Vulcan XH558 Roll-Out at Bruntingthorpe - 31/08/2006 - NSF56K

Flibster

Flibster

Flibster

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The Vulcan is now being prepared to take to the sky. They have the money, they have the equipment, they have the talent, they have the time....

But for now - yesterday was officially the first time in 7 years that she had been out of the Hanger - so a big event was planned... and I went.

Before the pictures I'd just like to plug...

The Vulcan Operating Company

and

The Vulcan to the Sky Club

They still need money for flying her - but she WILL be at the head of the flypast on June 17th next year over London to commemmorate the Falklands conflict.
 
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A few people... *some of the 5000 that turned up*

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A Subtle hint

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Opening...

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She's in there....somewhere...

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And finally...

A tribute to Sir Frank Whittle - without him the Vulcan would not be possible.

The Sir Frank Whittle tribute - in the middle of a roundabout

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philio16 said:
I thought something had gone horribly horribly wrong when I saw all the smoke :eek:

Nice to see it finally out though! I just *have* to be there when it flies again!

Some nice shots, particularly like the Bucaneer :)
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Cheers.

There was worries when the smoke started leaking from the hanger...

I will be there for the first public flight. Will be a Vulcan to the Sky club members only event, just like roll-out was. :D

The Bucaneer has had the most processing done to it. It was a bad shot to start with - now it's nice.

My personal favourites of the lot this time is the Vulcan nose on from much closer up than the wide shot and the Lancaster in the sun. I just love how that one looks.

Simon/~Flibster
 
ElDude said:
I was hoping someone would post pictures of this :)
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Errr...

These have been posted for several hours in the Vulcan thread in GD. ;)

brocksta said:
nice pics there mate. Weve got a vulcan at southend airport, would be fantastic if it fully restored but there just isnt the money. As far as i know some people raise money every so often just to maintain it.
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The one at Southend does high speed taxi runs fairly frequently.
None planned at the moment though.

Las time it did a run it had Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden at the controls. :D

Simon/~Fibster
 
King_Boru said:
the handly only stopped flying in the 90's. i wouldnt be be surprised if it sat in a hole for another 20 years until somebody decides they want to see it flying again.

the only thing keeping these planes on the ground is the new insurence scheme where you have to insure the plane to its equivelent grose weight or something. absolutely ridiculous.

king.
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Not quite

XH558's last flight was in 1993
XH558 was stored well, regularly maintained and was generally cared for.

So far - we're up to 6million I believe to get her flying...

The Insurance thing is a big problem - the insurance is now the same for the B17 *which flies for sub 40 hours a year* as a 747 *which could fly 12 hours a day quite easily*

The French have made an exception for classic aircraft like their B17 - our government say 'it's the rules, you have to pay it'

:mad:

Simon/~Flibster
 
Lopéz said:
When I was young my Dad raved about the Vulcan and used to take me to Manston where I saw them fly (I believe a couple were stored/scrapped at Manston in the 80's too?)

This is the first "charity" I've felt compelled to give to in a long long time, possibly ever.
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They were stashed all over the place for 'decomissioning' or ripping apart with JCB's as it's more comminly known. :(

They are a registered charity and more importantly the Vulcan is owned by the Nation. It has become part of the nations heritidge. :D

Even if all you do is join the Vulcan to the Sky club you'll be helping them *plus you'll get invited to the first public flight*

This truly is one of the few aircraft which we can get flying again which is worth it. Sod all the spitfires, hurricanes, BF109's and everthying else they're rebuilding at the moment. We need things like this.

The Mosquito
The Vulcan
The Lightning *will never happen though*
The Canberra *only just retired from active service*
The Buccaneer *may happen later this year/early next year*
The Victor
The Valient
The FW190
The ME262

All the aircraft form out more recent history rather than spending 1million on a spitfire *of which there is now nearly 80 flying iirc*. Hawker Restorations is pumping out 2 Hurricanes a year now. It's almost a production line.

However - we can now cross four of that list...

The Vulcan WILL fly next year
The Mosquito is currently undergoing rebuild
The FW190 will fly later this year after a 6 year rebuild
and the ME262 is undergoing rebuild.

The Cold war aircraft is whats needed airbourne. Especially as it's on the National Curriculum now.

Anyway - enough rambling...

Simon/~Flibster
 
9designs2 said:
The Lightning *will never happen though*

Why is this ????
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The CAA not only consider it 'Complex' they also consider it unsafe for Civilian use.

The biggest problem is a lot of the control elements pass between the engines.

Also - most of the aircraft that were lost due to accidents were lost when they were starting up on the ground. Generally - they exploded.

Add to that the fact that the majority of them had to have their wings cut when them were moved. :( The bad ones were cut imboard of the U/C which has caused them to sag.

Most of the airworthy capable ones have moved abroad where they are flying. :( I really must try to get to Thunder City one day. Hunters, Lightnings and Bucceneers flying.... :D

The Bucc should be flying in this country in the next few months though. :D

Simon/~Flibster
 
reddeathdrinker said:
They use a liquid explosive called Avpin to start the engines :) And the CAA said "No way Hosé!"

Shame really, just have to book that trip to Thunder City instead!
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A bit like Blackbird in that respect as the fuel they use for that is pretty much inflammable.

They have to inject a chemilcal called TEB to get the engines to ignite. :D Causes a lovely green flame out of the jetpipe though. :D

Simon/~Flibster
 
scoop said:
But don' t the Hawker Hunters and Canberras bith use Avpin to start 'em up? Certainly the Hunters appear to be in public display use......
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They can also use starter cartridges.

I believe it was only the last varient of the Canberra that used avpin. Several of the Hunters did I believe though

Simon/~Flibster
 
Bit of info about the Ape. ;)

His name is Gus and he is an original member of the crew.
He evenhas his own logbook which records more flight hours in XH558 than any other crew member. :eek:

He, unlike the rest of the original crew, still has has his original slim physique and all his own hair. ;)

Simon/~Flibster
 
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Col_M said:
I just read Vulcan 607 yesterday and now i see your pics they really do it justice as the monster that it is

I'm gonna join the club, do my bit and see it rise again :D
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Just about to start reading Vulcan 607 - Sadly 607 is on the verge of being scrapped. :(

Please do join the club - it helps her get off the ground.
Also - gets you an invite to the first public flight. :D

More entertainment - it looks like another of the vulcans is going to be scrapped soon. :(

XM603 at Woodford it currently having it's fate decided. :(

We could lose 3 Vulcans this year. XL391 at Blackpool *already gone*, XM607 at RAF Waddington and XM603 at Woodford.

However - is it worth it to see one in the air? Hell yes!

Simon/~Flibster
 
Just received my prints of some of these.

Photobox have pleased me. :D

2 owls in 10x8
Bucaneer in A3
Lancaster in Silhouette in A3 and 30x20 *30x20 is pushing it tbh...still looks good from a distance though*
Wide nose on shot of the Vulcan in 20x8

Also got the Rocker Covers from a Merlin Engine from my other thread in 12x12

All lovely. :D

Simon/~Flibster
 
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