Originally Posted by
hoodie
Is there any update (or at least, fresh rumour!) about the fate of the Vigilants?
Are they going to be scrapped or sold on, and if sold on why the apparent delay? I hope the engines at least are properly inhibited, wherever they are now (Little Riss, is it?).
Just to 'tidy up' this somewhat drifted debate on the Vigilant. These machines were still in service by the various VGS and had been 'unpaused'. They were supposed to go on for a few more years albeit with engines on extensions (quite normal) and as far as I know had not needed to be reworked by a specialist repair organisation like the Vikings. There had been talk of actually putting them through a re-engine (Rotax) and panel upgrade for the ATC but as the original Grob co had finished with Gliders this idea faded away (It would also be very expensive). The records for these machines are still held so there is plenty of info on hours flown and mods. As we all know if you delay things long enough the problem fades from scrutiny and people change jobs. In effect a complete B...... U.. as the Cadet organisation has been paying for new winches and all manner of transport which has had very little utilisation plus very little use from the very expensive reworked Vikings.