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Old 19th Oct 2008, 20:02
  #1796 (permalink)  
kwh
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
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I think that as long as it has to fly in a UK regulatory environment, without the kind of expensive engineering support that an airline can afford (and cost justify), it's a non-flier (literally, more often than not). Who is going to book the Vulcan next year on anything other than a 'Sale or Return' basis unless its airworthiness can be better guaranteed? What serviceability rate could it possibly achieve, even with MA techs on call and a dedicated engineering crew following it about in a chartered C130 full of spares? Would that optimal level of achievable serviceability be 'good enough' for an expensive-to-book airshow aircraft? If it wouldn't, why did nobody ask that question before they started the restoration project? If it would, how much would it cost and was that level of operational funding and sponsorship ever realistically achievable in anybody's wildest dreams? Again, if not, then why didn't anybody ask that question before they started the restoration project?

I don't just mean TVOC, by the way, although they should have done. If it was never a realistic proposition then the Heritage Lottery people have some questions that they need to answer.

Can the thing be mothballed until times are better or if it is parked back up in the hangar at Brunty is that it again without another multi-million-pound restoration project?
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