Vulcan XH558 to find new home
Peel Airports sold DSA back to parent Peel Group back in 2012, 3 years before that last flight, and it was well known that DSA was a financially unviable airport before they landed it back for the last time. This situation as a very real possibility was pointed out by many 7 years ago.....but VTTS stuck they hands of their ears and sung "La-la-la-can't-hear-you" loudly.....
The fanboys have been looking to Covid and all sorts of things to blame for this, but the blame lands squarely on VTTS alone.
Sad if it does get the chop, just as if Navy Wings can't find a suitable home for Sea Vixen, G-CVIX, XP924 that may well end it going the same way, despite that having been the last airworthy example of its type.
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Sad that the last time I saw both the Sea Vixen and the Vulcan fly was solitary passes at some altitude over Shoreham...
I think people need to wake up and smell the reality.
There are plenty of preserved Vulcans out there.
We just don't need another. And never did.
Pity all those £millions weren't spent on restoring something unique as a lasting historic project instead of a silly superfluous, one-time media-led vanity project.
If only that money had gone to a Beaufigter, a Walrus or a Tempest/Typhoon...We'd still have the legacy today.
There are plenty of preserved Vulcans out there.
We just don't need another. And never did.
Pity all those £millions weren't spent on restoring something unique as a lasting historic project instead of a silly superfluous, one-time media-led vanity project.
If only that money had gone to a Beaufigter, a Walrus or a Tempest/Typhoon...We'd still have the legacy today.
XH558 was a totally worthwhile project and a credit to those who kept her flying for so long. It also allowed countless people of the younger generation to experience the awesomeness of seeing a Vulcan flying. Maybe even inspired a few to get into aviation. So let's not get into some kind of retrospective imagined scorn-fest. i don't recall anyone saying it was unnecessary at the time - certainly after its final "maiden flight". What I do recall is folks by the thousand flocking to see XH558 at numerous shows and flypasts. Even more for the farewell tour.
But what we shouldn't forget is the widely-held view at that time, that retiring '558 to Doncaster would not be a good idea. Also that its proposed use as a training tool was tenuous at best; naive at worst. Sadly that has proven to be entirely justified.
And there may be 'plenty' of preserved Vulcans out there (actually 18 I think), but few have been hangared in recent years as '558 has/had been. Therefore its overall condition alone justifies it being placed somewhere safe, and under cover (but pointless if not).
So I think we need to consider XH558 as the unfortunate victim of selfish motives rather than an object to be derided. Then hope that a responsible and realistic custodian can be found.
But what we shouldn't forget is the widely-held view at that time, that retiring '558 to Doncaster would not be a good idea. Also that its proposed use as a training tool was tenuous at best; naive at worst. Sadly that has proven to be entirely justified.
And there may be 'plenty' of preserved Vulcans out there (actually 18 I think), but few have been hangared in recent years as '558 has/had been. Therefore its overall condition alone justifies it being placed somewhere safe, and under cover (but pointless if not).
So I think we need to consider XH558 as the unfortunate victim of selfish motives rather than an object to be derided. Then hope that a responsible and realistic custodian can be found.
Pity all those £millions weren't spent on restoring something unique as a lasting historic project instead of a silly superfluous, one-time media-led vanity project.
If only that money had gone to a Beaufigter, a Walrus or a Tempest/Typhoon...We'd still have the legacy today.
If only that money had gone to a Beaufigter, a Walrus or a Tempest/Typhoon...We'd still have the legacy today.
Rightly or wrongly, the money was donated directly to VTTS, solely to return XH558 to flight.
Other than that, "those £millions" didn't exist so couldn't have been spent on anything.
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The Trustees responsible for the Doncaster Vulcan are examining alternative sites and talking to the CAA about a ferry flight. Yet another option would be for the airfield owners (Peel Holdings) to donate one of the existing RAF hangers, or all three, to permit a museum.Yet another is for the Sheffield City Region to take ownership of the airfield and make it a going concern. Finningley is ideally suited with new road links and a railway station planned, and a great reputation for service. It could take traffic from Humberside, Leeds-Bradford and Manchester.
If the fate of this Vulcan depends on a short ferry flight, the Doubting Thomases may be confounded.
If the fate of this Vulcan depends on a short ferry flight, the Doubting Thomases may be confounded.
The Trustees responsible for the Doncaster Vulcan are examining alternative sites and talking to the CAA about a ferry flight. Yet another option would be for the airfield owners (Peel Holdings) to donate one of the existing RAF hangers, or all three, to permit a museum.Yet another is for the Sheffield City Region to take ownership of the airfield and make it a going concern. Finningley is ideally suited with new road links and a railway station planned, and a great reputation for service. It could take traffic from Humberside, Leeds-Bradford and Manchester.
If the fate of this Vulcan depends on a short ferry flight, the Doubting Thomases may be confounded.
If the fate of this Vulcan depends on a short ferry flight, the Doubting Thomases may be confounded.
Of course they are going to say they are exploring that possibility to do the usual stirring up of their fanboys, as we can see........
I can just imagine how that call went, if it ever happened........"Hello CAA, VTTS here, just a call to ask about ferry flying the Vulcan to another location, as we're in a bit of a pickle...." <click>......."err, hello, hello..........err......"
As for your other notions regarding the future use of DSA and its ownership, especially the council trying to acquire and run the airport as a going concern.......that's the stuff of pure fantasy!
Thought police antagonist
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" and a railway station planned, "
Unfortunately, the initial work for a railway station was commenced some 10 years ago....and the land earmarked has subsequently been built on further.........unlike the proposed railway station .
As for the future, welcome to "Dominie Drive," "Vulcan Avenue" , and whatever other types operated from the Station (see BAe Woodford for similar nostalgic memories)
Donating a hangar to house the aircraft sounds very charitable....until you get the bit about maintaining the hangar and paying for the utilities / insurance and everything associated with infrastructure maintenance
Unfortunately, the initial work for a railway station was commenced some 10 years ago....and the land earmarked has subsequently been built on further.........unlike the proposed railway station .
As for the future, welcome to "Dominie Drive," "Vulcan Avenue" , and whatever other types operated from the Station (see BAe Woodford for similar nostalgic memories)
Donating a hangar to house the aircraft sounds very charitable....until you get the bit about maintaining the hangar and paying for the utilities / insurance and everything associated with infrastructure maintenance
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I found the (part) statement below on an aviation forum discussion regarding the XH558.
A few months ago, VC10 K3 ZA150, at Dunsfold, was placed on the US Civil Register as N150ZA initially for the purpose of a ferry flight to another UK location for restoration to flight.
Rose tinted glasses thinking hopefulness at its best? If nothing else, a good laugh.
A few months ago, VC10 K3 ZA150, at Dunsfold, was placed on the US Civil Register as N150ZA initially for the purpose of a ferry flight to another UK location for restoration to flight.
Rose tinted glasses thinking hopefulness at its best? If nothing else, a good laugh.
Roy Jacobsen tried that with either XM655 or XL426, or possibly both, in the 80s.
Admittedly that was planned for more than just a single ferry flight but as it didn't work then, although XH558 did fly as a civil aircraft, I can't see much chance of it working now.
Admittedly that was planned for more than just a single ferry flight but as it didn't work then, although XH558 did fly as a civil aircraft, I can't see much chance of it working now.
Until 2017 the Vulcan had a home in one of the 'five' preserved hangars.
Commercial considerations resulted in the Vulcan charity being told to leave their existing home in favour of 2Excel who were needing the space and paying a commercial rent. The charity had a short term under cover before the Vulcan and the Canberra were pulled over to outside storage.
Meanwhile 2Excel continue to pay their rent and rates and DSA still needs more to be viable. Whether the charity pays rent or not is a crucial element of the survival of DSA.
Commercial considerations resulted in the Vulcan charity being told to leave their existing home in favour of 2Excel who were needing the space and paying a commercial rent. The charity had a short term under cover before the Vulcan and the Canberra were pulled over to outside storage.
Meanwhile 2Excel continue to pay their rent and rates and DSA still needs more to be viable. Whether the charity pays rent or not is a crucial element of the survival of DSA.
I found the (part) statement below on an aviation forum discussion regarding the XH558.
A few months ago, VC10 K3 ZA150, at Dunsfold, was placed on the US Civil Register as N150ZA initially for the purpose of a ferry flight to another UK location for restoration to flight.
Rose tinted glasses thinking hopefulness at its best? If nothing else, a good laugh.
A few months ago, VC10 K3 ZA150, at Dunsfold, was placed on the US Civil Register as N150ZA initially for the purpose of a ferry flight to another UK location for restoration to flight.
Rose tinted glasses thinking hopefulness at its best? If nothing else, a good laugh.
The Dunsfold Vicky Ten was allocated a US registration way more than a few months ago, it was more like 2 years ago, when Kepler Aerospace bought it off the Brooklands Museum Trust (along with the Brunty example as a spares source)
The chances of ZA150 ever flying out of Dunsfold is pretty much the same as XH558 ever flying out of DSA.
The chances of ZA150 ever flying out of Dunsfold is pretty much the same as XH558 ever flying out of DSA.
First time I saw 558 we went to a conveniently located pub garden near Dunsfold. Post 558's display we saw a stream of vehicles heading home - didn't even wait for the Reds! Next / last time found another pub garden near Old Warden (tickets had sold out).
The Dunsfold Vicky Ten was allocated a US registration way more than a few months ago, it was more like 2 years ago, when Kepler Aerospace bought it off the Brooklands Museum Trust (along with the Brunty example as a spares source)
The chances of ZA150 ever flying out of Dunsfold is pretty much the same as XH558 ever flying out of DSA.
The chances of ZA150 ever flying out of Dunsfold is pretty much the same as XH558 ever flying out of DSA.
VC10 K3 msn 885 first registered as N150ZA on 20 September 2021, but with no owner details.
Updated registry entry on 28 January 2022 to owner AEROVISION LLC, WEST PALM BEACH, FL.
