Kemble Bucc to fly on Saturday
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Kemble Bucc to fly on Saturday
One of the two Buccs at Kemble is due to fly an airtest on Saturday (usual permitting). If all goes well it'll then fly to Warton for further tests before departing for SA <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />
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A Buc in the sky again, good one! In Rasberry Ripple - but who's counting? Will still be a sight to see. Wonder if the air test will include a check on it's low-flying capability?. .. .Pictures would be good DeeBee - or Snapshot.
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I believe the Bucc has temp South African markings and has to be flown out of the UK PDQ after a service at Warton.. .. .As an aside, why does the CAA permit the Sea Vixen (& possibly the Vulcan) to fly but not the Lightning or Bucc as they are apparently too complicated? To my recollection a Vixen is not exactly a simple aircraft so what's the difference?
Why a Vixen (or a Canberra) and not a Lightning/Bucc? . .. .Understand it to be related to both handling characteristics and complexity of systems. The objections to the Lightning are self evident (though I don't agree with them) and with the Bucc it centres around the flap blowing, I understand.
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The CAA have taken (rightly IMHO) a hard-nosed stance with regard to large/high performance aircraft. For example, when BAe apprentices refurbished the Vulcan at Woodford and then asked the CAA for a permit to fly it on the civil register, they were turned down on the grounds that the CAA engineers were not involved from the beginning.. .. .The CAA have decided that no big/high performance ac will be given a permit to fly unless they have manufacturers support. This is why the Vulcan at Bruntingthorpe may succeed; the CAA are in on the ground floor. Indeed, the CAA multi test pilot has been there to take part in the taxy demos, and to meet the team and to see what they are doing.. .. .These big jets are not for amateur hands - they are very complex and do need manufacturers support. But you must look at it from the CAA's point of view. They are ones who give the clearance to fly/display - if a display turns to ratsh*t, who are going to be held responsible?. .. .And no, I am not CAA; I am an ex-mil multi pilot who understands what display flying means.
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Sorry this is a bit of an advert but I've worked on this project for some years and now its nearly finished.. .Those of you that are Banana fans, I'm about to release a Limited Edition by Ronald Wong. .of the An-12 self designated attack in February 1991.. .If you want to know more please click the link below the image.. . 
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Last edited by Snapshot; 1st Apr 2002 at 07:49.
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"Why a Vixen (or a Canberra) and not a Lightning/Bucc?". .. .The Canberra is obvious really. With the exception of the PR.9 all Cranberries were, in essence, pretty straight-forward and "simple" machines - no power controls for instance - compared to the Frightning or Bucc. They had their problems true, especially the tailplane actuator in the early days, and they were pretty unforgiving in asymetric, but basically they were not a flying avionics shop - only real danger was freezing yer b0ll0cks at altitude and getting slowly deafer from the twin engine harmonics if you stood in front of them for a lot of the time. . .. .As for the Vixen, must admit to being a bit puzzled over this one as well. . .. .And a Lightning! Well, who's going to let a "private" jet fly in the UK that's faster than anything in the RAF at the moment? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
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Nope, it didn't fly. Saturday got cancelled for weather (and then the weather cleared up - typical). Sunday, the fast taxi was delayed by a dead radio, then was carried out with another radio onboard. Crew reported several problems though - engine bleed, aileron, tailplane all being uncooperative. Therefore flight to Warton cancelled.. .. .Another attempt will be made once they've fixed the snags, at some point in the future. No time soon was the impression I got.
I don't really know much about it but the anomaly between the Sea Vixen and the Bucc might be explained by the hard work of the late Marcus Edwards. I understood from him that FR Aviation had taken over authority for the design of the Vixen when they were modifying them for use as target drones. Marcus used his persuasive powers (or blackmailed) his old Navy bosses, now at FRA, to continue to act as the design authority. This removed one of the objections by the CAA. . .. .Sadly Marcus died before he achieved his ambition to fly his beloved Vixen again. Still its good to be reminded of my old friend when I see it flying around EGHH in other capable hands. Long may it continue to fly.
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Still sad that aircraft that make my pulse race just hearing and seeing them have to go overseas. Ther's nothing quite like a lightning display, speed, "burners" and thunder, what an apt name "lightning" is for it. And the Bucc just owned the "down in the weeds" territory. Great examples of the UK's cutting edge technology for the time - probably way ahead of their time. Had a trip in the lightning tub and it was "as advertised". Got back in my machine afterwards and it was like getting in a car with not enough gears - still loved it though. Not saying what it was, not because not proud, but because spies will identify me - recently had a problem with that and Mowgli may have to be renamed.
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Hmmmmmm sorry to hear that it did'nt fly,can somebody keep me posted when it is next expected to go to Warton cos I only live down the road and would love to see a brick flying again <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. . Cheers,. . Neg G
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Delta Jets have announced on their website their intention to have at least a test flight tomorrow (Good Friday), most probably in the early afternoon. It may also depart for Warton later in the day!!!