Blackburn Buccaneer S2 Cockpit Rig - XN979

06/08/2026

We'll be visiting Newark Air Museum on Saturday for the Aeroboot.

As always, we're especially keen to find some more Buccaneer parts for the rig, and tools and anything else you might have that's related. As usual Mum is keen for more Vulcan parts!

We're looking forward to catching up with friends before we dash back for more work. See you there.

04/08/2026

We've got a few jobs on currently which we are working through.

The original towing arm for the cockpit was formerly constructed from very thick and durable steel, but unfortunately weighed an enormous amount, so it was impractical. With the help of Bill and James (thank you very much), a replacement section of steel tube was found and welded on to the top and bottom of the arm, so it is now much lighter. At some point I intend on repainting the trolley into the correct grey, so I took all of the original paint off the ends, and it has now been coated in red oxide paint.

I've also been fabricating an adapter plate for another terminal block in the control column base from a thick aluminium bracket. It's almost finished but requires a little more adjustment.

Mum has also been keeping busy with the centre pedestal, installing more nuts and bolts, and a few more brackets and repainting the brake lines light aircraft grey where they've been chipped. The metal insert for the gaiters has now had the replacement anchor nuts finished. She's been shopping for lots of finishing parts like split pins and panhead screws. Thank you Naylan and South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum as always.

We're now starting the exciting next chapter for the rig - putting some new wiring back into the pedestal before it's made inaccessible by being fitted. We're very lucky to have the help of Graham, as well as Naylan, who's worked on Buccaneer wiring before. We're working out what we might need with a rewire for future proofing. Thank you to Francis of The Buccaneer Aviation Group as well for making the control column base wiring understandable!

On Sunday we were back with Vulcan XH558 for an engine running day. Watch out for news about Halloween.....

29/07/2026

It's been yet another busy week.

Thanks to the help of our friends at South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum, the rig is back in the usual place by Vulcan XL388.

Mum sanded the floor under where the centre pedestal will go in the cockpit. It's had a coat of etch primer and dark sea grey - and the rivets the red oxide and grey. It's much tidier. She also carried on and has painted 8 of the 9 'new' skin panels and rivets into grey. They look much better.

She then rebuilt the starboard foot motor inner so it's now got some pressure when you press. Thanks to Naylan for helping with the difficult circlips.

We've decide to lighten the steering arm as its so heavy due to it's old design. Thanks to Bill's help the main heavy section has been replaced by a lighter weight version. James has kindly welded it all together again so we need to start priming it now.

Mum's also painted 2 anti vibration mount metal sections, another is ready to blast. We're still tweaking bolts and castellated nuts, tightening them up and priming/painting. The metal for the gaiters has been sanded where the anchor nuts were (and more corrosion) and primed again.

A special thanks to Naylan as usual for all of his help last week - and for the replacement spacer he's made for one of the pieces. Thanks also Mum for carrying on whilst I was busy with my work experience.

28/07/2026

Toolbox Tuesday!

I recently bought this ex-MOD AOG toolbox, which came with all of the foam inlays included, to go towards future work as I look to be a licenced engineer. I've managed to fill some slots, and plan to make/change a few, especially for screwdrivers.

If anybody can help with this, identifying which slots may hold which tools, or reccomend any tools, I'd be very grateful, especially about a decent screwdriver set please.

Likewise, if anyone is selling any tools, please send me a message, as I may be interested!

21/07/2026

What a week!

We had a very busy week at the museum prepping the centre pedestal. It's largely rebuilt now - so a huge thanks especially to Naylan without whose expertise and knowledge we couldn't have done it. Also to Sam and James and South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum. We've got another bearing holder to machine to fit the next section of the pedestal but it's already been a huge tranformation. We've taken the chance to get every bearing etc working whilst we've had it in so many pieces. The bolts and nuts have been blasted or cleaned and the tap and die used, or they've been replaced. The hydraulic lines for both foot motors have been reinstated. The other rudder pedal is back on, along with many of the control rods inside. Once there, I continued spannering until sunset at Breighton, as I had mounted the instrument rail brackets earlier the wrong way around. We left the panels and pedestal out for people to see more easily.

You might have noticed that the windscreen is back in alignment too. We will need to drill more holes after the pedestal goes back in, but first things first. Thank you again to those who've helped, right down to getting the rig loaded, takenand returned.

It was amazing to be Real Aeroplane Club and the Brough reunion. Thank you so much everyone for your encouragement, information and support. We heard and saw some amazing stories and documents which we were privileged to see. Thank you to the RAC for the invite, what a day.

We've been given some interesting leads to follow about where the rig was at Brough and how it might have been used. There seems to be some concensus about it being in the Drawing/Design Office, Mech Test and being kept between there and Experimental. However we're still looking for more info so any more details or dates would be priceless please.

I was ground crew airside - an amazing experience, filling and seeing out the Yak, and assisting in fuelling and moving of the Hurricane. Thank you to everyone that made this weekend happen.

Thanks to Mum for looking after the rig when I was working, and also to Gary H Hancock and Damo Kinsley for your help loading.

Back to my work experience this week!

18/07/2026

Ready to roll to Real Aeroplane Club ready for Best of British! Thanks to South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum for all of your help

14/07/2026

We're really hoping to chat with some of the former Brough Buccaneer workers on Sunday. Hope to see you there at the reunion.

Take a look at this wonderful historic photograph of Blackburn B.2 G-AEBJ with Chief Test Pilot Tim Woods at Sherburn, Yorkshire, on the 22nd July 1956. 🇬🇧

We’re delighted to be welcoming this iconic aircraft back to Yorkshire for Breighton’s Best of British Day on Sunday 19th July 2026, where it will be appearing as part of the BAE 110 Years Reunion.

We already have more than 200 current and former BAE employees registered to attend. If you worked for BAE, this is a fantastic opportunity to catch up with former colleagues and friends while enjoying the unique atmosphere at Breighton Airfield.

Registration is essential, so be sure to sign up using the link -

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/breightons-best-of-british-day-tickets-1983382841470?aff=ebdsshios

We look forward to seeing you there! 🇬🇧

14/07/2026

We're looking forward to Sunday. We hope to see you there.

Looking forward to Breighton’s Best of British Day this Sunday? 🇬🇧

Here’s everything you need to know before you arrive.

Please note that this is not an airshow. It is a ticketed event.

Real Aeroplane Club members and those living in their household can enter the airfield free of charge by presenting their membership card.
Non-members can purchase advance tickets via Eventbrite for £10 plus booking fee. Limited tickets will also be available on the gate for £20.

Under-18s and current or former BAE Systems employees can attend free of charge, but must still reserve a free ticket through Eventbrite so
we can keep track of visitor numbers on site.

Gates open at 10:00am.
Highlights of the day include:
A British vehicle parade at 12:00pm
Live music from Ashlea Lauren around midday.
This special event also marks the launch of the Real Aeroplane Charitable Trust. Pilots please visit us, there’s no landing fees or PPR required.

Come along to socialise, enjoy a fantastic day out, and celebrate the very best of British engineering! 🇬🇧

Eventbrite link - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/breightons-best-of-british-day-tickets-1983382841470?aff=ebdsshios

13/07/2026

It's been another busy week.

It was great to take part in a STEM day at Vulcan XH558, showing them around the aircraft and demonstrating the aircraft's functions to inspire the next generation.

We've made some great progress with the rig. We're still working towards a big deadline next weekend so we'll show you with a couple of photos for now. A huge thank you to Naylan whose help, knowledge and advice has been priceless.

We were out doing maintenance with Vulcan XH558 yesterday alongside some visitors. It's always good to get some maintenance done on the jet.

Thank you everyone for your support, especially Naylan.

08/07/2026

Morning, Carolyn here.

I'm writing this again as Marcus is in school for the final time today.

We've had a very busy few days as we were briefly in the Dales last week. We enjoyed returning for a couple of days to The Buccaneer Aviation Group to help for the Cotswold Airport Open Weekend.

On Sunday we had a great day at the Summer Airshow at Imperial War Museum Duxford. It was a good opportunity for Marcus to catch up with friends and contacts.

We're working on the rig again this week, so will update at the weekend.

Thanks for your ongoing interest.