Argosy XP409 105 Sqd, Khormaksar Aden.
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Argosy XP409 105 Sqd, Khormaksar Aden.
Regenerating this as hoping it may jog memories.
Many years ago (1962-1964) I was an engine fitter on 105 Sqd at Khormaksar, Aden with the Argosy, one aircraft XP409 was a bit special, it had been blessed by the church at the time the new Coventry Cathedral was built, anyway from the old Coventry Cathedral 6 nails (big ones about 6-9" long) were removed from the beams/woodwork structure & one each was given to the leading industries in & around Coventry - Rootes Group & Armstrong Whitworth being two that I remember.
The nail was fitted/placed into a panel on the fuselage skin of XP409, Port side somewhere near the Cof G datum plate on the fuselage, it was a bit of a novelty & the first entry in the aircraft F700 in the defects log was "nail in forward fuselage at frame ??".
It was also odd as it had a completely different electrical fit to the other Argosies as a result of a battery box fire (at Benson early 62 I seem to remember) which burnt out most of the fuselage wiring harnesses & was rebuilt as it stood with Nyvin & whatever was to hand, caused lots of problems in service as nothing matched the AP wiring diagrams & it was a case of "suck it & see " when diagnosing electrical defects, must be some leccies out there who remember it ?.
Can anyone elaborate, have photo's or any data showing the nail, I worked on the aircraft for over 2 years but find I have no photgraphic record of it, can anyone out there help ?.
Paul H.
Many years ago (1962-1964) I was an engine fitter on 105 Sqd at Khormaksar, Aden with the Argosy, one aircraft XP409 was a bit special, it had been blessed by the church at the time the new Coventry Cathedral was built, anyway from the old Coventry Cathedral 6 nails (big ones about 6-9" long) were removed from the beams/woodwork structure & one each was given to the leading industries in & around Coventry - Rootes Group & Armstrong Whitworth being two that I remember.
The nail was fitted/placed into a panel on the fuselage skin of XP409, Port side somewhere near the Cof G datum plate on the fuselage, it was a bit of a novelty & the first entry in the aircraft F700 in the defects log was "nail in forward fuselage at frame ??".
It was also odd as it had a completely different electrical fit to the other Argosies as a result of a battery box fire (at Benson early 62 I seem to remember) which burnt out most of the fuselage wiring harnesses & was rebuilt as it stood with Nyvin & whatever was to hand, caused lots of problems in service as nothing matched the AP wiring diagrams & it was a case of "suck it & see " when diagnosing electrical defects, must be some leccies out there who remember it ?.
Can anyone elaborate, have photo's or any data showing the nail, I worked on the aircraft for over 2 years but find I have no photgraphic record of it, can anyone out there help ?.
Paul H.
Google is your friend: scrapped in 1985, apparently.
Nail in a Whistling Tit (AW Argosy) - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums
AirlineFan Royal Air Force C.1 Argosy XP409 Photo
AWA ARGOSY
There's more, but you get the idea.
Nail in a Whistling Tit (AW Argosy) - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums
AirlineFan Royal Air Force C.1 Argosy XP409 Photo
AWA ARGOSY
There's more, but you get the idea.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Zetec,
There is a website that may be able to assist www.argosy.org.uk . This is for the Argosy aircrew/groundcrew of days long ago! If you e-mail the Webmaster he will post a request for info and someone out there may have the details you require.
I note that I flew in XP409 when I was on 267 Sqn at Benson (1968-70) and the photo in Ewan's post on this link shows the aircraft in 70 Sqn markings so it ended up at Akrotiri before retirement.
godd luck with your search.
There is a website that may be able to assist www.argosy.org.uk . This is for the Argosy aircrew/groundcrew of days long ago! If you e-mail the Webmaster he will post a request for info and someone out there may have the details you require.
I note that I flew in XP409 when I was on 267 Sqn at Benson (1968-70) and the photo in Ewan's post on this link shows the aircraft in 70 Sqn markings so it ended up at Akrotiri before retirement.
godd luck with your search.
