Fouga & Museum update

[Silver]

What would it take to get a Fouga in the air again as part of a 'Historic Flight' ?  

Also, which Fouga is in the museum ?

[Flyboy]

I find a good starting point is "a big bag of money".

[Fouga]

I dont think there will be a "Historic Flight" Silver to be honest and to the penny pinchers it would be a waste of money and where can they be flown? The UK? Salthill Airshow is the only airshow in Ireland now so whats the point? last time i heard there wasnt much interest from joe public in the AC apart from cr$p such as "we dont have an air force and other shi*e"

[Silver]

I realise that it is unlikely to happen any time soon.

But a Historic Flight would be a great PR tool, and may just create more interest/attention for the AC from 'joe public'.

'Historic Flight' aircraft could attend Salthill, Baldonnel airshows, special events, UK airshows and perhaps even  european airshows.

It often amazes me how people featured in aviation magazines (e.g Flypast mag) can rebuild old aircraft from (literally) often just a pile of scrap, so I was just wondering what it would take to rebuild a Fouga to flying condition.

[sealion]

Last time I was in Duxford they were rebuilding a B-25 that had been residing prior to that in the bottom of some lake...

All it takes is willpower,money,and people with the energy to ensure the project gets finished. The people in Duxford are mostly volunteers,with aeronautical qualifications.

[202]

In just about every walk of life volunteers will achieve a great deal ... when it comes to doing a same job within a paid environment it becomes just a job of work for many people with a consequent lack of enthusiasm (with a few honourable exceptions).

[clan]

In the Uk a group of Volunteers plan to build a Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Bomber, one of the lesser known WW11 bombers of which none currently survive in tact. There is one in Galway bay, which crashed during the war. As part of the project they are using parts from crashed aircraft and re-making other parts. It is a huge project but it shows what can be done. There is still one engine in Galway bay but the site is protected as it is deemed Dangerous because of Ammunition left on board the Aircraft.
After seeing the work in Baldonnel maybe 7 years ago how the technies re-built a A111 from the frame up. It can be done, but it is all down to Money, I am sure there are many retired technicians both Civil and Air Corp that would love the opportunity to get there hands on a restoration project. The question is will there be any pilots left in the AC able to fly the Fouga. Check out http://www.geocities.com/whitley_project/

[Fouga]

sure in the UK they are well on the way to getting XH558 airborne again. (Vulcan Bomber).

[John K]

That's right, Clan, back in '84 we rebuilt 202 from a pile of bits after an autorotation 'incident' ('Damian' hit the tail rotor guard which caused a porous defect in one of the weld clusters in the tubular structure to open up which couldn't be repaired so we replaced the tubular frame) but the pilots got 202 in the end (RIP)
Down here where I live there's a great little museum, mainly but not just aircraft related, with a dedicated team working on all sorts of stuff. They meet up every tuesday evening and the projects ongoing make the museum in the 'Don with all it's facilities look quite sad. I'm involved with the Air Cadets and we meet on a tuesday evening so I can't get involved, though I would like to help out. Maybe once I retire!
Next door to the Manston Museum is the Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial with a Spitfire in one building and a Hurricane in the adjacent building, brimming with stuff and a lovely little cafe out the back (great all day breakfast!) that looks out over the airfield. Maybe that's what they need in the 'Don.

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi all
it would be nice to see the Fouga airborne again, given that it is substantially intact.Apart from the required spondulix, tools, spares,etc and the official "will" to do it, the actual legal protocol for operating it would have to be established.First,is the aircraft on strength as an official Air Corps aircraft or is it in some legal limbo regarding actual ownership? that is,is it still a State aircraft or has it been struck off charge and is no longer in State ownership? for example,is the serial number,219,still in service, albeit grounded and under Museum ownership? this would have to be nailed down before a single screw is turned,because of the legalities behind signing for maintenance and authorising pilots to fly in it.Anyone operating or servicing a Fouga now would have to have it's legal status firmly identified before laying a finger on it.As for operating it as a civil aircraft, the IAA do not have a protocol for operating ex-military jets and would be reluctant to let it operate.The same applies to the Chipmunk 168 but it is a simple aircraft and is still on the books,so I'm told. Apart from that,there are still lots of parts available for Fougas and they could operate it for comparatively small money,on a limited-hours-per-year basis.
regards
GttC

[Flyboy]

I think the Vulcan is costing approx £1.5 million to get it flying again, and that does not allow for all the time that is spent on it by people giving their time freely.

[P.Doff]

No chance of one flying again now as the last 2 are being torn apart(unfortunatly most of the specialist tools are gone to remove parts like the wings and they have to be guntered as a last resort!!) this week for transport to college's!!
I heard that even the "Ramp Guardian" is going!!!
Dont know the truth in that one!!

[Taj]

P.Doff of the three left in the Don I hear one is going to the new National Museum wing along with a Vampire and a Chipmunk(or was that the Miles Maggie-huh cant remember). AFAIK that is only a temporary exhibit(3 yrs or something),  but if it is made permanent where would the Air Corps museum come into things?

I hope that those aircraft going to the colleges are  housed better than Fouga 216 at Cork. In bad condition with rust appearing on some parts of the aircraft. I have a photo on the Wings Ireland forum(and in the gallery)...
 Fouga 216

More photos in the upcoming mag.

Sad to see it in this state really.

[Taj]

Hi folks,

Just to let you know I visited the museum on Monday and was very impressed with the latest additions. I have posted a complete list of new additions including which Marchetti will be added on the wingsireland.com forum. Destinations for the Fougas are also listed. One is headed to the Alps!  Museum Visit

All photos from the visit can be viewed at:

[Taj]

Hi folks,

Just to let you know I visited the museum on Monday and was very impressed with the latest additions. I have posted a complete list of new additions including which Marchetti will be added on the wingsireland.com forum. Destinations for the Fougas are also listed. One is headed to the Alps!  Museum Visit

All photos from the visit can be viewed at:


Photos

Can anyone identify the radar??

Also check out the new mag at:

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