RE: Help Keep The Last Vulcan Flying
Discussion
While it's amazing that XH558 is back in the air, i can't help but want the Southend Vulcan in the air more. For years I've seen this plane sitting static as I drive by, being maintained, but nowhere near airworthy. To have the last three active Vulcans fly in formation would be incredible. Come on Euromillions!
I was brought up just outside Barrow-in-Furness in the 60's when Vulcans were practising low level flying over Morecambe Bay. One Saturday night us kids were having a bath (as you did back then) when the house shook,it went dark as a Vulcan just missed the chimney top of our 600 year old farmhouse, wonderful stuff!!!
Theres not much on the first of the three the valiant but heres the MK2 version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCbzOQwJfd4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCbzOQwJfd4
When I was small & Concorde was in early flight testing, we did a family holiday to Mawgan Porth in Cornwall, as you may know RAF St Mawgan was on the opposite headland & one day there was a roar of engines & a white painted delta shape took off. From where we stood we were about a mile away & on a level with it. "Concorde!" I shouted (I probably jumped up & down a bit too) & my Dad grabbed the cine camera & filmed it.
A couple of minutes later there was another roar & off it went again, so my Dad filmed it again - & again a few minutes later. As Filton is just up the road a "touch & go" from St Mawgan seemed reasonable & my Dad proudly showed the flickering film to all & sundry to many oohs & ahhs.
Scroll forward 30 years & my Dad was checking the cine films before sending them to be copied to video & as soon as the Concorde came on the screen I said "Erm - actually - that's a Vulcan". He took some convincing, but what he'd filmed was a four Vulcan scramble practice!
A couple of minutes later there was another roar & off it went again, so my Dad filmed it again - & again a few minutes later. As Filton is just up the road a "touch & go" from St Mawgan seemed reasonable & my Dad proudly showed the flickering film to all & sundry to many oohs & ahhs.
Scroll forward 30 years & my Dad was checking the cine films before sending them to be copied to video & as soon as the Concorde came on the screen I said "Erm - actually - that's a Vulcan". He took some convincing, but what he'd filmed was a four Vulcan scramble practice!
Hey PH, why not have a Sunday Service type fundraiser event up at Bruntingthorpe where the Vulcan lives (I think) with the proceeds going to Vulcan to the Sky? Vulcan of course needs to be on display with a "your car and the Vulcan" photo opp set-up.
They could also possibly allow track time whilst there?
I'm sure they'd be keen?
They could also possibly allow track time whilst there?
I'm sure they'd be keen?
article said:
After a marathon 8,000 mile flight supported by eleven Victor tankers, Squadron Leader Martin Withers and his crew released the bombs over Port Stanley Airport that prevented Argentina operating its Mirage III fighters from the island and initiated the campaign that recaptured the Falklands.
I realise you've just quoted someone else, but I've got to take issue with this. Not meant to denigrate the Vulcan, which I think is fantastic, but:-- The campaign to recapture the Falklands started well before the RAF decided to run the Stanley bombing (and later the Black Buck anti-radar) missions.
- There were 3 bombing missions on Stanley airport, of 21 bombs each. The first 'stick' of 21 bombs just nicked the end of the runway, not enough to prevent its use. The second stick hadn't been armed (not sure if ground crew or pilot error), so did nothing but give the Argies some free (if rather dented) bombs. The 3rd stick completely missed the runway! So the missions were actually pretty bloody hopeless.
- The runway at that time was* too short to properly operate Mirage III's and Daggers (licence-built Mirage-V attack aircraft) from anyway.
- The same effect as each mission could have been achieved by just 4 Harriers (operating from the carriers) using <10% of the airframe hours (inc. all that tanker support) and something silly like 2% of the aviation fuel. And potentially greater accuracy...
The Vulcan was an excellent platform, but let's not give it plaudits it doesn't deserve - it doesn't need them.
* After the war the RAF decided to operate Tornado F.Mk2's (later 3's) out of Stanley to provide some organic air-cover to the islands. This necessitated extending the runway (even though the Tornado has much-better short-field capability than the Mirage). Some years later they realised this was too expensive to maintain so they withdrew the Tornados leaving a rather-more Mirage-friendly runway, should the Argies ever re-invade! Notice also that we've just withdrawn from service our last Aircraft Carrier and the RAF hasn't had a long-range strike capability for decades...
Right here goes. I have lived in Lutterworth for about 36 years so was about 8 when we moved there. Lutterwoth of course is next to Bitteswell where around 36 years ago the Vulcan was maintained. It became the norm to hear the engines bench tested which literally shook our home which would be a mile away as the crow flies. Just as regular were the flight tests when you would witness the machine take off and virtually go vertical so as not to upset the locals too much. I will never forget hearing and watching this awesome machine. You just never got tired of it. Now I've had a lot to drink over the years but if my memory serves me correctly the Red Arrows were also maintained at Bitteswell. I'm pretty sure we used to watch them do a little practice when they were collected from the Service Dept!!! One poster suggests the Vulcan is kept at Bruntingthorpe. This is no longer the case. The Walton family who own the aerodrome used to own the Vulcan. When hunting was allowed one of the Waltons who is the aviation expert used to run the Vulcan down the runway to scare the hunt if it was in the area. Not a big hunting fan which is a suprise given the amount of land they own. The Waltons gave up on the Vulcan due to the endless red tape. IMHO had they been allowed to keep the machine they would have funded it out of their own pocket. Anyway I'm sure they would be happy for her to return for a fund raising event and to host a PH bash in support. The aerodrome is awesome for car nuts and indeed one of the Walton brothers is a full blown petrolhead with a pretty stunning car collection. So thats is. My first ever post here. BTW if you need contact details email me.
C2 said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djd1pPQZ_LE
Turn the volume up folks, the word Amazing is over used these days, but I can't think of anything else to describe this. That famous Vulcan howl.
....that was just friggen fantastic....thank you....Turn the volume up folks, the word Amazing is over used these days, but I can't think of anything else to describe this. That famous Vulcan howl.
Doshy said:
Went over my house twice last summer. Awesome sight. They'll get a few sheckles off me too.
I was playing tennis on my father's tennis court outside winchester this summer (about 2 months ago) and this Vulcan went over our house heading north. Saw it fly back over later so it must have been going to Farnborough show or something. Epic plane, could not take my eyes off it. Won the tennis match too!!Donating shortly.
dvs_dave said:
Hey PH, why not have a Sunday Service type fundraiser event up at Bruntingthorpe where the Vulcan lives (I think) with the proceeds going to Vulcan to the Sky? Vulcan of course needs to be on display with a "your car and the Vulcan" photo opp set-up.
They could also possibly allow track time whilst there?
I'm sure they'd be keen?
Although I don't think it's at Brunters at the moment, thats where it will be retired to I believe. PH guys I definately think this is worth a look into! An excuse for us lot to go nuts 'round Bruntingthorpe and raising money for this amazing british icon! They could also possibly allow track time whilst there?
I'm sure they'd be keen?
One of the few planes you never forget seeing. Last time I saw one must be 25 odd years ago, probably at Duxford, maybe Mildenhall.. When the thing goes into a gentle climb and turns on the juice to climb it makes your innards jingle about.
Utterly utterly engrossing.
I guess we'll need to start a fund for the last airworthy harrier jump jet soon as well...
Utterly utterly engrossing.
I guess we'll need to start a fund for the last airworthy harrier jump jet soon as well...
ked by Vulcans.pistol pete said:
Crook said:
C2james said:
They had this fly over at goodwood revival.
Which day? was there on sunday hoping to see it but 3rd time in a row I've missed it.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff