Vulcan XH 558 Threads (merged)
Where has it been written or said yesterday was permit to test day? Have I missed something?
What was said in last Fridays update was......
We still have a days work to complete the engines test and the remaining electrical test prior to the first post service test flight schedule.
Our Engineering Authority, Marshall Aerospace and OEM’s, BAE, and Rolls Royce, together with the CAA, are working hard to complete all the relevant paper work necessary to allow the application for a permit to test. Once the test flight is completed and rectification is clear, a Permit Maintenance release will be signed by MA and the CAA will then issue a permit to fly.
No-one said it was yesterday as far as I can see!
What was said in last Fridays update was......
We still have a days work to complete the engines test and the remaining electrical test prior to the first post service test flight schedule.
Our Engineering Authority, Marshall Aerospace and OEM’s, BAE, and Rolls Royce, together with the CAA, are working hard to complete all the relevant paper work necessary to allow the application for a permit to test. Once the test flight is completed and rectification is clear, a Permit Maintenance release will be signed by MA and the CAA will then issue a permit to fly.
No-one said it was yesterday as far as I can see!
Sadly, what started out as a bunch of highly motivated enthusiasts trying to get the Vulcan into the air again has manifested itself into a business with large sums of money involved.
Surely anyone with any time in the industry on the engineering and ops side realised that this project needed to be run as a 'business' and there would need to be massive sums of money involved, simply because of the type and complexity of the aircraft. That money would need to come from somewhere, and regularly. Unfortunately many of the highly motivated enthusiasts weren't/aren't aware of this fact of life, or have chosen to bury their heads in the sand.
Surely anyone with any time in the industry on the engineering and ops side realised that this project needed to be run as a 'business' and there would need to be massive sums of money involved, simply because of the type and complexity of the aircraft. That money would need to come from somewhere, and regularly. Unfortunately many of the highly motivated enthusiasts weren't/aren't aware of this fact of life, or have chosen to bury their heads in the sand.
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Don't know what all the drama is about. In my day all they had to do was declare a Mickey Finn and everything flew - ready or not. Can't they do the same again? 
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dp
Apologies if that's incorrect, but a friend told me that he thought he had heard Mike P saying on the Lincoln Radio that the PPT was booked for monday, and if all OK a DA later in the week all set for Waddington. No??
Any idea when it is booked for then?
Times getting on, only 2 days left. They do leave it late don't they?
Apologies if that's incorrect, but a friend told me that he thought he had heard Mike P saying on the Lincoln Radio that the PPT was booked for monday, and if all OK a DA later in the week all set for Waddington. No??
Any idea when it is booked for then?
Times getting on, only 2 days left. They do leave it late don't they?
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Jumpseater said:-
"Surely anyone with any time in the industry on the engineering and ops side realised that this project needed to be run as a 'business' and there would need to be massive sums of money involved, simply because of the type and complexity of the aircraft. That money would need to come from somewhere, and regularly. Unfortunately many of the highly motivated enthusiasts weren't/aren't aware of this fact of life, or have chosen to bury their heads in the sand".
You are dead right about the highly motivated enthusiasts being unaware that this aircraft was going to keep swallowing huge sums of their money. Mr Pleming gave the impression that once flying, the aircraft would attract so many sponsors that they would be battering his door down to shower him with money. Well, he was wrong wasn't he? So it was back to the highly motivated enthusiasts with cap in hand and a sob story to tell. This has carried on being the case until we again arrive at the situation of the aircraft still sitting on the ground halfway through the display season. We enthusiasts have not buried our heads in the sand, we are just bloody angry at the mismanagement of what is turning out to be a sorry project. Value for money? I think not!
"Surely anyone with any time in the industry on the engineering and ops side realised that this project needed to be run as a 'business' and there would need to be massive sums of money involved, simply because of the type and complexity of the aircraft. That money would need to come from somewhere, and regularly. Unfortunately many of the highly motivated enthusiasts weren't/aren't aware of this fact of life, or have chosen to bury their heads in the sand".
You are dead right about the highly motivated enthusiasts being unaware that this aircraft was going to keep swallowing huge sums of their money. Mr Pleming gave the impression that once flying, the aircraft would attract so many sponsors that they would be battering his door down to shower him with money. Well, he was wrong wasn't he? So it was back to the highly motivated enthusiasts with cap in hand and a sob story to tell. This has carried on being the case until we again arrive at the situation of the aircraft still sitting on the ground halfway through the display season. We enthusiasts have not buried our heads in the sand, we are just bloody angry at the mismanagement of what is turning out to be a sorry project. Value for money? I think not!
No problem Winco. 
They haven't been able to do engines runs yet because the access to the engine running pan was blocked by a u/s hawk [according to other fora] & of course there was also an embargo at Lyneham yesterday for the repat.
I think they hope to complete the engine runs today & a test flight will ensue ASAP.
Whether they make Waddington or not is yet to be seen!!
They haven't been able to do engines runs yet because the access to the engine running pan was blocked by a u/s hawk [according to other fora] & of course there was also an embargo at Lyneham yesterday for the repat.
I think they hope to complete the engine runs today & a test flight will ensue ASAP.
Whether they make Waddington or not is yet to be seen!!
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dp,
Many thanks for that.
I'm fairly sure that if the aircraft dosn't display at Waddington again this year, that will be the last straw for a great many loyal supporters.
Even with the best will in the world and all the stops pulled out by the CAA, they will struggle to get it into Waddington in time. The CAA needs a finite time to get things sorted and the fact that engine runs haven't been completed does not bode well.
The continuous mismanagement of this project has now got to a stage where someone must surely start asking questions about it's legal standing surely?
Ah well, I guess I'll cancel my trip back to Lincolnshire this weekend!
Winco
Many thanks for that.
I'm fairly sure that if the aircraft dosn't display at Waddington again this year, that will be the last straw for a great many loyal supporters.
Even with the best will in the world and all the stops pulled out by the CAA, they will struggle to get it into Waddington in time. The CAA needs a finite time to get things sorted and the fact that engine runs haven't been completed does not bode well.
The continuous mismanagement of this project has now got to a stage where someone must surely start asking questions about it's legal standing surely?
Ah well, I guess I'll cancel my trip back to Lincolnshire this weekend!
Winco
reminds me of all the 'experts' on the radio about a certain football teams mis management ! Lets be realistic , it was a bit of a longshot hoping for a major sponsor to underwrite this project , but it could happen. If everyone was realistic and hadnt taken the gamble she would be parked up gently rotting away , so to my mind its thankyou to everyone thats contributed because its been great to see her flying and we should appreciate every trip as it cant last forever. As for the criticism over getting ready for Waddington , anyone who knows aircraft maintenance couldnt guarantee a modern a/c 100% after a winter lay up let alone the last of a kind , decades old ! Hopefully she'll make it .
The Vulcan is now cleared to display at Waddo this weekend - on both Saturday and Sunday.
Enjoy the howwwwwwwwwwwhooooooooooollll!!
Enjoy the howwwwwwwwwwwhooooooooooollll!!
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Are you nearby the guy who signed it? The official site for 558 says that it is on the way to the aircraft, I hope it is being carried in a fireproof box, I've been unfortunate enough to have been disappointed at Waddo for the last two years!
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Much too late notice for me, I'm afraid.
I had tentatively planned to go to Waddo with a few mates, but the Vulcan was the clincher. Not being able to confirm earlier in the week, when we could have firmed up on the plans, killed the deal. Six disappointed people here.
Maybe next year?
I had tentatively planned to go to Waddo with a few mates, but the Vulcan was the clincher. Not being able to confirm earlier in the week, when we could have firmed up on the plans, killed the deal. Six disappointed people here.
Maybe next year?
Looked magnificent descending into Brize from the East a few minutes ago....
Perhaps UK airshow organisers will soon realise that there are 2 types of airshow:
1. Those which have booked the Vulcan.
2. Those without spectators.
Waddington kept everyone informed throughout last week, as did the Vulcan To The Sky website. It was a close run thing to get the aircraft ready for today, but engineers, aircrew and the CAA all worked together to achieve it.
Perhaps you might contribute the dosh you would have spent at Waddo to the VTST so that there will be a display for you to see next year?
Perhaps UK airshow organisers will soon realise that there are 2 types of airshow:
1. Those which have booked the Vulcan.
2. Those without spectators.
Waddington kept everyone informed throughout last week, as did the Vulcan To The Sky website. It was a close run thing to get the aircraft ready for today, but engineers, aircrew and the CAA all worked together to achieve it.
Perhaps you might contribute the dosh you would have spent at Waddo to the VTST so that there will be a display for you to see next year?
Just got back from Waddo - Glide Towers is in the very near area - Superb Vulcan display. That departure
As BEags said earlier
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWLLLLLLLL!
As BEags said earlier
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWLLLLLLLL!
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As BEagle quite rightly says
"Perhaps UK airshow organisers will soon realise that there are 2 types of airshow:
1. Those which have booked the Vulcan.
2. Those without spectators.
Waddington kept everyone informed throughout last week, as did the Vulcan To The Sky website. It was a close run thing to get the aircraft ready for today, but engineers, aircrew and the CAA all worked together to achieve it."
Cant fault either TVOC or Waddo as both were up front about how close run it would be and i was watching the progress through he last 3 weeks. TBH we were undecided yesterday but with the clearnance at 1400 given and weather forcast it was off to Morrisons to get the tickets last night for today for me an my 11 yr old who was so supset last year with her not displaying but today made up for it (along with Cosby last September)
What can i say, brilliant piece of British engineering even today and had everyone out of the trade marquess and visiting overseas aircrews standing in awe
Dont get me wrong there was also a very good airshow in the current climate as well, it just adds to it when 558 pops in
"Perhaps UK airshow organisers will soon realise that there are 2 types of airshow:
1. Those which have booked the Vulcan.
2. Those without spectators.
Waddington kept everyone informed throughout last week, as did the Vulcan To The Sky website. It was a close run thing to get the aircraft ready for today, but engineers, aircrew and the CAA all worked together to achieve it."
Cant fault either TVOC or Waddo as both were up front about how close run it would be and i was watching the progress through he last 3 weeks. TBH we were undecided yesterday but with the clearnance at 1400 given and weather forcast it was off to Morrisons to get the tickets last night for today for me an my 11 yr old who was so supset last year with her not displaying but today made up for it (along with Cosby last September)
What can i say, brilliant piece of British engineering even today and had everyone out of the trade marquess and visiting overseas aircrews standing in awe
Dont get me wrong there was also a very good airshow in the current climate as well, it just adds to it when 558 pops in
Last edited by staplefordheli; 3rd Jul 2010 at 17:20. Reason: spelling
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That's great, but you clearly didn't read my post properly. I said the problem arose because they could not confirm earlier in the week. Not inform. As there were six families to arrange and/or rearrange the weekend plans for, the old adage of 'where there's doubt, there's no doubt' came to the fore.
And for your information, I have already paid into the 558 kitty to the tune of well more than me and my mates lifetime's worth of Waddo entry fees.
Thank you for asking.
And for your information, I have already paid into the 558 kitty to the tune of well more than me and my mates lifetime's worth of Waddo entry fees.
Thank you for asking.
