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STIRLING PROJECT NEWSLETTER No. 1 (1998/99) |
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Patron: The Lord Mackie of Benshie, C.B.E., D.S.O., D.F.C., LL, D. | Please contact: |
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The purpose of this our first newsletter is not only to provide information regarding the progress of the Stirling Project,but an opportunity to thank the many who have given generous financial support. |
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A Fact |
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One need only to visit London to see an Avro Lancaster bomber at Hendon or Elvington to see a Handley Page Halifax at the Yorkshire Air Museum but sadly nowhere can one see a Short Stirling, the very first Royal Air Force's WW II four engined heavy bomber. In 1995 Peter Howell and Giuseppe Lombardi considered that the recreation of a Stirling should begin. With a combined 40 years of research into this aircraft they were well aware this would be an immense task. The Project's start was acknowledged by FlyPast, one of Britain's leading aviation magazines. A half page article in their January 1997 edition had as its heading "Stirling on the Cards", a project team led by Peter and Giuseppe. |
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Not Fiction | ||
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With no aircraft or drawings to refer to recreating the vital drawings for the reconstruction work is, to say the least, an arduous and time consuming task. A few odd drawings have been unearthed at the Short's factory and the Public Records Office in Belfast.By a stroke of good luck Giuseppe discovered a few original drawings during a visit to a local scrap yard rumoured as possessing some aircraft items. Finding the owner out he was asked to leave his phone number on a scrap of paper given to him by the owner's wife. On turning it over Giuseppe was amazed to find part of a Stirling drawing. From the pile of recovered scrap paper and after carefully joining the pieces of paper together secrets of the aircraft were revealed which are now over 60 years old. However, many more drawings need to be found or redrawn. In October 1997 the Project was formally constituted under the chairmanship of Brian Harris DFC, a former XV Squadron navigator, with the aim of constructing a forward fuselage section to production standards. The Stirling forward fuselage is a massive item resembling a railway carriage in overall dimensions, though fortunately the structure is relatively simple with few compound curves or complex machinings. Our design officer, Peter Howell, has already produced preliminary layouts of the fuselage cockpit coupe and flight deck structure. He is now working on more detailed drawings of the bomb bay, which is the heart of the aircraft. |
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Need For A Workshop |
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Giuseppe our Project Manager last year established a small workshop in the Cambridgeshire area. This is equipped with a lathe, pillar drill, compressor, sandblasting cabinet, rivet gun etc. Over the years Giuseppe has been to numerous crash sites often with a digger hunting for Stirling components. The condition of these recovered items usually requires considerable restoration so the need for a workshop became vital. John Lathwell, an experienced aircraft engineer, has recently joined the workshop team. We would welcome others - please contact the Project Manager if you are prepared to help. (9 Taylors Lane, Swavesey. Cambs. CB4 5QN) or e-mail info@stirlingproject.co.uk |
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Publicity |
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Our colour leaflet has been vital for spreading the aims of the Project and for raising donations. A quarter page advertisement with an article on the Project has been published in "Flypast". The Project has manned a stand at the aerojumbles at Shoreham Airport in September 1997 and March 1998 and at the Kemble Air Display in May 1998.Our Stirling parts were on display and copies of the video 'Remember The Stirling' were on sale at these venues. At last year's Bomber Command Association AGM our Chairman gave a 5 minute presentation describing the Project to the members.The Bomber Command Association Newsletter and 'Intercom',the Air Crew Association magazine, have each published a half page write up with photographs. This year on Sunday 18th April the Stirling Project was mentioned on the Radio 2 Pam Ayres show. Listeners possessing Stirling parts or drawings were invited to donate these to the rebuilding of this aircraft. |
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Education |
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Dr Philip Swan, Project Director at the Lincoln University Campus, is to show again our video 'Remember the Stirling' at the 1999 Aviation Heritage Day. World War II is on this year's GCSE curriculum so schools will be able to get information on the Stirling Bomber and the Stirling Project by surfing the internet. To spread the word further the Chairman has given video presentations to the following organisations: - The Brooklands Museum Giuseppe Lombardi has addressed Short Brothers Commemoration Society at Rochester and several Historical Groups. He has given interviews on local radio and is writing a comprehensive book on the Stirling. Peter Howell has addressed the Stirling Aircraft Association's Central & Western Branch and has published articles in "FlyPast" and "Transport Digest" Acquisitions |
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A damaged FN5 front turret, which we purchased, is now being completely rebuilt. Work on this is progressing. The cost involved has been helped by a generous donation from Frazer-Nash (Midhurst) Ltd who built thousands of turrets during World War II. Also in hand is the assembly of a pilot's instrument panel, which is being fitted with original instruments and switches. Resulting from our membership of the British Aircraft Preservation Council we were put in touch with the Cotswold Aircraft Restoration Group (C.A.R.G.) who made available to us a cupola of a FN7 mid upper turret. As some restoration work had been carried out to the cupola, it was decided to make a donation to C.A.R.G. This being part of a financial gift from Mr B Wilson of Surrey. To show our appreciation to Mr Wilson a plaque is to be fitted to the cupola. Tangmere Military Museum has presented us with two Stirling engine bearers and an undercarriage hinge, the latter to add to the four main leg struts and two wheels with tyres, which we already have in our possession. Advanced Engineering Techniques Ltd, of Sheffield have offered to laser cut metal fuselage sections as soon as we are able to forward them the necessary computer drawing file via C.A.D.(Computer Aided Design). |
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Committee | ||
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The Project is pleased to welcome Dr Geoff Edwards as our new secretary. Geoff who lives in Cranleigh, Surrey was for many years a senior lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Surrey. He later set up his own engineering company developing equipment for the Ministry of Defence. Geoff is a qualified pilot and has his own light aircraft. |
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The members of The Stirling Project Committee are as follows: - |
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Brian Harris D.F.C |
- Chairman |
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Dr Eric Bailey |
- Treasurer |
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Dr Geoffrey Edwards |
- Secretary |
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Giuseppe Lombardi |
- Project Manager |
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Peter Howell |
- Design Officer |
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Martin Smith |
- Acquisition Officer |
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Stan Brice |
- Committee |
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Donations |
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The Treasurer has received donations from over 150 individuals. Without this financial support we would be unable to purchase parts for the aircraft and carry out the restoration work. For this we would like to give our thanks. |
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A Quote |
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From Frank Muir's best selling book |
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"A KENTISH LAD" |
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"The flashiest entry in my logbook was the day I flew what was perhaps the heaviest aircraft then in service, followed by the lightest. The heavy job was a Stirling bomber, full of parachutists newly arrived at Ringway and being given 'air experience'. This was the most boring of all the Ringway pilot's duties,as all he was required to do was fly the trainees anywhere for an hour, straight and level, and then fly them back. So the pilot was perfectly happy for me to fly the plane up and down the Welsh coast on his behalf while he put his feet up on the instrument panel and wrote to his wife". - By Frank Muir 1997. Published by Bantam Press, a division of Transworld Publishers Ltd. |
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Remember The Stirling Video |
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This video produced by our chairman plots the career of the Stirling from 1941 to Arnhem. The video can be purchased from Brian Harris D.F.C. Dibdene, Shamley Green, Guildford, Surrey, GU5 0UA, England at a cost of £16.00 (overseas £19.00 by Air Mail). | ||
Stop Press | ||
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1. Ken Northgreave (F/E 46 Squadron Mk V Stirling). He and his wife Sue called recently and presented the Project with a (1-16) bomb selector switch. The hunt is now on for a second one (17-32). Ken, always an engineer, has contributed various articles to the "Model Engineer" magazine. 2. We offer our sincere thanks to Emeritus Professor R.
A. East. Department of Aeronautics at Southampton University, for |
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