory serves me well. I think it started off as a KLM cityhopper.

Nice to see the lady has a new lease on life in the form of a simulator.

Good luck with the build.

I'll have a look for pictures, info, etc.


Spirit.

[freightdoggy dog]

You might even find some bits of Shuperstar loadies cornish pasty amongst the flying controls!

Had a go a couple of times in the cruise, courtsey of Cappin Smith, great guy, wish there were more like him.

Now sadly get me kicks falling asleep on the B737 doing Newspapers to fraggle rock every weekend!

Hi to any of the Channex Freightdogs guys and gals, but not the HMP 2!!!

[Beechsim]

Hi all, and thank you for the replies.

It's nice to hear a few memories stirred up.

I'm inclined to believe that I have most likely found all the photos from the obvious and slightly less obvious sites on the net.

My collection consists of 2 of HB-AAX,2 of PH-KFE (KLM Cityhopper) and 6 of G-CEXD including 1 of a complete flightdeck pre parting out.

Still, it would be nice to have some occupied flightdeck photos and especially in flight.

I haven't found any remnants of cornish pasties yet, but there may be as yet undiscovered fragments waiting for me when I start fitting the control potentiometers.

Seasons greetings

Dean

[Flap40]

I notice from the cockpit shot that 'XD seems to be a sort of Mk1.5 since it has the original instrument and prop' light layout but the newer version control column.

[om15]

XD cockpit improvements.

Part of the "improvement" programme for the 600 srs aircraft was indeed the replacement of the original steering wheel type aileron wheel by the new 500 srs aileron yoke,( the reason to standardise the cockpit ) the actual control column remained the same,other changes included metal bins to house the manuals, side consol stowages for check lists, plus the upgraded avionic fit, this made a very congested cockpit.
The possibility of upgrading the prop lights to the later mod standard of a block of lights rather than the spread of lights was looked at during the upgrades, but cost/certification/time meant that this didn't happen. as I mentioned before, rather a pigs ear, however attempts were made to improve things, other Operators just tended to live with the problems.
I still have one of the old aileron control wheels in amonst all the aeroplane memorabilia/junk in my shed which may well have originated from XD.
Best regards,
om15

[Beechsim]

Ah ha,

I did wonder about the combination, but I noticed that in pics I found most of the 600s were the same.That explains why, thanks for that.

Would I be correct in thinking that a 600 is a 200 with a stronger floor/quick change set up?

I've managed to download what I believe is a nice flight model and panel as well as a Channex livery for my sim,based around Microsoft FSX.Also I'm working on new faceplates for my servo driven instruments as well as considering how I can make the two needle tachos(not as straightforward as they might seem)

Though I'm currently relegated to desk sim "flying" whilst I demolish my garage to build a new home for the sim.

Often wished that I'd pushed harder when I had a PPL and class 1 medical back in 2000, then I might not be doing all this stuff, but that's a long story...

Best Regards, Dean

[om15]

XD.

The 400 srs combiplane and the equivalent military 400M srs are convertable cargo or combined cargo-passenger versions of the 200srs. the 600 srs is similar to the 400srs but lacks the reinforced and watertight cargo floor.therefore the 600 srs is more attractive as a commercial cargo aircraft as it is a lighter aircraft, the 500 srs had a larger freight bay and the later style cockpit layout.

Best regards,
om15

[Flap40]

Originally Posted by om15

the 500 srs had a larger freight bay and the later style cockpit layout.

The F27 is an aircraft that is almost guarenteed to contridict any statement made about it.

In AirUK, when I flew them between '92 &'94) we had 14 F27's. 1 -100, 10 -200's, 2 -500's & 1 -600.

All except G-BNCY (one of the -500s) had what I call the mk1 cockpit with the "steering wheel"(inc -500 G-BMXD). G-BNCY had the slightly later version of the cockpit with a lighter grey panel, different instruments and the five prop lights iso the earlier six.
G-BNCY was also unusual in being a -500 without the forward cargo door although it was rumoured that the frame for the door was built into the aircraft.

Only two of the aircraft were fitted with an autopilot.

[om15]

Flaps 40,
Yes indeed, the early 500srs did have the older style layout, as you say, risky to make statements about the F27!
I worked on the Air UK fleet 1980-84, at that time they operated 200srs, there were a couple of 100 srs which I think were sold on to Manx and Loganair.
I think that G-BNCY came a cropper in Guernsey in the late 90s and was scrapped on site. There were 2 500srs that were ex Australian East West in the batch purchased by JEA in 1990 that had the small up and over forward doors, I am not sure if these were built for subsequent conversion, quite a weight penality I should think. There were a couple of 500srs freighters operating in the early 90s with the underwing long range fuel tanks, but i don't think that these were ever operated on the UK register.
Best regards,
om15

[Flap40]

Originally Posted by om15

I think that G-BNCY came a cropper in Guernsey in the late 90s

It was December 1997



report at http://www.aaib.gov.uk/sites/aaib/cm...pdf_501199.pdf

We still had one -100 when I was there (G-BLFJ) and G-STAN which was a -200 was rumourer to be a converted -100. Both were several years older than me!

[Grond]

Flap40,I think the pic you have is from this incident:
http://www.cockpitmania.com/Document...pdf_502723.pdf
which happened 4 days after the accident report you list in your post.
Obviously an aircraft with an eventful life!