BBC Regions reporting tonight that the project is on hold, but not for technical reasons.

Anyone?

I don't know about tomorrow, but the engines were running today. The aircraft looks wonderful and sounded likewise. It surely can't be long now . . .

http://www.shawnsanders.info/xh558_1.jpg
http://www.shawnsanders.info/xh558_2.jpg

http://www.shawnsanders.info/xh558_3.jpg

Sure looks purty - as our trans Atlantic cousins would say.

Just a thought. Why not paint the Vulcan day-glo yellow and then the horde of onlookers could wear camouflage clothing? After all better visibility increases the potential to avoid.

My bike is at the door..........................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers,

Trapper 69
:D

Nice to see them finally doing flight tests just as the airshow season is finishing :E:{

Actually old chap, it is indeed nice to see 'them' doing flight tests as the airshow season is finishing.

It's pretty bl00dy nice to see them doing flight tests, full stop, after 14 years. :ok:


Flipflopman

XL319, you deserve a slap across the face with the soggy end of Tombstone's rose after he's done his performance with it inserted where the sun doesn't shine......

Good news concerning the engine runs - my spies tell me that things are now going extremely well. Which is terrific news - for everyone except Tombstone....:eek:

I will consider myself well and truly slapped :suspect:

There was a little sarcasim in my comment, nothing malicious :} The point I was making was that I am actually gutted that I won't be seeing them display this year :{

Another provisional NOTAM
 

Navw: Q)egtt/qrtca/iv/bo/w/000/030/5229n00108w003
From 07/08/20 09:00 To 07/09/07 15:00 J3816/07
D)aug 20-24, 28-31, Sep 03-07 0900-1500
E)restricted Area (temporary) For Tombstone Rose Powered Engine Run. No Restriction Of Flying Regulations Made But No Acft Is To Fly Downwind Centred At 522913n 0010750w Except Acft Flying With Permission Of Pprune Or In The Service Of The Kew Gardens.
F)sfc G)sfc Amsl


:E

Poor old Tombstone. I am assured KY Jelly eases the passage but check for any thorns left on the stem.

Seriously though, I really wonder just how many airshow organisers are going to book the Vulcan if it is charged out at an economic rate? Once the initial novelty is over reality must set in. This despite the valiant efforts of the VTTS team, professional and volunteer.

As an airshow performer charging a modest sum to cover my legitimate costs it has been hard to get bookings for a couple of years. This possibly because my aerobatic displays are tame in comparison with some on the circuit but also because there are those for whom displays are an ego trip and can afford to do them for next to nothing.

Display organisers are finding it very hard to get sponsorship and costs are escalating at an exponential rate. The UK airshow industry is in a difficult position. But there, it always was and my involvement goes back over 50 years.

Comments appreciated, however if it is suggested that I pack up airshow flying after some 53 years then that is simply not acceptable. I enjoy it too much.

Cheers,

Trapper 69
:confused:

G-KEST

Be interesting to see how the economics work out. I suspect they are banking on the fact that any airshow in the UK will not be complete without the Vulcan doing a display. Even though I do have some fears over the long term sustainment of the project for ££ reasons, I actually suspect they are bang on - no airshow worth its salt will want to be without the vulcan; the punters will be dissappointed without it.

I wonder if it will be able to display in Europe?

There is an article in "The Vulcan Story" which was written by SL David Thomas, last and future display pilot of XH558, in which he writes:

"It's interesting to note that towards the end of the Vulcan's display career, one show organizer simply stated that they would pay whatever the necessary asking price was, because they just had to have the Vulcan at their show. It's an incredible display aircraft, as it's a unique design, and XH558 is the only one of its kind. It flies very slowly, it's very manoeurvrable, it's big, it's noisy, quite unmistakeable."

Hopefully airshow audiences attitudes won't have changed that much, and the Vulcan will still be in great demand for airshows.

I well remember Dave's fabulous displays and I am glad I will see them again.

I agree with DT that organisers will bust the bank to ensure that the Vulcan is on the list. And I wouldn't like to accept a bet that it won't be at F'boro next year either.

Does anyone know if there will be limitations imposed on XH558 for displays or will it be the full show that she used to do?

Is`nt it Apt, the UK Govt will probably compulsory purchase the A/C for a quid once its done its flight test in order to combat the Bears that have just been restored by russia, looks like it may be on standby duties back at waddo with Blue Steel......Not at airshows as we hope.

You wait , just when you thought you`d retired the RAF will call up some 75 year old to command it as they wont have the experience otherwise...lol:}

I would imagine it will be very expensive. Hate to think what the insurance bill would be, given the hike in prices since she last flew.

Like PPrune Pop I can't wait to see her "on display" again.

That may be true, but XH558 retired when the airshow business was at a zenith. Unfortunately, half the airshows that were in existence at that time have since gone to the wall and attendances at fee paying airshows are well down. Admittedly 800,000 people have just turned up for the Bournemouth freebie but that doesn't generate much in the way of direct revenue.

They're budgetted for 1.2 million a year don't forget, and given their history of budgetting shortfalls, we can't be sure they've got those sums right. Readers of "Aeroplane" will be aware of how tight the airshow business is getting - even across the Atlantic in the home of the CAF and Oshkosh.
.

From the Vulcams, it looks like she's outside again this afternoon....

Perhaps they should put a rose in a bowl of ky on the crew steps every time she is wheeled out for testing:\

Having heard nothing on the subject for a while now, I'm just wondering whether Tombstone has got the minerals to actually put his money where his Ahem... mouth is!! :E

He does indeed have the minerals, the banter from the F3 girls for a no show would be unbearable.

Two things will happen the day after the vulcan flies:

1. I will post the video on here, via youtube.

2. 'Tombstone' will die & I will have to come up with another name for Pprune. It's never a clever thing allowing your boss to know who you are on here & I think he might just work out who I am the day after (V+1) XH558 rotates!:ooh:

Dear Santa,

please may I have a multiple engine surge on XH558 (prior to V panic) as an early Xmas. Pretty please. If it helps swing the decision, you can marry my sister.:E

No offence intended to the aircrew of 558 however, big boys rules, you know how it is!