Victor Airborne (Merged)
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Duncan,
Read the XH558 story...
To be very brief, XH558 was kept nearly airworthy at Bruntingthorpe, AND arrived with 600 tons of spares. Enough people got involved and enough money was found to do a complete Major and get her flying again.
None of that is valid, alas, for the Victor, AND the airframe is way over its fatigue life.
So the story IS different from the Lightnings.
CJ
Read the XH558 story...
To be very brief, XH558 was kept nearly airworthy at Bruntingthorpe, AND arrived with 600 tons of spares. Enough people got involved and enough money was found to do a complete Major and get her flying again.
None of that is valid, alas, for the Victor, AND the airframe is way over its fatigue life.
So the story IS different from the Lightnings.
CJ
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Have we any progress on the details of actually happened? I know VictorPilot suggested he might be able to tell us before too long, would be interesting to hear.
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Update
Thanks for your continued interest in my favourite aircraft!!
The situation is that the CWJ routine maintenance and fault clearance is continuing under a plan to get it ready again for the 30 Aug Open Day. The Aircraft Illustrated article appeared without anyone talking to me .... the Flypast article in the July/Aug issue tells it like it was.
The CAA saw the draft article without comment, but asked for a caveat to be added "At the time of going to press the CAA were investigating the occurrence .. etc etc". Quite a few lessons came out of the "hop", all of which will serve to make sure we do better next time - no - that does not mean formation with the Vulcan!!!
As a matter of interest, when David Walton bought 715, he also got tons of spares. Just what the weight was, perhaps David could tell you, but there were convoys of low loaders and containers unloading at Bruntingthorpe for weeks. At one time we started unpacking them - a mamoth task, and we barely scratched the surface of the 100s and 100s of boxes and crates when hangar usage at Bruntingthorpe was reviewed and we had to stop. There are still tons and tons of Victor spares in containers and a hangar at Bruntingthorpe, we have a spare APU and PFCUs, and even brand new tyres and brake parachutes! Unfortunately, some parts common to the Vulcan were sniped early on in the Vulcan re-build. I do not think any spare Conways are tucked away. Blowing an engine or starter motor are my major concerns. I notice from another thread that RR have done an assessment of the Vulcan engine pool - I would feel happier if they could do a review of the state of the Conways too. Some parts of the airframe are as good as new, but there is some corrosion appearing - a respray is quite urgent.
Still a lot of life left in Tina yet!! I hope!
Bob
The situation is that the CWJ routine maintenance and fault clearance is continuing under a plan to get it ready again for the 30 Aug Open Day. The Aircraft Illustrated article appeared without anyone talking to me .... the Flypast article in the July/Aug issue tells it like it was.
The CAA saw the draft article without comment, but asked for a caveat to be added "At the time of going to press the CAA were investigating the occurrence .. etc etc". Quite a few lessons came out of the "hop", all of which will serve to make sure we do better next time - no - that does not mean formation with the Vulcan!!!
As a matter of interest, when David Walton bought 715, he also got tons of spares. Just what the weight was, perhaps David could tell you, but there were convoys of low loaders and containers unloading at Bruntingthorpe for weeks. At one time we started unpacking them - a mamoth task, and we barely scratched the surface of the 100s and 100s of boxes and crates when hangar usage at Bruntingthorpe was reviewed and we had to stop. There are still tons and tons of Victor spares in containers and a hangar at Bruntingthorpe, we have a spare APU and PFCUs, and even brand new tyres and brake parachutes! Unfortunately, some parts common to the Vulcan were sniped early on in the Vulcan re-build. I do not think any spare Conways are tucked away. Blowing an engine or starter motor are my major concerns. I notice from another thread that RR have done an assessment of the Vulcan engine pool - I would feel happier if they could do a review of the state of the Conways too. Some parts of the airframe are as good as new, but there is some corrosion appearing - a respray is quite urgent.
Still a lot of life left in Tina yet!! I hope!
Bob
That really is quite scary. Was the guy in the right seat (who didn't shut the throttles when ordered at least twice) also qualified on Victors as a pilot at one time or another or was he a gash hand (if you will forgive the pun)?
I also wonder if that Canberra could perhaps have been parked in a more intelligent place considering the strong crosswind from the right?
I also wonder if that Canberra could perhaps have been parked in a more intelligent place considering the strong crosswind from the right?
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The Hop!!
Glad to say that mega laundry bill was not required but close - just a strong scotch thanks to the management!!
The effect of the cross wind is quite extraordinary - it must have been one hell of a gust when you see how far the aircraft was blown to the left of the centre - line in just a second or two.
The guy in the right hand was a volunteer engineer who helps maintain the aircraft - he was never in the RAF I think. That said he is someone who devotes a lot of time and energy to helping maintain 715 - one of the best. I had no doubts about his ability to respond to the limited duties in the right hand seat on that day. He was not a gash hand, and he cannot explain why he did not respond to my calls.
Canberra comment? Well true but we have limited towing and ground crew at Bruntingthorpe. They did their best.
Bob
The effect of the cross wind is quite extraordinary - it must have been one hell of a gust when you see how far the aircraft was blown to the left of the centre - line in just a second or two.
The guy in the right hand was a volunteer engineer who helps maintain the aircraft - he was never in the RAF I think. That said he is someone who devotes a lot of time and energy to helping maintain 715 - one of the best. I had no doubts about his ability to respond to the limited duties in the right hand seat on that day. He was not a gash hand, and he cannot explain why he did not respond to my calls.
Canberra comment? Well true but we have limited towing and ground crew at Bruntingthorpe. They did their best.
Bob
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From another angle...
Anyone already seen this clip?
YouTube - LAST FLIGHT OF THE VICTOR 2009
Taken starboard of Teasin' Tina, XM715 passes the filmer about ten seconds from break release. The touchdown of the Victor (and the rubber smoke coming from the wheels) is not shielded by the hill, but indeed it isn't too close to the camera. The entire clip is about 1 minute 16 seconds long.
YouTube - LAST FLIGHT OF THE VICTOR 2009
Taken starboard of Teasin' Tina, XM715 passes the filmer about ten seconds from break release. The touchdown of the Victor (and the rubber smoke coming from the wheels) is not shielded by the hill, but indeed it isn't too close to the camera. The entire clip is about 1 minute 16 seconds long.
Last edited by Stratofreighter; 9th Jul 2009 at 14:20. Reason: Added details to clip description
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I assume the tyre smoke is the result of the main gear traversing the last taxiway on the left, between stretches on the grass, whilst the brakes are rather solidly applied. Perhaps the only way you could ever get a Victor to lock its brakes!
Rather you than me, VP. And well done for getting it back together in time, although there is an instant - when the nose first dips back groundward - when there is a definite "oh ****" moment. Maybe not the only one from that clip either...
Rather you than me, VP. And well done for getting it back together in time, although there is an instant - when the nose first dips back groundward - when there is a definite "oh ****" moment. Maybe not the only one from that clip either...
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NacLav
FYI, The Victor has maxerat brake units, and it is firmly part of Victor technique teaching that you keep heels down and toes away from the brake pedals - the upper part of the rudder pedals - until firmly on the ground and the wheels have spun up. I think I went on the brakes while still on the grass but just before getting back on the tarmac. The puff of white smoke I cannot explain, we did look at the wheel tracks but I thought they were all on the grass - perhaps not though - might have been on the taxyway and then a bounce onto the grass. The main thing though is that the aircraft had a new set of tyres fitted for the event on all but one front bogie - and that was "as new"! As I said earlier, the stbd brakes were hot when we stopped, but there was no apparent tyre wear, and certainly no flat spots on any of the tyres.
You are quite right ...... there was a major "Oh S..." moment as I realised we were flying, and I got the nose down and saw exactly where we were!!
Bob
You are quite right ...... there was a major "Oh S..." moment as I realised we were flying, and I got the nose down and saw exactly where we were!!
Bob
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Nice work Victor Pilot
I'm not a pilot but can appreciate some skill was required in gathering that back together
Many hours flying such "heavies" no doubt comes to the fore in such a situation
Also thanks for being so open and transparent about the event and may you and the XM715 team have many more happy times "thundering" down "Brunties" runway
I'm not a pilot but can appreciate some skill was required in gathering that back together
Many hours flying such "heavies" no doubt comes to the fore in such a situation
Also thanks for being so open and transparent about the event and may you and the XM715 team have many more happy times "thundering" down "Brunties" runway
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VP - Could you please run through some of the speeds on this? i.e. What speed you lifted off, and landed?
And while you're there could you please run through why you had take-off flap selected? The whole thing reminds me of the most commonly spoken words before an accident - 'Hold my beer and watch this'.
Last edited by forget; 12th Jul 2009 at 17:39.
VP,
You are probably aware that over the past few days PPRuNe has suffered some considerable technical glitches. After you submitted your reply, were you able to check that it appeared on the forum? There have been other reports of posts failing .......
(And I've struggled to post this!)
You are probably aware that over the past few days PPRuNe has suffered some considerable technical glitches. After you submitted your reply, were you able to check that it appeared on the forum? There have been other reports of posts failing .......
(And I've struggled to post this!)