Blackburn Buccaneer S2 Cockpit Rig - XN979

12/06/2026

It's a great chance to visit TBAG and to support the Buccaneers

✈️The ENTHUSIAST ZONE is THE place at RAF Cosford Air Show (Official) 2026 to get your aviation merchandise, gifts, software, books, clothing, aircraft models, patches, aircraft checklists, kids checklist quizzes, cameras, lenses and more.

🎤The Enthusiast Zone Live stage will be hosting interviews with pilots, crews and other notable people, talks and more.

✈️And you can get up close to some static aircraft and chat to the crews about learning to fly.

📍We are situated next to the control tower (see image below).

SIGMA UK Fujifilm UK & Ireland 845 Naval Air Squadron Shop AvGeek Models Have I Seen It Marqforde Aerospace Aerotiques Lids Tops and Tails The Buccaneer Aviation Group ARD - Aviation Retail Direct The Aviation Bookshop and more.

12/06/2026

This will be another great weekend at South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum.

Just 10 days to go until our next big event for 2026 and it’s an ‘Open Cockpits’ weekend with a twist!

New for 2026, ‘The Cockpit Gathering’ sees cockpit owners and associated exhibitors from around the country joining us for the weekend of June 20th/21st to celebrate the work to restore these iconic machines and display them to the public.

As usual, everything is included in the standard museum entry costs, there’s no hidden extras! More information can be found on our website: www.southyorkshireaircraftmuseum.org.uk

12/06/2026

We're working towards taking the rig and hope to see you there.

26/05/2026

As usual we've been busy, but mostly with exams and other work.

I went to South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum last Wednesday and continued work on this connector. The brass has taken a lot of work with a nylon brush on a drill and Autosol. Apart from that, we're trying to get the parts ready to rebuild by section. That's no small task after 2 1/2yrs.

I went down to Wolverhampton Halfpenny Green Airport for the the DH Chipmunk 80th event which was fantastic. Thank you for all of your hard work with such a great event. Do hope to see some of you up at the Real Aeroplane Club Best of British event on 19th July. It was also good to see the CL41A and G-PROV and to meet and chat with so many interesting people.

We were both working at the engine runs for Vulcan XH558 on Sunday together. It was rather hot to say the least but a great experience as always.

Thanks to everyone.

19/05/2026

Last Saturday Marcus and I were lucky to be invited to support Vulcan XH558 at the Dalton Gala in Rotherham. It was back to the idea of Buccaneers flying with the Vulcans as at Red Flag. It was great to help both. Marcus carried on with some revision whilst there but it was good to see him chatting inbetween.

We took for display the centre pedestal we've been working on, and the newly refitted starboard rudder pedal. It's taken months of treating corrosion - beadblasting, treatments, penetrating oil, acid etch primer and paint, sourcing new bearings or refurbishing them. There are tweaks to make to finish this side off but this is the first time that we know of a rudder pedal moving in over 25 years! It's huge progress - thanks to Naylan's help. Also to the fabulous machinists who've helped us with the replacement c channel and rod ends.

We also took along a section of the pilot's main instrument panel for people to see. It was a great conversation piece - in-between talking about the Vulcan.

I did some work on the trailer on Sunday with Richard so that's improved a bit more again. I've also cut 2 lengths of aluminium flat bar to replace the corroded steel ones on the foot motor linked to the potentiometer behind.

Marcus is continuing to study hard for his exams, but work may overtake my time this week. Thank you to everyone who is involved, and is supporting our work - we do appreciate it.

15/05/2026

We're quiet as Marcus is working very hard with his ongoing GCSE exams. I've been busy at the museum and we're making good steady progress.

Thanks to Naylan's hard work - and refitting a lot of new or refurbished bearings the centre pedestal is starting to transform. We're going to the Dalton gala in Rotherham tomorrow so come and see what we've done. The months of work are paying off🙂

We were lucky enough to share a lovely day with our friends at Vulcan XH558 recently. Otherwise we've just been working on parts at South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum. Photos will follow tomorrow.

Thanks for your ongoing interest and patience - as I'm slower at writing these than Marcus! A special thank you to Naylan for his invaluable help and knowledge - it wouldn't happen without him.

15/05/2026

We're looking forward to supporting Vulcan XH558 at Dalton tomorrow.

We're taking a couple of bits of work too so hope to see you there.

Come and see us tomorrow at Dalton Parish Council Spring Gala!

We’ll be bringing along a Vulcan XH558 ejector seat, some fantastic prize draws, exclusive Vulcan XH558 merchandise, and a few other surprises too.

Join us as we help celebrate 100 years of Sunnyside.

📍 Sunnyside Top Field
Near Crescent East, Rotherham, S66 3ZS

We’d love to see you there!

12/05/2026

We're looking forward to seeing Bring Annie Home at Breighton

06/05/2026

I'm solo for now and taking the chances that I can to pop into the museum. Work is slow, but after an injection into my shoulder I'm hoping that it'll improve a bit more. Sorry for the lack of updates.

My work with the bead blaster, etch primer, sanding, paint and lacquer continues. I'm trying to prepare components as fast as i can for now to rebuild - it'll be a huge task. We're hoping that the lacquer will provide an extra layer of protection against corrosion - we won't use any filler as we want to monitor the existing damage. This has become a restoration down to the rivets and bearings. I've now started to slowly peel off some of the silver tape used to (hopefully) protect the painted on and etched part numbers during blasting and painting.

Some of the bearings require several days of soaking in various ways to clean the corrosion and dirt out. Thanks to Naylan's advice we're making progress.

We've been working with Vulcan XH558 inbetween, and visited the Newark Air Museum Aeroboot recently. We both enjoyed being back at South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum on Saturday for one of the popular cockpit open days. Thanks everyone for your support, it was a great weekend.

Marcus is really focused on his revision now for his exams which start next week. I'll do what I can inbetween. We're looking forward to working together over the summer.

02/05/2026

We're here today for Open Cockpits, the first of 3 days at South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum

Hope to see you soon