Thank god for that!!

One Vulcan related question i have popped into my head today,and thats the fuselage towards the rear reminds me a bit of the buccaneers. Was any thought given to the area rule principle during the Vulcans design?

I quite agree that the sniping should stop (although if it's merely directed against me that's fine, it doesn't bother me - it just annoys readers of the thread). However, when you use terms like "witch hunt" I think you're possibly overdoing it slightly.

To ask serious questions about TVOC is entirely within reason. Indeed, I can't think of a more suitable forum (if you'll pardon the pun)!

With reference to your comment bubble, I think you're referring to the tail cone which does indeed bulge. However this was a later "add-on" development of the basic airframe, when ECM equipment needed to be fitted. The original B1 (and B2) tail cone was simply tapered to a point.

This is indeed, a very sad thread, and for lots of reasons, not least of all because we see yet again that TVOC are unable or unwilling to make a clear and concise statement regarding accounts and the current state of the project. I wish I could say that I'm surprised - sadly I'm not.

Just one question please......with the exception of the FI, does anyone know why so many 'big cheeses' have called it a day and jumped ship? Do you think they know something that we don't?

Best wishes for 2009.

The Winco

Director and Trustee Resignations (from 07 accounts)

Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Knight KCB AFC FRAeS (resigned 17 September 2007)
Mrs Felicity Irwin DL (resigned 25 August 2006)
Mr Giles Irwin FCA (resigned 29 October 2006)

The Vulcan (and the Valiant and Victor) would appear to have been influenced by Kuchemann who was working at the RAE. See the following article:
Flight article
Google Area Rule for more background on Area Rule

Not that I have ever heard of this.

The Buccaneer was developed by Blackburn whereas the Vulcan tail mod was done by Avro. Although not far apart (pre-M62) and it is not inconceivable, I have never heard of this.

Digressing slightly, have you noticed how certain design styles are carried through from one type to another when successive types are designed by one design shop? Look at the Hunter and Hawk tails. Look at the Boeing tails from the B52 onward (may be B47 too). Almost as if an artist does a concept view and the designers and engineers model the aircraft to fit, just as in the motor industry.

Thanks for the answers chaps, it just occured to me yesterday while watching the restoration DVD's that there is similarities from the rear of them, yeah i know i need to get out more.

Pontious, that rather reminds me of a childhood "I-Spy" handbook which actually included a page of tail side profiles which supposedly enabled the reader/spotter to identify the aircraft's manufacturer, purely by the shape of the tail! Ahh, happy days...

Director and Trustee Resignations (from 07 accounts)

Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Knight KCB AFC FRAeS (resigned 17 September 2007)

Family bereavement...


Mrs Felicity Irwin DL (resigned 25 August 2006)
Mr Giles Irwin FCA (resigned 29 October 2006)

Stated couldn't raise any more money... reckoned without Club members, her own friends and ordinary supporters... they raised £860,000 in 17days then Sir Jack made up shortfall.... after which their position was untenerable within project...



:)

An article on the project, written by one Richard Warrilow, is published in the current issue of "Aerospace Professional" on pages 18 to 20. It is interesting to learn that Dr. Pleming was in fact the initiator of the entire project in 1997 and was not merely invited in as a consultant.

The restoration was a commendable engineering effort indeed and those who carried out the work deserve a great deal of praise for the result. I must admit though, that my eyebrows involuntarily raised themselves when I read the words "dealing with unexpected corrosion". While it is true that nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition, a search for corrosion is the foundation of all ageing aircraft inspection programmes: "corrosion in the wing above the undercarriage bays" can hardly be unexpected on any aircraft of the age of G-VLCN. ;)

Does the HLF know more than we do about the VTS project?

I've been trying to find any public domain material on the HLF submission, specifically any details of the education aspects.

I've tried various search terms and dates, but the HLF website always comes back with....

Searched all grant projects for vulcan.
Any ideas anyone? No results have been found. Please start a new search.

Must be a skunk works HLF operation....

HLF have been remarkably quiet throughout the saga. I spent a lot of time trying to get some sense out of them back in the days before the first flight when the project looked like failing. Unfortunately, although they were willing to comment on vague and generalised matters, they would not discuss the facts and figures surrounding their involvement because (they claimed) it was a confidential matter between themselves and TVOC. I found this attitude quite remarkable, considering that it's our money that HLF is spending, but like so many aspects of the story, nothing surprises me any more!

I thought we'd done away with the corrosion problem in the
early '60's by replacing all the Mag Alloy bits?
Ah well! Just goes to show dunnit? :ugh:

Credit crunch hits the Vulcan:

BBC NEWS | England | Leicestershire | Bumpy return for Vulcan 'dream'

Tim,

I actually did an FOI request to the HLF which anyone is welcome to see but it wont tell you a great deal.

I note their latest press article with despair. I haven't done a count up but I guessing that more press releases and news stories they have taken part in have been "if we don't get £x by y date" type. I hope they get a bit more creative and raise the cash but surely they have to change tack to have longer term successes.

Well what could I possibly add?! That BBC report looks so depressingly similar to the ones we've seen before time and time again. Shows all the imagination and enthusiasm of a dead sheep.

Incidentally, I note from that report that the aircraft seems to have shrunk since it left RAF service?!:p

Perhaps a MK 1 size sounds cheaper to run!

Sums the whole project up nicely...


Ho, hum. This old Waddington A.Fitt.E isn't surprised in the least. Every "Liney" electrician carried a box of spare fuses in his tool bag, and they weren't for "just in case". We'd get through a couple of dozen every shift. :rolleyes:

Launch of "XH558 Press Office"
 

NEW YEAR – NEW CHALLENGES – NEWS from VULCAN XH558
A public appeal:

We bring you the launch of “XH558 Press Office” and the first of what will be regular updates across various Internet forums with the intention of spreading the word on this ground breaking aviation project.

XH558, was the first complex aircraft in the world to be privately restored to full flying condition, making her debut Airshow Display at RAF Waddington in July 2008.

Since then, the economic conditions have seriously affected the sponsorship levels expected in order to make continued operation as an airworthy airframe – the only one of its type in the world. The reality is, that unless a shortfall in funding of £1 million is found before early spring, she will be grounded forever.

The project has clear Technical, Engineering and Educational values to the current generation - who have lost sight of the Cold War era, the technical advances made by British industry and the value of engineering research and development to economic prosperity.

These are all values the “Vulcan to The Sky” team aims to continue demonstrating to millions of people throughout the 2009 Display season, leading to a public appeal in order to secure the aircrafts immediate future.

Following a successful fund in 2006, The ’09 Pledge Campaign has already raised nearly £200,000 towards this target in a little over 4 weeks.

We are now widening our appeal outside of Aviation circles, in order to take our story to a wider cross section of the community. These posts will be appearing of forums not only associated with Aviation, but other key interests, like Motorsport, Railways and Photography, together with more Educational and Technical sites.
We have a presence at “Autosport International” this coming weekend at the NEC, together with many other publicity drives in progress across Newspapers, Magazines and Media.
We do however, suffer from the understandable priorities of editors to cover World Events and more humanitarian charities.

If you feel able to support our project in any way, you will find more details on Vulcan to the Sky Trust - Avro Vulcan Bomber XH558 - Vulcan To The Sky Trust together with the Pledge link, where you will be able to make a monthly or one off “promise” to pay any level of donation, only called providing the full £1 million is committed to by others – hence ensuring the successful implementation of a full Display Season. The site also has a live feed to the Pledge database, so you can easily check progress of the campaign at any time. (Look under Home > Pledge Data)

PLEASE HELP US SAVE XH558 FOR THE NATION – IT IS THE PEOPLE’S AIRCRAFT – ONLY YOU CAN SAVE HER NOW!

We would like to thank-you in advance for any help you can give to us.

Any person or Editor requiring more information can contact 0116 247 8145 to receive
a more detailed report via email.
For commercial sponsorship opportunities:- Call 07803 141483

Note to Forum Admin: This post is placed in an area of your site thought best to gain maximum attention.
This is an important news item we are sure your readers will be interested in. We hope to count on your support.
No communication channels or replies will be possible by this service. It is the only "official" information outside of the VTST site.