EB News 25.03.12.
Dotty finally flushes out Rodents
Following a vicious attack by some nasty lowlifes we are finally back on line with a far more respectable content! Apologies to all those that were rather shocked to find we had become a rather rudeysite but it was not of our doing. The attack was on a large number of sites apparently. Our Barry has pulled most of his hair out trying to get bigger blocks of concrete in the gateways to prevent re-invasion and miraculously he seems to have pulled it off so huge thanks there. The site isn’t quite back as it was but we will be firing on all cylinders again pretty soon and be getting some more data and articles out as quickly as we can. Thankyou to all those that contacted us firstly to let us know about the glis-glis invasion and secondly to enquire how long it would be before we were back. Thanks very much indeed. By Easter we hope things should be back to normalish, if there is such a thing in our bizarre world! There you go, no sooner said than wotsit, a Hawker Hunter (respectfully low) has just gone over the garden! Normality, it seems, has returned.
Mandatory Lindstrand Service Bulletin issued.
Mandatory Lindstrand Service Bulletin 12 was raised on 10th February 2012. It refers to internal leaks through the Female ACME (Rego-type) Connector fitted to the hose ends on a number of listed burners, pre-fabricated hoses and those supplied as spares. The leak is a result that, possibly, the fitting was not tightened sufficiently during manufacture and should be easily resolved providing the procedure described in the SB is followed. Burner numbers will be on the burner H bracket and pre-fabricated hose and manifold numbers are on the sealed ID tag wrapped around the hose ends. If you have ordered and fitted new Rego ends to hoses or manifolds, or have them in your stores, the affected ones are listed on the Form 1 you got with them or those supplied between 01.01.12 and 01.09.11. If after inspection you are unable to cure the problem then contact Lindstrand Balloons for advice and a replacement fitting. To get the SB go to http://www.lindstrand.co.uk/help-manuals.php for a download or contact them on 01691 671717.
Lindstrand Flight Manual update
On the desk awaiting a critical review is the latest update to the Lindstrand Flight Manual, now at issue 1.41…….. There appear to be amendments to 13 pages only so downloading the amendments is an easy option to having to reprint the entire manual.
Go to Lindstrand’s website http://www.lindstrand.co.uk/. Click on ‘support’, next page Technical Documentation then a few lines down you’ll find ‘Flight Manual Amendment 1.41’ which you click on to download. Of note is an additional instruction to the way cylinders should be strapped in at 2.1.2. ‘The top tank strap is positioned over the top shoulder of the tank to prevent it from rising up during landing’. Nice to see this in print we’ve done it like that for years ever since a cylinder bounced up on a hard landing during a spectacular tether and came back down with me toe under it! The other amendments are additions to the various tables including the Imperial Lift Ready Reckoners, Lindstrand basket specification 1.5.2.1, Minimum and reduced mass tables, technical details in Table 1 Lindstrand envelopes for the A-type 450 and 500 envelopes and, of course, the details on the pages that tell you the details have changed!
G-BHTG to be re-commissioned
Halcyon, a Leonard Street built Thunder 56 Bolt, is to be returned to airworthy condition having been ‘retired’ at 53.10hrs in 1991. The complete kit has been very generously donated to the BBM&L including the original Hot Tom double burner by its owners the MacDonalds. The logbook is a joy to read containing a damge report after each flight, fortunately usually ‘no damage’! Its not thought much will need to be done to the kit as it is all still in pretty good condition. One problem will be getting the Hot Tom ‘officially approved’ but Cameron’s John Davies is on the case so hopefully it won’t be long before this brightly coloured balloon is seen in the air again. Full story to follow.
Lindstrand Pressure Gauges
Lindstrand Balloons have changed the supplier of their burner pressure gauges. The originally gauges are now no longer available and the new ones are a slightly different size so when ordering and fitting a replacement gauge it is very important to make sure you get a new deeper bezel ring that holds them in place. It is also important to fit new ‘O’ rings as a matter of course. Fitting instructions are still the same and can be found in the Maintenance Manual. Don’t forget your Form 1.
Cameron Z types parachute rim tape
Larger Cameron Z-types are tending to show signs of scuffing on the the parachute edge tape. The tell-tell sign is the wrinkling and bunching of one side of the stitching caused by the scuffing. Balloons with a little as 40 hours on them have been found to show early signs of the condition. Having contacted Craig Moore, Technical Manager at Cameron Balloons, he stated that there isn’t a problem with this however if it is thought that the bunching is excessive then give him a call with the measurement of the tape (centre to centre between gores) and they will check their data.
Black Horse Meet Cancelled/Postponed
With the departure of Annie Walker from the Black Horse the organising folk of the Black Horse Easter Meet have decided that it would be prudent to put on hold the planned Easter Meet. Although there doesn’t seem to be a problem with the ongoing use of the Black Horse by the Club there is a temporary problem with the electric supply for the gas tank. The pub is open under the temporary management and due for a refurb and make-over. Currently they are doing a fine pint of Doombar. Watch this space for updates.