More from February 2010...
Although updates on 894?s progress have been slow this year, the work certainly hasn?t!
The beginning of the year has been spent working on some of the electrics whilst waiting for the new brake accumulator and brake relay valve seals to turn up!
Finally they arrived and both items have been stripped down, inspected and then had the new seal kits fitted.
Hand brake accumulator?
Old seals?
Removed?
New seals fitted?
The accumulator was pressure tested in the same manor as the flying control ones (see earlier post) and has since been re-installed in the aircraft.
Brake relay valve?
Back in one piece?
Being pressure tested?
Each individual port was tested up to 350psi?
The brake relay valve is the heart of the braking system in the Buccaneer. It allows full differential braking and combined braking during gear retraction. This particular valve is from XV864. I repaired 894?s original one a few years back but unfortunately it has an internal leak!
I have also acquired an inverter which I have programmed to 3 phase, 200 volts at 400Hz. This item now allows me to fully test Buccaneer electrical equipment at home in my workshop. The item fitted in the photo is a HF radio blower which is also from XV864. The one fitted to 894 screeches badly and until now I have been unable to test any replacements!
Incidentally, the ongoing electrical work that I mentioned at the start is quite ambitious. I am trying to get the Strike Sight (heads up display) and the artificial horizon and direction indicators to work. Although I have replaced several fuses and repaired some damaged items the final result still eludes me?!
