01/12/2012 Undercarriage Recuperation

On a day with the weather ideal for the task, with practically no wind and plenty of sunshine, XM655 got all her wheels off the ground.

With the assistance of the cadets from 150 (City of Oxford) Sqn. ATC the aircraft was raised on jacks to enable the main undercarriage legs to recuperate. This normally occurs whenever a Vulcan becomes airborne, but with XM655 never now achieving take-off, the only option is to raise the aircraft on jacks.

Without recuperation, the liquid springs gradually lose fluid and shorten, so that the aircraft settles closer to the ground.

150 Sqn. ATC Cadets work up a sweat!
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The cadets did us proud, doing the hard work of pumping up the jacks, for which the older volunteers of 655 MaPS were extemely grateful! The last time I was on an Vulcan jacking detail, I was a mere 22yrs. old, and it was very hard work then - and that was 43 years ago!

When jacking an aircraft, it is important to keep it level, and so each jack is raised only by the diameter of an old penny, when the collar is then screwed down so that even should the hydraulics of the jack fail to support the weight, the jack will remain supporting the aircraft, and we keep a selection of old pennies for that purpose.

Eric checks the jack extension
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Of course, we older members had to be seen to be apparently doing some work!

Charles and Len play at being weight lifters - note straight backs and bent knees!
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Once again, may we extend our gratitude to 150 (City of Oxford) Sqn. ATC for their valuable assistance with this very necessary maintenance task.