Vulcan at Uffington, Sun 30 Aug
 

Apparently it's "appearing" at the country show on Sunday - anyone have any details on timing/is it just a single pass, or more?

Cheers for any info

cc

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Fab, thanks aa

It actually turned up an hour later - nice banked right-hand turn over Rowstock roundabout presumably prior to a run down the Vale to Uffington Country Show. I'm guessing it had just come from a fly-past at Silverstone?

We'd been sitting on the White Horse having doubts about the low cloudbase and the general viz in the Vale and was on my way home at the time....but probably got a closer look at it in flight than I would have if we'd stayed :D

As we'd come from GWS Didcot having seen the lovely A1 Tornado, not a bad day, I'd say :ok:


Ripline

Ripline

It departed Brize went to Didcot to start its run in for Uffington. I am not entirely sure it was in VMC for much of the time and at one point it was heading towards a cloud that was stuffed with a rather solid hill.

Looked great but was possibly flown closer to legal met limits than I would have liked today.

It was bloody cold on White Horse Hill as well.

Top marks to the crew for making it to Dunsfold
Wings and Wheels and putting on a great show.
I'm sure that these highly professional aviators
were flying to the book and within the VFR limits,
albeit at the lower end. They made a lot of
people very happy. Thanks chaps.:D

Missed it myself in the end! Went up to top of Foxhill, after sitting for a while, a chap on ******* said it wasn't departing BZZ till 1600; due to the low cloud level, we doubted whether it would ever appear, so went to visit friends at Chiseldon - then heard something on leaving theirs that could have been it - altho we prob wouldn't have seen it from Foxhill with that visibility.

Tell you what Man on the Fence

Why don't you just stay wrapped up with your anorak, flask and spotters band radio and leave the aircrew to decide if they are flying within limits.

Flap62

Put your ego away mate, you wont be able to get you helmet on otherwise.

I'll happily do that when they prove that they are capable of making the right decision, yesterday I very much doubt they did, especially when they headed directly towards the (by then) obscured Folly Hill at Faringdon at a remarkably similar height. They appeared from cloud and then disappeared into cloud. Nothing else was flying even the birds. They were in a one of a kind, complex category aircraft that is on a Permit to Fly with lousy vis out of the cockpit on a good day.

I was there, you werent. Deal with it.

Flap62, there is no need to be so aggressive.

M-o-t-F makes a very valid point. If you compare the Wx at the Covert Oxonian Aerodrome yesterday afternoon with the limits required for VFR of an aircraft flying above 140 KIAS outside CAS, you can only assume that they found a very lucky route.....:hmm:

Whether there was a bit of "The Show Must Go On" for Eddie F or not, I do not know; neither is any criticism of the crew appropriate. But a pound to a pinch of poo they'll undoubtedly be more conservative next time.

Bloody amazing, nonetheless....:ok:

No you weren't! You were sitting on a hillside somewhere close to it - deal with it!

They were in the aircraft - you weren't. You are in no position to assume what they might have seen. Airborne viz is often very different to what you see on the ground. Even if it was marginal - it was their call!

BEagle - Who makes the assessment on viz requirements at low level?

The EGO has Landed.............

Flap62, the limits for VFR are as prescribed in the ANO. There may be more restrictive limits in 558's Operations Manual, but they cannot be below those defined in the ANO.

Flaps

You're right, it was their call, they made it, they got away with it.

Next time......

I am not normally the sensitive type when it comes to flying, I accept that in most cases the point of view that I have doesnt always tell the story, but this was VERY worrying. (cropped and re-sized but otherwise untouched)

First pass

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6.../MD3A5846a.jpg

Second pass
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...n/MD3A5907.jpg

Legal to fly or not, I'd be interested to hear if you think these conditions were suitable to display in.

Damned if they do, damned if they don't. Hardly a Display more like a fly-by. Surely well within the capabilities of the Captain? Well done XH 588 and all on board.

METAR EGVN 301350Z 20012KT 9999 FEW010 OVC014 15/13 Q1017 TEMPO 6000 -RADZ BKN010
METAR EGVN 301450Z 20011KT 9999 FEW009 OVC012 16/14 Q1016 TEMPO 7000 -RADZ BKN009
METAR EGVN 301550Z 20011KT 9999 SCT008 OVC011 16/14 Q1016 TEMPO 6000 -RADZ BKN009
METAR EGVN 301650Z 21009KT 9999 OVC009 16/14 Q1015 NOSIG

Crap wx like this at least keeps the microlights and gliders out of the area. Probably safer than a sunny day!

Stop it please, I'm going to give myself a rectal prolapse from laughing so hard. :rolleyes: You have no idea what you're talking about.

I love the apparent "fact" that some some spotter can come along and declare that the wx wasn't could enough for the aircraft to fly but any rebuttal from a military aviator who knows what he's talking about is turned on as being some "ego trip". Get over yourself.

First picture is fine - viz not 8/8 ginners but fine. Second picture is cropped close up that demonstrates nothing other than that the aircraft was a long way away.

If you've got "issues" then keep it to your knitting circle. :hmm:

Spot on. Nice work fellas - always great to see the Tin Triangle doing its stuff.

StopStart

Thanks for confirming what I already assumed. Why does it bother you that I am concerned for the safety of the aircraft and crew let alone the people on the ground and the reputation of TVOC? Perhaps slagging off a mere enthusiast gives you a kick, in which case you should seek professional help.

Good point from LookingNorth, there was nothing else in the sky. Assuming it was just about legal to carry out the display (flypast or not legally it was a display, NOTAM and DA required) anyone think it was sensible to fly a very large one of a kind aircraft in those conditions at that height? I realise they dont want to let people down but when does discretion become the better part of valour.

I do wonder though why all the sky gods are getting so defensive.

Has the Vulcan not recently got dispensation from our normal Permit regs concerning VFR/daylight only?
After all, these restrictions do not apply to all Permit a/c worldwide.

The pilots know what the limits are - both weather and aircraft - and the decision to fly should rightly be with them. Even in a unique and highly valued machine. If they pushed the limits, then I feel sure they will have conducted a full and frank de-brief and learnt all positive that is to be learnt.

Did others fly at the display? If yes, then presumably others also considered it to be fit. If no, then I am sure the crew will have taken note!