Vulcan XH 558 Threads (merged)
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vulcan xh558
If you had an animal that was terminal you would put it out of its misery. Surely this aircraft would be better suited to a museum, its nostalgia gone mad. Either give it to Mike Beachy Head who could keep it properly or give up. There are for more worthy causes than a platform that is restricted to 1.5g staggering around a cct. Lets just remember it as a wonderful Cold War Warrior!
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Capt. HardlyWorthit.
Having been to Thunder City, I can tell you that there is no hangar space for an aircraft the size of a Vulcan. Also, Mike Beachyhead is NOT now the major owner of Thunder City. The majority owner is Jon Cauldwell, formerly of Fones4U, who enjoyed his Frightning flight so much whilst I was there that he bought the major holding.
There are few Airshows in South Africa, and, whilst there may well be enough well-heeled people to pay for a ride in a Lightning, Buccaneer, Hunter etc., paying for a flight in a Vulcan takes 'Pleasure Flying' into a whole new realm.
Having been to Thunder City, I can tell you that there is no hangar space for an aircraft the size of a Vulcan. Also, Mike Beachyhead is NOT now the major owner of Thunder City. The majority owner is Jon Cauldwell, formerly of Fones4U, who enjoyed his Frightning flight so much whilst I was there that he bought the major holding.
There are few Airshows in South Africa, and, whilst there may well be enough well-heeled people to pay for a ride in a Lightning, Buccaneer, Hunter etc., paying for a flight in a Vulcan takes 'Pleasure Flying' into a whole new realm.
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Not A museum exhibit
XH558 On East Apron Farnborough October 2008
For the last few weeks we have seen XH558 Parked up at East Apron
Farnborough and we hope it Soon Goes . Not that we mind it being
here but only in Happy times as at Farnborough 2008 and the Cody event
Where it is now is in the open and not many can see it but its place
is in the Air . Its done its Job now in History not a happy Time I grant
You War never is but its Retirement should be A happy time in the Air
Showing what a great piece of Engineering it is. Thanks to the dedicated
volunteers it is again Flying a feat many said could not be done.
Museums are fine if you like them but lets hope its many Years
before it Ends up in one . Farnborough would be a great place for
it to rest but that's maybe for the future say Ten or more years
Time.
Tony
Farnborough
For the last few weeks we have seen XH558 Parked up at East Apron
Farnborough and we hope it Soon Goes . Not that we mind it being
here but only in Happy times as at Farnborough 2008 and the Cody event
Where it is now is in the open and not many can see it but its place
is in the Air . Its done its Job now in History not a happy Time I grant
You War never is but its Retirement should be A happy time in the Air
Showing what a great piece of Engineering it is. Thanks to the dedicated
volunteers it is again Flying a feat many said could not be done.
Museums are fine if you like them but lets hope its many Years
before it Ends up in one . Farnborough would be a great place for
it to rest but that's maybe for the future say Ten or more years
Time.
Tony
Farnborough
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Mr BEagle, Why all this passion about an aircraft thats only claim to fame was it used to do a "bloody fine" display? Dont get me fired about Black Buck, I am firmly in Sharkey Ward`s camp on that one. Look, cant you understand that, in todays climate, drip feeding a programme like this is doomed? It either has proper funding up front or it is put in a hangar. The restoration team missed a very important mandatory to the wing, which means it is restricted in maneouvres. The only way that this platform will be kept in a proper manner is to send it to either Thunder City or the USA where funds are available. Where will you chaps stop, a Valiant to the air perhaps, maybe TSR2? Get real and stop being a deluded romantic, these are very seriously complicated types requiring vast resource!
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Jem60, I wasnt aware of the changes at Thunder City, I was last there 5 years ago. But I stand by what I have said, either this platform has proper funding or it should be put in its box. It will not get that funding in the UK for many years. Looking at your age, you were a Cold War warrior as well??
By the way, I think that what the chaps in SA are doing is fantastic and long may they continue. I realise that I will stoke up passions but I am a realist.
By the way, I think that what the chaps in SA are doing is fantastic and long may they continue. I realise that I will stoke up passions but I am a realist.
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Please do not ground the aircraft until all other avenues have been explored. I admit to being a sceptic at first when the project to get 558 back into the air was mooted. Now, after this magnificent achievement has been realised, we surely cannot say 'well it was good while it lasted'.
1. It is not realistic to ask Joe public to dig deep in their pockets over and over again. They have just about dug as deep as they are going to and the majority of the funds will have to come from elsewhere.
2. A percentage of the funding to keep 558 flying will be available from airshow appearances, retail products etc. A rough estimate is probably 50% of what is actually required to keep it seviceable to meet 80% of its air display commitments - my figures - an educated guess
3. Any benefactor will have to realise that the money they contribute will never be recouped and the only reward they will get will be to keep this amazing aircraft flying and giving pleasure to those who see it.
4. We are talking of possibly the largest and most costly preserved flying aircraft in the world. This aircraft does mean a great deal to many people and most of those many people have probably already donated more than once to the cause. We cannot expect the public, particularly in these hard times to continue to keep an ureliable, apparently short lived operation going. Nostalgia and emotion will not sustain this operation and if it is to succeed, the majority of the financial resources will have to come from elsewhere.
Temps
1. It is not realistic to ask Joe public to dig deep in their pockets over and over again. They have just about dug as deep as they are going to and the majority of the funds will have to come from elsewhere.
2. A percentage of the funding to keep 558 flying will be available from airshow appearances, retail products etc. A rough estimate is probably 50% of what is actually required to keep it seviceable to meet 80% of its air display commitments - my figures - an educated guess
3. Any benefactor will have to realise that the money they contribute will never be recouped and the only reward they will get will be to keep this amazing aircraft flying and giving pleasure to those who see it.
4. We are talking of possibly the largest and most costly preserved flying aircraft in the world. This aircraft does mean a great deal to many people and most of those many people have probably already donated more than once to the cause. We cannot expect the public, particularly in these hard times to continue to keep an ureliable, apparently short lived operation going. Nostalgia and emotion will not sustain this operation and if it is to succeed, the majority of the financial resources will have to come from elsewhere.
Temps
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Much as I'd love to see a Vulcan on the regular airshow I cannot see how the expense is justified for what is no more than an iconic aeroplane - it hardly has the huge historic importance of the BBMF, or many others types.
Private money can do what it likes, of course, but I can think of several vastly more worthy candidates for spending the Govt's Voluntary Sucker's Tax in the airshow field.
Mosquito.
Typhoon.
Beau.
Blenhiem.
There are a dozen others.
We'd probably have those four for 10 years for the cost of one Vulcan for what, two airshows so far?
Which would be better value.
No brainer, isn't it?
Incoming!!!
Private money can do what it likes, of course, but I can think of several vastly more worthy candidates for spending the Govt's Voluntary Sucker's Tax in the airshow field.
Mosquito.
Typhoon.
Beau.
Blenhiem.
There are a dozen others.
We'd probably have those four for 10 years for the cost of one Vulcan for what, two airshows so far?
Which would be better value.
No brainer, isn't it?
Incoming!!!
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civil types not just Military
If This is going to become a more Value Debate then why should all
the military types come first. We have no British civil Airliners to
Display VISCOUNT . BRITANNIA COMET And more or do Military types
take priority . Many Civil types serve the Armed Forces .
Tony
the military types come first. We have no British civil Airliners to
Display VISCOUNT . BRITANNIA COMET And more or do Military types
take priority . Many Civil types serve the Armed Forces .
Tony
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Gulf4yk civil not just military
Well said,and for starters you might like to consider the last aircraft to bear the Avro name.Queens Flight and a whole range of applications,the Avro748, and still a few UK airworthy examples remaining?
Last edited by midnight retired; 1st Nov 2008 at 22:48. Reason: spelling
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CIVIL Types
Could not agree more on the 748 Served this country very well and still does
great work in very difficult parts. When Boscombe Down comet Was retired
there was talk of that being made Ready for display it never Was or Has
Yet to there great belief in the project XH558 Has Flown and will again
despite the continual knockers many ideas were put Forward to fly other
aircraft that is all it was an idea .What is it About the Brits we achieve
Something many Said could not be done when it does come true we
still knock it rather than Say Well done . She looked great in the sky's
Above Farnborough and I hope will do so Again People Stopped
traffic stopped children Looked on not a few but Hundreds the day she
arrived for Farnborough Show Farnborough Stopped .
Tony
great work in very difficult parts. When Boscombe Down comet Was retired
there was talk of that being made Ready for display it never Was or Has
Yet to there great belief in the project XH558 Has Flown and will again
despite the continual knockers many ideas were put Forward to fly other
aircraft that is all it was an idea .What is it About the Brits we achieve
Something many Said could not be done when it does come true we
still knock it rather than Say Well done . She looked great in the sky's
Above Farnborough and I hope will do so Again People Stopped
traffic stopped children Looked on not a few but Hundreds the day she
arrived for Farnborough Show Farnborough Stopped .
Tony
Cool Mod
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Please keep to the topic. Other aircraft that could be saved has been on PPRuNe more times than I care to remember.
Right now the Vulcan is a valid option and few know what the outcome will be.
Right now the Vulcan is a valid option and few know what the outcome will be.
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558
I sincerely hope that money is somehow found to keep the mighty Vulcan flying,although I suspect that the current downturn may delay projects such as this and a few others as well.The presence of V force ,and also not forgetting Canberra and Thor during the cold war achieved the desired effect, a fact lost on the majority of the population today.
Hopefully 558 will fly fly again for the enjoyment of many and a reminder of the important contribution made by the RAF during the cold war years.
Hopefully 558 will fly fly again for the enjoyment of many and a reminder of the important contribution made by the RAF during the cold war years.
Last edited by midnight retired; 2nd Nov 2008 at 00:21. Reason: addendum
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Not Wandering
Sorry was not intention to wander off topic but to point out that
loads of ideas to get other Aircraft restored are worthy but remain
as ever An idea but the XH558 Team got on with the job and they have
a Flyable Aircraft but still the Knockers keep on .
Tony
loads of ideas to get other Aircraft restored are worthy but remain
as ever An idea but the XH558 Team got on with the job and they have
a Flyable Aircraft but still the Knockers keep on .
Tony
The Vulcan DOES generate a lot of interest. When it taxiied in after its first actual display at Farnborough, the taxiway across North Apron was lined with people from the bizjet community watching it. No other display item attracted that sort of interest.
By the way, didn't the Boscombe Comet end up at Bruntingthorpe too? I sadly had the dubious 'honour' to record the last departure of XV 814 from Farnborough (to Boscombe) in the ATC Log Book.
By the way, didn't the Boscombe Comet end up at Bruntingthorpe too? I sadly had the dubious 'honour' to record the last departure of XV 814 from Farnborough (to Boscombe) in the ATC Log Book.
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Boscombe Comet
Yes it did end up there Sadly . Its Still there in what condition no idea
I Have a model of XV814 by my Desk.
With the Vulcan at Farnborough now viewable From FAST and a few
other places and the interest Shown its a great pity there is
Nowhere available to the public to even Walk round it few collection
boxes and membership forms . FAST museum has no Hard Standing inside
the Perimeter sadly an opportunity missed with the Recent Cody interest.
Tony
I Have a model of XV814 by my Desk.
With the Vulcan at Farnborough now viewable From FAST and a few
other places and the interest Shown its a great pity there is
Nowhere available to the public to even Walk round it few collection
boxes and membership forms . FAST museum has no Hard Standing inside
the Perimeter sadly an opportunity missed with the Recent Cody interest.
Tony