THIS MIGHT COME IN HANDY ONE DAY This image provides a useful insight into the workings of the mind of a museum volunteer and probably explains why we have museums in the first place! Back in 1995, QAM member Dave Geck, who was then in the RAAF, transferred with his unit from Darwin to No 35 Squadron in Townsville. Prior to the move, there was a big clean-up on the base and one of the many items to be thrown in the bin was a torque wrench which had a specific application to the Iroquois. Thinking that it might come in handy one day, Dave liberated the device and it stayed with him during his ensuing seven house moves. Nineteen years later, the torque wrench did come in handy when QAM acquired an Iroquois and the helicopter had to be reassembled at Caloundra. The main purpose of the torque wrench is tightening the so-called "Jesus Nut" which secures the Iroquois main rotor to the mast. (This term is generally used to describe any component which represents a single point of failure with catastrophic consequences). The picture shows QAM member Tony Whitten, who served in the RAAF with Dave Geck, using the torque wrench in the reassembly of Iroquois A2-310 at Caloundra in May 2014. Picture: Dave Geck QUEENSLAND AIR MUSEUM www.qam.com.au |