Vulcan

[kev]

Managed to catch the Vulcan today during a dog walk on the banks of the river Derwent

 

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[Clicker]

It is a sight to behold isn't it?

You got a good shot there Kevin....as it was unexpected was it? ....

[fuzzyedges]

They did well to relay these down to the Falklands and scare the livings out of the Argies  

[colinb]

I grew-up with the Vulcan overhead day and night but now a very rare sight indeed and sadly this may be the last one we do see flying.

[JohnP]

Before I retired and I had more money coming in I was a member of the 'Vulcan to the Sky Club' and I used to make regular donations to help keep the Vulcan flying. In May 2010 I was lucky enough to visit the hanger at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire where the Vulcan was then housed, the 'Vulcan to the Sky Trust' had an arrangement with the RAF to use an hanger on the base. When RAF Lyneham was closed due to government cuts a new home had to be found, the Vulcan is now based at Robin Hood Airport at Doncaster, hanger tours can be booked if anyone is interested, details can be found in this link.

http://www.vulcantothesky.org/

Here are a few photos I took on my hanger tour in May 2010..

http://www.pbase.com/john1946/vulcan_xh558

What a shame it has now become too expensive to keep the Vulcan flying and this is the last year it will be seen in the air before becoming a museum piece.

 

[Denis]

It is not because it is too expensive John, but all technical support must be withdrawn by the end of the season. couple that with airframe life and airworthy engine hours, and you have the end of her.

But one place it should never be retired to is Robin hood airfield. The possibility of  the woefully underused Robin Hood airport becoming a large housing and development site in the future, the last flying Vulcan could end up as saucepans.

I would rather see it go to Bruntingthorpe or Elvington where she could flex her wings with fast runway runs (airframe and engine life do not count in this scenario) along with the countless other cold war jets that bring in the crowd.

[JohnP]

It is not because it is too expensive John, but all technical support must be withdrawn by the end of the season. couple that with airframe life and airworthy engine hours, and you have the end of her.

I understand this Denis!  I'm sure that if there were unlimited funds available one or two more seasons flying could have been possible, it was costing several million pounds each year to keep the vulcan in the air even before the points you have raised. It will be a shame when the famous Vulcan howl is no more.

[Phil]

Like that very much, Kev. Must admit, I didn't hear her though.

[colinb]

and once again last Thursday I missed a photo opportunity by 3 minutes as the Vulcan flew over Raf Waddington 

[VWGolf]

I'm glad I saw her this year, and heard that famous howl, at Cosford in June.

Yes, I think Bruntingthorpe would have been a more appropriate home for her.  Hope she's safe at Doncaster and doesn't end up as saucepans!  :-(

[ChrisLumix]

Saucepans would be a damn sight more useful ...