XH558...

[SydneyBridge]

just seen this on Facebook from BBC south today

''The Vulcan will only fly once at this years Bournemouth Air Festival because of possible overcrowding. Tourism bosses say crowds on the Saturday last year were at unprecedented levels, nearing half a million people. So have decided the Vulcan XH558 will only fly on Sunday''

how stupid - do they not just think that everyone will go on Sunday to see her, instead of Saturday..... (like I am)

[aeropilot]

SydneyBridge said:

just seen this on Facebook from BBC south today

''The Vulcan will only fly once at this years Bournemouth Air Festival because of possible overcrowding. Tourism bosses say crowds on the Saturday last year were at unprecedented levels, nearing half a million people. So have decided the Vulcan XH558 will only fly on Sunday''

how stupid - do they not just think that everyone will go on Sunday to see her, instead of Saturday..... (like I am)

I'm guessing they know that, probably taking the view that by default it will be quieter on the Saturday, and therefore they only have to pay for extra support/policing/whatever for controlling the huge numbers for just the one day on the Sunday.....rather than across two days?

[SydneyBridge]

seems a bit mad, rather than having her on sat and sunday and spreading the crowds over the two days (the money is available apparently to book her twice), it will be quiet on every other day and then rammed on the sunday.

She was there sat and sunday last year but they only announced while she was displaying that she was there on the sunday as well. If they had announced that beforehand, it would have less busy on the sat.

The red arrows are a big draw but they will be back next year.


http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/13579694.Air...too_popularfor_second_display_by_Vulcan/

Edited by SydneyBridge on Friday 7th August 13:32

[aeropilot]

SydneyBridge said:

seems a bit mad, rather than having her on sat and sunday and spreading the crowds over the two days (the money is available apparently to book her twice), it will be quiet on every other day and then rammed on the sunday.

Precisely.....only have to pay overtime for extra Policing etc. for the one day to cover the extra crowds rather than have to pay it multiple days to cover extra crowds.

[SMB]

aeropilot said:

Precisely.....only have to pay overtime for extra Policing etc. for the one day to cover the extra crowds rather than have to pay it multiple days to cover extra crowds.

Shoreham and Bournemouth normally share acts, after a while shoreham confirmed the 2nd day, and cynically I think some venues do this to drive ticket sales for particular days. Clearly this isn't the driver for B'mouth, all a bit odd why if they have the cash they wouldn't confirm yet.

The policing piece is silly as numbers of people will be high enough on either day to need the same resources

My money is on them confirming the second day soon, now that Shoreham have , as Xh558 will be down on the southcoast that afternoon now anyhow.

[PurpleTurtle]

We are going down to Eastbourne Airshow next weekend, XH558 due to fly at 14:32 on Sat 15/8.

Anyone know how buys it gets at the Western Lawns? We have a 6 month old baby in pushchair - just want to make sure we will be able to get about with the buggy/find somewhere to sit for Mrs PT to feed him.

[Hurricane52]

At the risk of being shot down in flames, we loved the Vulcan's farewell to South Wales at Swansea Airshow, but getting close to the Victor at Elvington was a great thrill too. the more V the better?

[Scuffers]

they are rather spectacular

[MartG]

Scuffers said:

they are rather spectacular

Oh yes, they certainly are....








( fast taxy at 2004 York Airshow )

Edited by MartG on Saturday 8th August 15:56

[Dicky88]

I was riding through Gisburn about 2.30 when I heard a big rumble. I thought at first it was a wagon then realised it was a jet when the Vulcan flew straight over heading towards the coast, reading this thread it was on its way to Blackpool air show. Was the third time I've seen it flying and just what I needed 95 miles into my ride with 10 left to get home.

[andymadmak]

Saw her today at Elvington. It will probably be the last time I see her in the air. I genuinely felt very emotional that one of the last links to Britains genius in aircraft design post WW2 would soon be flying no more. Made all the more poignant by the Victor and the Nimrod parked up just a few hundred meters away.

Genuine question ( and apologies if it has been asked before) ....why can't the RAF take her back and add her to the historic flight? Surely if we can afford to spunk 3million on Batman for a week we can spend 5 and keep 558 flying? It breaks my heart to see so much of our wonderful heritage tossed away.

[Scotty2]

Design life and technical support does not go on for ever sadly.

I saw her at Elvington today too and was pleased to seeing as near to a roll that we will get a chance to watch. Seemed to be a bit of dust in the air as I watched her fly off...

Goodbye to a flying icon. The anticipation of the crowd as she approached was electric and a combined "wow!" as she appeared will live on in my memories. Not just me who is a bit overcome by it all.

I saw the "Farewell" in the bomb bay back in 92. Dusty then too...

[HoHoHo]

Scuffers said:

they are rather spectacular

That's a great photo...............of an airplane that shouldn't be off the ground

[marksx]

Saw her at the Blackpool airshow today.

Absolute chaos getting there, getting parked and getting out, but ultimately worth the trip.

A 90 minute journey took 3 and a half hours. Allowed to park outside some apartments by some very generous residents when I was ready to explode looking for a space. Just missed the Typhoon though.

Here are some photos. My Dad struggled to get some good shots, and the clouds didn't help.

[aeropilot]

andymadmak said:

why can't the RAF take her back and add her to the historic flight? Surely if we can afford to spunk 3million on Batman for a week we can spend 5 and keep 558 flying?

Well, the RAF stopped flying her back in 1992, as they no longer had the infrastructure required within the RAF to keep her flying with the imminent retirement of the Victor and thus the end of the V-Force support. So, 20 years later that support structure is non-existant, they ahrdly are going to take her back. And it still doesn't get over the fact that's she's now the highest time Vulcan and her FI is close to being up with no further mods left to prolong, and the rather large elephant in the room of there being no engines left once the ones they have are out of cycles.
There really is nowhere else to go with this, she has reached the end.

[CrutyRammers]

marksx said:

Saw her at the Blackpool airshow today.

Absolute chaos getting there, getting parked and getting out, but ultimately worth the trip.

Me too...surprised at how busy it was, parked down by the pleasure beach and walked up at around 12-ish, not too bad but certainly more manic than previous years.
It'll be the last time I see the vulc flying as well, quite poignant as it flew off into the distance. They were rather less dramatic with it than they were at RIAT, still very good to see though.

Typhoon display was good as usual, "fluffing up" really nicely with all the moisture in the air. Didn't stay for everything, but the Chinook was very impressive...some quite remarkable gyrations for such a large machine.

ETA uploaded a vid of the display here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75dJ-m1goPo. Not great quality but I was at least in a good spot.

Edited by CrutyRammers on Monday 10th August 07:26

[MartG]

CrutyRammers said:

ETA uploaded a vid of the display here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75dJ-m1goPo. Not great quality but I was at least in a good spot.

Edited by CrutyRammers on Monday 10th August 07:26

Nice video !

I was halfway along North Pier, so may have been a few pixels in it

[insurance_jon]

did you get any stills with the piers in background.....just insured them

[Krikkit]

I did Jon, but not great ones for the most part. I'll sort through them later and upload a few of the best.

[wijit]

I took hundreds, but only three come even close to acceptable due to idiot fingers (me!) changing the settings after the first three!