Diamond Jubilee Vulcan Flying
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Diamond Jubilee Vulcan Flying
From this month's RAF Club Newsletter. Some may not be aware this is going on.
A spectacular nationwide Diamond Jubilee tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been launched by the Vulcan to the Sky Trust, the charity that operates the last flying Vulcan. With the permission of Buckingham Palace, XH558 ‘The Spirit of Great Britain’ will fly for millions of people across the United Kingdom, celebrating sixty years of British achievement in the year that is also the Diamond Jubilee of the Vulcan aircraft type. The Salute to Her Majesty will begin in the spring of 2012.
Throughout the Diamond Jubilee tour, XH558 will carry a bespoke, leather-bound Book of Good Wishes containing names and messages from individuals, families and businesses who have subscribed to the Salute. At the end of the season, the book will be presented at Buckingham Palace. A second copy of the book will be on display at the new Vulcan Visitor Centre in Doncaster as a permanent tribute to Her Majesty and to the brave and talented individuals who designed, flew and maintained the RAF’s peacekeeping aircraft.
The Vulcan has a special relationship with the Royal Family: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH Prince Michael of Kent have each piloted a Vulcan. In recognition of this close association, the launch of the Vulcan’s Salute to Her Majesty at the RAF Club on October 5th was attended by HRH Prince Michael of Kent.
2012 is also the 30th anniversary of the only time that a Vulcan was used in anger when, on May 1st 1982, Squadron Leader Martin Withers DFC and his crew executed the legendary Black Buck 1 bombing raid to begin the process of recapturing the Falkland Islands. The Black Buck missions captured the record for the longest-ever bombing sorties at the time, a round trip of nearly 8,000 miles that required a sophisticated cascade of in-flight refuelling from Victor tankers. Martin Withers is now chief pilot of Vulcan to the Sky Trust.
Names can be added to the Book of Good Wishes either online at Vulcan Salute or by calling 0845 5046 558 during office hours. A donation of £5 is requested to help cover the cost of operating XH558 through the Tribute season. A personal message to Her Majesty can be added for a further £5.
Throughout the Diamond Jubilee tour, XH558 will carry a bespoke, leather-bound Book of Good Wishes containing names and messages from individuals, families and businesses who have subscribed to the Salute. At the end of the season, the book will be presented at Buckingham Palace. A second copy of the book will be on display at the new Vulcan Visitor Centre in Doncaster as a permanent tribute to Her Majesty and to the brave and talented individuals who designed, flew and maintained the RAF’s peacekeeping aircraft.
The Vulcan has a special relationship with the Royal Family: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH Prince Michael of Kent have each piloted a Vulcan. In recognition of this close association, the launch of the Vulcan’s Salute to Her Majesty at the RAF Club on October 5th was attended by HRH Prince Michael of Kent.
2012 is also the 30th anniversary of the only time that a Vulcan was used in anger when, on May 1st 1982, Squadron Leader Martin Withers DFC and his crew executed the legendary Black Buck 1 bombing raid to begin the process of recapturing the Falkland Islands. The Black Buck missions captured the record for the longest-ever bombing sorties at the time, a round trip of nearly 8,000 miles that required a sophisticated cascade of in-flight refuelling from Victor tankers. Martin Withers is now chief pilot of Vulcan to the Sky Trust.
Names can be added to the Book of Good Wishes either online at Vulcan Salute or by calling 0845 5046 558 during office hours. A donation of £5 is requested to help cover the cost of operating XH558 through the Tribute season. A personal message to Her Majesty can be added for a further £5.
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I donated once and ever since I have been bombarded with begging letters which I simply bin, they seem to know no bounds as to how low they will stoop to extract Money, it is also one of the few historical civilian aircraft that pays its crew to fly it, didn't mind funding the aircraft considering the amount of people that give their time for free to help keep it airworthy, but to fund the crew..I will pass.
BUT the year it flew to Waddington I think it was, where all the blurb for the show swelled the crowds to see the Vulcan fly, with some people travelling hundreds of miles with their families to see it and having paid to get in to find it was actually in the static as the VOC prior to it arriving knew the Permit to Fly would not be in place. They then left all the unpaid volunteers to face the anger of those that had spent a lot of money to get there, whilst the paid Aircrew, Staff and Dr Fleming stayed well away.... I truly felt for those volunteers and the abuse they got...
I would rather see it reduced to baked bean cans than it see another £1 out of my pocket to pay the wages of Fleming and his cronies.
BUT the year it flew to Waddington I think it was, where all the blurb for the show swelled the crowds to see the Vulcan fly, with some people travelling hundreds of miles with their families to see it and having paid to get in to find it was actually in the static as the VOC prior to it arriving knew the Permit to Fly would not be in place. They then left all the unpaid volunteers to face the anger of those that had spent a lot of money to get there, whilst the paid Aircrew, Staff and Dr Fleming stayed well away.... I truly felt for those volunteers and the abuse they got...
I would rather see it reduced to baked bean cans than it see another £1 out of my pocket to pay the wages of Fleming and his cronies.
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Well, whatever you think, I feel good about seeing the flying eclipse of the sun in the air, especially on a great occasion. I just know you're all delighted to know I feel good. 
I think a couple of leather bound 1000 pounders. Style and effect!
(EDIT) Nutloose, I hadn't seen your post when I pressed "submit". I wasn't aware of that, but have to agree it's a bloody disgrace.
I wasn't trying to promote this event, I just though it might be of interest. Maybe I'll watch it and not donate.
Are you suggesting another bespoke leather-bound book for their comments?
(EDIT) Nutloose, I hadn't seen your post when I pressed "submit". I wasn't aware of that, but have to agree it's a bloody disgrace.
I wasn't trying to promote this event, I just though it might be of interest. Maybe I'll watch it and not donate.
Last edited by Courtney Mil; 25th Feb 2012 at 17:01.
I have flown 558 and most of the other B2's. I must confess that when I was posted to the aircraft I was not impressed! (You should never have more than two crew in a military aircraft!!). However, I did come to enjoy flying the beast and had many happy times with it (and all the mates!!). My point now is that it will be great (for many) to have 558 flying in this Jubilee year but that should be the end! The amount of money gathered over the years would /could have been better used! (Probably would not have been donated, however, if I am realistic!!). Anyway, good luck this year and let us hope we get a spin-off to military charities.
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You could often say that that money donated to almost anything (I know someone will think of something clever here) could have been better used after the event, but people donated specifically for that. So it's fine. It's great to see it flying and I wish there were more jreat old aircraft doing the same.
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Et tu Brutus.... Hic
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Thought that used to be S.O.P
OH DEAR!!!
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The Salute to Her Majesty will begin in the spring of 2012.
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Mach 2 don't think deleted, think the site threw a wobbly as they are in here
http://www.pprune.org/military-aircr...kinloss-2.html
http://www.pprune.org/military-aircr...kinloss-2.html
