The Vulcan XH558 & General Aviation Thread

[Mike Bull]

I absolutely support the beautiful old thing being in the air, and give a little money and buy the odd bit of merchandise here and there, but there's never seemed to be a financial plan. Every year they beg to get it serviced...and then have to beg again to fly it, and so on. To be fair, maybe that's just how it has to be- it swallows massive amounts of money after all, enough to build Bluebird several times over I don't doubt, and they never did get much in the way of any big title sponsors.

If anyone fancies helping them out, I can highly recommend this DVD that I had for Christmas- it's superb, and even the trailer just gave me goosebumps again!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtzubACHk0M

[Renegadenemo]

'Just over half of what you pay goes to Vulcan to the Sky'... where's the rest go then?

[Mike Bull]

In that instance, to Planes TV, who produce the DVDs.

[Mike Bull]

For those of us located up here in the NE, word has it that XH558 will be appearing at the Sunderland airshow again this year, after not being booked last year (and indeed, hardly coming North last year at all). Really could be a 'last chance to see'...

Sunderland was looking poor this year with few of the big display teams attending- but I'm sure the Vulcan will pull the punters in.

xh558_2.jpg

As an aside, the BBMF have just posted a lovely old silent clip of PA474's first post-restoration air test online- dating from Nov 1967, it's amazing to think that the aircraft was already 22 years old then! Now she's about to turn 66 (on May 31st as it happens!) and has only missed one year of display flying since '67. (1978- her wings were going manky due to some magnesium rivets)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik7p8DZILEQ&feature=feedu

[Stuart Baker]

All depends on what you consider to be the "NE". The old bird has a new home at Doncaster Airport, which to me is about 100 miles NE - from Sunderland I guess it's about the same in the opposite direction.

I went to her welcoming show last Wednesday to see her back at RAF Finningley (now Doncaster Robin Hood Airport) where she was based during the '60s. She flew out of there this morning on her way to the Southend air show

In the words of the Vulcan to the Sky Trust chairman at that event, her new home is appropriate in more ways than one. Not for me to repeat his comment (although the guys at Planes TV probably have it on film). Just think about what Robin Hood was famous for in relation to money...

Despite all that, the new hanger should eventually be able to offer access to the public for school visits, corporate events etc, which will help in their fundraising. Unlike Bluebird which will only be allowed out to play when the bureaucrats say so, she does get to burn rather a lot of money in kersosene every year and also racks up some serious costs in maintenance which has to be provided by industry otherwise a different group of bureaucrats won't let her out to play. Whilst some companies are able to provide support to both XH558 and Bluebird as a way of promoting their heritage, there does come a point where the cost of a donation outweighs the benefits, or can't be justified to or hidden from the shareholders.

[captain sparkle]

looking forward to seeing her over Douglas bay, Isle of Man, on the senior race day, friday 10th June.

[minty4371]

Latest amount of donations as of 1st June 2011 - £206,248
Next update on Friday 3rd June 2011.
Total amount needed by July is £350,000
The Trustees will meet again at the end of June to assess progress.

[Mike Bull]

Assuming they get their money and are still flying, XH558 is now confirmed for both days of the free Sunderland Airshow.

Here's the 2011 display sequence- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cchkZpQkQuA&feature=fvsr

Not a patch on how the RAF used to boot her around the sky in the old days of course, but fab nonetheless.

[Renegadenemo]

Copy cats... they've obviously gone poaching all our sponsors.

[StewDurham]

OK - help needed from you capable lot, how do I persuade the lovely Susan that it's a total co-incidence that I've booked a lakeside camping pitch looking over Windermere on the same weekend that the Windermere Air Show is happening. Honest love, I didn't plan it that way.. She's still never believed that it was an accident that me and my mate bought the girls tickets for Take That which was on the same weekend as the Jim Clark Rally!