Vulcan Fuel Leak - No show at Old Sarum
 

Bad news - Old Sarum Airshow just announced that the Vulcan would not be appearing because of a fuel leak. Would have flown with the B17. Disappointing for the attendees, but Safety First. No indication of how bad it is.

Problem retracting undercarriage last week, fuel leak today, hope the old girl isn't trying to tell us something and ends the season and her flying career safely.

It was flying this afternoon, I saw it approaching Donny. Unless it was returning u/s.

Yes, the return to Finningley was returning u/s.

So the B17 at Old Sarum started her display in formation with a Mustang, then performed on her own... and gave a great display.

I was there today, and was very disappointed that the old girl couldn't make an appearance. She was airborne and made it to Peterborough I believe, before the crew noticed there was a serious problem.

The B-17 formation with the Mustang was pretty special, however. I feel sorry for the B-17 crew as many people were leaving just before they began the display sequence.

A long, tiring day, but I think I got some pretty good images. Oh well, it looks like it'll have to be the third time lucky at one of the other shows.......

Saw the Vulcan go past Popham in Hants at approx 3:25pm today.

She made it a lot further south than that....

I was at Goodwood Revival and she was due to display there at 4.10pm, and just after 4pm she could be seen in the distance out to the east circling around waiting for the call to run in and display.....but with just a few minutes to go she then could be seen heading north away and it was announced about 5 mins later that she was rtb due to a fuel leak.

After last weeks little issue, I think the old girl now knows she's not got long left to feel air under her wings and is throwing a few moody sulks in protest.......

I stand corrected.
I am really pissed off!

All I wanted was to see her. I don't care about displays (hearing the howl would have been a bonus though!), photography or any of that nonsense.....I just wanted to see her.

Bolleaux!

It's an aeroplane, you'll get over it.

S-D

Sounds like they must have been loosing fuel fast if the crew were aware of it, not just a drip that would be detected on the ground. If its a fuel tank perished again that could be terminal bit maybe just a pipe or union leaking.

We were lucky enough to see her from the 12:26 NCL to PBO train in the Retford area which was quite a surprise. Had most people in the coach looking.

Well, no news at 09:00 regarding 558's serviceability, so I'll be giving the VTSC event at Coventry a miss, I think.

Nice to see BBMF's Spitfire IX at White Waltham yesterday (thanks, Milli!) - and as I drove home, there was the B-17 pottering along on in the distance, presumably on the way back to Duxford.

I have read they will make an announcement at midday Beagle I dont know how far you are away but is the display not scheduled for 3.30.
It may give you a chance to make a late decision.

It looks like they might have fixed the leak. About an hour ago the crew were planning a short test flight to see if everything was working properly prior to the scheduled display today.

XH558 is serviceable once again. Enroute to Coventry.

Like many, I was at Old Sarum on Sat just to see the Vulcan for the last time. It was disappointing that it didn't make it there. However, 2 Spitfires, Swordfish, First War display flight and the B17 made up for it to an extent.

What did let the display down was the lack of organistion on the ground. For them to only have 3 food vans, the airfield's own food venue running out of food by about 1300, drinks in short supply and even running out of cups for the hot drinks by 1500. It was as if the organisers had been taken by surprise with the number of people who went. But as there were no tickets on sale at the gate; it was advance purcahse tickets only, there was no excuse. Next was the lack of organisation in the car park as evryone tried to leave. I saw about 5 stewards who were making little or no effort to organise the departing cars and it was a free for all to get to the exits from the fields. It took over an hour to get from to the exit in the relatively small farmers field which was used as the car park.

The whole ground organistaion was amateurish and felt like a village show than a proffessional air display.

Rant over....a couple of photos..

http://i60.tinypic.com/2jfahpx.jpg

http://i57.tinypic.com/20p4pig.jpg

http://i60.tinypic.com/b67uk9.jpg

http://i62.tinypic.com/30dhssl.jpg

Great show
 

I too missed the Vulcan on Saturday at Old Sarum but really enjoyed the day, the organisers were let down on the day by a caterer and I my opinion, did a great job in the circumstances. As it was the organisers first show I think a well done is in order.
All in all, a great little show in intimate conditions - just like a village fete in fact!
Mrs M and I aim to be there again in 2016
(Well done to the Auster pilot in his first display!)

The car park was a great spot for photography, though! ;)

I am still going through my images (around 500) but will post some on here once I have uploaded those I'm happy with. I do agree that the show needs more thought for next year. I might go again, it depends on what is displaying. While I do like props, it's nice to see some variety such as the Typhoon Display Team, the Red Arrows, a BBMF formation with the B-17 and some decent helicopters.

An oxymoron, surely?

Loud Bangs
 

Worst mistake by the organisers at Old Sarum was not to warn the crowds that there were going to be loud bangs (pyros set off during one of the displays). They apologised afterwards since some people thought they may have been a crash, as did Mrs BB. And we were in 2 queues where the food ran out...