Shorts Belfast possible return to flight

Started by JasonT1981, Oct 29, 2023, 02:42 AM

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JasonT1981

The Shorts Belfast that has been sitting in Australia since 2009 has been bought with a view to return it to the skies. It has a contract for UN food relief already waiting for it apparently.

https://www.scramble.nl/civil-news/belfast-back-in-action#:~:text=In%20August%202023%2C%20this%20former,future%20plans%20for%20the%20aircraft.

sneaky_nikon

One rumour I'd heard is that the French retiring the Transall 160 freed up a stack of low hour (and presumably comparatively cheap) Tynes and support kit making this financially viable.

angry turnip

My uncle used to work for Heavy Lift years ago, he was a mechanic for them. he used to bring me leaflets and sticker`s back in the day. He gave my dad a Heavy Lift Shorts Belfast mug. Long since lost.

rookie

Quote from: sneaky_nikon on Oct 29, 2023, 11:36 AMOne rumour I'd heard is that the French retiring the Transall 160 freed up a stack of low hour (and presumably comparatively cheap) Tynes and support kit making this financially viable.

There was another article somewhere in regards to original sale of the aircraft in 2011 that it came with 10- 40ft shipping containers of spares and 8 spare RR Tyne engines and props.

OldBanditDriver

#4
I visited the Belfast in Cairns 2 weeks ago.

My visit was on a Saturday so nobody was working on the aircraft but it was being worked on when I arrived the previous day.

My escort confirmed that work had been ongoing on the aircraft for "...some time". The aircraft carries no registration.

Externally, those areas of the aircraft easier to access had been cleaned but there was still a lot of accumulated grime on the upper surfaces.

I think one of the bigger challenges for a return to flight will be the undercarriage; those areas looked in dire need of some 'TLC'.

I have some snaps taken on my iPhone but I don't seem to be able to post them here...

angry turnip

Quote from: OldBanditDriver on Oct 30, 2023, 01:33 PMI visited the Belfast in Cairns 2 weeks ago.

My visit was on a Saturday so nobody was working on the aircraft but it was being worked on when I arrived the previous day.

My escort confirmed that work had been ongoing on the aircraft for "...some time". The aircraft carries no registration.

Externally, those areas of the aircraft easier to access had been cleaned but there was still a lot of accumulated grime on the upper surfaces.

I think one of the bigger challenges for a return to flight will be the undercarriage; those areas looked in dire need of some 'TLC'.

I have some snaps taken on my iPhone but I don't seem to be able to post them here...

I have pm`d you.  :)

angry turnip

#6
Old Bandit Driver was good enough to let me edit his pics for him, thank you.

Thank you for sharing these.