XH558...

[2013BRM]

To quote Lustys owner

"There seems to be speculation that the Vulcan will retire to Elvington at the end of the season and I'm being asked constantly if it will happen. However, it is unlikely as the Vulcan HAS to be Hangared as part of its funding by the Lottery and other covenants. The Hangarage at Elvington is full of Museum exhibits and a new hangar (which is in the offing) will not be funded/constructed in time (indeed it may not ever be built,but we hope so). If the hangarage was available then Elvington would be a good home for XH558 due to the airfield for taxy demo's etc and Martin Withers living locally but, I wouldn't place a bet at the 'bookies' on her flying to a new home with us. Even though we would love to have her..."

[aeropilot]

2013BRM said:

To quote Lustys owner

"There seems to be speculation that the Vulcan will retire to Elvington at the end of the season and I'm being asked constantly if it will happen. However, it is unlikely as the Vulcan HAS to be Hangared as part of its funding by the Lottery and other covenants. The Hangarage at Elvington is full of Museum exhibits and a new hangar (which is in the offing) will not be funded/constructed in time (indeed it may not ever be built,but we hope so). If the hangarage was available then Elvington would be a good home for XH558 due to the airfield for taxy demo's etc and Martin Withers living locally but, I wouldn't place a bet at the 'bookies' on her flying to a new home with us. Even though we would love to have her..."

I don't think there's ANY speculation that she is going to retire to Elvington, it's more a case of people saying that's the logical place she 'should' be retired to, and not understanding the reasons why not.
Given that there is a ? over the future of RH and that while it is indeed a stipulation of the LHF that she be retired to a hanger, but it's more sensible to retire her to somewhere where the location is better, and then build a hanger, than retire her to a hanger in an unsuitable location.
Short term thinking rather than long term thinking as is typical of this country.

[surveyor]

aeropilot said:

I don't think there's ANY speculation that she is going to retire to Elvington, it's more a case of people saying that's the logical place she 'should' be retired to, and not understanding the reasons why not.
Given that there is a ? over the future of RH and that while it is indeed a stipulation of the LHF that she be retired to a hanger, but it's more sensible to retire her to somewhere where the location is better, and then build a hanger, than retire her to a hanger in an unsuitable location.
Short term thinking rather than long term thinking as is typical of this country.

What ? over Robin Hood?

ETA - it's not the busiest apart in the country, but it's getting better and with the new road being built it's a million times more accessible than the cesspit called Leeds Bradford.

[SydneyBridge]

I live near Farnborough and on the local news after the air show last year, they were talking about getting a plan in place for XH558 to be retired to Farnborough.
I assume when she lands at the end of this season, that is where she is staying??

[aeropilot]

SydneyBridge said:

I assume when she lands at the end of this season, that is where she is staying??

Essentially, yes.

[aeropilot]

surveyor said:

ETA - it's not the busiest apart in the country, but it's getting better and with the new road being built it's a million times more accessible than the cesspit called Leeds Bradford.

Exactly.

[Eric Mc]

Ooh - Farnborough would be nice.

They would have to erect a structure for her but these days special lightweight semi-tent type structures can be very robust.

At the FAST Museum in Farnborough they keep a full size replica of Cody's bi-plane in one such structure. Admittedly, a Vulcan "hangar" would need to be a lot bigger.

[SydneyBridge]

aeropilot said:

Essentially, yes.

Its a pretty important decision then..
this is from their websire

What will happen to XH558? Everyone reading this letter will agree that seeing and hearing her overhead is a thrilling experience, but when we talk to her supporters visiting the hangar they tell us that even on the ground, XH558 is fascinating and exciting.

She is an iconic example of that remarkable period of intense post-war innovation that made British aviation technology the envy of the world and helped to keep the peace in both strategic and tactical roles through the Cold War. It’s a truly remarkable story. In her new life, still able to accelerate dramatically along the runway, XH558 will build on this exciting provenance to inspire and educate new generations of young people, focussing on the technical skills that our country needs so badly.

An artist’s impression of her future home – The Vulcan Aviation Academy and Heritage Centre.

[2013BRM]

aeropilot said:

2013BRM said:

To quote Lustys owner

"There seems to be speculation that the Vulcan will retire to Elvington at the end of the season and I'm being asked constantly if it will happen. However, it is unlikely as the Vulcan HAS to be Hangared as part of its funding by the Lottery and other covenants. The Hangarage at Elvington is full of Museum exhibits and a new hangar (which is in the offing) will not be funded/constructed in time (indeed it may not ever be built,but we hope so). If the hangarage was available then Elvington would be a good home for XH558 due to the airfield for taxy demo's etc and Martin Withers living locally but, I wouldn't place a bet at the 'bookies' on her flying to a new home with us. Even though we would love to have her..."

I don't think there's ANY speculation that she is going to retire to Elvington, it's more a case of people saying that's the logical place she 'should' be retired to, and not understanding the reasons why not.
Given that there is a ? over the future of RH and that while it is indeed a stipulation of the LHF that she be retired to a hanger, but it's more sensible to retire her to somewhere where the location is better, and then build a hanger, than retire her to a hanger in an unsuitable location.
Short term thinking rather than long term thinking as is typical of this country.

quite, I was just trying to add some meat to the topic, I didn't realise RH was facing an uncertain future though

[Dr Interceptor]

There is a great opportunity at Farnborough to create something very special. The current FAST Museum is rather limited on display space for full sized aircraft, and Trenchard House could do with a refurb.

Given that TAG (who own the airfield) have recently acquired The Swan pub on the corner opposite the FAST Museum, I wonder if there's scope (or plans) to create a new Gate entrance to the airfield, and to build a new purpose built air museum that could also house the Vulcan. There is certainly space within the airfield to do it.

It would need TAG to substantially dip into their pockets mind you....

[yellowjack]

Dr Interceptor said:

There is a great opportunity at Farnborough to create something very special. The current FAST Museum is rather limited on display space for full sized aircraft, and Trenchard House could do with a refurb.

Given that TAG (who own the airfield) have recently acquired The Swan pub on the corner opposite the FAST Museum, I wonder if there's scope (or plans) to create a new Gate entrance to the airfield, and to build a new purpose built air museum that could also house the Vulcan. There is certainly space within the airfield to do it.

It would need TAG to substantially dip into their pockets mind you....

Apart from the costs, and who would meet them, there's a fair old fly in that particular ointment. TAG run a busy little VIP airport operation, so they value their privacy. As witnessed by the earth banks going up to protect the terminal and the ramp from prying eyes. I cannot see them wanting to admit members of the public onto the site for the purposes of spectating at ground-running of the old bird. Once every two years seems to be enough for them, at the airshow. There's a lot of foreign government, Middle Eastern royal family, and celebrity comings and goings that would very much like to remain outside public scrutiny, I think.

Don't get me wrong, as a local, and an aviation fan, I'm glad the airport is still operating, and I'd love to see the Vulcan re-homed permanently at Farnborough, and also to see the FAST collection properly housed and extended, but sadly none of these things is likely to happen, in my opinion. Even the Vulcan isn't big enough business for 'Big Business', I fear. Otherwise we wouldn't have seen dozens of historically important airframes corrode to dust or be cut into small pieces after long term external storage in 'museum collections' over the last thirty years. The Lasham and Rhoose museum collections are just two that spring to mind, along with at least one (Blackpool?) Vulcan that couldn't be moved nor saved from the claw.

[aeropilot]

2013BRM said:

aeropilot said:

2013BRM said:

To quote Lustys owner

"There seems to be speculation that the Vulcan will retire to Elvington at the end of the season and I'm being asked constantly if it will happen. However, it is unlikely as the Vulcan HAS to be Hangared as part of its funding by the Lottery and other covenants. The Hangarage at Elvington is full of Museum exhibits and a new hangar (which is in the offing) will not be funded/constructed in time (indeed it may not ever be built,but we hope so). If the hangarage was available then Elvington would be a good home for XH558 due to the airfield for taxy demo's etc and Martin Withers living locally but, I wouldn't place a bet at the 'bookies' on her flying to a new home with us. Even though we would love to have her..."

I don't think there's ANY speculation that she is going to retire to Elvington, it's more a case of people saying that's the logical place she 'should' be retired to, and not understanding the reasons why not.
Given that there is a ? over the future of RH and that while it is indeed a stipulation of the LHF that she be retired to a hanger, but it's more sensible to retire her to somewhere where the location is better, and then build a hanger, than retire her to a hanger in an unsuitable location.
Short term thinking rather than long term thinking as is typical of this country.

quite, I was just trying to add some meat to the topic, I didn't realise RH was facing an uncertain future though

Uncertain, in terms of the fact that it's a commercial civilian airport that which as mentioned above seeks to expand it's operations.
How that fits in with the future of '558 as defined by VTTS/TVOC in their nice renderings shown in an above post hasn't been addressed. The Vulcan isn't going to make them any money and a much busier money earning facility is hardly going to fit in with '558 runway blasts and joe public milling about....not with the issues of airside security etc.
The idea is great - the proposed location is fraught with potential pitfalls IMHO.

Thus, Elvington would seem to be the much more logical choice in every way to make the above 'plan' a reality....especially when the '558 funds will start to dry up as they will likely do at some point once she lands for the last ever time.

[marksx]

Does anyone know if after the last show, that is it for flying hours, (Or cycles?), or if it can return to RH as normal after a show then be relocated to it's final resting place?

Just something I've thought of. Maybe they are keeping some hours in the bank to allow time to find a final home?

[aeropilot]

marksx said:

Does anyone know if after the last show, that is it for flying hours, (Or cycles?), or if it can return to RH as normal after a show then be relocated to it's final resting place?

Just something I've thought of. Maybe they are keeping some hours in the bank to allow time to find a final home?

It would be sensible to keep some hours left for a possible ferry flight to another location, whether they will or not is another matter.

[slartibartfast]

aeropilot said:

marksx said:

Does anyone know if after the last show, that is it for flying hours, (Or cycles?), or if it can return to RH as normal after a show then be relocated to it's final resting place?

Just something I've thought of. Maybe they are keeping some hours in the bank to allow time to find a final home?

It would be sensible to keep some hours left for a possible ferry flight to another location, whether they will or not is another matter.

does seem silly having it at R-hood airport as I doubt there'll be many taxi runs a year, would be best in my opinion either Brunty or elvington and do fast taxi's with other cold war jets

[tonyvid]

Is there no prospect of it going to Woodford and their new AVRO heritage centre?

[RedLeicester]

No Duxford at all on that list.

[aeropilot]

tonyvid said:

Is there no prospect of it going to Woodford and their new AVRO heritage centre?

Why would they do that when they already have a Vulcan already there. Plus the aim if to continue to keep her 'live' with runway runs etc., and with the plan to build to turn Woodford into a housing estate there will be no runway there to do that.

[tonyvid]

Good points, well made I didn't know they were going to build a load of houses there. Obvious really, seems the way for a lot of airfields these days.

[PanzerCommander]

I'd love to see her go to Elvington alongside Lusty Lindy as its my local (35 minutes away) Air Museum - must get there this year.

But I can see merit for her going to Bruntingthorpe too with the cold war jets they have there.