Vulcan XH 558 Threads (merged)
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I assume you mean VTTS wasn't paid for attending.
I mentioned it to add some balance to the thread, as this kind of thing generally gets ignored by those who want to concentrate on the negative aspects.
Tankertrashnav, there were 2 bomb release tits in addition to the one at the nav radar's ststaion. The co-pilots button operated via the time delay unit, whereas the button on the left of the center console released instantaneously - I far preferred using the centre console button as the target passed under the no.3 rpm gauge!
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I see on the BBC website another article including the remarks that
I see from the TVOC website that the planned expiry of it's life was supposed to be 10 years post restoration display life?
Dr Pleming said he hoped to keep it airborne for two further display seasons
Last edited by andrewmcharlton; 26th Sep 2010 at 23:17.
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BBC News - Last airworthy Vulcan 'could have flown for last time'
Radio leicester are running the story
doesnt look very good for the future
Radio leicester are running the story
doesnt look very good for the future
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How many more times can "Wolf" be called ? I do not blame many Donors for giving up. Seems to still be something of a shambolic organisation. I just feel sorry for all the "essential" personnel who have ( are ) working so hard. As for the management..........
FT=Vg (Sqr 2H/g +/- Hdot/g - Tau +Time Advance) + ½ stick length – H Tan Lambda Cos Delta.
Vg is the ground speed and all the functions inside the brackets are time functions. The product of Vg + t gives the basic forward throw for an ideal bomb, or more accurately the bomb firing button activation point. The stick length and the trig function, or trail distance, are distance functions which are then applied to the basic forward throw.
G is of course acceleration due to gravity and is taken as 32 feet/sec/sec.
H dot /g is the climb/dive correction hence it may be positive or negative.
Tau is a fixed value which represents the drag factor on the bomb. For an ideal bomb this would be 1. For a 1000lb I calculated the value of drag to be about 0.95 but I don’t know how the actual correction in the formula was calculated – the ballistic film did that). Tau is negative as bomb drag reduces forward throw.
Vg is the ground speed and all the functions inside the brackets are time functions. The product of Vg + t gives the basic forward throw for an ideal bomb, or more accurately the bomb firing button activation point. The stick length and the trig function, or trail distance, are distance functions which are then applied to the basic forward throw.
G is of course acceleration due to gravity and is taken as 32 feet/sec/sec.
H dot /g is the climb/dive correction hence it may be positive or negative.
Tau is a fixed value which represents the drag factor on the bomb. For an ideal bomb this would be 1. For a 1000lb I calculated the value of drag to be about 0.95 but I don’t know how the actual correction in the formula was calculated – the ballistic film did that). Tau is negative as bomb drag reduces forward throw.
Just think, Beags, someone went to all the trouble to work that out when they might just as easily have said "Press the tit when the target passes under the no. 3 rpm gauge"
The problem is it's not 'crying wolf' unfortunately!!
Once she is grounded be it for lack of funds or engine cycles or no more Fatigue - that's it, she nor any other Vulcan will EVER fly again!
PS: can someone explain how to quote a post please?
Once she is grounded be it for lack of funds or engine cycles or no more Fatigue - that's it, she nor any other Vulcan will EVER fly again!
PS: can someone explain how to quote a post please?
From the BBC website linked above:
" It is hoped the plane will perform a fly-past at the opening of the 2012 Olympic Games in London...."
I'm puzzled as to just why the organisers of the London Olympics would want an obsolete Cold War weapon showcased as part of the opening ceremony?
" It is hoped the plane will perform a fly-past at the opening of the 2012 Olympic Games in London...."
I'm puzzled as to just why the organisers of the London Olympics would want an obsolete Cold War weapon showcased as part of the opening ceremony?
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I'm puzzled as to just why the organisers of the London Olympics would want an obsolete Cold War weapon showcased as part of the opening ceremony?
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Might I ask some of you 'legal' types out there what, in your opinion, is the position regarding having Pleming removed from the project legally? The man has demonstrated on countless occasions his inability to manage this project and the time must now be upon us where his 'legal standing' in this fiasco of a project must be questioned. He needs to be removed doesn't he?
Surely the lottery commission have a duty to oversee the project? What about the charity commission? Anyone got any thoughts?
dp
I know what you are saying, but we have had this identical scenario and bleating for the past 3-4 years now. One minute Pleming is saying he has sufficient funds then he hasn't. You seem to have your ears close to the coal face, what is the truth? More importantly, why is the useless incompetant still in post?
I despair. I just despair. Same $hit - different day
And what ever happened about the new guy who was going to raise tens of thousands of pounds selling memorabilia? Where is he at and where is all his money?? Or did he not raise that kind of sum? surprise surprise!
Robert, you have lost all credability. Your standing has reached a lowness that cannot even be measured any more. If you care just a tiny jot about this project then do us all a favour and QUIT!! NOW!
Surely the lottery commission have a duty to oversee the project? What about the charity commission? Anyone got any thoughts?
dp
I know what you are saying, but we have had this identical scenario and bleating for the past 3-4 years now. One minute Pleming is saying he has sufficient funds then he hasn't. You seem to have your ears close to the coal face, what is the truth? More importantly, why is the useless incompetant still in post?
I despair. I just despair. Same $hit - different day
And what ever happened about the new guy who was going to raise tens of thousands of pounds selling memorabilia? Where is he at and where is all his money?? Or did he not raise that kind of sum? surprise surprise!
Robert, you have lost all credability. Your standing has reached a lowness that cannot even be measured any more. If you care just a tiny jot about this project then do us all a favour and QUIT!! NOW!
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Given that the Vulcan was restored to flight just as a huge recession was kicking in it seems pretty obvious why the corporate sponsors that the Vulcan trust initially thought they could attract (when financially things looked better) have not been found...UK companies are simply not spending money on things which don't add to the bottom line...I don't think it would really matter who had been in charge the last 3 years as the financial situation of the UK would have had whoever it was having to rely on the begging bowl..the money would not have been there and public donations as has been the case would have been relied on for the period
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I'm puzzled as to just why the organisers of the London Olympics would want an obsolete Cold War weapon showcased as part of the opening ceremony?
Winco, the first thing that strikes me is a blatant lie: the TVOC site says they asked HLF for money and were refused. I have in my possession a FOI answer from HLF that says they never received any request for further monies, either formally or informally. Someone is talking sh&te and I know where my money is on that one.
Pleming has consistently presided over an organisation that has failed, barring dole outs at the last minute, to be a sustainable proposition. He is telling the BBC she has 2 years left when this is again at odds with the stated objectives and conditions of the HLF.
He has apparently offered to resign as I recall but hasn't gone to date. He's making the lovely Bond lady look good now.
As for the so called "Vulcan factor" - I was looking at the TVOC website and their claimed attendance figures for airshows where 558 has displayed. I don't see any that leap out as grossly over the numbers attending during the non-Vulcan years but doubtless some pedant will prove me wrong.
I assume that they don't even have the cash to buld the legacy museum so as it stands there will be no plane and a rotting hull somewhere. Utter disgrace. Sorry for the staff and volunteers but time for the fat lady to sing if Pleming does not resign.
Last edited by andrewmcharlton; 27th Sep 2010 at 19:44. Reason: muppet spelling
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The rules on Lottery funding are quite clear. You make a proposal for funding for a specific purpose. Part of the process looks at the business plan as the project has to be self-sustaining. There is no way they will give funds for a second proposal except in extreme circumstances. XH558 does not fit in any way to their criteria.
The project team has been caught by the recession through sheer bad luck. They may well have expected business to sponsor the project but it is clear they lacked the skills to make it happen.
Reliance on public contribution is only a short-term fix but over 3 years this has become the project's business plan combined with an annual 'pay up or she is grounded' appeal.
This year the funding was raised at the last minute after redundancies were issued, I believe not for the first time. The public are becoming cynical so another appeal along those lines will not work.
I don't doubt Dr Pleming's good offices, but the performance has been less than brilliant and CEOs have been sacked for less.
I feel that the work of the many hard-working staff has been poorly recognised or appreciated and they deserve better leadership
The project team has been caught by the recession through sheer bad luck. They may well have expected business to sponsor the project but it is clear they lacked the skills to make it happen.
Reliance on public contribution is only a short-term fix but over 3 years this has become the project's business plan combined with an annual 'pay up or she is grounded' appeal.
This year the funding was raised at the last minute after redundancies were issued, I believe not for the first time. The public are becoming cynical so another appeal along those lines will not work.
I don't doubt Dr Pleming's good offices, but the performance has been less than brilliant and CEOs have been sacked for less.
I feel that the work of the many hard-working staff has been poorly recognised or appreciated and they deserve better leadership
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What does it cost per hour to operate 558 and how much does it get per display from an air show organiser and how many hours it flies per season?
What would the £400,000 be for anyway. The sums are bandied about like they are peanuts. "By the end of October" - is that it? What about income from the displays? How much is that?
What would the £400,000 be for anyway. The sums are bandied about like they are peanuts. "By the end of October" - is that it? What about income from the displays? How much is that?
Most of your questions can be answered here
FAQs | Vulcan To The Sky
They reduced flying hours this year to conserve some Fatigue
FAQs | Vulcan To The Sky
They reduced flying hours this year to conserve some Fatigue
Cost per hour
However they also say re earnings from airshows/flypasts
Doesn't seem at vace value a brilliant strategy to cover costs 
From FAQ's VTTS
The fully-loaded costs of flying the Vulcan are just under £19,000 per flying hour; this includes fuel, insurance, aircrew, servicing costs, consumables such as tyres, oils etc. (4/09)
The fully-loaded costs of flying the Vulcan are just under £19,000 per flying hour; this includes fuel, insurance, aircrew, servicing costs, consumables such as tyres, oils etc. (4/09)
However they also say re earnings from airshows/flypasts
We begin negotiations with event organisers by asking for £12,000 for a single display or £5,000 for a flypast. If we can carry out more than one display or flypast at different venues on a single sortie then the total costs can be shared between the events
They've always been aware and open about display fees not covering the costs, they also know they can't ask for more because air shows can't afford to pay more - that's why they need income from elsewhere!
