She did do a fast taxi run and Barry (and the rest of the crew) were obviousy extremely disappointed. In 8 years of Vulocan displays Barry had only had one no-show due to equipment failure so to have this happen on their second outing was a particularly bad blow. FWIW the type of part that failed had no significant history of problems over the life of the aircraft.
There were 134 Vulcans built and the plane also saw action during the Falklands conflict
Depends on what is meant by "the plane". If you mean the Vulcan (generically) then the statement is (obviously) correct. If you mean 558 specifically, then this is not correct as it was not involved in Corporate - it was on MR duties at Scampton at the time I believe.
Does any one know please, when 558 is due to depart Waddo, I'm off today (supposed to be decorating the Kitchen) I could take a sneaky drive up there for a look see, especially as I went yesterday and was disapointed that she didn't fly.
The lady at the VTTS stall told me when I bought my BB Cap said that Mr Branson wasn't interested in sponsoring 558 because he doesn't want anything to do with military aircraft, is this true? Very sad if it is.
With regard to Mr Branson - he knows the project, as does the Virgin Management, that consults with him on his business activites.
The Virgin Company best placed in the Virgin empire to sponsor is VA, however I made a formal approach 18 months ago to VA and the CEO came back to me, saying it is a wonderful project but not something VA could do with. This has been followed up by VOC, and get the same line.
Because the Virgin brand is so domiant in the UK, Virgin does not need brand awareness. Also Virgin as a whole will be the main sponsor to the London Marathon from 2010 - the reason behind that deal will be to encourage further fundrasing by the par takers of the marathon.
Virgin also have there own Charity - Unite.
So as a business - no way. As a personal donor, well it would be nice!
I realise that this is very new news but their website does not list where else she might display this year and if there is any static display in between times. If their site does contain such info, then two minutes of checking has not revealed it.
If you mean 558 specifically, then this is not correct as it was not involved in Corporate - it was on MR duties at Scampton at the time I believe.
27 Sqn disbanded in March 1982, before Corporate, and 558 was on the strength of 50(B) Sqn during Corporate, and was one of the 6 airframes converted to the K2.
For those interested in what the Vulcan detachment got upto during Corporate, look here (four pages)
558 might have had a very short spell on 44(R) after 27 before moving across the airfield to 50(B).
The pilot declared the aircraft unservicable before shutting down and requesting some transport.
I did remark upon the unreliability of Vulcans in t'auld days, even given the massive support they enjoyed back then. For example there would be 22 aircraft out on the Waddington line (plus two in the shed) at any one time - including four bombed up and ready to go on QRA. There were two shifts with around eighty technicians each, struggling round the clock to keep the flying programme moving; this despite the fact that out of the available 18 or so aircraft there would always be half a dozen or more available to substitute for a grounded aircraft. Another couple of hundred techies in the sheds were doing relatively low level hangar maintenance in the shape of equalised Primary, Primary* and Minor checks - what the civil world would call A and C1/C2 checks. The proper heavy Minor* and Major checks were done at depots like Bitteswell.
In the present situation the JEngO would pick up the phone to SCAF and declare "VOG" and the parts would be hand delivered to the flight line within 24 hours maximum from wherever in the country they may be found - and that included manufacturers stocks. That level of support is no longer available, so we must expect a lot of last minute cancellations. Not the kind of service reputation that will get airshow organisers enthusiastic about paying for a Vulcan appearance - or not as the case may be.
ZH875 - thanks for the correction. I was blissfully ignoring the fact that there was perhaps a little bit more to Corporate than just the deployment to Ascension!
I especially appreciate the taxi shots from Sunday. Your wet weather defences must have taken a battering.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blacksheep
I did remark upon the unreliability of Vulcans in t'auld days, even given the massive support they enjoyed back then.
And despite all that 558 only missed one show in several seasons of display flying prior to her retirement in '92
It's still early days in her new lease of life and hopefully all the 'snags' can be ironed out as and when they appear without losing too many displays.
What are the two little lights under the intakes and does it carry a braking parachute?
Almost certainly the anti-collision beacons, and I suspect that she does carry a 'chute, but as she's lighter than when in service, perhaps aerodynamic braking is the norm, to save the hassle of re-packing the 'chute?
That's why I checked first!
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