Composites expertise aids bomber repairs
A
Brookhouse Holdings product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Oct 30, 2007
The Vulcan project aims to restore the last surviving Vulcan bomber to full flying condition, so that it can be demonstrated and displayed at public events and conserved as a heritage asset.
Composites repair expertise from Brookhouse of Darwen has been used in the ongoing programme to restore the AVRO Vulcan XH558 to full flying condition.
Working with many other participating companies, Brookhouse's contribution involved the repair of a damaged radome.
The Vulcan project is supported by the "Vulcan to the Sky Trust" and managed by the Vulcan Operating Company.
It aims to restore the last surviving Vulcan bomber to full flying condition, so that it can be demonstrated and displayed at public events and conserved as a heritage asset.
To achieve these aims, the Vulcan Operating Company is staffed by experienced engineering, logistical and administrative personnel and is supported by a team of volunteers and RAF engineers.
It also enjoys the support of many large organisations and companies.
Complementing the major design authorities, such as BAE Systems and Rolls Royce, is a wide range of smaller companies, including Brookhouse.
Brookhouse became involved with the programme when the bomber suffered minor damage to its radome.
BAE Systems was contacted and it suggested that the repair would probably be a task best suited to the skills of Brookhouse.
As a result, a Brookhouse technician was sent to Bruntingthorpe airfield, where the restoration work is being carried out.
He quickly decided that the company's Heatcon portable bonding equipment would provide the correct curing of the wet lay-up, fibre glass repair, in line with the original manufacturer's specification.
This was effected at ambient temperature under pressure, with no need for the optional thermal blanket, which allows the Heatcon to cure under controlled conditions of both temperature and pressure.
The pressure was applied to the lay-up by means of a vacuum bag, which was laid over the complete repair area.
The degree of vacuum was monitored by the vacuum transducers and the measurements were transmitted to the system's central processing unit, to allow precise control over the complete curing operation.
The radome is now restored to its original operating condition and the repair is just one of the many maintenance tasks which are being carried out to ensure that the aircraft can soon take to the skies again, for the enjoyment of enthusiasts and general public alike, at air shows throughout the world.
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