Grenchen, Switzerland Twin Beech, YAK-18, F-104 etc

[Taigh Ramey]

I am working on a Twin Beech in Grenchen, Switzerland and I thought I would post a few shots of the goings on.

I am over here for an annual inspection and a spar X-ray followed by some flight training with the owner and two of his pilots. This Beech is an ex RCAF 3NM Navigation trainer.



Here is a shot of the X ray tube on the wing. The tube shoots through the wing spar where a film is placed



Here is a shot of one of the X-ray films. Look Ma no cavities! This is one of 40+ plus shots required to make sure the Twin Beech wing is good to fly for another 1500 hours.



The steel spar on this particular Beech is as perfect, or imperfect, as it was the day it was made. Not a speck of internal rust or any cracks showed up on the X-rays. Pretty good for a Beech made in 1952. I wish all other Beech's fared so well.

I am staying at the Best Western Grenchen Airport Hotel which is right on the airport. The Beech is in a hangar right behind the hotel only about 100 feet from here. I love the commute to work.

Here is something really cool that, sadly, we will not see back home in the States: a playground for kids right on the airport.









I have been told that Breitling Watch Company is headquartered here and this is the airport that they use for their corporate work. They evidently built the awesome playground. You can't swing a dead cat at this airport without hitting a Breitling clock, poster or other form of company advert...well almost.

The hallway in the hotel has more than a dozen pictures on the wall of the Connie. Cool shots made to look like paintings







Breitling also has an F-104 as a gate guard at the entrance to the airport



In one of the hangars is a YAK-18. and another project tucked away in the back





Next to the project is an Allison



which I was told is for this aircraft that is presently in Russia



The people here are wonderful and the mechanics are real sharp. Their shops are so neat and clean it makes me want to go home and throw all my crap away!

I am amazed how many people here speak english better than I do which certainly isn't saying much.

Their native language is Swiss German. The only German I know comes from Hogan's Heroes and so far I have not heard anyone say HOOOOGANNNN!!!

That's all for now,

Taigh

[Eric Friedebach]

That’s pretty cool! Seeing you post that picture of the playground airplane reminds me of the Twin Beech cockpit that Dave Warren had in his backyard for the kids to play in years ago.

[warbirdcrew]

Great pictures Taigh. I was wondering if you might be able to post a picture of what a bad spar would look like in an x-ray. That is quite an interesting process you use.

[DB2]

Great pics! Regarding how neat everything is, I worked in Mulhouse, France some years ago and on weekends rented a Turbo Arrow at the (Swiss-side) of the Basel airport. On the schedule board at the aero club there was a ruler attached to a string.

You were required to use this ruler to help draw an "X" on the hour slots on the whiteboard to block out the time you reserved the airplane!!!

I too would like to see more pics of the spar x-ray process if you ever have a chance to post.

[K5DH]

Great stuff, Taigh! Thanks for sharing.

Breitling is heavy into aviation these days. They are a major sponsor of the Reno air races and other events. I own two Breitling watches, and I'd love to visit their factory some day.

Cheers!

[Swiss Mustangs]

Taigh...

sent you a P.M.....

Martin

[Swiss Mustangs]

and for all you WiXers... here's the website of Grenchen Airport with real-time webcams....

http://www.airport-grenchen.ch/

Martin