Vulcan XH 558 Threads (merged)
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 72
Likes: 1
From: canada
Test flights
A hearty and BIG congrats to all at tvoc and the ngineering team especially. Just read that all the test flights are now completed and she is ready to go with only the caa paperwork to get sorted!!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Lincoln
Engineering Update
Thought you'd like to know the latest update is in.
http://www.tvoc.co.uk/news/anmviewer.asp?a=272&z=2
http://www.tvoc.co.uk/news/anmviewer.asp?a=272&z=2
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Lincoln, England
Raf Coningsby
Having spent a year or so at RAF CONINGSBY myself long ago, I find it exceedingly irritating when so-called aviation enthusiasts keep spelling it Conningsby! The TVOC piece is just one of many examples on this and other fora.
Rant over.
Rant over.
oop's
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: GB
Restoration DVD out
I see from the www.tvoc.co.uk website that Part Three of the RESTORATION dvds is out now!! For anyone interested
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: london
The money's run out.
News article from last week - spokesman says there's no money for any air shows.
Please someone tell me it won't end like this?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
IT WAS hailed as a great British triumph by delighted aviation fans across the world - but last night the achievement was looking increasingly hollow.
After seven years of toil by engineers and £8million of tireless fund-raising - including a £2.7million Lottery grant - an historic RAF Vulcan bomber was finally restored to airworthy condition and soared majestically into the skies last October.
But just six months on, and within hours of Vulcan XH558 completing its stringent test-flying programme, organisers admitted their funds are exhausted and the gleaming jet may never fly again.
Hopes that the huge Vulcan would be the star of air shows around the world for years to come, with millions listening awe-struck to the famous thunder of her four Rolls Royce engines, may come to nothing because all efforts to find a corporate sponsor have failed.
The team of engineers and ex-RAF aircrew operating the Vulcan - which formed the backbone of Britain's nuclear deterrent for much of the Cold War - now need £1.2million a year to keep her flying.
Yesterday the crew flew her back to her home base at Bruntingthorpe in Leicestershire, in what may prove to be her last ever sortie.
Paul Muckle, spokesman for the Vulcan To The Sky Trust, said: 'We had hoped to do 10 to 15 airshows a year, but the money is all used up. As of now, there are no more flights planned. There won't be any airshows.
'We've had £2.7million from the Lottery and £3million from the public. We have always hoped that once she was flying, corporate sponsors would see the potential.
'She's a great British icon and will steal the show at any air displays - which are second in popularity only to football matches. We believe it's an excellent branding opportunity with a huge audience, but it would seem the climate of financial uncertainty isn't helping.'
Vulcan bombers were designed in the late 1940s to carry nuclear bombs into the heart of Russia, and for years the fleet was on round-the-clock stand-by to take off from RAF stations across Britain.
The RAF flew them in anger only a handful of times - in the legendary 'Black Buck' raids of 1982, when crews flew what were then the longest ever bombing missions from Ascension Island to the Falklands to bomb Port Stanley airport and attack Argentine radar sites.
Restoration work of XH558 took many years and was an astonishing feat of determination and engineering, with hundreds of outdated components having to be reproduced and restored.
But without a sponsor the aircraft looks set to stay in its hangar at Bruntingthorpe for good.
Please someone tell me it won't end like this?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
IT WAS hailed as a great British triumph by delighted aviation fans across the world - but last night the achievement was looking increasingly hollow.
After seven years of toil by engineers and £8million of tireless fund-raising - including a £2.7million Lottery grant - an historic RAF Vulcan bomber was finally restored to airworthy condition and soared majestically into the skies last October.
But just six months on, and within hours of Vulcan XH558 completing its stringent test-flying programme, organisers admitted their funds are exhausted and the gleaming jet may never fly again.
Hopes that the huge Vulcan would be the star of air shows around the world for years to come, with millions listening awe-struck to the famous thunder of her four Rolls Royce engines, may come to nothing because all efforts to find a corporate sponsor have failed.
The team of engineers and ex-RAF aircrew operating the Vulcan - which formed the backbone of Britain's nuclear deterrent for much of the Cold War - now need £1.2million a year to keep her flying.
Yesterday the crew flew her back to her home base at Bruntingthorpe in Leicestershire, in what may prove to be her last ever sortie.
Paul Muckle, spokesman for the Vulcan To The Sky Trust, said: 'We had hoped to do 10 to 15 airshows a year, but the money is all used up. As of now, there are no more flights planned. There won't be any airshows.
'We've had £2.7million from the Lottery and £3million from the public. We have always hoped that once she was flying, corporate sponsors would see the potential.
'She's a great British icon and will steal the show at any air displays - which are second in popularity only to football matches. We believe it's an excellent branding opportunity with a huge audience, but it would seem the climate of financial uncertainty isn't helping.'
Vulcan bombers were designed in the late 1940s to carry nuclear bombs into the heart of Russia, and for years the fleet was on round-the-clock stand-by to take off from RAF stations across Britain.
The RAF flew them in anger only a handful of times - in the legendary 'Black Buck' raids of 1982, when crews flew what were then the longest ever bombing missions from Ascension Island to the Falklands to bomb Port Stanley airport and attack Argentine radar sites.
Restoration work of XH558 took many years and was an astonishing feat of determination and engineering, with hundreds of outdated components having to be reproduced and restored.
But without a sponsor the aircraft looks set to stay in its hangar at Bruntingthorpe for good.
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Walsall, West Midlands.
Scribbler614,
Where was this news article?
I attended the AGM on Sunday last and directly asked Andrew Edmundson the state of funding.
There is sufficient fuel and money to see the Display training /authorisation and sufficient we were told, for a few months of operations.
Money is still tight..... they need all they can.
At least there also seems to be directions from the supporters club to set up promotions and fundraisiing initiatives that will mean the project will no longer be so reliant on a single sponsor.
However, immmediate promotion from within the Aviation community to the general public, is one sure way of stopping this negative press and actually putting the project on a sounder long-term footing.
Regards,
FS.
Where was this news article?
I attended the AGM on Sunday last and directly asked Andrew Edmundson the state of funding.
There is sufficient fuel and money to see the Display training /authorisation and sufficient we were told, for a few months of operations.
Money is still tight..... they need all they can.
At least there also seems to be directions from the supporters club to set up promotions and fundraisiing initiatives that will mean the project will no longer be so reliant on a single sponsor.
However, immmediate promotion from within the Aviation community to the general public, is one sure way of stopping this negative press and actually putting the project on a sounder long-term footing.
Regards,
FS.
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,040
Likes: 0
From: 58-33N. 00-18W. Peterborough UK
Something smelly about the 'article'. I've tried Google searches of half a dozen combinations of exact words, from the article, and the only thing that comes up is this very page - on Pprune. 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk
I'm with 'forget'. I also tried to track down the article using the well known search outboard and got nothing. The fact that this august forum is not awash with 'Indignant of Lincolnshire' types also says a lot to me.
Conjecture aside, I would be astonished if the recent test flights/compass swing work and the talk of the airshow season would have been committed to if the financial position was as dire as the article implies.
Here's hoping that the 'story' is indeed b.s. and that somebody in the know will confirm that all is well.
Conjecture aside, I would be astonished if the recent test flights/compass swing work and the talk of the airshow season would have been committed to if the financial position was as dire as the article implies.
Here's hoping that the 'story' is indeed b.s. and that somebody in the know will confirm that all is well.
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,040
Likes: 0
From: 58-33N. 00-18W. Peterborough UK
Scribbler614. It seems that you may have invented this 'article'. This is a Mil Forum and, unless you can prove otherwise, I'd call this 'spreading alarm and despondency amongst the troops'. 
Unless you can prove the source, and that it was in fact published, I can think of several people who'll make sure you've posted your last.
Unless you can prove the source, and that it was in fact published, I can think of several people who'll make sure you've posted your last.
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 145
Likes: 19
From: Wensleydale.
Something smelly about the 'article'.
John
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: peterborough
scribbler 614
well well
As you all know im not a great fan of all things tvoc and im sure they feel the same BUT at least all my posts good or bad are based on facts
TVOC have funds to complete the airtest and even maybe the flying displays for the CAA they also have some backing from MA towards the engineering i know paul and i do not think he would have said this and doubt if he really knows the inside track as tvoc management dont say alot to anyone
In the short term yes they have problems with the radios and yes it may need an airtest but whats to say they cant do this and display practice as well i sure they have other major issues that we dont know about but all we can do is watch and see
IMHO i can not see tvoc lasting much longer than the 1st year just on public donations but as we are told and then not told the sponsors are there and then not.
I will keep the faith AS long as Marshall is involved but after that its bye bye
As you all know im not a great fan of all things tvoc and im sure they feel the same BUT at least all my posts good or bad are based on facts
TVOC have funds to complete the airtest and even maybe the flying displays for the CAA they also have some backing from MA towards the engineering i know paul and i do not think he would have said this and doubt if he really knows the inside track as tvoc management dont say alot to anyone
In the short term yes they have problems with the radios and yes it may need an airtest but whats to say they cant do this and display practice as well i sure they have other major issues that we dont know about but all we can do is watch and see
IMHO i can not see tvoc lasting much longer than the 1st year just on public donations but as we are told and then not told the sponsors are there and then not.
I will keep the faith AS long as Marshall is involved but after that its bye bye