Vulcan XH 558 Threads (merged)
Anyway, moving on.
Anyone know what time 558 is scheduled to fly on Saturday/Sunday at Duxford and will she recover to Cambridge Sat night?
Heard a rumour it will be 'on' early for Saturdays display and later for Sundays but not confirmed by actual times.
Anyone know what time 558 is scheduled to fly on Saturday/Sunday at Duxford and will she recover to Cambridge Sat night?
Heard a rumour it will be 'on' early for Saturdays display and later for Sundays but not confirmed by actual times.
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Saturday
As yet she aint servicable bit of duff -gen again im told she was not servicable monday when the engineers got there so tell me tvoc how was she going to fly at the weekend?
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Cheap-skates
I would just like to clear up a few issues, I refer to a recent post regarding new bits hanging off the underside of the aircraft. The VOR/LOC antenna on the bomb aimers blister was located there because it is the only place on the centreline of the fuselage within a reasonable distance of the receiver. Any area aft of this location is either a door or a fuel tank. With reference to mounting an antenna in the radome, the radome on the vulcan is not hinged, very thick and the red slab radar (400 lbs of steel may have caused a reflective problem (heard of this when an antenna was move foreward 18 inches and it suffered reflection from the props). The new antenna is quite thin and black and anyone in the digital age could lose it quite easily. Any other new antenna locations were determined by the maximum allowable length for the coaxial cable. DME 20ft, Transponder 30.5 ft (using a very expensive low loss cable, obtained from MA as it had a small amount available from another project, saved TVOC buying 50 mtrs for 7,500 grand !) GPS and VHF 40 ft. The TVOC were very lucky to get away with so few additions. Had a suggested change of flight altitude been accepted then two TCAS antennas would have been added and these would have been stuck on flag poles to get the required coverage (Maybe AJKE and Capt G will not write any more letters).
The current state of the aircraft is unknown, the only serviceable part was used on the l/h/s but the r/h/s has a leak. I note that the TVOC has not made an efffort to overhaul more spares since the aircraft has been flying. They will probably run out of tyres next !
I always had doubts as to the viability of this project, operating it from Bruntingthorpe is very costly and they are not on the best terms with the landlord (too many favours and little thanks).
I think the TVOC should be thankful they have lasted this long. I still believe they should have learnt to walk before they tried running it would have saved alot of money and embarrasment. I'll ignore Biker Boy or Over the Hills Angel
he can rant with the best of them and I obviously struck a nerve or two.
Ta Ta for now.
The current state of the aircraft is unknown, the only serviceable part was used on the l/h/s but the r/h/s has a leak. I note that the TVOC has not made an efffort to overhaul more spares since the aircraft has been flying. They will probably run out of tyres next !
I always had doubts as to the viability of this project, operating it from Bruntingthorpe is very costly and they are not on the best terms with the landlord (too many favours and little thanks).
I think the TVOC should be thankful they have lasted this long. I still believe they should have learnt to walk before they tried running it would have saved alot of money and embarrasment. I'll ignore Biker Boy or Over the Hills Angel
he can rant with the best of them and I obviously struck a nerve or two.Ta Ta for now.
Is it fixed yet?
Does anybody know if plane is servicable yet? I had hoped to see it this evening from outside Wyton (private event) or, failing that Duxford on Saturday. Assuming Duxford does happen, where will the Vulcan operate from?
Thanks
Chris
Thanks
Chris
Does anybody know if plane is servicable yet? I had hoped to see it this evening from outside Wyton (private event) or, failing that Duxford on Saturday. Assuming Duxford does happen, where will the Vulcan operate from?
Thanks
Chris
Already asked (well about Duxford, anyway) 4 posts back. We'll let you off seeing as it's your first post. Beware though, if you don't reserach topics that are already ongoing or recent, you'll incur the wrath of the great unwashed!!
Thanks
Chris
Already asked (well about Duxford, anyway) 4 posts back. We'll let you off seeing as it's your first post. Beware though, if you don't reserach topics that are already ongoing or recent, you'll incur the wrath of the great unwashed!!
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vickyv, I do appreciate your explanation on the new 'bits' hanging off the bottom. On the other hand, I suspect you are just passing on what you've been told - and you've been told porkies. £150 a metre for low loss cable 
The new antennas are a serious eyesore, very badly thought out and, I suspect, an indicator of where to look to fix the very poor VHF comms overheard by spotters.
And is it true that the 'homebuilt' quality VOR antenna knocked 50 Knots off the Max allowable operating speed? ( I bet that limitation was only discovered after the event! )
The new antennas are a serious eyesore, very badly thought out and, I suspect, an indicator of where to look to fix the very poor VHF comms overheard by spotters.
And is it true that the 'homebuilt' quality VOR antenna knocked 50 Knots off the Max allowable operating speed? ( I bet that limitation was only discovered after the event! )
At the risk of banging on again.....TVOC needs to get some guys in there that know Vulcans....they need to pay the going rate for decent engineers and not rely on enthusiastic amateurs and Marshalls (whom I gather are doing their best). I know it was cobbled together on a shoestring, but had a big cash injection with lottery money. Spend it wisely and not fall for 7 grand low loss cabling. My (limited) experience with restoring old aircraft (and Vulcans in particular) is that everybody is suddenly an expert.
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558 did get the stamp very late today and did Wyton tonight according to the posts, so in assumption IF the MA engineers had got there on friday maybe monday it may fly
Some of you moaning Minnies on here really need a reality check.
There is only one serviceable Vulcan flying and it's a miracle that, despite all the doom-mongers, VTSC and MA have got it back into the sky.
OK, so there are probably more efficient ways for things to be run, but at least they ARE being run.
As for the VOR antenna and V/UHF blade - does it really matter - apart from the most nerdish of spotters, does anyone reall give a damn? Personally I'd like to see a TFR pod re-fitted, but don't worry that it never will be.
Yes, '558 managed to beat the weather today and took part in a sunset ceremony at Wyton as hashdef's excellent photos bear witness. Damn good show!!
There is only one serviceable Vulcan flying and it's a miracle that, despite all the doom-mongers, VTSC and MA have got it back into the sky.
OK, so there are probably more efficient ways for things to be run, but at least they ARE being run.
As for the VOR antenna and V/UHF blade - does it really matter - apart from the most nerdish of spotters, does anyone reall give a damn? Personally I'd like to see a TFR pod re-fitted, but don't worry that it never will be.
Yes, '558 managed to beat the weather today and took part in a sunset ceremony at Wyton as hashdef's excellent photos bear witness. Damn good show!!
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I was lucky enough to be stood at the bottom of Brize Norton runway this evening when she left and then screamed back in over my head
Was an awesome experience, and im glad I had the chance to see her flying again.
Without getting techincal................this a beautifull/stealthy/powerfull/inspiring plane that was designed 60 years ago. She is the only one flying after the last one flew 15 years ago!......... Of course she is going to have problems! There just isnt the money to test fly her day in/day out. I can only imagine there isnt a pile of spares and quick answers/fixes to problems she may encounter. You can argue all day long on how the project has been run. But at the end of the day, we should all be gratefull that someone has given us the chance to see her fly again!
After cottismore and tonight.........I know I am!
On a side note.........Is that the first time she has landed nearly in the dark? I have a photo of her coming back accross the runway and if you didnt know any better, you would say its fully dark!
Was an awesome experience, and im glad I had the chance to see her flying again.
Without getting techincal................this a beautifull/stealthy/powerfull/inspiring plane that was designed 60 years ago. She is the only one flying after the last one flew 15 years ago!......... Of course she is going to have problems! There just isnt the money to test fly her day in/day out. I can only imagine there isnt a pile of spares and quick answers/fixes to problems she may encounter. You can argue all day long on how the project has been run. But at the end of the day, we should all be gratefull that someone has given us the chance to see her fly again!
After cottismore and tonight.........I know I am!
On a side note.........Is that the first time she has landed nearly in the dark? I have a photo of her coming back accross the runway and if you didnt know any better, you would say its fully dark!
Fantastic photos hashdef, and I'm with BEagle for once (or more) who cares for authenticity when we can see that in the sky, I'm praying for good weather for Southport.
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Hashdef,
Fabulous photographs - much obliged sir !
I echo Beagle's sentiments - this thread seems beset with the type of people who pour oil on troubled waters and then set fire to it. Can't you please put the pathetic pi$$ing contest to one side and celebrate the fact that, against huge odds, she is flying again. Bitching about antennae various just beggars belief.
My dad, rest his soul, was on the design team of the original gpu's and I shed a tear when she took off from Cottesmore earlier this 'summer', especially as he and I had seen her magnificent penultimate display at Cranfield and believed that the end was nigh despite the fledgling XH558 fund.
Everybody who has played a part in her flying again deserves a big 'thank you'.
Eagle402
Fabulous photographs - much obliged sir !
I echo Beagle's sentiments - this thread seems beset with the type of people who pour oil on troubled waters and then set fire to it. Can't you please put the pathetic pi$$ing contest to one side and celebrate the fact that, against huge odds, she is flying again. Bitching about antennae various just beggars belief.
My dad, rest his soul, was on the design team of the original gpu's and I shed a tear when she took off from Cottesmore earlier this 'summer', especially as he and I had seen her magnificent penultimate display at Cranfield and believed that the end was nigh despite the fledgling XH558 fund.
Everybody who has played a part in her flying again deserves a big 'thank you'.
Eagle402
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Live for today and be optimistic for tomorrow. XH558 IS UP WHERE SHE BELONGS thanks to TVOC and millions of generous donors - thanks to them all and thanks to Hashdef for the great pictures. Everyone else give the whingeing a rest and enjoy while you can!
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Antennas
I have many fond memories of changing various antenna on Vulcans. Changing the bomb aimers blister UHF blade was a fairly regular occurrence for a variety of reasons, careless heads, bashed by ground equipment and the favourite, failure to release the drain screws on the blister.
Many a time the antenna was internally damaged due to ingress of various fluids, from condensation, red wine or bodily fluids. Normal procedure was to fit new antenna and then seal the cable/antenna connector with PRC. I can't remember if I did a change on 558 but have certainly worked on her in the last years of Vulcan service.
Just a thought, does anyone have, or know where I can get, a video of the 50 Sqn disbandment parade, I know one was made and since I was on it I would like a copy for posterity.
Many a time the antenna was internally damaged due to ingress of various fluids, from condensation, red wine or bodily fluids. Normal procedure was to fit new antenna and then seal the cable/antenna connector with PRC. I can't remember if I did a change on 558 but have certainly worked on her in the last years of Vulcan service.
Just a thought, does anyone have, or know where I can get, a video of the 50 Sqn disbandment parade, I know one was made and since I was on it I would like a copy for posterity.