Vulcan tried to escape from Wellesbourne, 16th Sept 2022
These thing are always fraught with uncertainty. Landing at a given speed with a known amount of runway left is calculable. Realising the ASI isn’t working, an “oh gawd” moment before the brakes come on and you can see the results. Thank goodness for a long hot summer. I remember a Canberra went off the end of St Mawgan after running up to EMBS for TV cameras, forgetting the premise on which that is based, namely the brakes will be kaput. Glad nobody hurt and I am sure more care will be taken next time to have a reliable speed source. A light airframe and 4 Olympus is a rocket ship.
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These thing are always fraught with uncertainty. Landing at a given speed with a known amount of runway left is calculable. Realising the ASI isn’t working, an “oh gawd” moment before the brakes come on and you can see the results.
Just for reference, you would plan to use less that maximum braking for an accelerate/stop demonstration whilst for a full blooded high speed RTO you apply the brakes fully and at once. If you've ever experienced a RTO in modern aircraft fitted with autobrake you will know that the RTO Brake setting is fierce to say tthe least.
Finally, someone asked about the Vulcan anti-skid system? It was a Maxaret system and worked quite well.
YS
I recall the saga of 'Roadrunner 1' in around 1978....
A Waddington squadron's aircraft had been snagged for excessive nosewheel shimmy, which the engineers then repaired. However, it was necessary to check that the problem had been fixed by conducting a fast run on the RW, to around 90KIAS.
"Any one free to do a taxy check please?" asked the engineers. Whereupon a recent ICC graduate co-pilot said that he was, grabbed an unsuspecting AEO and went to the jet. All went OK during start up, but realising that they didn't have a call-sign, he announced that he was 'Roadrunner 1' for a taxy check. ATC cleared him; there was no Duty Pilot in the tower as no Waddo aircraft were within 100nm, so off our hero went....
Roaring down the into wind RW, all was well - the engineers had indeed fixed the snag. "Better do another run just to be sure", announced the pilot and thundered off downwind. Again all went well - until he tried to stop! The brakes had more or less had enough as they were so hot, so 'Roadrunner 1' trundled off the end of the RW and onto the grass just short of the A15.
A Waddington squadron's aircraft had been snagged for excessive nosewheel shimmy, which the engineers then repaired. However, it was necessary to check that the problem had been fixed by conducting a fast run on the RW, to around 90KIAS.
"Any one free to do a taxy check please?" asked the engineers. Whereupon a recent ICC graduate co-pilot said that he was, grabbed an unsuspecting AEO and went to the jet. All went OK during start up, but realising that they didn't have a call-sign, he announced that he was 'Roadrunner 1' for a taxy check. ATC cleared him; there was no Duty Pilot in the tower as no Waddo aircraft were within 100nm, so off our hero went....
Roaring down the into wind RW, all was well - the engineers had indeed fixed the snag. "Better do another run just to be sure", announced the pilot and thundered off downwind. Again all went well - until he tried to stop! The brakes had more or less had enough as they were so hot, so 'Roadrunner 1' trundled off the end of the RW and onto the grass just short of the A15.
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Lots of negativity on here but I hope they can keep doing their fast taxis. Gives a few more people the experience of a live Vulcan even if not a flying one.
Maybe change the fast taxi to several engine run ups and some slow taxis would be a better experience for the enthusiast.
The part of these events spectators want is the noise. If you can have the noise without the risk everyone is happy.
Maybe change the fast taxi to several engine run ups and some slow taxis would be a better experience for the enthusiast.
The part of these events spectators want is the noise. If you can have the noise without the risk everyone is happy.
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Took me a long time to realise after I first heard of the system and followed a difficult dive into the admittedly shallow depths of my schoolboy French! Think I was reading someone's autobiography when the bulb lit...
Only a/c I worked with them was the Viscount.
I recall if maximum braking was used there would be a series of tyre marks on the runway as the wheel started to skid and then the brake released. I wondered why there are no marks on the runway behind the Vulcan. Did the pilot not use max braking even when they were near the end of the runway?
Tis a shame...was hoping to see the Vulcan flying again doing displays!
Hope it all turns out for the better as I know it was heartbreaking for those trying to get it back into the air.
Hope it all turns out for the better as I know it was heartbreaking for those trying to get it back into the air.
They got it out with kit borrowed from VTTS (tow bridal) a firm with diggers and other companies with the vehicles and hardware to do an off runway recovery. And a lot of hard work. They admit that they would not have been able to do it without help. I would sack the driver and get a proper regime in place s I do with my jet car.. Reminds me of the Victor last flight. I was working on a project today with its team leader and mentioned the person involved with that. Bill said he had met the guy and was so unimpressed with the actual professionalism of him. Bill wasn't the first with the same opinion mentioned to me.
The one that's the subject of this thread last flew nearly 40 years ago.
I recall the saga of 'Roadrunner 1' in around 1978....
A Waddington squadron's aircraft had been snagged for excessive nosewheel shimmy, which the engineers then repaired. However, it was necessary to check that the problem had been fixed by conducting a fast run on the RW, to around 90KIAS.
"Any one free to do a taxy check please?" asked the engineers. Whereupon a recent ICC graduate co-pilot said that he was, grabbed an unsuspecting AEO and went to the jet. All went OK during start up, but realising that they didn't have a call-sign, he announced that he was 'Roadrunner 1' for a taxy check. ATC cleared him; there was no Duty Pilot in the tower as no Waddo aircraft were within 100nm, so off our hero went....
Roaring down the into wind RW, all was well - the engineers had indeed fixed the snag. "Better do another run just to be sure", announced the pilot and thundered off downwind. Again all went well - until he tried to stop! The brakes had more or less had enough as they were so hot, so 'Roadrunner 1' trundled off the end of the RW and onto the grass just short of the A15.
A Waddington squadron's aircraft had been snagged for excessive nosewheel shimmy, which the engineers then repaired. However, it was necessary to check that the problem had been fixed by conducting a fast run on the RW, to around 90KIAS.
"Any one free to do a taxy check please?" asked the engineers. Whereupon a recent ICC graduate co-pilot said that he was, grabbed an unsuspecting AEO and went to the jet. All went OK during start up, but realising that they didn't have a call-sign, he announced that he was 'Roadrunner 1' for a taxy check. ATC cleared him; there was no Duty Pilot in the tower as no Waddo aircraft were within 100nm, so off our hero went....
Roaring down the into wind RW, all was well - the engineers had indeed fixed the snag. "Better do another run just to be sure", announced the pilot and thundered off downwind. Again all went well - until he tried to stop! The brakes had more or less had enough as they were so hot, so 'Roadrunner 1' trundled off the end of the RW and onto the grass just short of the A15.
Last edited by Specaircrew; 18th Sep 2022 at 00:47.
