Discussion
This is what it says on the Vulcan to the sky website-
Why is this the final flying year?
Having evaluated a great many factors, the three expert companies on whom XH558 depends – known as the ‘technical authorities’ - have together decided to cease their support at the end of this flying season. Without that support, under Civil Aviation Authority regulations, she is prohibited from flying.
“This is for entirely pragmatic and well-argued reasons related to the age of her airframe and engines and the growing difficulty sourcing otherwise redundant skills,” explains engineering director Andrew Edmondson. “I cannot emphasise highly enough that this is not in any way a comment on XH558’s safety this year. She has proven to be as reliable as most modern military jets and is maintained to the CAA’s rigorous standards which are amongst the highest in the world.”
At the heart of their decision are two factors. First, although XH558 is currently as safe as any aircraft flying today, her structure and systems are already more than ten percent beyond the flying hours of any other Vulcan, so knowing where to look for any possible failure will become more difficult. Second, maintaining her superb safety record requires expertise that is increasingly difficult to find.
“Our technical partners already bring specialists out of retirement specifically to work on XH558; a solution that is increasingly impractical for those businesses as the necessary skills become distant in their collective memories,” explains Edmondson. “We have recently been made aware that the skills issue is particularly acute as our engines age and will require a considerable amount of additional (and costly) inspection and assessment.”
The Trust has worked hard to see if another year may be possible. Unfortunately, following extensive discussion with the technical authorities, some of the challenges have proven to be insurmountable.
Why is this the final flying year?
Having evaluated a great many factors, the three expert companies on whom XH558 depends – known as the ‘technical authorities’ - have together decided to cease their support at the end of this flying season. Without that support, under Civil Aviation Authority regulations, she is prohibited from flying.
“This is for entirely pragmatic and well-argued reasons related to the age of her airframe and engines and the growing difficulty sourcing otherwise redundant skills,” explains engineering director Andrew Edmondson. “I cannot emphasise highly enough that this is not in any way a comment on XH558’s safety this year. She has proven to be as reliable as most modern military jets and is maintained to the CAA’s rigorous standards which are amongst the highest in the world.”
At the heart of their decision are two factors. First, although XH558 is currently as safe as any aircraft flying today, her structure and systems are already more than ten percent beyond the flying hours of any other Vulcan, so knowing where to look for any possible failure will become more difficult. Second, maintaining her superb safety record requires expertise that is increasingly difficult to find.
“Our technical partners already bring specialists out of retirement specifically to work on XH558; a solution that is increasingly impractical for those businesses as the necessary skills become distant in their collective memories,” explains Edmondson. “We have recently been made aware that the skills issue is particularly acute as our engines age and will require a considerable amount of additional (and costly) inspection and assessment.”
The Trust has worked hard to see if another year may be possible. Unfortunately, following extensive discussion with the technical authorities, some of the challenges have proven to be insurmountable.
SydneyBridge said:
This is what it says on the Vulcan to the sky website-
Why is this the final flying year?
Having evaluated a great many factors, the three expert companies on whom XH558 depends – known as the ‘technical authorities’ - have together decided to cease their support at the end of this flying season. Without that support, under Civil Aviation Authority regulations, she is prohibited from flying.
“This is for entirely pragmatic and well-argued reasons related to the age of her airframe and engines and the growing difficulty sourcing otherwise redundant skills,” explains engineering director Andrew Edmondson. “I cannot emphasise highly enough that this is not in any way a comment on XH558’s safety this year. She has proven to be as reliable as most modern military jets and is maintained to the CAA’s rigorous standards which are amongst the highest in the world.”
At the heart of their decision are two factors. First, although XH558 is currently as safe as any aircraft flying today, her structure and systems are already more than ten percent beyond the flying hours of any other Vulcan, so knowing where to look for any possible failure will become more difficult. Second, maintaining her superb safety record requires expertise that is increasingly difficult to find.
“Our technical partners already bring specialists out of retirement specifically to work on XH558; a solution that is increasingly impractical for those businesses as the necessary skills become distant in their collective memories,” explains Edmondson. “We have recently been made aware that the skills issue is particularly acute as our engines age and will require a considerable amount of additional (and costly) inspection and assessment.”
The Trust has worked hard to see if another year may be possible. Unfortunately, following extensive discussion with the technical authorities, some of the challenges have proven to be insurmountable.
Why is this the final flying year?
Having evaluated a great many factors, the three expert companies on whom XH558 depends – known as the ‘technical authorities’ - have together decided to cease their support at the end of this flying season. Without that support, under Civil Aviation Authority regulations, she is prohibited from flying.
“This is for entirely pragmatic and well-argued reasons related to the age of her airframe and engines and the growing difficulty sourcing otherwise redundant skills,” explains engineering director Andrew Edmondson. “I cannot emphasise highly enough that this is not in any way a comment on XH558’s safety this year. She has proven to be as reliable as most modern military jets and is maintained to the CAA’s rigorous standards which are amongst the highest in the world.”
At the heart of their decision are two factors. First, although XH558 is currently as safe as any aircraft flying today, her structure and systems are already more than ten percent beyond the flying hours of any other Vulcan, so knowing where to look for any possible failure will become more difficult. Second, maintaining her superb safety record requires expertise that is increasingly difficult to find.
“Our technical partners already bring specialists out of retirement specifically to work on XH558; a solution that is increasingly impractical for those businesses as the necessary skills become distant in their collective memories,” explains Edmondson. “We have recently been made aware that the skills issue is particularly acute as our engines age and will require a considerable amount of additional (and costly) inspection and assessment.”
The Trust has worked hard to see if another year may be possible. Unfortunately, following extensive discussion with the technical authorities, some of the challenges have proven to be insurmountable.
A pity about Flywheel, as I live in Bicester. I was going to go on the Saturday - but the low cloud base and terrible weather put me off.
I caught a glimpse of the Spitfire displaying on Sunday as we headed out to lunch for Father's day.
Without derailing the thread, did any of the folk on here attend? How was it?
I caught a glimpse of the Spitfire displaying on Sunday as we headed out to lunch for Father's day.
Without derailing the thread, did any of the folk on here attend? How was it?
SVX said:
A pity about Flywheel, as I live in Bicester. I was going to go on the Saturday - but the low cloud base and terrible weather put me off.
I caught a glimpse of the Spitfire displaying on Sunday as we headed out to lunch for Father's day.
Without derailing the thread, did any of the folk on here attend? How was it?
Yep, I was there...i'll put some pics up. Bit disappointed about the Vulcan but it's one of those things. Hope to see it at Wings and Wheels. There was pretty poor communication on the day with where it was and only 10 mins before we were told it was not coming, we were told it was in the air! Still, two Spitfires and a load of Castrol on a sunny Father's day...not complaining I caught a glimpse of the Spitfire displaying on Sunday as we headed out to lunch for Father's day.
Without derailing the thread, did any of the folk on here attend? How was it?
She made it to Wellesbourne although only a short display. Got the impression they were holding back maybe to preserve the engines.
XM655 also ran up the runway a few times. On the high speed run the front wheel is about 8 feet off the ground so I think it could definitely take off if it had the paperwork and was allowed to. Great day out with the parents although my head is a tad sore today.
FFG
XM655 also ran up the runway a few times. On the high speed run the front wheel is about 8 feet off the ground so I think it could definitely take off if it had the paperwork and was allowed to. Great day out with the parents although my head is a tad sore today.
FFG
FlipFlopGriff said:
She made it to Wellesbourne although only a short display. Got the impression they were holding back maybe to preserve the engines.
XM655 also ran up the runway a few times. On the high speed run the front wheel is about 8 feet off the ground so I think it could definitely take off if it had the paperwork and was allowed to. Great day out with the parents although my head is a tad sore today.
FFG
They do lift the front up so the wing can act as a big air brake to help slow it down.XM655 also ran up the runway a few times. On the high speed run the front wheel is about 8 feet off the ground so I think it could definitely take off if it had the paperwork and was allowed to. Great day out with the parents although my head is a tad sore today.
FFG
yonex said:
SVX said:
A pity about Flywheel, as I live in Bicester. I was going to go on the Saturday - but the low cloud base and terrible weather put me off.
I caught a glimpse of the Spitfire displaying on Sunday as we headed out to lunch for Father's day.
Without derailing the thread, did any of the folk on here attend? How was it?
Yep, I was there...i'll put some pics up. Bit disappointed about the Vulcan but it's one of those things. Hope to see it at Wings and Wheels. There was pretty poor communication on the day with where it was and only 10 mins before we were told it was not coming, we were told it was in the air! Still, two Spitfires and a load of Castrol on a sunny Father's day...not complaining I caught a glimpse of the Spitfire displaying on Sunday as we headed out to lunch for Father's day.
Without derailing the thread, did any of the folk on here attend? How was it?
Riley Blue said:
I was there too and though there was a lot to see (both planes and cars) I felt the information about the Vulcan could have been better as it was at Wellsbourne at 4:28 then heading for Weston Super Mare, it's final display of the day, while we were still being told to expect it at Bicester...
I was there. Think I realised when it was running an hour late than something was awry. Interesting event - sure it will get bigger if they persist . It was great to look round planes without any barriers and the cars were good. Hardly anyone there to be honest.FourWheelDrift said:
FlipFlopGriff said:
She made it to Wellesbourne although only a short display. Got the impression they were holding back maybe to preserve the engines.
XM655 also ran up the runway a few times. On the high speed run the front wheel is about 8 feet off the ground so I think it could definitely take off if it had the paperwork and was allowed to. Great day out with the parents although my head is a tad sore today.
FFG
They do lift the front up so the wing can act as a big air brake to help slow it down.XM655 also ran up the runway a few times. On the high speed run the front wheel is about 8 feet off the ground so I think it could definitely take off if it had the paperwork and was allowed to. Great day out with the parents although my head is a tad sore today.
FFG
He says that the only thing stopping the guys in the cockpit getting all of the wheels off the ground - as with Teasing Tina a couple of years ago - is the probability that their pilots licences would be revoked before the Vulcans wheels were back on the deck!!
They reckon that she would fly without a problem....
Sadly it will never happen.
fatboy69 said:
Family friend owns a small plane based at Wellesbourne so he spends a lot of time at the airfield as well as with the guys who do the fast taxi runs in the Vulcan.
He says that the only thing stopping the guys in the cockpit getting all of the wheels off the ground - as with Teasing Tina a couple of years ago - is the probability that their pilots licences would be revoked before the Vulcans wheels were back on the deck!!
They reckon that she would fly without a problem....
Sadly it will never happen.
Real shame as you could argue XM655 is in as good or better condition than 558.He says that the only thing stopping the guys in the cockpit getting all of the wheels off the ground - as with Teasing Tina a couple of years ago - is the probability that their pilots licences would be revoked before the Vulcans wheels were back on the deck!!
They reckon that she would fly without a problem....
Sadly it will never happen.
FFG
eccles said:
What do you base that opinion on?
Its in flying condition, is the youngest surviving Vulcan, had 2 engines rebuilt and minimal airframe stressing. I don't know how you would actually know without a Vulcan MoT.Obviously I'm no expert but how many could potentially fly - not many I guess.
FFG
FlipFlopGriff said:
fatboy69 said:
Family friend owns a small plane based at Wellesbourne so he spends a lot of time at the airfield as well as with the guys who do the fast taxi runs in the Vulcan.
He says that the only thing stopping the guys in the cockpit getting all of the wheels off the ground - as with Teasing Tina a couple of years ago - is the probability that their pilots licences would be revoked before the Vulcans wheels were back on the deck!!
They reckon that she would fly without a problem....
Sadly it will never happen.
Real shame as you could argue XM655 is in as good or better condition than 558.He says that the only thing stopping the guys in the cockpit getting all of the wheels off the ground - as with Teasing Tina a couple of years ago - is the probability that their pilots licences would be revoked before the Vulcans wheels were back on the deck!!
They reckon that she would fly without a problem....
Sadly it will never happen.
Yes, it's the most 'live' after '558, (now that '426 doesn't seem to get much if any taxi action these days) but everything on it is life ex'd now so it's certainly not airworthy.
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