Report - Richborough 1MW Experimental Wind Turbine, Kent - Jan 2020

[xplorer.x]

That is unique! Sure does look rather stinky up there too lol. Very cool stuff

 

[Xplawreading]

Considering I get goose bumps going up the new ones this must have been something else. I love the fact that the telephone has call box style privacy hood, in case there’s a que of people around I suppose...

 

[obscurity]

this is ace man! something new, historically significant, bit of rope tekkers and a birthday party.

Cheers mate, certainly a good way to kick off 2020 and remember turing 30!

That is unique! Sure does look rather stinky up there too lol. Very cool stuff

Yeah we had completely underestimated just how many pigeons would likely be inside, it was pretty grim on the way to the top but definately worth the effort.

Considering I get goose bumps going up the new ones this must have been something else. I love the fact that the telephone has call box style privacy hood, in case there’s a que of people around I suppose...

Im not going to lie, it was a bit dodgy especially considering that we were reliant on the strength of the platform which had some movement as we climbed. I really liked the emergency phone booth and thought a similar thing haha.

 

[Kirkyphill]

Wow, I worked for James Howden back in the late eighties and spent quite a few weeks working on this beautiful m/c.
The drawbridge was an access platform for servicing the rotating blade tip , which acted as a power control device and an air brake.
This m/c was the largest turbine on the Uk mainland at the time and luckily for us engineers even had an internal lift!
All the British wind turbine manufactures gave up in the 90's due to lack of government support - unlike other countries.
Hence all the current turbines come from places like Denmark and Germany.
I still have vivid memories of being in the nacelle whilst m/c underwent emergency stop tests - basically big brake callipers grab a big steel disc and stop rotation in half a turn.
Well done guys

 

[Bando Exploration]

That is so cool love to try one day well done cracking job

 

[obscurity]

Wow, I worked for James Howden back in the late eighties and spent quite a few weeks working on this beautiful m/c.
The drawbridge was an access platform for servicing the rotating blade tip , which acted as a power control device and an air brake.
This m/c was the largest turbine on the Uk mainland at the time and luckily for us engineers even had an internal lift!
All the British wind turbine manufactures gave up in the 90's due to lack of government support - unlike other countries.
Hence all the current turbines come from places like Denmark and Germany.
I still have vivid memories of being in the nacelle whilst m/c underwent emergency stop tests - basically big brake callipers grab a big steel disc and stop rotation in half a turn.
Well done guys

Hey mate, thanks for the post and first hand information on the turbine, it's an amazing to finally be able to see inside it. A lift would have been a blessing, much easier than ropes and ladders!! Id have loved to have seen it all up and running.

 

[Prism]

Great report, that takes some balls!

 

[DC208]

Very impressive report, and the use of the crossbow and rope is some secret agent level infiltration! Keep it up.

 

[obscurity]

Passing the area today I was sad to see this thing has finally been taken down and is gone from the skyline. RIP Richborough wind turbine 😭

 

[Wevsky]

Passing the area today I was sad to see this thing has finally been taken down and is gone from the skyline. RIP Richborough wind turbine 😭

you know i said id ridden past yesterday and not spotted it missing, and that id have look on my way back, forgot to do that as well..RIP big tall windmill

 

[Exploring with Andy]

RIP big tall windmill

IT'S NOT A MILL!

 

[Wevsky]

IT'S NOT A MILL!

Giant windmill..
its factuall

 

[f3l1x]

Passing the area today I was sad to see this thing has finally been taken down and is gone from the skyline. RIP Richborough wind turbine 😭

I was there a couple days before it was taken down one last attempt to try and get to the top but as always it was securely locked up from memory aswell there was a second tower not sure what it was used for but it looks like they have taken that down too

 

[Wevsky]

I was there a couple days before it was taken down one last attempt to try and get to the top but as always it was securely locked up from memory aswell there was a second tower not sure what it was used for but it looks like they have taken that down too

All that was there was this and from the pics above id say its still there

 

[obscurity]

All that was there was this and from the pics above id say its still there

Wevsky there was a radio mast either side of the turbine. One has been removed with the turbine and one remains.