last flights of the Vulcan

[safrane]

I read on BBC News that the last flying Vulcan will be ending its flying days this year as its airframe is now timed out. Very sad to read as it is yet another piece of our fantastic aviation history, when the UK lead the world, going into retirement.

If you have the opportunity to see it then I recommend you do.

 

[conaero]

Guys this is something I always promised I would like to go and see.

Shall we areange a forum meet at the event, any idea of date and location?

I am in, the list:

Conaero

 

[mjheathcote]

Fortunately i've seen it a few times over the last 3 years, and have plenty of personal video footage at the same time.
Apparently recently due to the air frame issue, they have toned down the manoeuvres.
Regarding the air frame, its done 10% more flying time than any other Vulcan, so they just don't know where it could possibility fail in the future, so they have decided to retire before finding out. It will still do runway acceleration runs though.
The other issue is that the ground crew are all mostly working out of retirement, and the experience required to maintain will not be available for the long term.

 

[allandwf]

A great shame, seen it in the past. Better saving it in one piece though.

 

[mjheathcote]

Guys this is something I always promised I would like to go and see.

Shall we areange a forum meet at the event, any idea of date and location?

I am in, the list:

Conaero

If you never have, you must!
The sound is epic.
The first time I saw one was at an airshow in the 70's at RAF Finningley (which is now Robin Hood Airport Doncaster, and where the last flying Vulcan lives due to the long runway). I can remember as a kid it going into a very vertical climb, and opening its massive bomb doors, my jaw just dropped!
Its strange really that we love these machines (and I do). Yes the engineering, yes they have defended our country, but they are also machines of death and destruction. Its the fact they have saved us we love them so much.

 

[hukent]

I read on BBC News that the last flying Vulcan will be ending its flying days this year as its airframe is now timed out. Very sad to read as it is yet another piece of our fantastic aviation history, when the UK lead the world, going into retirement.

If you have the opportunity to see it then I recommend you do.

I live not far from R.A.F. St. Athan, and remember the Vulcans and Victors well, as this was one of their bases.
The Lightning was an even more awesome sight on takeoff, with the afterburners lit!!
It was also the only 'plane fast enough to catch Concord, and then only in a dive!

 

[zagatoes30]

A great shame but how do they keep the BBM flight Lancaster flying, surely that is much older and has been doing displays longer than the Vulcan.

 

[2b1ask1]

Guys this is something I always promised I would like to go and see.

Shall we areange a forum meet at the event, any idea of date and location?

I am in, the list:

Conaero

After seeing it at a runty a couple of years ago it is a truly magnificent beast, I'm in with some of the family Matt.

 

[mjheathcote]

A great shame but how do they keep the BBM flight Lancaster flying, surely that is much older and has been doing displays longer than the Vulcan.

Comparing low stress fuselage and a piston engine, to high stress fuselage and a jet engine, plus electronics on top.

 

[Contigo]

I have seen it many times, it flies over Newbury often as the pilot has a link with a local radio club here.

They have been saying it is the final flight for ages but I'm not convinced as they have reduced the stress on the airframe and also just used the last engine shelf spare so it is good for maybe another two seasons and I am hoping it will be at Fairford this year and Farnborough next year at least.

Why don't we all meet at Bournemouth air show on sunday 23rd August to see it this year?

 

[drewf]

Date:	Venue / Location	Type of event
Sat 6th June	Throckmorton	Display
Sun 14th June	Cholmondeley	Flypast
Sun 14th June	Welshpool	Display
Sun 14th June	RAF Cosford	Display
Sun 21st June	Weston-super-Mare	Display
Sat 27th June	Salute the V-Force Tour	Displays
Sun 28th June	Salute the V-Force Tour	Displays
Sun 5th July	Shuttleworth Collection *NEW*	Display
Sat 11th July	RNAS Yeovilton U/T	Display
Thurs 16th July	RIAT	Arrival
Fri 17th July	RIAT - U/T	Static
Sat 18th July	RIAT - U/T	Display
Sun 19th July	RIAT - U/T	Display
Sat 15th August	Herne Bay	Flypast
Sat 15th August	Headcorn Aerodrome	Display
Sat 15th August	Eastbourne	Display
Sun 23rd August	Shoreham *NEW*	Display
Sun 23rd August	Bournemouth	Display
Sat 29th August	Dunsfold - Surrey	Display
Sun 30th August	Dunsfold - Surrey	Display

U/T = Underwing Tours available for a small donation whilst operating conditions allow.

 

[Contigo]

Just read that it seems it is the final year, pretty sad but inevitable really.

Here is the diary for appearances of XH558 for this year.

http://www.vulcantothesky.org/appearances.html

I am tempted to book tickets for Throckmorton.

It is a shame that as a forum we couldn't organise something like this

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/general-pistonheads/pistonheads-visit-to-vulcan-xh558/27616

 

[mjheathcote]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-32920274

Thats it.

 

[BennyD]

The Lancaster undergoes deep servicing every winter, it was re-sparred about 5 years ago and it is subjected to a lot less G forces when displaying so uses its life much slower than the Vulcan. Also, it's maintainance costs are from the public purse whereas the Vulcan in privately funded and being a 'Complicated aircraft' the costs are much, much higher. FWIW, I served with Roger Nichols (Lancaster pilot) and Kev Rumens (Vulcan pilot) and have been fortunate enough to have been given guided tours of both aircraft, Kev even gave Ryan a personal fly past in the Vulcan.

 

[mchristyuk]

Saw it at Eastbourne Air a few years back. It's a free event, and if you park up on Beachy Head you get some absolutely stunning views of the air displays. I'll never forget looking down on the Vulcan on it's fly pasts! Will be heading back again this year if anybody fancies a convoy meetup.. pack a picnic, park up on the cliffs and enjoy the show.. a fleet of Massers would be the icing on the cake.



[video=youtube;xHqnT5KHh88]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHqnT5KHh88[/video]

Mark

 

[mjheathcote]

Can you believe there are only 11 years between the Lancaster's first flight in 1941, and the Vulcan's in 1952?

 

[Felonious Crud]

It is a shame that as a forum we couldn't organise something like this

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/general-pistonheads/pistonheads-visit-to-vulcan-xh558/27616

Looks like a good event. We lack the reach and scale of Pistonheads but we could be better at arranging to meet at PH events rather then it needing to be SM only.

My God-father was a Vulcan pilot but it wasn't until the Goodwood FoS last year that I saw one flying. Phenomenal machine. Need to try and get my backside along to one of the events this year

 

[safrane]

Lots of events close to me, so I will be dropping into one or two.

The one at the Top Gear circuit is central for those in the South

 

[zagatoes30]

Watching it fly past off Beachy Head is a great experience as it feels even closer.

Seen it loads of times and it is a stunning aircraft it will be a shame to not have it flying anymore, a bit like Concord

 

[conaero]

Beach Head works for me.

We can do a Vulcan private tour, it will cost £25 a car or so but it is doable as all funds raised go towards the maintenance.

Anyone fancy it?