lasernigel,
I hope you dont regard me as a 'doom and gloom' merchant, although I fear you do as BEagles comments were in responce to my posting.

As someone who spent most of the 70's in the back of one of these magnificent beasts, I do very much have a vested interest in getting 558 airborne again, and can think of nothing better than to hear her mighty roar at an airshow.

My comment was simply that despite assurances from some people who were, AND STILL ARE at the top of this project that 'money is NOT a problem' it yet again appears that money is very much a problem, and quite a big one!

Now I don't know your circumstances nigel, but like many tens of thousands over the years (maybe even millions!) I have donated lots and lots of money in purchases, raffles, donations blah. to keep this thing alive It just concerns me that despite assurances from those at the top, there is a major financial shortfall - YET AGAIN!

If these guys are getting it so wrong about one item, the money, I worry that they get the other things right.

I still wish them all the best, but I feel that like myself, the vast majority of people will soon be calling time on giving money to this project.

Nevertheless, I'll still buy a ticket!

Kind regards to all
TSM

Swinging Monkey
Not at all.But just want to see it fly again.My connections are my Uncle Joe flew up front on them and Valiants(see main Vulcan Thread) and my Aunties were telephonists at AV Roe at Woodford.So as a little lad saw the Vulcan and Shacks being built.
I unfortunately ended up in the Army but am totally mad about aircraft esp our military past.
Not rich,still have a big mortgage due to more than one divorce over the years!
But as said will sacrifice some personal pleasure for possible pleasure of not seeing a dry eye for miles when it lifts into the air again.:ok:

lasernigel, not L'Estrange by any chance?

Nevertheless, I'll still buy a ticket!

I'd love to buy one too, maybe even a book or two, but no one seems to be at that e-mail address published on one of Beagle's posts, and the thread with the prize as its topic seems to have been removed or relocated [either way ,I can't find it].:(

Samuel If you follow this link it will get you in contact.Good luck.:ok:

Pontius Que??No Joe Matthews!

Mike He's still OK as a Canadian citizen living in B.C.Joined British Aerospace before emigrating and retiring.
Joe Matthews that is.:ok:

Last time I saw Joe L’Estrange was at the funeral of S/L John (Jack) Fryer, ex SATCO Manby, ATC Finningley and Scampton among others, GATCO 23 Group and wartime Spitfire pilot, this must have been 1983 or 4?

Wonderful displayer of the Tin Triangle

I've always thought that Joe L'Estrange didn't so much display the Vulcan as waltzed it.

"On 7 October 1995, with Squadron Leader Joe L'Estrange and CAA Captain Roger Frampton at the controls, XL426 moved under her own power for the first time since arriving at Southend nine years previously."

XL426 is the Vulcan which is based at Sarfen' Airpawt, Essex. Innit'

I have to admit to enjoying a lot of inter-service banter with our light blue bretheren....BUT, I can't wait to see this aircraft fly again...I'll be first in the queue for a ticket to the first air show.

Seem to remember at Finningley in the mid to late 60s Joe Le'Strange managed to bend (overstress) the wings of one tin triangle.

Certainly remember him doing a practice one summers' evening at Finningley - bloody magic!

Lasernigel; thank you, but I've been there and done that, and short of a UK phone number for tickets, you end up back with an e-mail address [email protected] . which no one seems to be monitoring!

On the basis that you won't win if you don't have a ticket, I'll persist! I reckon I could squeeze into a Lightning...a tight squeeze but for that ride I'd do whatever it took!

Have you tried +44 1258 841274?

Regrettably the 'Do you fancy a trip in a Lightning' thread was pulled by the PPRuNe Godfathers. No idea why - the raffle is purely intended to benefit the Vulcan to the Sky Charity 1101948.

The only way we'll get 558 back into the air short of a major benefactor is through donations from the general public. A pity that PPRuNe clearly does not see it that way.

God, I wish this will happen. Being something of a young-un (in relative terms) the only recollection I have of the Vulcan flying was at airshows when I was a wee lad in the early 1980s. Loud enough to wake the dead, IIRC.

Years later I got to be awestruck once again when my fellow Flying Scholarship studes and I frequently had to taxi our little C152s under the wing of the one parked up at Wellesbourne Mountford. It was not altogether unlike that opening scene in Star Wars with the Star Destroyer! :cool:

That's 655 - still in excellent condition and parked next to South Warwickshire Flying School.

I helped taxy the old bird some months ago - first time I'd done that for 25 years. Only a slow run to check the systems, engines, brakes and steering. So we only took the engines up to around 80% in pairs...

Work is carried out on the a/c most Saturdays - and another taxy run is scheuled for next year.

Well said Beags

I'm in your gang

If the Lottery can throw millions at a white elephant called the Dome - which half the country never saw - surely a few hundred thousand to commission a project that will thrill audiences world wide, is well worth the effort.

By the way, who is this a*se called Vox Populi ? Is he in a secure unit on medication under supervision?

We need to know

Regards B15

A couple of questions for you Beags:

1. How the hell did it get there in the first place? 36-18 is only about 3000ft long IIRC and I can't imagine it being carted through the local lanes in bits to be rigged on site. Must have been an "interesting" approach and landing.

2. Does everything that is parked on the grass along the length taxiway have to foxtrot oscar before you trundle down there or is the a/c towed and started up on the runway. (Oops, sorry- you probably use the 18 end, right?)

3. Is Rodney, the Indian Cavalier, still next door at SWFS? (Ex-Scots DG IIRC)

I can't imagine the locals taking too kindly to the noise of 4 x Olympus engines in the neighbourhood, especially those sods in that village to the north that force even lowly 152s to make a noise abatement turn after t/o.

Ahhhhh, Wellesbourne. I'm getting all dewey-eyed and nostalgic now... even if my instructor was an ocean-going stroker who almost put me off flying for life.

A pair of Vulcans were flown into Halton as instructional airframes. Now that must have been worth watching !

The last one that went into Cosford was also pretty impressive by all accounts. Made it safely down. It then got bogged down on the grass during the move to its new home. Took quite some getting out I heard ?

Safety_Helmut

'655 was indeed flown into Wellesbourne - on 11 Feb 1984! Hundreds turned up to watch the arrival.

The aircraft is towed to the runway for the taxying sessions by an ageing yanktank truck. Followed by the hippy VW microbus with the palousteand GPU. The a/c is taxied either on the stub of 05 for low speed stuff when the 'market' :rolleyes: is using the 23 end or the main 18/36 for high speed runs on event days.

Rodney is indeed still at South Warks

The a/c has considerable local support - but the moaners in the villages of Hampton Lucy and Charlecote still grumble about aircraft noise, so a 30 deg right turn after departure from 36 is required. The 18 circuit also has to avoid Loxley to the south west of the aerodrome.

But WB is still a very friendly place - and the Touchdown cafe does a roaring trade feeding and watering not just those who fly there, but also amiable bikers and the local Plod who frequently drop in for a brew.