TV Heads-up/Reminder - Guy Martin: Last Flight Of The Vulcan Bomber
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I love Guy Martins wide eyed almost child like enthusiasm for everything he does. Not concerned with looking cool but, I suspect, a very keen understanding of what engages an audience.
Quite right too, they have already extended the engine life once and when do you stop, when one chews itself out through the wing?
Nutloose. The project only had 10 years of flying life in it from the start based on the running hours they had on what were almost 8 zero hour engines. Trashing 2 of them due to a totally avoidable incident in 2012 wasn't going to make them a safe bet in Rolls Royce's eyes. plus of course the FI on the airframe is in very uncharted territory for a Vulcan.
Thought police antagonist
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A very entertaining and well balanced programme.
Interesting to watch the de-jacking process however.....one ? ring at a time seemed a little too cautious though...still, for anybody not familiar with the process, a fascinating insight as to engineering / engineers and how we operate.
Although you would have thought they could have invested in some pneumatically operated jacks, rather than the good old "heave and grunt" versions....
Given Mr Martin's natural affinity as a presenter, and for all things mechanical, it would be nice if somebody let him loose on the Shack now being restored...that would probably make an even more interesting programme.
Interesting to watch the de-jacking process however.....one ? ring at a time seemed a little too cautious though...still, for anybody not familiar with the process, a fascinating insight as to engineering / engineers and how we operate.
Although you would have thought they could have invested in some pneumatically operated jacks, rather than the good old "heave and grunt" versions....
Given Mr Martin's natural affinity as a presenter, and for all things mechanical, it would be nice if somebody let him loose on the Shack now being restored...that would probably make an even more interesting programme.
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Throughly enjoyed the programme ... Well done Guy Martin 
If I'm not mistaken ... A few excerpts from the 'Delta 8-3' 1960's film to add context
Best ...
Coff.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=618_1307753544
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=8af_1307754227
PS. I noticed that one of the Delta 8-3 'Technical Advisors' was a F/L J Sewell ... Does anyone know if that was the same John Sewell who was ULAS CFI in the early 70's ?
If I'm not mistaken ... A few excerpts from the 'Delta 8-3' 1960's film to add context
Best ...
Coff.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=618_1307753544
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=8af_1307754227
PS. I noticed that one of the Delta 8-3 'Technical Advisors' was a F/L J Sewell ... Does anyone know if that was the same John Sewell who was ULAS CFI in the early 70's ?
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 30th Nov 2015 at 07:44.
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Nutloose. The project only had 10 years of flying life in it from the start based on the running hours they had on what were almost 8 zero hour engines. Trashing 2 of them due to a totally avoidable incident in 2012 wasn't going to make them a safe bet in Rolls Royce's eyes. plus of course the FI on the airframe is in very uncharted territory for a Vulcan.
I did feel like there were some sour grapes coming from certain parties involved in it all though.
BTW.. you can buy bits of the wrecked engines, but at that price you would think they'd throw in a bag of Silica Gel...... ohh hang on, they already did.
http://www.vulcantotheskystore.co.uk...ction-12-c.asp
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The inevitable mention of the rear crew escape ‘difficulties’, but no mention that an effective ejection system was designed by mssrs MB as shown at http://www.pprune.org/aviation-histo...merged-23.html
Abandoned due cost as always. Always wanted to put the appropriate bean stealer who made that decision in the same position and see how he felt about it then…..
Abandoned due cost as always. Always wanted to put the appropriate bean stealer who made that decision in the same position and see how he felt about it then…..
Last edited by Downwind.Maddl-Land; 30th Nov 2015 at 16:24.
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Great programme, very well made - informative and entertaining.
A wonderful insight into the Wellesbourne Vulcan particularly, and the story of the Vulcan in general.
As far as presenters go, you really can't beat Guy Martin.
I was surprised though that given the title it didn't actually feature the last flight of XH558.
We all know how modern day tv loves nothing more than seeing people in floods of tears, surely there was more chance of this on that day ?
That's not a critisism, just an observation.
A wonderful insight into the Wellesbourne Vulcan particularly, and the story of the Vulcan in general.
As far as presenters go, you really can't beat Guy Martin.
I was surprised though that given the title it didn't actually feature the last flight of XH558.
We all know how modern day tv loves nothing more than seeing people in floods of tears, surely there was more chance of this on that day ?
That's not a critisism, just an observation.
They probably avoided the last flight as they didn't want incriminating footage of barrel roll
Must admit I was not convinced the VTTS effort was worth it all those years ago, but it has been quite a remarkable achievement and great to see back in the air.
The programme was a treat and the aerial shots were very well done, nice old footage too.
Interesting blue steel footage - the blokes sitting on the nose of the blue steel to balance it were brave - elf and safety would have a fit! I assume this not the done thing when they were fuelled with peroxide!
Must admit I was not convinced the VTTS effort was worth it all those years ago, but it has been quite a remarkable achievement and great to see back in the air.
The programme was a treat and the aerial shots were very well done, nice old footage too.
Interesting blue steel footage - the blokes sitting on the nose of the blue steel to balance it were brave - elf and safety would have a fit! I assume this not the done thing when they were fuelled with peroxide!
The C4 commentator made a bit of a controversial statement regarding the Black Buck missions. In his words he said "there were a further 6 Black Buck missions but only the first was ever considered to be a success". I know a few BB crew members who might disagree with him, some vehemently! Yes, there was only one successful bombing mission out of 3 but there were a further 3 missions that were tasked as SEAD against Argentinian air defence systems, 2 of which were successful resulting in damage to a TPS-43 search radar and the total destruction of a Skyguard fire control radar and its crew.
I thought Guy Martin was superb. Just what you needed to draw in the layman and the children. Very high quality television befitting a magnificent topic.
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WWW
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Oooh
Google is your friend.
The 1 Gp Dining In Night at Waddington [Archive] - PPRuNe Forums
Not had time to read it myself as it predates my joining pprune.
PS
Having read it I can confirm that what was said was true and could add many more details including the name of the fireman and the name of the sqn ldr that tried to control it, but I will just comment on that crash.
He was an ACM 4* and his nickname was Bang Bang. When invited to speak tables were thumped his nickname shouted. This was then followed by "We want Gus, we want Gus" a hugely popular ex-AOC, international rugby referee, and wartime station commander who lost an arm trying to rescue the crew of a crashed Lancaster.
The 1 Gp Dining In Night at Waddington [Archive] - PPRuNe Forums
Not had time to read it myself as it predates my joining pprune.
PS
Having read it I can confirm that what was said was true and could add many more details including the name of the fireman and the name of the sqn ldr that tried to control it, but I will just comment on that crash.
He was an ACM 4* and his nickname was Bang Bang. When invited to speak tables were thumped his nickname shouted. This was then followed by "We want Gus, we want Gus" a hugely popular ex-AOC, international rugby referee, and wartime station commander who lost an arm trying to rescue the crew of a crashed Lancaster.
Last edited by Pontius Navigator; 30th Nov 2015 at 21:48.
Yes, I've read it and it's entertainingly written and set up by the poster. Obviously, the underlying tragedy is awful but the evening sounds like an absolute nightmare for those in charge. Some wonderful tales in further posts including the young man explaining to the Doctors in A&E that his leg was broken when he was leaning against the mantlepiece in the Officers' Mess, chatting to a friend over a beer when he was hit by a motorbike!! (Lucky it wasn't the Staish's Mini but that's another story).
Thanks for the link - highly recommended.
Thanks for the link - highly recommended.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
AD, the wheels were very autocratic and Waddington' s staish in particular. He upset all the living in officers by having their room carpets removed to carpet the tent. He upset all the officers by placing a power plinth in the middle of the OM football pitch (now a car park).
No officer from one station sat near another from the same station. It certainly stopped inter-sqn table matches but did nothing aid discipline. I had my wings clipped when my sqn cdr caught my eye.
The band didn't help by playing the Dambusters early on (a different sqn suggested that tune). 617 also got the blame for the Maltese fireworks justifiably as they had just returned from a Malta Sunspot, but actually it were 83 return on from a Malta Ranger.
No officer from one station sat near another from the same station. It certainly stopped inter-sqn table matches but did nothing aid discipline. I had my wings clipped when my sqn cdr caught my eye.
The band didn't help by playing the Dambusters early on (a different sqn suggested that tune). 617 also got the blame for the Maltese fireworks justifiably as they had just returned from a Malta Sunspot, but actually it were 83 return on from a Malta Ranger.
Although I have recorded, but not yet seen the programme, can anyone confirm whether any mention was made of Tombstone's promise at http://www.pprune.org/2764258-post285.html regarding the "thorny" subject of the Vulcan's first flight, further commented on at http://www.pprune.org/military-aviat...ide-again.html? 
If not, does anyone know if the rose did indeed ever enter the hallowed gates, and did Tombstone come up to scratch and "fulfil" his 
, sorry, promise....?
Jack
If not, does anyone know if the rose did indeed ever enter the hallowed gates, and did Tombstone come up to scratch and "fulfil" his , sorry, promise....?Jack