Those that can do...

That's odd, what has happened to Zero 1??

Those that can do...

Aviation History and Nostalgia Whether working in aviation, retired, wannabee or just plain fascinated this forum welcomes all with a love of flight.


As long as it isn't a restored Vulcan............

freedom2006

Oh my, isn't there a lot of jealousy on here. So come on boys and girls, stop the fighting and enjoy an aircraft that is unique, exciting and British. She won't be here for ever......

Pujgnie

Can someone please change the record ?

Let's enjoy the fact that we have a serviceable and airworthy Vulcan to wow the crowds again this year. The engineers do her proud in maintaining her and preparing her for our visual delight.

Vulcan Rigger

Simplethings.

Yes there are licensed engineers, employed by MA, who worked on the aircraft during the major and the last three winter services. There were also a good number of un-licensed fitters involved in the same services. They would be covered by my statement that "thousands more were involved with operating the aircraft"

However, they are not here now. At this point in time I am "The last Vulcan rigger" (with apologies to the hard working guys and girls at Southend and Wellesbourne)

Perhaps in the interest of grammatical accuracy I should amend my signature to "The last full time permanently employed Vulcan rigger (on an air-worthy Vulcan)" but I think that looks a little clumsy, don't you?

srobarts

VTTS have just tweeted that the PTF has been renewed for another twelve months.
Twitter announcement

sooty655

No need to apologise, Sam. No-one at Wellesbourne has any problem with your tag-line.

Those that can do...

Glad to see PtF renewed against all the odds..............

deltapapa

They did some crew training yesterday and as many people were watching 558 in the distant over Scampton/Saxilby as were watching the Hunters.

Tankertrashnav

Anyone have any idea how early next year she will be flying, assuming she is "laid-up" over the winter months? Thinking about the V-Force Reunion on April 28th, in the hope that one of the attendees has a five figure sum going spare to pay for a display!

Fluffy Bunny

She was up and about out of hibernation at the beginning of april this year with the move to Finningley, so one would assume should the winter service this year go to plan it should be about the same.

Tankertrashnav

Thanks for that - looks like she might be up and about in time for the reunion then. Now all we need is someone willing to put their hand in their pocket!

Newark's almost in the Finningley circuit - shouldn't cost too much

deltapapa

558s display on Saturday at Waddington was the best I seen this side the restoration - well done Kev!

Feathers McGraw

Sunday's was very good and enjoyable too, the departure for Goodwood earlier on was indicative of how many people went for the Vulcan, with a noticeable thickening of the audience. Also interesting to see the opposite effect after the return from Goodwood and the end of 558's display.

Something I had not seen before was Martin's demonstration of a 2 turn upward spiral, done with airbrakes out as otherwise the aircraft goes upstairs so rapidly it practically disappears. 558 currently is sat at Waddo and will depart for Yeovilton on Tuesday.

Leaving Waddington early would have been a bad move, some of the later displays were fascinating, the Vampire pair were immaculate and I watched a Chinook perform manoeuvres that I would have thought impossible for so large a machine.

Now to repair my slightly scorched flesh

Vulcan Rigger

Just back from a cracking four days at Waddington.

Fantastic to meet so many people who were happy to see us (unlike my last visit)

Two good displays with my first time solo as the chief You can not believe how hot it is up on the flight deck when strapping in/out. Many thanks to Taff for trusting me with his jet.

A couple of snags which we found on the A/F were sorted out with spares from the fly away pack.

Most of the crew had gone home by Sunday evening so I went to the wind down party with a couple of the team turning up a bit later, lost count of the number of people who thought we were the stars of the show (lucky there are big doors on the tent.) Many thanks for all your kind wishes.

It was great to see Sally B flying (first time I have ever seen her in the air) and the Bronco was great on the Saturday. Really good display from BBMF (what I saw of it as I was a bit busy at the time) The Hunters are terrific and have the blue note off to a tee.

Thanks very much to everyone who made the show run so well and to all the people who worked so hard in the Vulcan Village as well as the club stand. Finally thanks to all the people who bought stuff (we needed to do a resupply run on Saturday evening) and donated to the cause.

Vulcan Rigger

Well another nice quite week in the life of the Vulcan.

Got home from Waddington about 15:00 having dropped the Mainwheel we replaced on Sunday off at Hinckley.

Tuesday it was off down to Yoevilton to see the jet in, but No.2 engine would not run so the flight was cancelled. Never mind we managed to kill off a few "hurry up and wait" hours with a visit to the RNHF, very impressed with the Swordfish and the Fury and great to see them both in the air this weekend.

Wednesday I did a talk for the South Hants Historical Aviation Society and then started to drive North as my presence had been requested to help out with replacing the CMFS.

Thursday I got into back into Waddington by about 08:30 we had a bit of fun replacing the CMFS in amongst the thunder storms. Typically once the thing was out the weather cleared. Finished about 21:00.

Friday back on the road again calling in at Hinckley to drop off the u/s CMFS then down to Yoevilton to see the jet in at 18:00

Saturday in for 07:00 nice gentle morning chatting to the Hunter boys and the Jordanians plus the few Navy Hawk guys who were over on the south dispersal with us. Launched the jet for her display slot and then the mad rush to get the other side of the show to see her in. Nice flypast with the Sea Vixen and then meet the public once the A/F was complete. Great to meet lots of old friends and new people in Somerset again. Fantastic show from the Navy once more.

Sunday was fairly easy, move the jet from the centre of the lazy runway back over to the South dispersal and then back home to the deep South.

JOE-FBS

I was in the audience at Yeoviliton on Saturday and the sight of the Vulcan and Vixen in close formation (two or three times?) was fantastic, well done and thank you all. I'll be making my second (modest) donation to the cause shortly. For those not there, someone had put it on You Tube by Saturday evening and there are now at least four videos there in response to a search on "Vulcan Vixen".

Vulcan Rigger

Glad you enjoyed the show, it makes the effort worth while when you know you are appreciated.

BombayDuck

That's something I'm going to be very happy to tell me grandkids decades from now. And then I'll tell them the girl was designed and built more than twenty years before I was born, and I'll watch their jaws hit the floor.

Thank you to EVERYONE involved with XH558, you made my day (and everyone else's!) on Saturday at RIAT. Thanks to everyone who gave their pennies to get her and keep her flying.



Also, it was my first time seeing both the Reds and the FT live. Awesome!





(pardon the photo quality, it's only a point-and-shoot!)

mathers_wales_uk

Very beautiful machine and EADS are one of the official partners this year.

The Vulcan needs to secure £50,000 by the end of the month to secure flying for next year.

It would be sad to see the lady go