XH558...

Author
Discussion

aeropilot

34,670 posts

228 months

Monday 17th June 2019
quotequote all
Narcisus said:
I wonder why they didnt fly it to Brunters for its last landing ? Surly those guys would have been delighted to add it to the runners they already have ?
That option disappeared before it took to the air again, owning to personal issues between VTS and the Walton family......or so the rumour goes.

And it would have still been outside even if it had gone there.

The original Lottery fund proposal and what they got the grant based on was it was to go to Duxford at retirement, which no one could quite grasp as Duxford already had a Vulcan......so I think everyone assumed that the Lottery people didn't even ask that question and just accepted the VTS proposal rolleyes

Narcisus

8,081 posts

281 months

Monday 17th June 2019
quotequote all
aeropilot said:
That option disappeared before it took to the air again, owning to personal issues between VTS and the Walton family......or so the rumour goes.

And it would have still been outside even if it had gone there.

The original Lottery fund proposal and what they got the grant based on was it was to go to Duxford at retirement, which no one could quite grasp as Duxford already had a Vulcan......so I think everyone assumed that the Lottery people didn't even ask that question and just accepted the VTS proposal rolleyes
I wonder if it's going to end up under the scrap mans torch reading between the lines I dont think DRH want it ....

aeropilot

34,670 posts

228 months

Monday 17th June 2019
quotequote all
Narcisus said:
I wonder if it's going to end up under the scrap mans torch reading between the lines I dont think DRH want it ....
The general view is exactly this. Despite Dr Phlem's spin laden bullcrap, you are correct, the general view was that the aircraft was ultimately doomed as soon as it landed for the last time back at DRH.
Only option I could see would be trying to raise funds to build a hangar big enough to fit it in, and do anti-det maintainence etc, and allow for a visitor viewing, while retaining a secure landside/airside border and far enough away from the rest of the airport....a bit like 426 at Southend, but with a hangar etc. The only place at DRH I could see this being done on the old hardstanding and taxy loop at the northern end near the water treatment plant, at the eastern end of Hayfield Lane.
Trouble is VTS sold the Lottery Funding on some bullcrap about legacy and some sort of academy nonsense, which of course suprise surprise hasn't materialised and isn't going to rolleyes


saaby93

32,038 posts

179 months

Monday 17th June 2019
quotequote all
aeropilot said:
Only option I could see would be trying to raise funds to build a hangar big enough to fit it in, and do anti-det maintainence etc, and allow for a visitor viewing, while retaining a secure landside/airside border and far enough away from the rest of the airport....a bit like 426 at Southend,
Interesting shape on google
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Vulcan+Restorati...


aeropilot

34,670 posts

228 months

Monday 17th June 2019
quotequote all
saaby93 said:
aeropilot said:
Only option I could see would be trying to raise funds to build a hangar big enough to fit it in, and do anti-det maintainence etc, and allow for a visitor viewing, while retaining a secure landside/airside border and far enough away from the rest of the airport....a bit like 426 at Southend,
Interesting shape on google
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Vulcan+Restorati...
Aah......yes, I'd forgotten about 426 having to be moved from its usual place out on that little pan over on the east side next to the railway line. I think it was because of the expansion(?) of the long stay car park?

I must admit, I didn't think it was getting hangar space though.......great news if so smile

MrBig

2,708 posts

130 months

Monday 17th June 2019
quotequote all
aeropilot said:
Aah......yes, I'd forgotten about 426 having to be moved from its usual place out on that little pan over on the east side next to the railway line. I think it was because of the expansion(?) of the long stay car park?

I must admit, I didn't think it was getting hangar space though.......great news if so smile
Does this work?
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5679083,0.694105,3...

This thread popping up again reminded me I went to see XL360 in Coventry the other week. She lives outside permanently and seems to be fairing ok. You can go and sit inside whilst being talked through the various crew roles and the reasons the aircraft came to be. It makes for sobering listening, well worth the trip.

Edited by MrBig on Monday 17th June 14:59

HoHoHo

14,987 posts

251 months

Monday 17th June 2019
quotequote all
I just think it’s a tragedy after so much money was donated and spent on thus wonderful project and considering on its last flight it was still airworthy and in superb condition the aircraft is now sitting outside with what appears to be not much of a future.

Almost boarding on criminal to be honest and was all that money spent wisely and with responsibility?


Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

262 months

Monday 17th June 2019
quotequote all
HoHoHo said:
I just think it’s a tragedy after so much money was donated and spent on thus wonderful project and considering on its last flight it was still airworthy and in superb condition the aircraft is now sitting outside with what appears to be not much of a future.

Almost boarding on criminal to be honest and was all that money spent wisely and with responsibility?
What else should have happened?

saaby93

32,038 posts

179 months

Monday 17th June 2019
quotequote all
Narcisus said:
I wonder why they didnt fly it to Brunters for its last landing ? Surly those guys would have been delighted to add it to the runners they already have ?
Vulcan XH558 was based at Finningley between 1960 and 1968
It's her home
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Finningley

DrDeAtH

3,588 posts

233 months

Monday 17th June 2019
quotequote all
aeropilot said:
Aah......yes, I'd forgotten about 426 having to be moved from its usual place out on that little pan over on the east side next to the railway line. I think it was because of the expansion(?) of the long stay car park?

I must admit, I didn't think it was getting hangar space though.......great news if so smile
I work on 426... so some clarity....

We are currently based over at Hangar 5 on the airport. With the aircraft parked outside on the apron.

Our move from the old pan was to facilitate phases 2 and 3 of car park expansion.

The aircraft is still very much alive and serviceable.

Narcisus

8,081 posts

281 months

Monday 17th June 2019
quotequote all
saaby93 said:
Narcisus said:
I wonder why they didnt fly it to Brunters for its last landing ? Surly those guys would have been delighted to add it to the runners they already have ?
Vulcan XH558 was based at Finningley between 1960 and 1968
It's her home
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Finningley
Hardly....

aeropilot

34,670 posts

228 months

Monday 17th June 2019
quotequote all
DrDeAtH said:
aeropilot said:
Aah......yes, I'd forgotten about 426 having to be moved from its usual place out on that little pan over on the east side next to the railway line. I think it was because of the expansion(?) of the long stay car park?

I must admit, I didn't think it was getting hangar space though.......great news if so smile
I work on 426... so some clarity....

We are currently based over at Hangar 5 on the airport. With the aircraft parked outside on the apron.

Our move from the old pan was to facilitate phases 2 and 3 of car park expansion.

The aircraft is still very much alive and serviceable.
Excellent. I had a vague recollection of it being something to do with the car parks.
Fond memories of 426 and the first years of the VDF......and I was at the Coningsby airshow in June '86 to see her final VDF display.

DrDeAtH

3,588 posts

233 months

Monday 17th June 2019
quotequote all
aeropilot said:
Excellent. I had a vague recollection of it being something to do with the car parks.
Fond memories of 426 and the first years of the VDF......and I was at the Coningsby airshow in June '86 to see her final VDF display.
Bill Burnett is still our pilot too....

Whatsmyname

944 posts

78 months

Monday 17th June 2019
quotequote all
I used to work at Finno airport when the Vulcan was in there and it was said that Donny council were going to build a hangar for it.

saaby93

32,038 posts

179 months

Monday 17th June 2019
quotequote all
Narcisus said:
saaby93 said:
Narcisus said:
I wonder why they didnt fly it to Brunters for its last landing ? Surly those guys would have been delighted to add it to the runners they already have ?
Vulcan XH558 was based at Finningley between 1960 and 1968
It's her home
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Finningley
Hardly....
wiki said:
Arguably the most famous of the Finningley's Avro Vulcan Bombers was aircraft XH558. On 1 July 1960 XH558 was the first Vulcan B.2 to enter RAF service and was immediately transferred to No. 230 Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Finningley before continuing its career.

aeropilot

34,670 posts

228 months

Monday 17th June 2019
quotequote all
DrDeAtH said:
aeropilot said:
Excellent. I had a vague recollection of it being something to do with the car parks.
Fond memories of 426 and the first years of the VDF......and I was at the Coningsby airshow in June '86 to see her final VDF display.
Bill Burnett is still our pilot too....
Wow, magic.

He must be getting a bit now though!

HoHoHo

14,987 posts

251 months

Monday 17th June 2019
quotequote all
Dr Jekyll said:
HoHoHo said:
I just think it’s a tragedy after so much money was donated and spent on thus wonderful project and considering on its last flight it was still airworthy and in superb condition the aircraft is now sitting outside with what appears to be not much of a future.

Almost boarding on criminal to be honest and was all that money spent wisely and with responsibility?
What else should have happened?
Perhaps it should have been retired to an airfield that could look after it, show it off to the public and hopefully not watch it eventually become coke cans.

It seems that it’s now only available to be viewed by the few, not the many!

saaby93

32,038 posts

179 months

Monday 17th June 2019
quotequote all

Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

262 months

Tuesday 18th June 2019
quotequote all
HoHoHo said:
Dr Jekyll said:
HoHoHo said:
I just think it’s a tragedy after so much money was donated and spent on thus wonderful project and considering on its last flight it was still airworthy and in superb condition the aircraft is now sitting outside with what appears to be not much of a future.

Almost boarding on criminal to be honest and was all that money spent wisely and with responsibility?
What else should have happened?
Perhaps it should have been retired to an airfield that could look after it, show it off to the public and hopefully not watch it eventually become coke cans.

It seems that it’s now only available to be viewed by the few, not the many!
Which was exactly the point of Finningley, a display centre was planned to be built round it. Incidentally it is still shown off to the public with occasional engine runs.


saaby93

32,038 posts

179 months

Tuesday 18th June 2019
quotequote all
Dr Jekyll said:
Which was exactly the point of Finningley, a display centre was planned to be built round it. Incidentally it is still shown off to the public with occasional engine runs.
I tried to see it on google maps - perhaps it's not recent enough. Does anyone have a photo of it currently at Finningley?