Feathers McGraw

By my calculations, the roughly 1.5m GBP per annum required needs about 25,000 donors to put in 60 GBP per annum each, or a fiver per month.

Doesn't seem like that many people out of a population of 60 million, lets say 25 million who earn so that's one person in 1,000 donating that amount of money.

I will confess that every time I hear from the various XH558 organisations it's either boom or bust, they've been going on about a wonderful summer display season and then suddenly with only a month to run they need another half mil!

Not impressed....

Evanelpus

The cry wolf tactics used by VTTS are getting a little tedious. I am a Vulcan lover but unless they can find a major donor for the whole amount, I think it's time to 'call time' on this project.

hurn

Crying Wolf would indicate that they were asking for money when they don't need it which isn't the case here.

With regards to 'calling time', that's your opinion and you're entitled to it.

My opinion however is that they should continue for as long as possible. I'm happy to keep putting a little bit in each year even if others are not.

Evanelpus

VttS need more like you Hurn!

Feathers McGraw

Well I've been paying my bit for several years now, as are a fair few people I know. But all of them feel the same about the message timing and content coming from Brunty....

bubblesuk

VTTS haven't been at Brunty for some time now.

Feathers McGraw

Well, OK, but you know what I mean....

andrewmcharlton

Hurn: as to my "poor taste" I repeat only that which was plastered over the newspapers when the event in questioned occured. If you are offended I apologise.

However, as to my "ridiculous rantings" what exactly is it I have said that's ridiculous?

Is asking for honesty, transparency, commercial accumen from a publicly funded project ridiculous?

Watching 558 is superb - their PR and organisation is a shambles, however, I daresay that you disagree with that. I had a personal conversation with the good doctor some considerable time ago and I have read their latest (and ongoing) press releases and statements. Their latest public statements on their website about asking for funding etc are in direct contradiction to an FOI request I did and published unedited on here some time last year. Someone is telling a lie, simple as. I assume hoping for the truth is another ridiculous rant?

Wouldn't it be fun to imagine an honest and clear business plan which is based on reality and was sustainable...presumablely it's only a matter of time before the "let's email Richard Branson" and "if everyone just gave £1 a week".

Lister Noble

"Dear Vulcan trust,
It would help if there were a set of accounts available to see exactly where each penny of the money goes each year.
I have supported the Vulcan funds in the past,but unfortunately until I see these figures I will not be giving a donation this time.
Best Regards
Lister Noble"

I wish it was not neccessary,but I have lots of other worthy causes asking for donations,with a transparent accounting set -up

srobarts

The accounts for the year ended Oct 2009 are on the charity commisions website.
http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk...091031_e_c.pdf
They make interesting reading - one Doctor is paying himself £72,000. The salary bill has doubled but the number of employees has decreased.
VTS Enterprises made a loss of nearly £200k - why?

cordless

what i would like to know is why the account ending period was moved by three months and also why the accounts were only finalized on the 31st august 2010, some ten months later after the accounting period. And why, when the accounts were for 31 october 2009 do they mention july 2010 in several places. It seems to me as if there are a lot of people here looking after there own ends. Why 7 part time aircrew ,shurly there are some who would love to fly for free and a chairman/CE/Employee working for free for the love of the Vulcan like the rest of us.It looks as they have killed the goose that layed the golden egg. what a pitty.

Lister Noble

Salaries amount to just under one third of all income.
That's it then,no more from me,I've got my own responsibilities and they do not include paying hard earned cash for salaries for work that could mostly be done by volunteers.

andrewmcharlton

Well at the risk of ranting ridiculously.....

The Educational Legacy is effectively on hold;

C Walton Limited now have a second charge over the aircraft to secure their debt;

Questions that aren't answered or clear:

How does the cost of exhibiting and displaying rise from £121k to £664k?

How is the subsidiary allowed to make a loss of £195k?

Who charged them £63k for "consultancy costs"?

How can salaries rise from £329k to £747k in a year?

Another £23k in undisclosed "consultancy fees" for what?

No doubt some will consider it unreasonable of me (and others btw) to want answers and clarity, but whilst the CEO earns £72k a year and so many unanswered questions I think I'm entitled to ask. This should not be confused with any desire to see the project grounded, on the contrary. Wuith clear reporting, engagement with donors and some commercial reality to the leadership the project could flourish instead of flounder. How a CEO can make public statements about it "lasting another couple of years" whilst their plan says it has many more is beyond me.

bubblesuk

Lister.

The CAA require the engineers to be proper qualified, certified and licensed, Volunteers can't work on the aeroplane, they can and do help out in a supporting role but the chaps wielding the spanners have to be professions.

Lister Noble

I take your point which is valid,but it ( the financial crises) never seem to end.
My CFI said much better to build a Mosquito.

aviate1138

Mine said "Make it a Hornet"

If Capt. 'Winkle' Brown said the Hornet was his favourite prop aircraft then we should build one.....

PS There must be handfuls of people who could sort this Vulcan fiasco out? Present incumbent seems rather incompetent IMHO. The salary of around 72K is for what?

WASALOADIE

I have contributed to this cause for a few years now. I thought I was contributing to keep a piece of aviation heritage flying, not to line to pockets of some individuals, who I thought were volunteers. I can understand some of the funds going to cover expenses, but inflated salaries for "volunteers" is not what I want to pay for.

I would hope that the accounts are fully accountable somewhere as this involves charitable donations, otherwise the organisation is laying itself wide open to allegations of fruad.

I am not alone in thinking that this is now becoming a lost cause. It would be a shame not to see such a magnificent aircraft fly again, but you can only milk the generosity of people so far.

Until I see value for money, my money will no longer be destined for this cause.

jindabyne

Out of mild interest only, are the individual amounts payable to aircrew publicly available?

andrewmcharlton

There doesn't seem to be any further breakdown or clarification available anywhere to my knowledge. Generic headings for salaries, consultancy or other operating costs don't make it abundandtly clear.

bubblesuk

The engineers are not volunteers, like i said the CAA requires them to be proper professionals Volunteers cannot work on the aircraft, where they can be used they are. As to whether Mr Pleming is worth his salary i can't comment, But the chaps on the ground who work their socks off to keep 558 in the air are certainly worth theirs. I am a volunteer for the club/trust and i don't receive a penny for what i do. Every single expense the volunteers incur comes out of our own pockets, thats traveling, food, and accommodation. We do not get nor want a penny back.