Ormonde Aircraft Ltd News Release
Ormonde Aircraft Ltd aid BBMF Hurricane reconfiguration
During the last week of September a small team of engineers from Ormonde Aircraft Ltd travelled to RAF Coningsby, Lincs to deliver the latest set of engine exhaust stubs for aircraft on the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight [BBMF]. Led by company owner Alan Purdy, the team travelled from their facility at Tollerton, Notts with a full set of flame damper style of exhaust stubs for installation on the BBMF’s Hurricane II, PZ865 ‘Night Reaper’.
Ormonde Aircraft engineers had fabricated the set of hand formed flame damper exhaust stubs [originally developed for day and night fighter operations] to the exacting standards specified by the BBMF. The exhaust stubs have been carefully formed using original patterns to ensure the correct shape and performance are maintained and they are a common design for both Hurricanes and Spitfires with the same part number.
Once installed on PZ865 the exhaust stubs were subjected to both ground running and flight trials to ensure emissions / recorded cockpit gas levels were within specification and permitted operational levels. Now fitted the exhaust stubs have also allowed Hurricane II, PZ865 to be returned to its original configuration when manufactured at Langley, Bucks in the summer of 1944.
Squadron Leader Al Pinner, OC BBMF took PZ865 up for a test flight with her new cans fitted and after he made the following comments, “She looks and sounds fantastic. It is great that she looks authentic again and the cockpit noise is down to a much more comfortable level - a delight to fly.”
Other projects recently undertaken by Ormonde Aircraft Ltd for the BBMF includes: fuel tank overhauls; oil tank repairs; fabrication of exhaust stubs for Lancaster I PA474 and Spitfire XVI TE311.
“We are very proud that our company has been selected to do work for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, especially on a project that has helped the Hurricane to be returned to its original configuration as built back in 1944.” commented Ormonde Aircraft’s Alan Purdy. He concluded, “Projects like this are part of the reason why we are also currently looking to recruit more experienced aircraft sheet metal workers to the company.”
Hurricane PZ865 with Squadron Leader
Al Pinner, OC BBMF at the controls returns
after her test flight with the new ‘cans’ fitted.
[Credit – Ormonde Aircraft Ltd]
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Engineers from Ormonde Aircraft watch
the new exhaust stubs being fitted
to BBMF Hurricane PZ865.
[Credit - Howard Heeley - Down To Earth Promotions]
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New exhaust stubs fitted to BBMF
Hurricane PZ865.
[Credit - Howard Heeley - Down To Earth Promotions]
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New exhaust stubs fitted to BBMF
Hurricane PZ865.
[Credit - Howard Heeley - Down To Earth Promotions]
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