Drills give aircraft restoration project a helping hand

A restoration project in Cambridgeshire has been given a helping hand from a global cutting tool manufacturer.

The Stirling Aircraft Project in Alconbury is reconstructing the forward fuselage of a Short Stirling, the first of the RAFs four-engine aircraft to enter service in the Second World War.

Even though more than 2,300 Stirlings were built, not one is known to exist today. The project involves salvaging old Stirling parts from across Europe, as well as re-engineering sections, to bring the fuselage and its key components together.

Cutting tool supplier Dormer Pramet has given its support by donating a range of sheetmetal drills and stub drills to the project for drilling imperial bolts, rivets and split pins.

The Dormer sheetmetal drills (A123 and A119) are specifically designed for drilling thin sheet steel and panels at a high quality, with reliable performance. They are available in several standard sizes to suit common rivets, screws and bolts.

Its A022 HSS TiN tip coated stub drill features a self-centring split-point for excellent positional accuracy and hole quality. The TiN tip coating offers extended tool life and increased performance.

John Lathwell, secretary of the Stirling Aircraft Project, said: “We are re-building an ‘extinct’ aircraft by constructing the forward fuselage section of the Short Stirling, incorporating the main crew stations. This will then be a lasting tribute to the people who designed, built, flew and maintained this historic aircraft.

“As a UK registered charity we must rely on donations and good will gestures from companies such as Dormer Pramet to keep the project going, so we are very grateful for its support.

“Our eventual aim is to have a completed cockpit on display at RAF Museum Hendon, where future generations can view and experience the Stirling.”

Dormer Pramet www.dormerpramet.com

Stirling Aircraft Project www.stirlingproject.co.uk

Company

Dormer Pramet

Related Articles

Steel Turning Endurance (GC4325)

Edges to rely on - In a small country in the northern hemisphere, a team of experts at Sandvik Coromant was facing the challenge of creating a grade that would last longer than ever before in the broadest possible range of steel turning applications.
9 years ago Literature
Most recent Articles

Innovation grant funding awarded for automation software

Q5D, a manufacturer of wire harness automation equipment for additive manufacturing, has secured £918,169 in grant funding for the company and its partners to further develop the software that drives the CY1000 wiring automation robot announced earlier this year.
32 minutes ago News

Login / Sign up