Vulcan to the Sky

I went to see it in Leicester where it was being fixed.
Well.. not so much went to see it as got dragged by my dad and grandparents.
I never understood the point in spending millions on it just to see it fly again at a couple of airshows..then when the 4 spare engines they had had done their max mileage/flying hours whatever it was.. it would be grounded again. Anyone else feel this to be rather a waste?
 
They need to make donating easier too - if you could just text a number and it automatically donated a quid I'd prolly do it more often.
 
QBitOscillation said:
So whats next?

I wanna take my family to see it fly and rupture their eardrums.
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Sadly, its not as loud as you'd think as for the airshow demo's its running "light" - i.e. not a full load of fuel, and missing 21 tons of bombs.... :p

The people who've had windows (and brains) rattled by those Olympus 301's on full power probably heard a fully tanked up one taking off full of bombs from an RAF field - on 100% power or so :eek:

I dont think XH558 gets abused that badly!

Check here for this years' flight plans
http://www.vulcantothesky.org/FlightOperations.asp
 
Reginald said:
Anyone else feel this to be rather a waste?
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Nope. See it fly and then decide if it's a waste. I personally don't see the difference between the Vulcan and a national trust building for example. I'd rather see the former any day.

The shriek/roar as the engines go to full power gives me goosebumps :)

But then the sound of a Merlin also has the same effect :p
 
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matt_fsr said:
Sadly, its not as loud as you'd think as for the airshow demo's its running "light" - i.e. not a full load of fuel, and missing 21 tons of bombs.... :p

The people who've had windows (and brains) rattled by those Olympus 301's on full power probably heard a fully tanked up one taking off full of bombs from an RAF field - on 100% power or so :eek:

I dont think XH558 gets abused that badly!
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It can still be loud when they want, as its the engines making all the the noise regardless of weight. It just takes off much sooner now. :p

Being a bit pedantic, but XH558 has Olympus 201 engines, which are less powerful than the later 301's but you do get that lovely howling noise with the 201's fitted. :cool:

Getting near the magic £million in pledges now. :D
 
matt_fsr said:
Sadly, its not as loud as you'd think as for the airshow demo's its running "light" - i.e. not a full load of fuel, and missing 21 tons of bombs.... :p

The people who've had windows (and brains) rattled by those Olympus 301's on full power probably heard a fully tanked up one taking off full of bombs from an RAF field - on 100% power or so :eek:

I dont think XH558 gets abused that badly!

Check here for this years' flight plans
http://www.vulcantothesky.org/FlightOperations.asp
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Corrections ahoy... :D

She's light as she's missing all the old wiring and systems that are no longer needed - like the refuelling kit, and the associated cabling. Something like 3500lbs of wire from the cockpit alone.

301's? 558 runs 201s - the howling nasties. :D She still makes the same noise too. Due to the top 3% throttle and the intakes ripping the air to pieces. I believe 100% throttle is still used. :D

As for abuse... Her airframe is as good for as long as she has engines. Sadly with only 8 *possibly 7 after the problems with no2* Engines are the big restriction on lifespan not the airframe. The Vulcan was designed to be flown like a fighter, originally designed for a single pilot which is why it's so cramped up front. Also the reason for the spectacular take offs and immediate 80° banks from there.

[edit] this is what comes of typing a post while cooking... someone else corrects it all for me. :D [/edit]
 
I'll bite.

Why should funds be coming from the government or the lottery? It's a money pit.
 
^^Gord^^ said:
The National Lottery has already given money when they were restoring it. They won't give anymore as the restoration is complete and they don't fund ongoing costs of projects.
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In that case - the expenses of this project are massive. Are people drawing a wage to restore/maintain it?
 
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