View Poll Results: Which one would you rather see flying in the future?
Concorde
27
32.53%
Vulcan
56
67.47%
Voters: 83. This poll is closed
Concorde or Vulcan
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Definitely the Vulcan. Beautiful as Concorde is, she just don't put on a show like the old Vulcan. Hope someone manages to keep Concorde going though - hate to see it growing old in a museum or wasting away or being turned into scrap.
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Not a chance of either, I am afraid. Regulators and money mean that the time has come to say a decent goodbye. These noble aircraft are too good to be slogged around tuppeny airshows, constantly short of cash. Let's remember them in their prime.
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In a perfect world.... Both, but in reality neither. The memorys now are good, could you imagine the lasting memorys if one of them crashed at an airshow?. The airshow world is a sadder place without them though
Rgds Dr.I.
Rgds Dr.I.
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I've never seen Vulcan fly, but can imagine it must be a breath taking sight. I would rather see that fly than Concorde, however I think the later will be a bigger blow to the general public when it's finally grounded.
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I agree with Dr I, it has to be both...!
However, I don't agree with the comments on 'C' being boring and 'V' being spectacular when displayed. We've only seen 'C' in it's passenger role, and display manoeuvres are not a good thing to keep paying pax in the back. On the other hand, when 'V' was in service, it's general flying was much like 'C's is now, exceptionally boring.
Soooooooooooo, what I would like to see is a lightweight 'C' putting on a graceful display at a future airshow, in the same way that 'V' used to put on hooligan demo's before she was grounded.
Pie in the sky...? I suppose so, but I can dream.
A
However, I don't agree with the comments on 'C' being boring and 'V' being spectacular when displayed. We've only seen 'C' in it's passenger role, and display manoeuvres are not a good thing to keep paying pax in the back. On the other hand, when 'V' was in service, it's general flying was much like 'C's is now, exceptionally boring.
Soooooooooooo, what I would like to see is a lightweight 'C' putting on a graceful display at a future airshow, in the same way that 'V' used to put on hooligan demo's before she was grounded.
Pie in the sky...? I suppose so, but I can dream.
A
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I've never seen Vulcan fly, but can imagine it must be a breath taking sight.
AB
We had the Vulcan attend our Barton airshows back in the days we held such events. It didn't touch down, of course. The ground literally shook, as did ones rib cage, with the mighty thunder of it. The beast would climb very steeply to about 1500 feet, then execute a wing over.
It positioned into Manchester for an overnight stay while the crew were ferried back to Barton for the post-show festivities. I remember talking to one of the back seaters about being in there during the show - "...near the top of those steep climbs you can feel the airframe start to buffet before the wing-over". Rather him than me.
He told me they were due out of Manch at 10:00 next morning, so I took no. 1 daughter (then about 5 years old) down to the 06 end of 24, by the old brickworks (now under 24L/06R). We heard the Vulcan (directly, and on the RT) taxying out but couldn't see it due the famous Manchester 'hump' in the runway. He had to use Tower frequency rather than Ground since he only had a 360 channel radio.
Cleared for take off, a vast cloud of smoke rose into the air beyond the hump, shortly followed by that Olympus roar and the unique and eerie howl (blood curdling - I've never heard anything like it from any other aeroplane) of a Vulcan accelerating hard. Then it appeared over the hump, going fast with 4 plumes of exhaust, it rotated *very* nose-high exposing that magnificent massive planform, and rose into the air like some almighty bat, going up at
an angle of about 70 degrees. The sound and vibration were stupendous. We stood spellbound, blattered by this incredible show of power, as the Vulcan reached his wing-over point almost directly above us.
On her wall to this day, amid all the horsy and other girly pictures and posters, No. 1 daughter still has a small photo of a Vulcan in planform.
It must have made some sort of an impression ;~)
SSD
AB
We had the Vulcan attend our Barton airshows back in the days we held such events. It didn't touch down, of course. The ground literally shook, as did ones rib cage, with the mighty thunder of it. The beast would climb very steeply to about 1500 feet, then execute a wing over.
It positioned into Manchester for an overnight stay while the crew were ferried back to Barton for the post-show festivities. I remember talking to one of the back seaters about being in there during the show - "...near the top of those steep climbs you can feel the airframe start to buffet before the wing-over". Rather him than me.
He told me they were due out of Manch at 10:00 next morning, so I took no. 1 daughter (then about 5 years old) down to the 06 end of 24, by the old brickworks (now under 24L/06R). We heard the Vulcan (directly, and on the RT) taxying out but couldn't see it due the famous Manchester 'hump' in the runway. He had to use Tower frequency rather than Ground since he only had a 360 channel radio.
Cleared for take off, a vast cloud of smoke rose into the air beyond the hump, shortly followed by that Olympus roar and the unique and eerie howl (blood curdling - I've never heard anything like it from any other aeroplane) of a Vulcan accelerating hard. Then it appeared over the hump, going fast with 4 plumes of exhaust, it rotated *very* nose-high exposing that magnificent massive planform, and rose into the air like some almighty bat, going up at
an angle of about 70 degrees. The sound and vibration were stupendous. We stood spellbound, blattered by this incredible show of power, as the Vulcan reached his wing-over point almost directly above us.
On her wall to this day, amid all the horsy and other girly pictures and posters, No. 1 daughter still has a small photo of a Vulcan in planform.
It must have made some sort of an impression ;~)
SSD
Last edited by Shaggy Sheep Driver; 13th Apr 2003 at 02:44.
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SSD - Beautifully put. I saw XH558 at her final display at Cranfield in 93 (?), and I still get shivers up and down my spine thinking about it. I dearly wish my young son could see the beast fly...
But as for Concorde not being agile.. I got back in to LHR one evening last week, and while retrieving my car from Parking Express, she climbed out overhead from a 09L departure; burners plugged in, banking hard right and climbing away beautifully in the twilight. Granted she's not as agile as the Vulcan, but there's something about Concorde which makes her absolutely unique and very special. I just can't put it into words.
But as for Concorde not being agile.. I got back in to LHR one evening last week, and while retrieving my car from Parking Express, she climbed out overhead from a 09L departure; burners plugged in, banking hard right and climbing away beautifully in the twilight. Granted she's not as agile as the Vulcan, but there's something about Concorde which makes her absolutely unique and very special. I just can't put it into words.
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I remember my first sight of a Concorde, just after it's first flight. It came right over my house, and the whole road came out to watch. I still reckon it is one of the most beautiful aircraft still flying, bar none. Not bad for an old girl of nearly 35!
How about a final farewell flypast over London of ALL BA Concordes in formation. Surely BA could afford to do it. (Not sure if the pilots could hand fly them for longer than 10 mins though...Might spill their coffee.) Then give them all to museums for free!
How about a final farewell flypast over London of ALL BA Concordes in formation. Surely BA could afford to do it. (Not sure if the pilots could hand fly them for longer than 10 mins though...Might spill their coffee.) Then give them all to museums for free!
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When I were a lad I was sitting on the beach at Bridlington when everybody looked up as this Vulcan passed overhead at rooftop height, possibly coming down a little now it had cleared the buildings. It was so unbelievably low I could read the smaller stencilling under the wings.
It roared out to sea just feet over the waves. Everyone within earshot was saying how amazing that had been.
That was probably the most impressive thing I've ever seen, and I would love to see one of those fly by again.
That said. It would be a shame not to keep a few Concordes in flying condition, to drag out on special occasions. The most beautiful plane in the known sky.
It roared out to sea just feet over the waves. Everyone within earshot was saying how amazing that had been.
That was probably the most impressive thing I've ever seen, and I would love to see one of those fly by again.
That said. It would be a shame not to keep a few Concordes in flying condition, to drag out on special occasions. The most beautiful plane in the known sky.
Paxing All Over The World
SSD - An excellent and vibrant description. My sister (now 51) formed a long term relationship with the Vulcan when about the age of your daughter!
I saw Vulcan do the Bournemouth Air Show in 1989 (or 90) and that howling cacophony would have been enough to flatten any opposition! A bit like the Scots with their bag pipes ensuring that the enemy is weak at the knees before they even get close. If Vulc had done a couple of low passes, with that big climb out, over Saddam's head - then we could have saved a lot of trouble.
In a thread here last year, I recall a former crew member talking about how they could start all four engines at the same time and that, from first button press to taxi was a blinding two mins of something (I sit to be corrected on that one!)
I saw Conc for the first time when she came out to JNB for Hot and High tests in 1971(?) and now ... I have my ticket booked for 8th August.
Prof DD ... you must feel very safe up there in the islands, when saying things like that about Caps and their coffee?
I saw Vulcan do the Bournemouth Air Show in 1989 (or 90) and that howling cacophony would have been enough to flatten any opposition! A bit like the Scots with their bag pipes ensuring that the enemy is weak at the knees before they even get close. If Vulc had done a couple of low passes, with that big climb out, over Saddam's head - then we could have saved a lot of trouble.
In a thread here last year, I recall a former crew member talking about how they could start all four engines at the same time and that, from first button press to taxi was a blinding two mins of something (I sit to be corrected on that one!)
I saw Conc for the first time when she came out to JNB for Hot and High tests in 1971(?) and now ... I have my ticket booked for 8th August.
Prof DD ... you must feel very safe up there in the islands, when saying things like that about Caps and their coffee?
What a tough choice. I have many happy memories of the RAF Vulcan displays and the sheer noise and excitement it generated, but I've voted for the Concorde because if one is kept flying it might just be licenced to carry passengers and I just might get to fly in one.
One scared the living daylights out of me just after the Kegworth disaster when I was driving past LHR on a wet and foggy evening. I could hear this tremendous noise approaching and thought 'Oh no, not another plane in trouble' as it went over the top of the car. Then I saw the four afterburners lighting up the thick night sky, no sight of the aircraft just the four plumes of flame. A truly marvellous sight that has stayed with me ever since.
They should be given free to museums because they were given virtually free to BA, and the taxpayers should be able to see what they bought and loaned to BA for a few lucky people to pay to travel on.
One scared the living daylights out of me just after the Kegworth disaster when I was driving past LHR on a wet and foggy evening. I could hear this tremendous noise approaching and thought 'Oh no, not another plane in trouble' as it went over the top of the car. Then I saw the four afterburners lighting up the thick night sky, no sight of the aircraft just the four plumes of flame. A truly marvellous sight that has stayed with me ever since.
They should be given free to museums because they were given virtually free to BA, and the taxpayers should be able to see what they bought and loaned to BA for a few lucky people to pay to travel on.
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I went to the Newark Air Museum yesterday and paid 50p to go and sit in the cockpit and indulge in fantasy for a few minutes. I felt like I was 8 years old again. And it had that smell...I would love to see one of these beasts fly again.
Edit: forgot to mention I was talking about the Vulcan! Well, I knew what i was talking about anyway...
Edit: forgot to mention I was talking about the Vulcan! Well, I knew what i was talking about anyway...