XH558 - VTTS Stitch Up
Discussion
mcdjl said:
Kitchski said:
Dr Jekyll said:
His doctorate is in nuclear physics. His salary was about £70K, not sure what it is now but I believe running the trust is still his full time job.
Even if he's reduced it to £50k, it looks pretty shifty when you consider they fought hard to raise £100k. Half of it would go in his pocket!They should have donated it to a museum somewhere and have been done with it. Trying to build something around a aeroplane that people rallied hard for years to keep in the air is a dead end.....because it can no longer go in the air. That's the only reason people (including me) ever donated: They wanted to see it flying.
I've been to Doncaster and I love the old girl. I have a real affection for it, but the reality was that while I was there, it just smacked of something that was never going to work
I've donated in the past, bought loads of gift goodies (actually sat in my XH558 rugby shirt as we speak) and am saddened to see it go this way.
I did the VIP tour up at DSA last May with a bunch of biking buddies, we were all enthralled by it. Little did we know that withing a year there would be massive fallouts over it. I've given up going on the VTTS Facebook page as every post they put on there just descends into vitriolic rants by armchair (self-appointed) vintage jet experts. The regularly repeated 'get it to Bruntingthorpe' - never going to happen, as I understand - just gets rolled out ad infinitum.
I would hope it would become a gate guardian somewhere but surely that is now a wings-off road journey, if such a thing were feasible?
I did the VIP tour up at DSA last May with a bunch of biking buddies, we were all enthralled by it. Little did we know that withing a year there would be massive fallouts over it. I've given up going on the VTTS Facebook page as every post they put on there just descends into vitriolic rants by armchair (self-appointed) vintage jet experts. The regularly repeated 'get it to Bruntingthorpe' - never going to happen, as I understand - just gets rolled out ad infinitum.
I would hope it would become a gate guardian somewhere but surely that is now a wings-off road journey, if such a thing were feasible?
If the wings get chopped off and reattached, that's the 'running engines' status dead in the water. The one at Hendon was transported by road, but everything just has to be severed to remove the wings. Can be put back together for static exhibits, but no realistic chance of getting it running again.
PurpleTurtle said:
I've donated in the past, bought loads of gift goodies (actually sat in my XH558 rugby shirt as we speak) and am saddened to see it go this way.
I did the VIP tour up at DSA last May with a bunch of biking buddies, we were all enthralled by it. Little did we know that withing a year there would be massive fallouts over it. I've given up going on the VTTS Facebook page as every post they put on there just descends into vitriolic rants by armchair (self-appointed) vintage jet experts. The regularly repeated 'get it to Bruntingthorpe' - never going to happen, as I understand - just gets rolled out ad infinitum.
I would hope it would become a gate guardian somewhere but surely that is now a wings-off road journey, if such a thing were feasible?
Doncaster Sheffield Airport Gate Guardian... They could tow it down the roads - better not stop though as they might get a parking ticket!I did the VIP tour up at DSA last May with a bunch of biking buddies, we were all enthralled by it. Little did we know that withing a year there would be massive fallouts over it. I've given up going on the VTTS Facebook page as every post they put on there just descends into vitriolic rants by armchair (self-appointed) vintage jet experts. The regularly repeated 'get it to Bruntingthorpe' - never going to happen, as I understand - just gets rolled out ad infinitum.
I would hope it would become a gate guardian somewhere but surely that is now a wings-off road journey, if such a thing were feasible?
Bump.
Any news? My "Guardian" magazine says a new hanger will be built but LEASED i.e. constant need for money and never owned home to XH558. Can't see Peel Holdings doing anything other than send a stream of parking tickets to XH558 for having stopped!
Why the hell has our money not secured a home as promised???
Nice pics and articles in the mag if nothing else...
Any news? My "Guardian" magazine says a new hanger will be built but LEASED i.e. constant need for money and never owned home to XH558. Can't see Peel Holdings doing anything other than send a stream of parking tickets to XH558 for having stopped!
Why the hell has our money not secured a home as promised???
Nice pics and articles in the mag if nothing else...
surveyor said:
it's out of hibernation and engines have been run according to Doncaster Free Press
They have been doing the training for the volunteers who are going to be running the engines up for the public to see. Popped over there the other afternoon when I was that way, saw it being pushed back into its storage hanger.
Taff was there, I heard he had left after the flying ended.
Just had an update email - XH558 is now apparently going to be stored outside
What was the point in all that effort to raise £200k if it only paid for hangar storage for three or four months?
The next stage will be an appeal for half a mil to restore the weather damage, followed by a trip to the scrappy
Am I alone in thinking that the money raised since it was grounded could probably have built a decent hangar at Bruntingthorpe AND gone a fair way to repairing the runway surface?
Shame....
What was the point in all that effort to raise £200k if it only paid for hangar storage for three or four months?
The next stage will be an appeal for half a mil to restore the weather damage, followed by a trip to the scrappy
Am I alone in thinking that the money raised since it was grounded could probably have built a decent hangar at Bruntingthorpe AND gone a fair way to repairing the runway surface?
Shame....
Just seen this as well. Terrible news.
The newsletter tries to spin it but I've seen they have said
VTTS have made a major balls up with this whole thing.
The newsletter tries to spin it but I've seen they have said
Newsletter said:
We are happy that with the arrangements in place, the projected timescale for completion of the New Hangar and the plan for scheduled periodic ground running of XH558 during the next few months, we will not see any significant deterioration in her current excellent condition.“
Even if they get an instant cash injection to fully fund a hanger tomorrow, surely it will take 12 months minimum to get it designed, planning approved and the thing built. Likely longer as they now have to raise the cash for it.VTTS have made a major balls up with this whole thing.
Nigel_O said:
Just had an update email - XH558 is now apparently going to be stored outside
What was the point in all that effort to raise £200k if it only paid for hangar storage for three or four months?
The next stage will be an appeal for half a mil to restore the weather damage, followed by a trip to the scrappy
They were stored outside in RAF service so they aren't as fragile as all that.What was the point in all that effort to raise £200k if it only paid for hangar storage for three or four months?
The next stage will be an appeal for half a mil to restore the weather damage, followed by a trip to the scrappy
XM655 at Wellesbourne is still capable of fast taxy as far as I know, and that's been outside for over 30 years.
Edited by Dr Jekyll on Friday 28th July 21:55
Not all doom and gloom in that email:
Taff Stone, XH558’s crew chief and long serving chief engineer also added: “I’m perfectly happy we can keep XH558 protected in an outdoor environment until such time as she can move into the new hangar. Her non-standard issue gloss paintwork helps! Exploratory work undertaken on Canberra WK163 that exposed bare metal has also been suitably primed and protected, so she is fine too. Having XH558 outside over the coming months is actually easier for our ground handling, since we have several engine runs planned.”
Taff Stone, XH558’s crew chief and long serving chief engineer also added: “I’m perfectly happy we can keep XH558 protected in an outdoor environment until such time as she can move into the new hangar. Her non-standard issue gloss paintwork helps! Exploratory work undertaken on Canberra WK163 that exposed bare metal has also been suitably primed and protected, so she is fine too. Having XH558 outside over the coming months is actually easier for our ground handling, since we have several engine runs planned.”
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