Open Day 26th May 2013

We are indebted to our good friend Ian Finch for spending time with us on 25th/26th May 2013 to record a photographic diary of the preparations for the aborted take off run of Victor K2 XM715 – Teasin’ Tina. His diary follows – The photographs are copyright and no reproductions are permitted without Ian’s permission.

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• Once back down to the pan, engines were stopped and her run crew posed for pictures before the jet.

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• All that remained to do was taxi back in.

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• and jettisoning the chute for the recovery team

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• Turning off the runway

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• Preparing to jettison the brake parachute

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• Approaching the turn off

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• Continuing towards the runway exit and turn off

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• What a shot!!! Braking good and slowing down

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• Throttles closed, chute streamed, air brakes out and applying braking

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• Full power, brakes off and rolling.

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• As the final prep was going on, I made my way up to the midpoint of the runway to better photograph her run. Even though I was over a mile away I cou

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• At last it was time to tow her onto the runway ready to launch, with her team all ready to do their jobs

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• Tina was the last to run on Sunday, so not much else could be done except give her a little more spit and polish.

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• Once in place I left the team to have the fun of loading it.

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• It was then time to load; I lent a hand here as lifting the chute into its hopper behind the rudder is a 4 man job!

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• On the Sunday it was time to pack the brake chute. Here is what a 32ft parachute looks like neatly packed up.

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• After all the post run checks the crew departed back to the pan on the crew bus making no difference whether you are ground crew or aircrew!

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• After more checks on the runway, the engines were exercised and a slow powered run was successfully completed and airbrakes checked.

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• up the perimeter track entering the runway at the mid point turn on/off

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• it was time to manoeuvre past the race track markers out

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• The chocks were removed

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• to go for a test run. Engines were started,

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• By early afternoon Tina was ready

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• and ground power connected.

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• Tina was towed out onto the perimeter track

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• Here the crew are checking and putting all the tyres up to run pressure. Tina has a mix of young and older volunteers, which is good for her future an

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