Perhaps these posters who post against the 'whip round' every year are merely stating the very obvious facts and like the pantomime season about to start in our theatres nationwide, they know the story as it's become so formulaic. There is no doubt that running an enterprise such as the Vulcan is no easy task, if done well who would berudge Pleming his wage ? However it seems as though things are never clear and to go to the line each year begging plaintively for funds from the public and their donations, well......
I think that most people that have watched XH558 in action these last few years have marvelled at the job done by the maintenance/engineering staff and volunteers to keep her in the air and if goosebumps were pounds there'd never be funding worries. That said, especially in these chaste times, to have a business plan that relies on the last minute sob story/begging drama that comes at this time of year is at best naiive, at worst reckless.
Vulcan won't be flying for too many more years due to fatigue life/certification issues, so it would be nice if every donated pound were used to it's upmost effect and that might well involve open source accounts to all the de facto shareholders (donaters) and perhaps a much reduced wage bill in certain less critical areas.
SHJ