The final flight of the Vimy

[Batchy]

A few shots from yesterdays momentous events at Brooklands.

Despite a very bumpy and somewhat soft landing strip the Vimy successfully completed its final flight and started its new life at the Brooklands Museum.

I will post a few more tomorrow but here are few from a somewhat sad day.

Batchy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/VimyBrooklands151109GaryRBrownph-7.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/VimyBrooklands151109GaryRBrownph-6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/VimyBrooklands151109GaryRBrownph-5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/VimyBrooklands151109GaryRBrownph-4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/VimyBrooklands151109GaryRBrownph-9.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/VimyBrooklands151109GaryRBrownph-3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/VimyBrooklands151109GaryRBrownph-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/VimyBrooklands151109GaryRBrownphoto.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/VimyBrooklands151109GaryRBrownph-8.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/VimyBrooklands151109GaryRBrownph-1.jpg

[Agaricus bisporus]

Why on earth is it being retired???

[Cubs2jets]

Why on earth is it being retired???

AB,

As a bomber it has been eclipsed by a few generations of technology (though in Afganistan it's level of technology may be appropriate?).

As an airliner the paucity of pax seating has made it economically unviable and the thought of installing an armored cockpit door, well...:}

So, like all great designs, it's off to pasture.

C2j

[John Farley]

Why on earth is it being retired???

No sponsors?

[D120A]

I stand to be corrected by one of the Vimy team, but I think its owner gave it to a charitable trust and a stipulation of their acceptance was that it should go to a museum and not fly again. It will, however, be kept in running order, and I look forward to going to Brooklands on one of the days it is allowed to growl outside.

A great achievement. Now, when are we going to see a full-size replica HP-42 flying?

[m5dnd]

Hi folks,

try this link

Brooklands Vickers Vimy Appeal Fund - Brooklands Museum (http://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/index.php?/vimy/vimy-news/)

Explains the situation...

Cheers,
Nik

[forget]

One of the reasons. Oh dear.

• As an aircraft operating on a restricted foreign registration, the Vimy can only be flown in UK airspace under a special exemption from the CAA. Both because of and in spite of the unusual circumstances of this unique aircraft and its place in aviation history, the CAA has generously granted more, and more flexible, exemptions than it would normally allow in order for the Vimy to be displayed in celebration of the 90th anniversaries of those great flights in 2009 but does not regard the issuing of further exemptions as justifiable. ]

[tristar 500]

You must all remember the CAA stands for The Campain Against Aviation!!

tristar500

[Jhieminga]

We've done this before: it is a one-off design, there are some issues in its construction background that prevent it from getting a normal CofA, it has had quite a lifespan already while recreating the three big flights, leaving it in a position where it will need a major overhaul in the near future.
Apart from this the CAA have indeed generously allowed the limited number of flights it was allowed to make in the UK, to be spread over a long period of time. Otherwise it would have been grounded a long time ago.

And the aircraft has come home in a way, where it will be cared for. So who's complaining? ;)

[Mike7777777]

Missed this, is the refurbished original or something else?

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

No, Mike, it's the latest Airfix kit!!

[Mike7777777]

Of course.

Replica, so all fairly meaningless

[Herod]

Hardly meaningless. If I recall correctly, this beast has flown to Australia to commemorate Ross and Keith Smith's journey. I don't think it crossed the Atlantic a'la Alcock and Brown but I'm willing to be corrected. The best replica is in the RAF museum at Hendon. That was built at Weybridge for the fiftieth anniversary of the crossing. I was fortunate enough to be at Odiham when it was there for a day. Listening to the pair of Eagles ticking away was magical. The press wanted some air-to-air pictures, so they were put aboard a Wessex and enjoyed a gentle swan over Hampshire in formation with the Vimy. I was lucky enough to be in the front of the Wessex, but I DIDN''T HAVE MY CAMERA WITH ME!!!! :{ :{

[Brian Abraham]

Vimy Replica info here Vimy Aircraft Project (http://www.vimy.org/home.html)

Herod, yes it did make the Atlantic trip Vimy Aircraft Project (http://www.vimy.org/vimyatlantic/index.html)

"Yesterday I was in America ....... and I am the first man in Europe to say that." John Alcock, June 15, 1919

The original Ross and Kieth Smith Vimy resides at Adelaide Airport, South Australia

[Lancman]

Quite a modern looking design really, only two engines but each with a cross-sectional area greater than the fuselage.

[Mike7777777]

If it's a replica then the CAA decision is a nonsense ..... nothing new there then.

[Jhieminga]

Could you elaborate on that Mike?

The CAA have actually been quite helpful in allowing the aircraft to fly for almost three years while 90 days would have been the normal limit. It was the intention from the start to retire the aircraft, that has nothing to do with the CAA, but now it has done so after three years of airshows and commemorations allowing a lot of people to see the aircraft.

The quote from the Brooklands site that forget has posted is a bit misleading, it paints the CAA as the culprit while there was never any intention to keep the aircraft flying for any longer period.

[Mike7777777]

Is it unsafe?

[Jhieminga]

As some of the materials used in its build cannot be traced back to a documented stack of aviation grade material, technically yes.

[chevvron]

Ref 3 above: Were they not used to raid Kabul in 1919, or was that Handley Page 0-500s.
Origin: 'The Kabul Raid' by A.V.M Tony Dudgeon

[JEM60]

Nice pictures Gary. Not forgetting that this beastie also flew to Cape Town a few years ago.

[mustpost]

Just been sent this - don't think it's been on before..(a friend's brother features in the operation.)
YouTube - The Vimy leaves Top Gear hangar and flys to Brooklands Part 2 - The Recovery (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjepleZp7vI)