RE: Help Keep The Last Vulcan Flying

[Kateg28]

It was at the Revival last year. I have been many times but I have never seen the entire crowd go silent before which it did as the Vulcan flew overhead. And the Revivial attendees are used to some awesome machinery.

I am not that interested in planes (although normally enjoy seeing the Lancaster) but the Vulcan was something else. All the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Spine tingling.

[AntJC]

havard01 said:

They have got a Vulcan at Coventry Air Museum, they let you into the cockpit, it's an awesome bit of kit. Wouldn't fancy bailing out of it though, only thepilot and co-pilot have got ejector seats. (Because it cost moremoney to train them, so they were worth saving.)

You are 100% correct.

One of these crashed on Malta in the 70's, both Pilot & Co pilot ejected to safety, the two other members of the crew went down with the plane, as their positions were not fitted with ejector seats.

I believe that it was expected that in an emergency, they would make their escape out of the bottom of the aircraft??

Edited by AntJC on Wednesday 20th October 13:51

[Stablelad]

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?

^^^^Good idea!

[Gizmo!]

I understand that it takes a lot of money, every year. But the Vulcan really should be preserved and flying for generations to come. We missed the boat on keeping a Concorde going, we shouldn't lose this too.

Come on National Lottery, stop building Youth Community Centres that give kids a nice warm place to arrange fights and deal drugs. Keep this plane in the air and inspire them to build the next one.

[rlw]

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?

My thoughts exactly - every few weeks another appeal. I have donated a few hundred quid over time but no more I'm afraid.

[Jammez]

I'd been bangin on about the Vulcan to my other half who couldn't understand what all the fuss was about until we saw her recently at the Boness Hill Climb where she did a couple of fly pasts. Even she now thinks the Vulcan is amazing!

Great to her see again after the first time about 20 years ago at an airshow down south when I was a kid (the Vulcan that is not the other half!)

Real shame if they have to ground her but I have to agree with previous comments about how long they can keep begging for funding. Some kind of long term funding needs to be identified but easier said than done I guess.

[Morba]

Donating - my boy is obsessed with the vulcan after seeing it at fairford this year

[angusfaldo]

AMV8Nick said:

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.

I thought originally Vulcan was at 32 squadron in Northholt and later in Waddington Lincoln. And then Red Arrows were at Scampton until its demise in 2008?

Either way, no matter. My Dad flew vulcans and we had unique chances to nose around one as kids. What a great aircraft.

[L100NYY]

Stablelad said:

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?

^^^^Good idea!

+1

[RacingPete]

The Angry Gopher said:

Saw the Vulcan on one of her final flights just before retirement at Finningly in the mid nineties. Don't want to see another retirement so pleased to contribute.

I was there too, thanks to living on the base. I got to climb into the cockpit after it landed as my best friend's dad flew them. There is something special about the plane and the smell of the cockpit (musty leather, unique to military planes) is something I will remember.

I am disappointed to have been at various festivals this year on the wrong day to see it - so must make a concerted effort to donate and attend an event it is flying at.

[Fernie_fred]

Took this at Coventry Fly -in 26th September at its last 2010 public display.
Simply Awesome - Noise incredible Please donate all you can

Edited by Fernie_fred on Wednesday 20th October 14:40

Edited by Fernie_fred on Wednesday 20th October 15:47

[mr_spock]

dublet said:

Seriously, am I the only one who thought Spock?

Yes.

[AMV8Nick]

angusfaldo said:

AMV8Nick said:

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.

I thought originally Vulcan was at 32 squadron in Northholt and later in Waddington Lincoln. And then Red Arrows were at Scampton until its demise in 2008?

Either way, no matter. My Dad flew vulcans and we had unique chances to nose around one as kids. What a great aircraft.

Just maintained at Bitteswell

[williamp]

L100NYY said:

Stablelad said:

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?

^^^^Good idea!

+1

Its no longer based at Bruntingthorpe. they do have 2 Lightnings who would be glad of the money, a Victor, a Nimrod, a Comet, some Buccaneers, a Canberra, a....

[dan tournay]

and the victor there has flown recently too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3HaeYVlBw8

[Fury1630]

havoc said:

* 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...

No Harriers after May next year either - the increasingly beligerent Argentineans only have to bide thier time, we've already found the oil for them.

[Adrian@]

My 5 year old deaf boy (implanted with cochlear implants at 13 months, thank you..NHS) was standing under the Vulcan as it did it's fly by and turned, prior to landing at Coventry airport recently...both processors got flicked of his head and given that at that point he hears ZERO said he heard it ...the sound pressure wave was amazing. Having been in the static display in the past, the real thing is a must.....pay up.
Adrian@

[Oldred_V8S]

Fernie_fred said:

Took this at Coventry Fly -in 26th September at its last 2010 public display.
Simply Awesome - Noise incredible Please donate all you can

Edited by Fernie_fred on Wednesday 20th October 14:40

Edited by Fernie_fred on Wednesday 20th October 15:47

Yes please give to keep this flying, if you have ever seen it fly (and heard it) you will know why this must be preserved for future generations to enjoy and not shipped off to some museum. A truly awesome experience and one that makes you proud to be British.

An excellent call on having a Sunday Service at its home location.

[Chicane-UK]

From a conversation I was having at or around the Coventry fly-in, apparently the airframe of this plane only has a few years left in it anyway - so it seems tragic that they can't get a few more years out of it and retire it gracefully, rather than through a lack of funding.

It is a difficult one. There are more deserving charities out there.. but this is a fantastic piece of British history and I know now that I'll never forget seeing this flying for the first (and only?) time here in Coventry a month or so ago!

[rev-erend]

Soon we will be doing this for fuel for the Tornado and Euro Fighter .. with todays defense cutbacks !