Spacewise have continued to sponsor our project with the continued loan of one of their containers.

We use the secure container at the museum for storage of the various aircraft parts and equipment that use, or will be using down the line. It has been a fantastic help having it there.

Please consider using Spacewise if you ever have a need for storage containers, portable offices, or refrigeration units.

Check out their website here: http://www.spacewise.co.uk/

Dave and Roy have been working hard in between our visits on the interior of the cabin, and on this trip we had chance to see the work they’ve done.

Roy has been crafting panels and other patches out of wood, and is now working on the forward galley area. Meanwhile Dave has been clearing and sprucing up the forward lavatory and other areas of the cabin.

Yesterday we also spent time sanding and cleaning the doors and entrance areas, and fairly soon we’ll be in a position to paint the interior of the forward cabin. Following this we will be able to have carpets and seat covers made.

It’s great to see so much progress internally, and we’re really looking forward to the day that we can show people around, even if we haven’t got the wings back on yet!

Don’t forget to donate if you can. It all goes towards the aircraft!

This was a great chance to clear the fuselage of the dirt and algae which had built up over the winter, and also that which had proved hard to reach whilst the aircraft was still at the airport.

You can see from the pictures (despite the grey skies!) that she is now sparkling and looking much better for it.

We had two new team members working this weekend – Lynda and Roy. Both have been members of the museum for some time, and have plenty of experience in aircraft restoration. We’re thrilled to have them on board!

The project is still short of funds that will help us through the summer. In particular, we need funds to help paint the exterior, and complete the forward cabin. If you have anything spare, please send it our way via the Donate link (click here)

Andy Butcher, a former Trident pilot who flew all three variants of the aircraft at different points in his career, was Captain on the final passenger flight which saw the aircraft fly from Glasgow to London Heathrow. Following this it was put in storage for a number of months before flying up to Teesside Airport for use by the CAA Fire Training School.

Andy took a few photos of the aircraft before and after the flight, and you can see them below (click for larger versions). They show the cabin and the cockpit (the registration is clearly visible).

We can’t thank Andy enough for these pictures, which give us a great insight into how the aircraft looked at the end of its career. They will be displayed on board the aircraft once restored at Sunderland.

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So if you haven’t been on in a while, please go back and Like us again!

And if you haven’t signed up yet, please go to this link to sign up: http://www.facebook.com/groups/170674009261/

Our Facebook page is a great place to see what’s happening with G-ARPO, be invited to events, and interact with the team involved in the restoration.

Over the past weekend we tried filling a few of the tires (including those on the donated Trident 1E leg) to check their condition ahead of the planned moving of the aircraft in the near future. This was fairly promising, but the condition of some tires and wheels means more attention is needed.

Given the weather we spent most time working inside. We plan to make a lot of progress on restoring the forward cabin as a priority, making it presentable. To do this, many of the window frames have been cleaned (ready to be re-sprayed). Dave has also been cleaning the PSU units (the panels above passengers heads)

This weekend we fitted new wall coverings on some of the dividers at the front of the cabin, which instantly give it a clean look which we are very pleased with.

If anyone would like to sponsor carpeting or seat covers (remember, you can sponsor a seat on this link), please get in touch or donate.

With only a handful of aircraft preserved, and our own G-ARPO being the last complete Trident 1C anywhere in the world, let’s make 2012 – this significant 50th year – the one in which we secure this aircraft’s future here at the North East Aircraft Museum.

We still need donations to help us achieve all there is left to do. Our Christmas present sales are still running, so please consider donating a product by clicking here, or alternatively just sending a regular donation to the project here.

Thanks for all your support so far, and Happy Birthday Trident!

Here are some of the things she’s put on her Christmas list to Santa that will help the team through the coming year:

- 1 sq metre of new carpet – £4.99 – Click to buy
- 1 section of paint for the exterior – £9.99 – Click to buy
- Cleaning products for the cabin – £3.99 – Click to buy
- 1 Year of hosting for our website – £14.99 – Click to buy
- Crane hire for reattaching tail fin – £300 – Click to buy
- Sponsor 1 fully restored seat and have your name on it – £149 – Click to buy

And don’t forget you can purchase a variety of Save The Trident items at our online store. Click here

* Please note, all money received through this page will be earmarked to fund the gift you pay for, however in some circumstances it will go to the general fund which pays for all work on the Trident. No money will be used outside of the project.

Purchasing these items will not result in any stake in ownership of the aircraft or products bought

It proved quite fruitful and we managed to get the front cabin scrubbed thoroughly with chemical film remover as used by professional valet and road maintenance companies. This stuff worked through 28 years of smoke damage and dirt that had accumulated on the ceiling, walls and panels, and scrubbed parts very clean, ready for painting in the future.

We also put back in place the window and ceiling panels, which will be cleaned by team member Dave Matthews as he visits regularly to work on the aircraft.

In the cockpit, Neil spent the day working on the centre pedestal, sanding and flatting, and then painting it.