This week, Tony and Neil will be meeting with the authorities at Durham Tees Valley, as well as Serco’s International Fire Training Centre, to go over the project plan, timescales, and health & safety aspects of the move.

Whilst this is a tense period where all of the details have to be discussed and fit together, it is also an exciting time for the project. We hope to be able to fix a date for the move very soon as a result of all these discussions. The preparation of the aircraft will also start this week.

Bruce Partington, a qualified aircraft engineer, joined Tony Jarrett, Neil Lomax and Matt Falcus and staff at the Serco International Fire Training Centre in inspecting G-ARPO. Particular emphasis was placed on the landing gear as these will need to continue supporting the aircraft once it is moved. The main gear are not in the best condition, after years outside with no protection, however Bruce confirms they’re not beyond repair and can carry on supporting the aircraft indefinitely with a little work.

Various parts of the airframe were found to be suffering from corrosion. A further inspection will uncover the extent of this, and the necessary steps to protect it from further damage. The priority will be in ensuring the horizontal stabiliser is still safe, and we will inspect this on the next visit if elevated aerial access is organised.

All in all, this was a successful trip and the good news is that the aircraft will almost certainly be safe to move and preserve at a museum.