Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Entwood on 28 June 2010, 11:53:11
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From the VTTS website :
XH558 Update - 25th June 2010
25 June 2010 - Vulcan To the Sky Trust
Engineering Update Friday 25thJune 2010
The Engineers and support contractors continue to make great strides in preparing XH558 for her 2010 Display season.
The port undercarriage is now fitted and tested. The next step, was to begin lowering the aircraft weight back onto her main wheels for the first time in nearly 9 months. This was completed on Thursday.
We still have a days work to complete the engines test and the remaining electrical test prior to the first post service test flight schedule.
Our Engineering Authority, Marshall Aerospace and OEM’s, BAE and Rolls Royce, together with the CAA, are working hard to complete all the relevant paper work necessary to allow the application for a permit to test. Once the test flight is completed and rectification is clear, a Permit Maintenance release will be signed by MA and the CAA will then issue a permit to fly.
The CAA have stated that they will support MA with the turn around of this document in the shortest possible time. Without the regularity paperwork in place and the master of this document on board the aircraft, we will be unable to display the aircraft.
However, as has been said many times before, reliability and safety will never be sacrificed in returning XH558 to the Display Circuit.
It should be remembered, that only in March, the whole project was near to financial collapse, with the lack of funding preventing the Winter service and major air frame life extensions from starting.
To be even in the position we are now, just 3 months later, is a major achievement for the whole team!
To offer every good chance of making RAF Waddington on the 3rd and 4th of July, we have decided to postpone an official announcement on XH558’s condition till the early part of next week. We feel this will allow the public the best notice of the aircraft's condition and the likelihood of her attendance.
We would appreciate your understanding of this matter and look forward to your continued support, throughout the season to come.
Thank you.
Vulcan To the Sky Trust.
Things balanced on a knife edge .... again ..
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Good news, some photos taken by me at Bournemouth last year...
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/AirShow/DSC_0541.JPG)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/AirShow/DSC_0547.JPG)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/AirShow/DSC_0565.JPG)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/AirShow/DSC_0584.JPG)
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BBC Radio Lincolnshire reporting that flight tests are starting today
We are off to Waddington Saturday and are planning a fab day regardless of whether or not the Vulcan is there
Grew up seeing it at airshows and caught it on a practice display at Waddo a couple of years ago too
Lovely noise !!!! :)
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Test flight today (Monday) is a bit ambitious....they have a ton of paperwork to complete for all the airframe mods and servicing, if this is cleared then they have to ground run all 4 engines, more paperwork, apply to the CAA for test flight permission, more paperwork....you get the idea.
I would hope she test flies by Wednesday, then more post test flight paperwork, and then a minimum of 3 display routines in front of a CAA examiner before permission is given to display to the public.
Waddington is just possible but there is no slack for problems, crew & CAA availability etc.
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Was the Vulcan subject to these strict beurocratic proceedures during it's RAF service? Is it something that was imposed when it moved to civilian ownership or just due to the age of the aircraft?
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don't go there - have you seen the Haddon-Cave Nimrod report ?
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Was the Vulcan subject to these strict beurocratic proceedures during it's RAF service? Is it something that was imposed when it moved to civilian ownership or just due to the age of the aircraft?
Its since preservation.....as it now falls under the CAA codes as a complex aircraft.
But still, it ensures she is pretty well maintained and safe.
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Final pre engine run checks completed today including a tow outside so the Garmin sat nav could see the sky to check it all still works.
No engine runs as there was another dead a/c blocking access to the running pan.
Hopefully the noise generators will be checked out tomorrow.
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Was the Vulcan subject to these strict beurocratic proceedures during it's RAF service? Is it something that was imposed when it moved to civilian ownership or just due to the age of the aircraft?
Under CAA rules as applied to XH558 at present she must be 100% serviceable to fly or display. Most commercial a/c and military a/c will be flying with one or more 'known' snags.
This can give rise to some no-shows at air shows but there were very few engineering / serviceability related no shows in her first season back flying which is incredible given her age and the fact that she was completely dismantled at one point. Well done the engineering team.
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sounds like things are looking up :y
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Photo's of todays outing are here ..
http://www.site.vulcantothesky.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9512&whichpage=10
right down the bottom of the page .. :)
Courtesy of "Mackrick" :)
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I've got a grandstand seat for this. I can SEE Waddington RAF base from my living room window on the other side of Lincoln - so wont have to pay or drive anywhere this weekend to enjoy the noise! :y
Weekend before last we got buzzed by a low level flypast by "City of Lincoln" - awesome :y
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Apparently booked to fly at Farnborough!
http://www.farnborough.com/Site/Content/Farnborough2010/Aircraft/Daily-Flying-Display.aspx?Z=283
I'm considering going...
..and I see that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner will be on static display. :y
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I'm working at the show this weekend and I sure hope it makes a flight.
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From VTTS site this morning :
Herculean efforts continue to ready Vulcan XH558 for RAF Waddington Airshow
Huge efforts are being made to complete the final servicing procedures & tests that would allow Vulcan XH558 to appear at the Waddington Airshow this coming weekend. The Vulcan to the Sky Trust (VTST), in partnership with the CAA, Marshall Aerospace, BAE Systems, Messier-Dowty, Kearsley Airways and Rolls-Royce, continues to do its utmost to try to ensure XH558 takes her rightful place in the skies above Waddington in celebration of her 50th Birthday. XH558 was the first Vulcan B.Mk2 to be delivered to the Royal Air Force at Waddington in July 1960, so it is a particularly significant & poignant year for this iconic and much loved aircraft.
Dr Robert Pleming, Chief Executive of VTST said: "Given where we were at the start of March, to be able to reach this stage and to have the aircraft almost on the brink of flying again has been an incredible achievement. Without a huge amount of commitment, energy, determination, problem-solving and hard work from all at VTST and at our partner and supplier organisations, this just would not have been possible."
"The Winter Service, Undercarriage Overhaul & Structural Fatigue Life Extension Modifications carried out on XH558 over the last four months have been a one-off & complex engineering project, which has had to be carried to the highest technical standards. Some of the work had never been carried out on a Vulcan airframe before. This was all performed in the light of the October 2009 Haddon-Cave report on the Nimrod MR2 crash in Afghanistan in 2006, which has sensitised the aerospace industry to the issues of ageing aircraft airworthiness.
We now stand at the point where we are working to ensure that all of the engineering, technical, regulatory and safety requirements are in place and correctly documented, to maximise the chance of appearing at the Waddington Airshow. Please bear with us, because while this vital work is moving forward positively, we remain uncertain it will be completed in time. We will continue to publish regular updates on our website to ensure that everyone is fully aware of our progress."
In recognition of all the efforts to return this unique British aircraft to flight, Vulcan XH558 has had the inscription "The Spirit of Great Britain" added to her livery. It is clearly only through this “Spirit” and the immense help and support that the public have so generously given that she is able to fly, to honour the brave people who remained on alert during the Cold War, to thrill crowds and to inspire the young throughout the United Kingdom.
Dr Pleming continued: "We would like to thank all the people who have given so generously to help support this superb example of British engineering and heritage. I believe that XH558 and the VTST exemplify the "Spirit of Great Britain", which I hope will inspire young people and encourage them to consider a career in the fields of engineering and technology, such an important part of all of our futures. All of the team at VTST are very proud to be associated with this endeavour, especially in this the major milestone of XH558’s Golden Anniversary year."
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It looks Entwood as though the Vulcan XH558 Team are working tirelessly to achieve their goals and one way or another this beautiful aircraft will be seen flying again soon.
When that will actually be who knows, but this splendid team WILL do it!! 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) :y :y
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XH558 is now safely on the gorund at Brize Norton after a 1 hr 45 min test flight today.
Having a compass swing done then, I believe, is the "validation" of the display by the CAA
VTTS have suddenly redone the whole website ... and I can't find the forums to check other details. Hopefully a phone call will sort things out for me !!
EDIT .. Sorted :)
further update ..
(From one of the engineers about 30 minutes ago) The compass swing is in progress as I write this post, the result affects what time she will be ready or not. As Wellington(Lord)said " a damn close run thing". It is always thus on the Vulcan, things go wrong we work harder to overcome them. I am sat here myself waiting to find out so I will know where I am working tomorrow, Brize Norton or maybe Waddo, hopefully the latter.
Fingers (arms, legs, toes etc etc) crossed :)
Further Edit :
http://www.vulcantothesky.org/club/forum.html
then down to "engineering"
then "558 Brize 01 Jul 10" and a luverly set of photo's by mackrick of todays outing .. :)
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Just had a look at the CAA website under her civil reg G-VLCN and noted that her new Permit To Fly application was received on 28th June 2010 but it is stated that the expected date of processing isnt until 6th July 2010
Fingers crossed for Waddo, but looking forward to a good time with or without !!!
:y
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[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHoX-rygEhQ[/media]
Today's flight. :y :y :y :y
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It never ceases to amaze me how little runway shes needs to get off the ground
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It never ceases to amaze me how little runway shes needs to get off the ground
True .. but empty with just a 2 hour flight to do .. she's pretty light..
''twas somewhat different on Ascension Island a few years back ....
Hot, fueled to the gunnels, and with some very heavy "presents" to take South ...
They used most of the 10,019 ft available for those takeoffs !!
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sure those anti-radar pods they 'borrowed' and welded on weighed a bit too, i really must read 607 book again
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It never ceases to amaze me how little runway shes needs to get off the ground
That probably is down to her being unarmed, carrying no payload and only limited fuel on board. ;) ;)
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I have just researched the following Vulcan facts (for the B1 Mk1)
Empty weight: 83,573 lb (including crew) (37,144 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 170,000 lb (77,111 kg) (200,180lb for the Mk2)
Now as a comparison a fully loaded and fueled WW2 Lancaster for a raid on Germany was 68,000lb
The interesting point is though that the maximum bomb load for the Vulcan was 21,000lb. The Lancaster had a maximum bomb load of 22,000lb. The extra weight given over to the Vulcan was for the fuel load for long range missions, whilst the hydrogen or nuclear bombs carried were relatively light compared to the HE bombs of WW2, the heavist being Grand Slam of 22,000lb, which of course was at the maximum loading for a Lancaster.
The range of a Vulcan was 3,000 miles (3,450 miles for the Mk2), but for a Lancaster it was just 1,660 miles
;) ;)
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[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHoX-rygEhQ[/media]
Today's flight. :y :y :y :y
That's a great video Nick - thanks. This country produced some formidable aircraft at one time. 8-)
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Slightly off topic, but worthy of a mension, read " the TSR-2" book....all about what might have been, if the government of the day hadn't pulled the money to build it.
Similarities to the new eurofighter wont be lost on you, looks the same, has the same qualities........
Then note the name of the design team. Only 30 years difference!
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the Vulcan was designed with HUGE wings, giving the lift required to operate in the very thin air at the original design altitude.
this had the useful benefit of having a great deal of surplus lift at low altitudes, which is why it needs little runway to get airborne and why it is so good at aerobatics.
ironically, it also explains why out of the three V-bombers, it was the longest serving (as a bomber), because the lift surplus enables better response at low altitudes.
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Slightly off topic, but worthy of a mension, read " the TSR-2" book....all about what might have been, if the government of the day hadn't pulled the money to build it.
Similarities to the new eurofighter wont be lost on you, looks the same, has the same qualities........
Then note the name of the design team. Only 30 years difference!
This country produced some formidable aircraft at one time
I'm happy to repeat this from a previous post Six 8-) :y :y
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the Vulcan was designed with HUGE wings, giving the lift required to operate in the very thin air at the original design altitude.
this had the useful benefit of having a great deal of surplus lift at low altitudes, which is why it needs little runway to get airborne and why it is so good at aerobatics.
ironically, it also explains why out of the three V-bombers, it was the longest serving (as a bomber), because the lift surplus enables better response at low altitudes.
I found Vulcan 607 book fascinating, especially when they took on the Americans in War Games in states. American B52 pilots staggered at how nimble the Vulcan was and how low they flew and chucked it around. Made the B52's look like flying slugs in comparison
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Slightly off topic, but worthy of a mension, read " the TSR-2" book....all about what might have been, if the government of the day hadn't pulled the money to build it.
Similarities to the new eurofighter wont be lost on you, looks the same, has the same qualities........
Then note the name of the design team. Only 30 years difference!
This country produced some formidable aircraft at one time
I'm happy to repeat this from a previous post Six 8-) :y :y
Yes please, Zulu!!
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I saw her flying over Kelmarsh Festival of Living History last year... Still a very impressive beauty with a definitive youthfulness about her, despite her being retirement age....
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FANTASTIC NEWS :
From VTTS site : http://www.vulcantothesky.org/news/97/82/Waddington-Weekend.html
Latest news on this weekend's operations....
Following a successful test flight yesterday, we have now submitted paperwork to the CAA and are awaiting the Permit to Fly. The Crew were all happy with the flight and no faults were reported. The CAA Test pilot on board, even commented that "she flew beautifully." On landing at RAF Brize Norton, a successful compass swing was completed. (Update: Permit now signed and en-route to Aircraft).
To achieve this level of reliability after such a complex major service and modification programme, is a true testimony to the skills and dedication of our Engineering Team. Many congratulations to everyone involved.
Turning now to this weekend, we intend to depart RAF Brize Norton on Saturday and Sunday 3rd and 4th July , flying to RAF Waddington to display, then transit to Goodwood Festival of Speed for another display (on Sunday Only), prior to return to Brize. We will not be landing at Waddington.
Update on planned timings:
Waddington Saturday: Arrival 14:31 with bombing run and display.
Waddington Sunday: Arrival 14:00, with potential bombing run, then into display.
All this is subject to the usual caveats of weather and serviceability, and particularly, on the arrival of a fully signed permit on board the aircraft. All parties are working hard to achieve this in the shortest possible time - so please keep watching our "ticker-tape" updates for the current situation.
We thank you for your continued support and that you will enjoy seeing XH558 in the air very soon.
If you are at Waddo .... ENJOY
Latest developments can be tracked on the vulcan twitter page
http://twitter.com/xh558
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Yep, brilliant news, not just for me but for the other 185000 people expected at Waddington tomrw and Sunday
Well done to all involved
:y :y :y :y :y :y :y :y :y :y
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Awesome aircraft remember seeing one at an air show at Wem in Shropshire in the early 70's. Know someone ex RAF who used to work on Victors has some good stories.
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Well, we went to Waddington for the airshow today and it was brilliant.
Warm, sunny day with a bit of a breeze so not too hot.
Plenty to see and do, little un was well happy with his F5 and Tornado models
Great show, plenty of flying and the Vulcan displayed too.........!!
Well done to all involved at Waddo.
:y
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does anyone know if she has any chance of making an appearance at Fairford this year? Thankyou
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Saw her flying over Wellingborough today, managed to get a very quick picture too, but, sadly by the time I saw her and got my camera, I only managed to get the back of her....
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I was at the festival of speed when the vulcan did a display there and it was really good to see her flying again,noise on the climb outs was epic :y :y
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Spent the weekend 'working' at the airshow and must admit that the Vulcan was the biggest crowd stopper.I hadn't seen one in the air since I was about seven or eight when they flew over my Grandma's house,fantastic sight and noise to beat even the Typhoon in my humble opinion.