This unique project aims to inspire young people (11-18 yrs) in the North East by giving them the chance to experience restoring a rare vintage aeroplane. It is one of only 5 ever made (one of only 2 surviving), and was bequeathed for this project.
Highly unusually, the intention is to restore the aircraft to full flight condition with the young people’s help. Most vintage restorations are done by adults, to static-display condition for a museum. This project is a hands-on introduction to all aspects of aeronautical engineering for the young people involved.
This decision has been generating much attention and excitement in the aero engineering restoration world and was recognised in 2022 with the prestigious William McAlpine Award from the Transport Trust. The award is given to the ‘best in class’ project, nationwide.
Phase I was fully funded thanks to generous support from the Cleveland Scientific Institution, the Platten Family Fund and others. This allowed us a strip, inspection and rebuilding of the Continental 0-200 engine. It is estimated that the engine is now worth in the region of £30,000 at a cost of only approximately £8000. Phase I was completed on time and on budget.
Phase II has begun (2024) with a strip, inspection and rebuilding of the aircraft fuselage. When this is complete, it will be followed by a strip, inspection and rebuilding of the aircraft wings. The project’s CAA and LAA qualified Inspector will be checking and testing every step of the way. Once phase III is complete and the appropriate tests and checks have been officially signed off, an experienced Test Pilot (Julian Hill) will take to the skies!
Project Impact:
The sessions are run with 8 young people at a time so everyone can actively participate. 18 young people so far have engaged with the project already since the start in Autumn 2022. It is estimated that approximately 30 students will be involved in hands-on work and training through the course of the whole project.
In addition to the above an outreach programme of workshops and site visits for larger groups and a speaker series (330+ pupils estimated total) related to the project with talks from the many STEM consultants who are generously supporting the project and have also found the project very inspiring. To date there has been a successful full day of interactive display at a Classic Vehicles festival where the engine was much admired and two smaller aeronautical engineering evening workshops at a secondary school
