Vulcans farewell flights this weekend, route is on line.
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Did a wide orbit of Waddo a few minutes late by my reckoning. Stunningly clear day, saw it through the binos virtually as it departed Donny. There was an ouburst of applause from the public who had gathered on the A15 as it departed.
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Izod
Did your grandson get to go in the Vulcan cockpit there.
I really like the jet age museum and was surprised at just how long I stayed in such a small museum.
Did your grandson get to go in the Vulcan cockpit there.
I really like the jet age museum and was surprised at just how long I stayed in such a small museum.
There was too long a queue for the Vulcan cockpit today, we have been there before on a quiet day and had a long time in it. The in-cockpit staff member was surprised when I pulled the centre console back to show my grandson the autopilot controls - he didn't know there was a centre console there.
Today, Grandson had to be content with the Gnat and Hunter cockpits. Personally, my favorite exhibit is the Gamecock.
Today, Grandson had to be content with the Gnat and Hunter cockpits. Personally, my favorite exhibit is the Gamecock.
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There s something very very magical or special when standing between the gamecock and meteor IMHO
Just turning from one to the other and observing the differences such as: the gamecocks external fuel taps mounted inline in external rubber tubing; the meteors fully enclosed blow mounded canopy etc. What I find it odd that there had to be at least a few long service personnel who worked on or served with both types in operational service.
Just turning from one to the other and observing the differences such as: the gamecocks external fuel taps mounted inline in external rubber tubing; the meteors fully enclosed blow mounded canopy etc. What I find it odd that there had to be at least a few long service personnel who worked on or served with both types in operational service.
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What I find it odd that there had to be at least a few long service personnel who worked on or served with both types in operational service.
In my own service career I knew Arthur Vine who was a Mustang pilot during the war and finished up as an instructor on the Phantom. (his son amusingly being a Shackleton pilot at the same time...)
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Izod, I am sure the cockpit is a sub-scale replica. There are lots of small Vulcans around the place
I would love to strap on the life jacket, parachute and dinghy pack and see how long it would take me to get from the radar seat down the nose or out the door.
I would love to strap on the life jacket, parachute and dinghy pack and see how long it would take me to get from the radar seat down the nose or out the door.
It is not a sub-scale replica but the original front end of XM569. It has not weathered particularly well inside but has recently had a new lick of exterior paint to smarten her up.
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I would love to strap on the life jacket, parachute and dinghy pack and see how long it would take me to get from the radar seat down the nose or out the door.
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Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
Quote:
Please note: today is not the planned final flight.
Do we know when that flight will actually be?
Well they have 2 slots down for it, but one wonders if the second is there to make the potential crowds miss it and get around that problem by retiring her after the first ?
Saw her today but didn't bother fighting the traffic nor taking pictures after the farce of yesterday.
Quote:
Please note: today is not the planned final flight.
Do we know when that flight will actually be?
Well they have 2 slots down for it, but one wonders if the second is there to make the potential crowds miss it and get around that problem by retiring her after the first ?
Saw her today but didn't bother fighting the traffic nor taking pictures after the farce of yesterday.
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I had the pleasure of seeing her with the Reds at the Southport airshow, yesterday or today was not going beat that display so for me that was the last flight.
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The displays back when the aeroplane was still in RAF service were the best. No need to worry about engine or airframe life as VTTS have had to; the Vulcan, free of such limits, and exuberantly flown, was just something else!
And of course rules about displaying aeroplanes were less onerous back than as well.
We live a few miles south of Woodford, the birthplace of all Vulcans, so these iconic aeroplanes have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. It will be a sad day when 558 flies for the last time.
BTW, considering the public interest in these last flights, TV news seems to have given it scant coverage. Bluddy arti farty media types probably strive to deliberately ignore a cold war icon, and probably eschew what is today simply a lovely flying machine as well.
And of course rules about displaying aeroplanes were less onerous back than as well.
We live a few miles south of Woodford, the birthplace of all Vulcans, so these iconic aeroplanes have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. It will be a sad day when 558 flies for the last time.
BTW, considering the public interest in these last flights, TV news seems to have given it scant coverage. Bluddy arti farty media types probably strive to deliberately ignore a cold war icon, and probably eschew what is today simply a lovely flying machine as well.
None of the crews involved at the time were concerned with the effect they were making on the ground, but my abiding memory of the Vulcans was seeing (and feeling) the Waddington wing doing a survival scramble. I was at Cranwell at the time and on my way to Lincoln and driving past Waddington. There were several aircraft taxiing towards the runway, as one started to roll, the previous one was halfway down the runway and the one before that was just lifting off. Previous aircraft were climbing steeply on divergent tracks. Magnificent.
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When I was in short trousers they used to start the Finningley open day like that. I can still feel it now.
When seeing that as a youngster how can you not want to be involved in aviation in some way or another? It's almost sledgehammered into your soul.
When seeing that as a youngster how can you not want to be involved in aviation in some way or another? It's almost sledgehammered into your soul.
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IIRC, She still has a sortie with the Blades and a two seat Spitfire or two (VTTS Raffle prizes). Then there is the "TBN Final ever flight"...