RE: Help Keep The Last Vulcan Flying
Discussion
I too lived in Lutterworth for many years, and I remember the day when the first post restoration flight took place. I was in an A Level Chemistry lesson, and we heard those engines, the teacher was wondering what the hell it was, the glassware in the classroom started shaking. The guys got up and looked outside to see it flying over. Fantastic.
A fine tribute to large complex aircraft engineering in the UK.
It should be inspiring stuff for new generations to get into science and technology, but the current climate is not a good one.
Not a good week for the last ever wholly UK produced large aircraft project.
RIP MRA4 & good luck in the future to all the fine engineers who put so much energy into it.
It should be inspiring stuff for new generations to get into science and technology, but the current climate is not a good one.
Not a good week for the last ever wholly UK produced large aircraft project.
RIP MRA4 & good luck in the future to all the fine engineers who put so much energy into it.
Edited by ///ajd on Wednesday 20th October 23:36
Edited by ///ajd on Wednesday 20th October 23:36
///ajd said:
A fine tribute to large complex aircraft engineering in the UK.
It should be inspiring stuff for new generations to get into science and technology, but the current climate is not a good one.
Not a good week for the last ever wholly UK produced large aircraft project.
RIP MRA4 & good luck in the future to all the fine engineers who put so much energy into it.
I echo your sentiments, however although the MRA4 was built by BAE it is not wholly British. I have spent the best part of the last 30 years working on Nimrod MR1 and MR2 so I know a bit about them. The main British part of the MRA4 is the fuselage. The rest of it is a mixture of Airbus Industries and BAE. The engines are by Rolls Royce/BMW. The hydraulic systems are mainly off the shelf Airbus. The Avionics are a mixture of euro/Canadian/US systems and some British. I dearly wanted this thing to be put into service but it was the same as the last Nimrod variant - the AEW version- took too long and way over budget. When will we learn! Now we have nothing suitable to do the job the Nimrod needed to do It should be inspiring stuff for new generations to get into science and technology, but the current climate is not a good one.
Not a good week for the last ever wholly UK produced large aircraft project.
RIP MRA4 & good luck in the future to all the fine engineers who put so much energy into it.
Edited by ///ajd on Wednesday 20th October 23:36
Edited by ///ajd on Wednesday 20th October 23:36
Edited by will261058 on Wednesday 20th October 23:52
Donation sent via Pay Pal. Whether it is the delta wing or not I dont know, but both the Concorde, Vulcan and Gloster Javelin seem to have presents and personality over and above more mundane aircraft.
I suspect that huge amounts of red tape and regulation are put in the Vulcans way by the CAA or as it is nicknamed by most folks in the aircraft industry. The Campagne Against Aviation !!
I suspect that huge amounts of red tape and regulation are put in the Vulcans way by the CAA or as it is nicknamed by most folks in the aircraft industry. The Campagne Against Aviation !!
JPJPJP said:
it flew over our house a couple of weeks ago (we are close to Elvington where it did a flypast) - WOW! What a machine!
anyway, I read somewhere about the pilot instruction manual for war flights. Basically, there was a lot of gumph about how important it was to get airborne quickly and how fast to climb to what altitude and what radio channels might still be working. Then a load of stuff about routes to the bomb drop area (Leningrad IIRC for this one). Then, on the last page it said 'Release bomb.' That was it, nothing about what to do next - there wouldn't be a lot to come back to would there? - I wonder what the pilot would do next?
I remember watching a TV program many years ago about V force, when this question came up i.e what were you told to do after you delivered your bomb. SOP was to head for any "friendly" county (Australia was one response I believe) or continue to fly beyond your designated target and bail out once you ran out of fuel!!anyway, I read somewhere about the pilot instruction manual for war flights. Basically, there was a lot of gumph about how important it was to get airborne quickly and how fast to climb to what altitude and what radio channels might still be working. Then a load of stuff about routes to the bomb drop area (Leningrad IIRC for this one). Then, on the last page it said 'Release bomb.' That was it, nothing about what to do next - there wouldn't be a lot to come back to would there? - I wonder what the pilot would do next?
Edited by AntJC on Thursday 21st October 10:54
Goochie said:
Whilst I have great memories of this plane in the air at the Duxford show in 1980 something, I cant help but wondering how much more money they're going to ask for in a few months time?
Time and time again they plead for vast sums of money to eek out the flying time by a few more months.
Surely the time has come to accept the great achievement of those who got it back in the air and respectfully let the Vulcan rest in peace?
I'm afraid you might be right Time and time again they plead for vast sums of money to eek out the flying time by a few more months.
Surely the time has come to accept the great achievement of those who got it back in the air and respectfully let the Vulcan rest in peace?
the way things are these days maybe they need to mothball her and wheel her back out again when the money train is tooting away on the tracks...
There is a great book out called Empire of the Clouds...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Empire-Clouds-Britains-Air...
All about the golden era of post-war British aviation and its very quick demise, when the optimism and talent that could create the Vulcan, Lightning and Comet etc soon faded and we lost ground to the US, Russia and the French. One passage goes that Fairey weren't even allowed to test fly the brilliant FD2 Delta over the UK because of a Govt ban on sonic booms over the mainland, so they tested it from French bases. And of course we all know what happened to the FD2, and the TSR2 as well...A greatread for anyone who can still feel the spine tingle and goosebumps of seeing (and hearing) these fantastic machines in their day.
Anyway, is there not a case, notwithstanding yesterday's announcements, that the Vulcan should be taken on by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and widening its remit to more of an RAF Heritage Flight? Add in a Hunter and Lightning from the sadly now defunct Thunder City while they're at it.
Imagine the equivalent of the BBMF Lanc, Spit and Hurricane formation with a Vulcan, Hunter and Lightning....
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Empire-Clouds-Britains-Air...
All about the golden era of post-war British aviation and its very quick demise, when the optimism and talent that could create the Vulcan, Lightning and Comet etc soon faded and we lost ground to the US, Russia and the French. One passage goes that Fairey weren't even allowed to test fly the brilliant FD2 Delta over the UK because of a Govt ban on sonic booms over the mainland, so they tested it from French bases. And of course we all know what happened to the FD2, and the TSR2 as well...A greatread for anyone who can still feel the spine tingle and goosebumps of seeing (and hearing) these fantastic machines in their day.
Anyway, is there not a case, notwithstanding yesterday's announcements, that the Vulcan should be taken on by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and widening its remit to more of an RAF Heritage Flight? Add in a Hunter and Lightning from the sadly now defunct Thunder City while they're at it.
Imagine the equivalent of the BBMF Lanc, Spit and Hurricane formation with a Vulcan, Hunter and Lightning....
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