XH558 - VTTS Stitch Up
Discussion
So according to the latest newsletter 558 has to go 'into storage' because the lease on the hangar expires at the end of this month & there is nowhere for her to go.
On top of that VTTS have recently taken ownership of Canberra WK163 which also would now appear to be homeless.
And now VTTS estimate that a mere £200k is required to 'hibernate the existing hangar operations and to secure the Vulcan, Canberra & other assets' etc etc etc.
What a monumental f
k up, apparently, by Dr Pleming & his cohorts.
Bearing in mind Doncaster is a live airport & they clearly do not want 558 at the airport her future once again seems uncertain.
What a waste.
On top of that VTTS have recently taken ownership of Canberra WK163 which also would now appear to be homeless.
And now VTTS estimate that a mere £200k is required to 'hibernate the existing hangar operations and to secure the Vulcan, Canberra & other assets' etc etc etc.
What a monumental f
k up, apparently, by Dr Pleming & his cohorts.Bearing in mind Doncaster is a live airport & they clearly do not want 558 at the airport her future once again seems uncertain.
What a waste.
I have already posted on that FB a couple of times - as you say, a lot of very very angry people.
As for Dr P....
It never made any sense to take her back to Doncaster. - a live airport who banned the general public from seeing her final take off & landing because it would have interfered with the day to day operations.
An airport who, reluctantly, agreed to a fast taxi run on the understanding that it was not made public until after the event had taken place.
An airport who allowed VTTS to take delivery of another project, the Canberra, knowing that as from 31 January they did not have a home.
Why did VTTS not foresee these problems? Easy. Because anywhere else would not have allowed the regular money making tours, events, photo shoots etc that ensured that money continued to roll in.
And now the cash cow has bolted VTTS do not have a back up plan hence the call for another £100k at least.
A monumental fk up.
Frankly I would fly her in to Staverton Airport (Gloucester) & gift her to the Jet Age Musuem who I am sure would look after her.
Alas I fear she will soon be broken up.
As for Dr P....
It never made any sense to take her back to Doncaster. - a live airport who banned the general public from seeing her final take off & landing because it would have interfered with the day to day operations.
An airport who, reluctantly, agreed to a fast taxi run on the understanding that it was not made public until after the event had taken place.
An airport who allowed VTTS to take delivery of another project, the Canberra, knowing that as from 31 January they did not have a home.
Why did VTTS not foresee these problems? Easy. Because anywhere else would not have allowed the regular money making tours, events, photo shoots etc that ensured that money continued to roll in.
And now the cash cow has bolted VTTS do not have a back up plan hence the call for another £100k at least.
A monumental f
k up.Frankly I would fly her in to Staverton Airport (Gloucester) & gift her to the Jet Age Musuem who I am sure would look after her.
Alas I fear she will soon be broken up.
Kringle said:
DrDeAtH said:
VTTS were the real reason behind why technical support was pulled. They tried to dictate to RR and Marshall's what was expected of them...
Understandably the support was pulled.
That's a bold thing to say, is there any meat to this or is it Spotters Waffle?Understandably the support was pulled.
Like most other things they managed to balls it up.
Now that the 'cash cow' is shortly to go into 'storage' where I wonder will the money come from too pay certain people's salaries?
The way the backers of 558 have been treated is nothing short of appalling & i still find it hard to believe that VTTS did not make alternative arrangements as soon as they realised tha the lease would not be renewed.
I see that VTTS have not answered the question as to where exactly 558 will be stored or what the future holds for her.
Interesting Facebook post just now on the British Airshow Review Facebook page.
I will cherry pick the main bits because I don't know how to link it on to here.
Basically the guys from BAR made a final visit to see 558 in her current hangar & were stunned to find out that EVERYONE apart from two people, were being laid off.
And that includes all of the engineering team including Taff Stone.
They were also told that 558 is only being allowed to remain in hangar one until the end of April this year after which, assuming a new home is not found or does not get built, she will be stored outside!!
All of the volunteers are leaving at the end of this week & will only be back when, or if, a new home is found for 558.
So that now means no engine runs, no taxi runs, no public visits for the foreseeable future, no engineers to keep 558 in working order.
Basically everything that the Trust promised to do when they got the Heritage Fund grant has been ignored.
Apparently the Trust have now realised that they made a mistake in buying the Canberra although they would not discuss what was going to happen to the Canberra.
And what of the Swift???
There is a further newsletter going out to members tomorrow which might, or might not, be discussed.
Oh yes.
The two people who remain employed (possibly on a part time basis) are....
Robert Pleming & Andrew Edmundson.
So. All of that money. All of the emotion. All of the promises.
What a potentially sad end for this beautiful aircraft.
Is no one going to rescue 558 from VTTS & ensure she remains as majestic as was during her final flights in 2015?
What a cluster fk Dr Pleming.
I will cherry pick the main bits because I don't know how to link it on to here.
Basically the guys from BAR made a final visit to see 558 in her current hangar & were stunned to find out that EVERYONE apart from two people, were being laid off.
And that includes all of the engineering team including Taff Stone.
They were also told that 558 is only being allowed to remain in hangar one until the end of April this year after which, assuming a new home is not found or does not get built, she will be stored outside!!
All of the volunteers are leaving at the end of this week & will only be back when, or if, a new home is found for 558.
So that now means no engine runs, no taxi runs, no public visits for the foreseeable future, no engineers to keep 558 in working order.
Basically everything that the Trust promised to do when they got the Heritage Fund grant has been ignored.
Apparently the Trust have now realised that they made a mistake in buying the Canberra although they would not discuss what was going to happen to the Canberra.
And what of the Swift???
There is a further newsletter going out to members tomorrow which might, or might not, be discussed.
Oh yes.
The two people who remain employed (possibly on a part time basis) are....
Robert Pleming & Andrew Edmundson.
So. All of that money. All of the emotion. All of the promises.
What a potentially sad end for this beautiful aircraft.
Is no one going to rescue 558 from VTTS & ensure she remains as majestic as was during her final flights in 2015?
What a cluster f
k Dr Pleming.ChemicalChaos said:
They certainly seem adamant that it's theirs to keep. I was there tonight for the audience with Withers and Johnson, and in the welcome speech the host (not Pleming, don't know who he was) said the Vulcan would stay at Doncaster even if he had to sleep in the intakes to stop them moving it.
I thought that was slightly arrogant given the unsuitability of Robin Hood as a home compared to places such as Scampton
The management of VTTS appear to have lost the plot regarding the future of 558.I thought that was slightly arrogant given the unsuitability of Robin Hood as a home compared to places such as Scampton
The airport clearly do not want her hence they are taking back her current home in the next few days & are only allowing her to stay in hangar one until the end of April.
All of the fast taxi runs, with the exception of one 'secret' run have been banned because, as we all knew at the outset, they would interfere with the everyday operation of the airport & the airport do not want tens of thousands of people descending on the airport to watch 558.
In short. VTTS have been screwed over by the airport & more importantly VTTS have been incredibly stupid by siting 558 at a live airport who didnt want her in the first place!!!
Pleming/VTTS should give up 558 to someone who wants her before she ends up being scrapped.
A huge amount of money has been donated to VTTS by us, the general public, on the understanding that 558 would be fully maintained in working order once the CAA grounded her.
This hasn't happened & the management of VTTS should explain themselves whilst hanging their heads in shame.
If it was up to me I would fly her to RAF Fairford. Tons of space. a lot of very large hangars. A perfect runway.
And RIAT which would be the ideal showcase for 558.
Edited by fatboy69 on Friday 27th January 07:06
It would be interesting to find out exactly how the £200k will be spent.
All on rent for the storage hanger? Spares ? (Oh wait you can't buy spares off the shelf..) Engineers wages? (No because they won't go back).
Deposit for the visitor centre that will never get built???
Safe to say I think that 558 will probably never move under her own power again.
Someone should be very very ashamed of himself these days.
All on rent for the storage hanger? Spares ? (Oh wait you can't buy spares off the shelf..) Engineers wages? (No because they won't go back).
Deposit for the visitor centre that will never get built???
Safe to say I think that 558 will probably never move under her own power again.
Someone should be very very ashamed of himself these days.
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