The Vulcan XH558 & General Aviation Thread

[Renegadenemo]

If I knew of a Spit down there I'd have stolen it by now and it'd be drying out in a back corner of the factory

[Jordangbr]

You told us it was a Barracuda

[klingon]

there are 4 Barracudas lying in the drink up at Nigg bay-not one of them in bits bigger than a fag end-thanks to the scallop dredgers

[Pullman99]

XH558 has made her first test flight of 2012 from her base at Robin Hood Airport on Friday evening. Due to make a flypast today at the V-Force reunion at Newark (if the weather allows). BBC Breakfast Time this morning (Saturday) had an item on the 30th anniversary of the Operation Black Buck raid on Stanley with Martin Withers giving the background to that significant event. No mention by the B BC, however, of how XH558 is funded and the average viewer would assume that it's still RAF owned and operated.

BBC news item here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17878657

ITV Calendar News item (better!)here: (Rebert Pleming content warning applies!)

http://www.itv.com/news/calendar/story/2012-04-26/vulcan-anniversary/

[MattWillis]

there are 4 Barracudas lying in the drink up at Nigg bay-not one of them in bits bigger than a fag end-thanks to the scallop dredgers

Bit like the Fleet Air Arm Museum then?





...The difference being that I believe you gentlemen and ladies will be sticking these bits back together in the not too distant future? I await this with eager anticipation...

I've put a piece about the FAAM's Barracuda bits collection on my blog by the way - http://navalairhistory.wordpress.com/20 ... llections/

[Renegadenemo]

That's only a tiny spoonful of the Barra bits at FAAM. I've had a good scavenge through them and there's easily a complete aircraft there. In fact they've probably got about one and a half. We've built an elevator already just to prove out the processes so, yes, as soon as they want to deliver one of the big sections we'll use it as a fill-in job as there's always someone standing about waiting on welding or painting or where the hell has Rob hidden the rivet gun this time?

[MattWillis]

That's only a tiny spoonful of the Barra bits at FAAM. I've had a good scavenge through them and there's easily a complete aircraft there. In fact they've probably got about one and a half. We've built an elevator already just to prove out the processes so, yes, as soon as they want to deliver one of the big sections we'll use it as a fill-in job as there's always someone standing about waiting on welding or painting or where the hell has Rob hidden the rivet gun this time?

Absolutely - when the Bluebird Project involvement was launched last year the parts were laid out covering a good proportion of the floor of Cobham Hall. In addition to the large sections that were laid out in the shape of a reasonably complete aircraft there was a complete centre fuselage, several main undercarriage units, several engines and loads and loads of smaller pieces. In addition there was a load more stuff outside.

Can't wait to see it starting to take shape. I photographed most of it, happy to provide photos if it would help planning etc.

[Renegadenemo]

What tickled me about sifting the Barra wreckage with the FAAM boys was that they clearly thought I was bonkers as I picked up various bits of wrecked tin and declared them fixable but there's a few parts done already and they're looking good. Will upload some pics soon as I can find where I put them.

[MattWillis]

Well the last picture of the day illustrates neatly why the BBP is the team for the Barra. Would love to see what's happening with it.

[StewDurham]

http://www.vulcantothesky.org/news/338/ ... -Tour.html

I'll be taking my old man, maybe see you there.

Stew.