Wire ropes for aircraft restoration
In September, our rope team worked on a special project. A Swiss customer needed spliced rope loops for the reconstruction of an old 1934 Typ DH-60G III Tourist Moth aircraft.
In Schmitten (Switzerland) BVA Vintage Aviation is working on the reconstruction of a British De Havilland trainer aircraft, using as many original parts as possible, according to the original construction plans. For 20 years, company owner Bruno Vonlanthen has invested countless hours of work in this special restoration project. The British aircraft was used as a trainer by the Aero-Club Bern in Switzerland from 1934. In 1939 it was scrapped by an Air Ministry expert. Today there are only four airworthy aircrafts of this type left in the world.
To control the elevator and rudder of the aircraft, the restorer needed wire ropes with spliced connections at both ends. In total, our rope specialists made 14 ropes for the customer to the required length and fitted them with 28 loop splices. This was a special craft, where the weather resistance of the ropes and the appearance of the splices were important.
The 14 ropes are of the 6 x 19 + WC type with a diameter of 2.38 millimetres each. The ropes and fittings are original parts which the restorer imported from Great Britain and Australia and presented to us for making up. In his restoration project, it is important to use parts that are as authentic as possible according to the available construction plans. In the end, this is what determines the value of the restored aircraft in expert circles.
Apart from Jakob Rope Systems, there are hardly any companies in Switzerland that can carry out special rope work like this for restorers. This is why we sometimes receive requests for special projects in aircraft construction and other areas where the know-how of our rope access technicians is in demand.