Yes the Connie flies...but...and a BIG BUT...the Olympus 20201 fitted to the Vulcan has a fuel burn of 13,950 lbs/hr at maximum power (100-100.5%) at sea level on an ISA standard 15c, 1013.2mb day.

This equates to a rate of 55,800 lbs/hr for a Vulcan with Take Off power selected at the end of the runway. Quite a lot eh, which roughly works out at 60p per litre of Avtur equatating to £5.24 per second!!!

But saddled with war debts that would eventually bring an end to any kind of pre-eminence. I worry about maintaining too much national pride in a military sense in a time when it doesn't do us much good.

Having said that, she's a wonderful piece of machinery and I hope they can keep her going for as long as possible as a reminder of why we chose to avoid conflict unless it was completely necessary, as well as a reminder of what can be done even when no longer first in the world.

Will she be carrying rear crew, I wonder? Difficult to justify I'd have thought.

I wouldn't want to be up in a Vulcan without someone looking after the electrical system.

...and preferably kitted out with a bag full of spare fuses. :suspect:

Ah, I hadn't realised one of them was a flight engineer: I thought they were all tactical crew (Nav, AEO etc.)

Slim Shady,

I don't believe that TVOC actually went out to find pilots that would've been more suitable (using your criteria) than those that are currently involved. As I said, I know of at least 3 ex-Vulcan captains still in the RAF who are current on aircraft much larger than a 737, at least one of which is an experienced display pilot. None of then are involved, none were asked to be involved and I couldn't say if any of them wish to be involved.

As the jet will be operated on a permit-to-fly, there is no read across of any instrument flying currency, and so I remain to be convinced of any over-riding need for the pilot's to be current on a medium-sized aircraft. I won't go so far as to say that the day job of an ATPL holder is irrelevant to this operation but it so far removed from the VFR, low-level, hands-on environment that it is not a requirement. If you were proposing that the pilot must have experience in displaying a medium-sized aircraft then I could see more validity in you argument, but line flying is hardly comparable. In fact, DT was the Lancaster display pilot until quite recently - more suitable experience than flying to Ibiza on autopilot I suggest. Furthermore, at the CAAs stipulation, all the pilots recently had some time in an old fashioned heavy-jet simulator.

The thing that does occurs to me about the crewing is that they are all quite old. Maybe if this is still going after a couple of seasons they ought to trickle though one or two slightly younger chaps, so that the aeroplane doesn't have to be grounded when it's pilots are too old.

xh558
 

is the vulcan due to fly again today 19/10/07?

Congratulations to everyone involved in successfully getting the Vulcan back into the air!

A Remarkable achievement , Congratulations to all Involved . Proud to be British.:D

Brian, your point on the age of the pilots is also valid but whether TVOC has plans to find some younger guys who the aircraft and train them all adds to the cost of the project.

As to the current flying practice etc, the Vulcan at typical display weight has a thrust to weight ratio of around 0.52 to 1. A 737-800 at "display weight" has a thrust to weight ration of 0.51 / 1 - pretty similar. Also unlike the Airbus the Boeing is more of a mechanical airplane and less use is made of the AT system. In short more pure handling for the crews.

With respect, I think that it would be wiser to consider pilots ( even if that involves asking them rather than waiting for them to volunteer ) in current flying practice on large aircraft rather than on light aircraft.

Nevertheless, the main thing is that the aircraft is back flying; we will have to agree to disagree on certain points, after all, we aren't making the decisions.

Justification
 

Sitting here in South Germany and only having PPRuNe to keep up with news on the Vulcan, I was struck by the comment from Sky News in an earlier post:

"Still, the Sky jounalist just stated that it burns 40 tonnes of fuel an hour, has a large carbon footprint, and can we the public, really justify spending lottery money on it."

The answer on a purely economic and ecological level is, of course, No.

However, on an emotional basis the answer is YES, YES, YES. The Vulcan is from a time when Britain was among the best of aircraft designers and builders. She was, and is beautiful and the sound of those engines, burning all that fuel, was fantastic.

Congratulations to the team that restored her. I look forward to home visits next year when she may be flying and I can see and hear her again.

vulcan air displays
 

hello every one,

what strikes me in viewing different air display videos of this magnificent aircraft, is the professionalism of the display flying by the raf crews, compared to the tap a310 flying circus a few weeks ago.
kind regards,
bm

Welcome back the Vulcan
 

Back in 1960 when I was 16 and just out of school my Dad took the family to see the airshow at Hucknall. This was the one and only time I saw a Vulcan in flight. Awesome was just insignificant as an adjective. The aircraft made several passes then finished with a run along the runway at (I guess) about 100 feet then simply stood on her tail, applied full chat and just went straight up until she disappeared into the cloudbase. The sound was incredible. It was a sort of deep vibration - the kind of sound that makes your lower abdomen clench and quiver. (maybe even orgasmic ;)) It was so impressive that I nearly abandoned my plans to go to sea and join the RAF instead. But I didn't :sad:
It will be difficult to keep raising the cash to keep her going but the Battle of Britain Flight seems to have managed it so (perhaps) all things are possible. I hope so.
Well done the team :ok:

Photos
 

Ok sorry peeps. Someone was copying the photos and posting them elsewhere, so appologies for anyone who went to view them yesterday and they couldn't get in.

The gallery is now available to view again. Took the photos from the top of the control tower, actually on the roof of it so good views.

http://www.justplanecrazy.co.uk

Enjoy

"Still, the Sky jounalist just stated that it burns 40 tonnes of fuel an hour, has a large carbon footprint, and can we the public, really justify spending lottery money on it."

Miserable Git

Still remember seeing XA903 test flying Concorde's Olympus engines at Farnborough and have seen Roly Falk's exploits on video many times.

Ah the sight, the smell and the sound

:D

With tongue-firmly-in-cheek:

Bruntingthorpe is unlicensed and, quite correctly, the AFISO clearly said on the clip:

"The runway is clear; take-off at your discretion".

But the print is entitled "Cleared for take-off".

Scandalous deception a la ITV perhaps? :)

Cleared by the VTOC engineers to fly is good enough for me!

Now I cannot paint even a fence, and the late Eric H Day always said that the Vulcan was very difficult to paint, but the artist has done a really superb job with this print, in my view!

Over the years TVOC has been progressing, with regards to the Internet and sites such as this one, can anyone remember reading positive comments about Dr Pleming and crew? I’m not sure I can.

From the picture painted by opinions expressed by many not related to the project, a clear impression was intimated that Pleming and crew were a real bunch of jokers…

Yesterday’s flight appears to be anything but a joke.

All credit to the TVOC organisation. To say I’m impressed would be an understatement - a Herculean achievement – I can’t wait to feel the ground rumble at next year’s show season :ok:

TVOC has achieved something that I, in my limited opinion, didn't think was possible. Well done. I look forward to max power climbs at Waddington next year.
Any chance of a quick blast over the Boers later this evening? That might shake them up a bit.

Congrats to all involved. Use to scare the sh*t out of me as a child at airshows. Loved the ripping noise through the air of the engines at full pelt sat at the end of the runway at NQY!!

Now the work needs to continue to keep her in the air - well done!!

Don't care who told em to go fly the thing, just great after all this time they have managed it, sadly it still seems the doubters do not share similar feelings about this achivement and still want to bitch about things, they should really get out more, or better still stay in doors away from the rest of us.

Another case of:
"Ten wise man said it couldn't be done.
Then a fool came along who didn't know that, so he did it."

I'm with the TVOC fools, all the way......

Massive Thumbs Up
 

Well Done One & All, British Aviation At It's Very Best - Rock'n'roll !!!

Roosevelt put it best:
"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

Dr Jekyll, well quoted. Thanks.

Sorry to piss on the parade, but what's the bet it will be in the USA before the decade's out - or very soon after?

Sorry - I inadvertently deleted this earlier post!!
This is a Limited Edition print recently released by the VTST to swell the 558 Project coffers - all proceeds to VTST. http://www.tvoc.co.uk
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...yne/Print1.jpg

British Rock'n'Roll !!
 

But Blacksheep, It's BRITISH ROCK'N'ROLL, !! :-)
They may have our Shack' & others but they'll never get our thunder,
keep em' British !!

That "limited print" is still the perfect illustration of an old saying.

The Brits design aeroplanes, then discover at the last moment they have to add a cockpit.

The Americans design a cockpit, then add on the aircraft.

Great job of work TVOC :ok: :ok:
Good to see dedication and perseverance paying off.

Bob C (Ex 1 Gp hack)

Clear to take off
 

Brain Potter,

Glad to hear I got the clearance "at your discretion" correct. I will certainly remember those words as long as I live! As a TVOC Avionics Technician, new to FIS work and recently fresh from the dreaded RT course, I was only too aware of not being able to give clearance for take off per se. To say I was under pressure in the runway waggon would be a definite understatement. However, it was all worthwhile and a grand old lady took to the sky with some style and amidst hugh emotion.

However, surely the title of the painting is correct? As he had been cleared to take off at his own discretion, the pilot must then have cleared himself and was therefore "cleared for take off"??? QED :ok:

XH558
 

BEagle,
Thanks for the vote of confidence in TVOC engineers we do endeavour to persevere! And, like countless RAF techs who knew XH558 before us, we do love our aeroplane and will always look after her to the highest standards.:):ok::ok:

Just a little hark back to the day that great man of the flying camera, Neville Parnell, holidaying in New Zealand, on the tour boat on Milford Sound, heard thunder from a clear sky. Round Mitre Peak came the Vulcan letting down along the Sound to two or three hundred feet. Neville, standing on a high part of the deck captured the moment perfectly. Aeroplane Monthly published the result in a centre spread.

Just to 'clear' up the points made earlier about the title of the painting/prints. The title was carefully chosen by the VTST, on the basis that the aircraft had been given the all-clear to fly again by the CAA - as simple as that.

In answer to Amos' comments on the running costs of our beloved bird.
Due to those nice people at Air BP it probably....9 seconds to wheels off....back to cruise power in 35 seconds....cost 52.50 for the take off and a total cost of 918.50 for the whole flight. Not exactly the Carbon foot stomp of a fully laden warbird.

And another thing
 

Why on earth would we tie ourselves down to requiring an ATPL and current airline or heavy experience when there is no requirement whatsoever for it. Would practice at throwing a 737 through a SID or ILS approach make for a better Vulcan pilot, I doubt it. A permit to fly ex-military aircraft requires a PPL, plain and simple, and what ever the CAA deem necessary for previous experience and refresher training. Discuss

Lameduck, I'm well impressed with 9 seconds to wheels off, as would any Typhoon pilot!

When will S(he) fly again 07/11/13 Maybe
 

Anybody know when shes likely to fly again. Seem to remember that the first flt took her to Cottesmore and back. just that as below special airspaces has been set up ????????????? for areturn visit maybe

B)07/11/13 09:40 UTC C)07/11/13 10:30
E)TEMPO CONTROLLED AIRSPACE (CLASS A) ESTABLISHED AS FOLLOWS
TEMPO CONTROLLED CTA/CTR CIRCLE 10NM RAD CENTRED On COTTESMORE.CONTROL AUTHORITY COTTESMORE ATC

F)SFC G)FL050

Sorry to disappoint you jet2leeds, but she's tucked up in bed with the heaters on. Maybe in a couple of weeks if the weather is reasonable.

Or perhaps sooner........










....I heard a whisper.