[Closed] No More Vulcan XH558 After This Season

It's an impressive sight. If you get the chance it's worth watching.

(not my film)

Flies over our house reasonably regularly (near Elvington Airfield). I will miss this wonderful sight 😥 (and the AWESOME sound 😀 ).

Very fond memories of seeing pairs of Vulcans training around Scarborough in my yoof. How can something so big maneuver so well?

Could it bomb the Argies for old time sake as its retirement flight !?

Will be trying to get to see it at least once this summer. I've seen it from a distance over Dunsfold from Pitch Hill, but never up close.

Why does machinery designed to kill people fascinate so much - same with the 2 Lancasters last summer. I just couldn't get enough of it. (real shame that the BBMF one is out of action for the rest of the season)

Flies over our house reasonably regularly (near Elvington Airfield). I will miss this wonderful sight (and the AWESOME sound )/quote]
In my yoof I lived just down the road from RAF Finningley. Fond memories of the Vulcans.

 

I've already decided that I MUST see it this year.
Im old enough to have seen them flying when I was young, but this year im going to head over to Bournemouth, as its my birthday [s]the next[/s] that day.

Only time I've seen it at close quarters was it passing low over Rylstone Crag as I was halfway a climb solo. Nearly shat meself.

Impressive beast.

Loud very very loud

Saw one on the ground at Brize Norton about 4 years ago, was amazed at how small it was sat next to the big American Globemaster

Flew right over me once while I was on a ride over local trials, I reckon I could have hit it with a decent catapult. Amazing sight and the noise was beyond 11.

Felt very lucky to see it in close formation with it's two ancestors, the Lancasters, last year.

Rachel

I remember seeing it as a kid when it was still allowed to do full power flybys... Apocalyptic stuff 😆 Shame but they always knew it was on a countdown, I thought maybe they should have cut down on the long distance flights especially when it was stuck on vfr but then, I suppose it would have cost a lot to keep parked for most of the year anyway and some of the issues that are grounding it are more about time than wear and tear.

I suppose some people will be asking questions about how they've been funding (and sourcing parts) for it with the axe hanging over it... But then it's always had the axe hanging over it

PA474 says "Tell me again about your how you're getting old"

If you get chance go on one of the hanger tours, it's a formidable sight close up. Plus you also get to see the complexity of the wing that you don't appreciate from afar.

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Take of from Finningley last September:

Great documentary on the Falklands raid

She is airborne over Lincolnshire. Just watched a perfect takeoff. Heading for Scamp ton, Waddington and Elvington for air tests to get this years certifications. Pics when I get home. Due back Finningley 6pm onwards.

It seems I am the only one who will not regret the grounding of a large Aluminium triangular begging bowl. I admire the effort that has gone into the flying, but I am very uncomfortable with the constant 'we need £200,000 now' pleas and the way the management of the charity has taken up quite a bit of the donations.

I have not seen it fly since the restoration, nor am I particularly bothered. I am genuinely pleased for those who have enjoyed the beast, but personally it is about 10-20 years too new for my aviation interests.

Could it bomb the Argies for old time sake as its retirement flight !?

So they could miss the target again ?

I had a model of it as a child, might have been Airfix but can't remember - awesome aeroplane.

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Must get a longer lens this year. And remember to turn off autofocus.

I've got one trip sorted to see it at the Pageant of Power.

It's the engines that have got to the end of their working live as I understand it. They carried out extensive modifications to the wings structures the other year to extend it's live.

Full power runs actually do less harm than lots of changes in running speed.

There is another working Vulcan down at Wellesbourne near Stratford upon Avon but they have never taken it further to get a certificate to fly. One reason is cost but also they have to strip out so much in the cockpit to bring it up to modern standards.

Well worth a visit. When I went a few years ago we were allowed to climb up into the cockpit which was really quite a sight. One of the guys showing us around used to work on Vulcans when they were in service. He got to fly in them a few times when they used to check on repairs and also delivering parts to other Vulcans.

When I asked him where he sat he said that as they always had a full crew they made him sit on the floor! They would then always do a full power take off and stand it up vertically just to show him what they could do. He said it was a little uncomfortable.

They didn't miss the target they managed to do just enough to stop the fast jets using the runway.It was also enough for the Argies to think that it could be done again .

It seems I am the only one who will not regret the grounding of a large Aluminium triangular begging bowl. I admire the effort that has gone into the flying, but I am very uncomfortable with the constant 'we need £200,000 now' pleas and the way the management of the charity has taken up quite a bit of the donations.

I have not seen it fly since the restoration, nor am I particularly bothered. I am genuinely pleased for those who have enjoyed the beast, but personally it is about 10-20 years too new for my aviation interests.

Pretty much my sentiments. A colleague at work, who knows his aviation stuff told me that the chairman of the charity was on 90K a year! (no facts to back this up mind)

Anyway, most of you lot missed the best bits of Vulcan displays, in the 70's & 80's they were chucked around the skies like toys but the best I ever saw was a 4 Vulcan scramble at Finningley in 1977 during the queens silver jubilee show. First time the Tornado was seen in public too IIR.

Hopefully they'll schedule in another appearance at the Sunderland Airshow. Saw it a year or so back but nothing will be better than the Finningley Airshow back in the early 90's when it did a flyby on full power. As a 9-10yr old boy it amazed me and scared the crap out of me at the same time.

Pictures from 2010 at Wellesbourne

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just got home afterstoppingand watching a 'display' at side of A64 nr york. caused quite a queue Stood and watched for about 10 mins made my day 😀 😀 😀 anyone else? what was going on?

I've been wanting to see it for years but never managed to. Last summer it flew low level directly over our back garden but I missed it because I was hoovering upstairs......absolutely gutted! 🙁

I've seen it a few times. Windermere airshow, Leuchars airshow plus a few flybys. Was most annoying that it didn't make it to Southport on the day I was there.

The day after Southport, the two Lancs did a Derwent Reservoir run and there had been talk of getting the Vulcan along too. But then they found out it wouldn't fit in the valley!

I think the Welshpool airshow is the closest one to me this year, will go and see it there.

It's good at Welshpool! Saw it there a couple of years ago.

My Dad used to fly them in the 70s. Never got a ride! Although I was pretty excited the one day I got to see the inside!

Had a fantastic view on my way home this evening over Elvington. Tight turns, powering upwards, and (as I said above) AWESOME noise.

Have a read of this...
http://www.neam.co.uk/wingate.html

That Vulcan flew over our school just before it banked to port & crashed, I was 14 at the time. I'll never forget that!

I feel extremely privileged to have worked on Vulcan's. So sad another piece of our aviation history is being lost for ever.

Few from Farnborough, shame they can't run the engines at full power any more 🙁

[url= https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7128/7640109666_7f6bb05f8a_b.jpg [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/cD8yqJ ]IMG_0867.jpg" target="_blank">https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7128/7640109666_7f6bb05f8a_b.jpg [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/cD8yqJ ]IMG_0867.jpg"/> [/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/ewanpanter/ ]Ewan[/url], on Flickr

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[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8430/7640127744_1d2a3d5713_b.jpg [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/cD8DNq ]IMG_0926.jpg" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8430/7640127744_1d2a3d5713_b.jpg [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/cD8DNq ]IMG_0926.jpg"/> [/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/ewanpanter/ ]Ewan[/url], on Flickr

esselgruntfuttock: My Dad is from Wingate so had this story from him as well... Read the actual details of the accident a few years ago now. Was very lucky no one was hurt. I bet they still talk about it in the village now.

Sludge Judge - Member

Last summer it flew low level directly over our back garden but I missed it because I was hoovering upstairs......absolutely gutted!

We're under one of the flightpaths for leuchars so we often get overflights during the airshow or on the days surrounding it... Much cooler seeing these things in the wild than at the circus I think. Had a DC3 in d-day paint come over me in the pentlands so low, I could probably have hit it with a well thrown rock, very cool.

Have also had it fly directly overhead here. As you say, it's cool when you're not expecting it and haven't gone out specifically to see it.

Says it all really.

We've got 76 of these still flying in the USAF. They plan to keep them in service till 2044...

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Esselgruntfuttock, what a thrilling read. Bob Alcock must have been one cool guy! Is the crater still there, preserved?

Thank you for this. Which appearances are up north??

Hope sunderland gets scheduled or else I won't get too see it:(

We've got 76 of these still flying in the USAF. They plan to keep them in service till 2044...

Partly to match what the Russians still fly. Its mainly for the look/visual threat isn't it?

(Thats an observation - not sure if true??)

[i]It seems I am the only one who will not regret the grounding of a large Aluminium triangular begging bowl.[/i]

I Agree with you, these things should be in museums, with big labels on them saying something along the lines of "This stupid waste of resource was solely designed to kill as many humans as possible, what a waste of time and effort"

As impressive as the B52 is... it certainly deserves its nickname BUF

The B-52 is still in use because it has a role, the Vulcan hasn't had a role for decades.

While the Vulcan is impressive for it's age, it just reminds me of how far things have moved on and it should be stuck in a museum.

nickc - Member

I Agree with you, these things should be in museums, with big labels on them saying something along the lines of "This stupid waste of resource was solely designed to kill as many humans as possible, what a waste of time and effort"

On one level I agree, but on another, it's a big cool flying thing and I can appreciate it for that despite its purpose.

Channel 4 did a documentary called V Bombers, but it's not online. It showed the 3 options, Victor, Valiant and Vulcan

Indeed, despite anything else it's the end of an era, this'll be the last Olympus powered aircraft to get grounded (by my count, unless any odd variants are out there).

If anyone wants to crawl about inside one, Solway Aviation Museum has one at Carlisle Airport. Doesn't cost much, plus you can get inside a Canberra and other stuff.

Esselgruntfuttock, what a thrilling read. Bob Alcock must have been one cool guy! Is the crater still there, preserved?

Bob must've been cooler than 'Cool Jack McCool from Coolesville' (who, apparently was dead cool)
Dunno about the crater, in the field behind Wingate school, all I know is that 2 things I'll never forget & are imprinted in my memory. A Vulcan on fire then crashing & a 4 Vulcan scramble.
(I saw the one at Sunderland aircraft museum come in to land for It's final time too.)

I Agree with you, these things should be in museums, with big labels on them saying something along the lines of "This stupid waste of resource was solely designed to kill as many humans as possible, what a waste of time and effort"

Except we'll never know if they actually were a waste of time & effort will we?

These and lightenings are superb

I'd love a bucaneer too though.

I'd love a buccaneer too though.

Don't even get me started on Buccs! A frigging jet powered lawn mower! (in the right hands)

A colleague at work, who knows his aviation stuff told me that the chairman of the charity was on 90K a year! (no facts to back this up mind)

Unlikely if it is a charity since it's illegal for trustees to be paid (other than reimbursing expenses incurred)..

A shame when she stops flying. Seen her several times over Kettering and watched her come over Cottersmore last year.

Whatever you think about the morals of great big flying things designed to kill people, they are usually fantastic pieces of engineering. And when the time comes for a piece of living, fire breathing history such as XH558 to pass into actual history, it will be a sad day.

Sat in a Lightening at Bruntingthorpe . Was on a tarck day and they were preping it for 'Rolling Thunder' the next day. Basically they give it beans up and down the runway as no flying is allowed.

Worked in Woking where the venue has / had an ex Desert Storm Buccaneer as a center peice display over the bar. Was still in pink camo with the mission stencils under the cockpit. Leaked abit occaisionally , hydraulics and avgas once where some sparks drilled into into a line to mount something.

Will be off to Bournmouth and Fairford hopefully this year. I can remember seeing a Vulcan in 1979 at Biggin Hill. Sat on the roof of my dads Austin 1100 as this huge plane made car shake on its suspension.

XH558 currently heading SE towards Lincoln as at 14:05 Friday.

I'm going to be around Throckmorton, Worcs, tomorrow pm to hopefully catch my first sight of her.

https://twitter.com/XH558/status/606808547314290688

esselgruntfuttock - Member

Don't even get me started on Buccs! A frigging jet powered lawn mower! (in the right hands)

I remember being at castle urquhart at loch ness, right by the lochside, and one came by absolutely level with us... which was impressive til his mate came by so low and so close, we could look down into the cockpit. My brother was down on the shore and said he felt the wind as it passed. Cool as.

(mind you, about a week later one fell out of the sky on a training operation so that might not have been such a great idea)

[quote=Stoner ]I'm going to be around Throckmorton, Worcs, tomorrow pm to hopefully catch my first sight of her.

Oh. Hadn't realised there was a Throckmorton air show! When I was last there there were a load of cars parked on the runway (and we were setting up kit in the control tower) - is that back in use?

Busy most of the day with a school thing, but hopefully some stuff might decide to overfly here, as it often seems to be used as a waypoint.

I remember standing under one at an airshow when I was ten as it nosed up into the sky and the pilot gave it some beans. Felt like I'd been picked up and shaken.

As much as I love the Vulcan, I loved the Victor more. Apparently it's unique in that it could fly at [i]exactly[/i] Mach 1...everything else will either fly slightly faster or slower than the speed of sound; something to do with the wing shape and the onset of relative critical Mach along the wing or something.

As a WMD, the V-Bomber force was hopeless compared to the Polaris subs that replaced them. They were a HUGE drain on our economy - not one but three (or four if you count the Short Sperrin) different types were designed and build (largely using hand building techniques similar to those employed building Lancasters and Halifaxes during WW2), not to mention the human cost of the training involved in ensuring crews could fly them into Eastern Europe to carry out their missions.

During the Falklands conflict, there was even a semi-serious plan to equip reconnaissance Victors with Sidewinders for self-defence...

You lot seem to like aviation pics. Check out Laurie's website.
The Mach Loop stuff is amazing.

[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/laurie-hughes/ ]Aviation photography at its best[/url]

JoeG - Member
We've got 76 of these still flying in the USAF. They plan to keep them in service till 2044...

They came into service in 56 so that will give them 88yrs service. Not many weapons (or indeed technology) since the sword and bow and arrow have had that longevity.
Design brief was launched in the mid 40's for flip's sake!!

Vulcan flying at Scottish air show in September, along with my fave - typhoons. Two days of amazing noise less than half a mile from my house - Ooft!. 😀

PJM1974 - Member

During the Falklands conflict, there was even a semi-serious plan to equip reconnaissance Victors with Sidewinders for self-defence...

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I don't know what role of victor that is though but it's from a falklands display

If that's a Victor then its role is to be [i]very[/i] effectively disguised as a Nimrod! 🙂

@Northwind - I'm sure it's already been pointed out that the picture is a Nimrod!

What you're looking for is [url= http://www.airrecce.co.uk/postww2/ac/Victor/victor.html ]here[/url]

eddiebaby
You lot seem to like aviation pics. Check out Laurie's website.
The Mach Loop stuff is amazing.

Some great stuff there. [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/100260973@N05/ ]Ben Stacey also on Flickr[/url] has some excellent photos, especially the slow speed pans. Would love to visit the Mach Loop but tis too far away.

Seeing as though my other half lives just down the road from finningley, does anyone know where I might be able to find flight plans for takeoffs to head for the upcoming air shows that are booked?

PJM1974 - Member

@Northwind - I'm sure it's already been pointed out that the picture is a Nimrod!

Bollocks. I didn't even really look at the pic, just googled for Victor + Sidewinder 😳

If you search twitter for XH558 on the day, there are often updates from the official account or spotters. Then head down to either the end of the runway or the quarry access road at the end of Old Bawtry Road in Finningley village and perch yourself on the mound for a good view of takeoff. She normally lifts about 1/3 of the way down the runway and then does a hard wingover to the left to please the watchers, but it's all unofficial because when they properly published takeoff and landing times before there were quite a few traffic issues with people coming for a look.

Managed to spot it flying from Amsterdam to Manchester this morning at approx 24,000ft

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That shot is fantastic Russell.

My old boss used to work on Vulcans, he has many stories but this is the best.

A Vulcan was in the hanger for a major service. It was sitting on 3 big jacks, one under each wing and one under the nose. Part of the service involved setting up the landing gear sequencing cam. Remember this is pre computer days so it was mainly electro-mechanical. The landing sequence worked off a cam shaft, various lobes of which triggered bay door open, pressurise hydraulics, lock doors open, lower gear, lock pin deployment etc. By all accounts they were a sod to setup.

An up and coming almost passed out apprentice had been given the task of setting it up BUT was under strict instructions NOT to test it until his work had been checked. He thought he would try and lock good and whilst sitting in the cockpit triggered the landing gear down cycle. Unfortunately he'd got it VERY wrong. The potent hydraulics smashed the gear through the still locked doors with a deafening sound of tearing metal. Such was the forces involved the Vulcan rocked back and up off its jacks the nose rising into the air.

Staff threw themselves out of the hanger as the plane crashed back down onto its nose jack! The almost serviced plane needed extensive repairs..........

The apprentice and his instructor had to suffer a stern listening too whilst on the spiky chair.

Now why didn't I think of that!
I was trying to find a schedule for throckmorton to try and work it out...
According to faceache it will be afternoon sometime, which fits in nicely with plans.

We've got 76 of these still flying in the USAF. They plan to keep them in service till 2044...
Partly to match what the Russians still fly. [b]Its mainly for the look/visual threat isn't it?[/b]

(Thats an observation - not sure if true??)

esselgruntfuttock - Member
I'd love a buccaneer too though.
Don't even get me started on Buccs! A frigging jet powered lawn mower! (in the right hands)

Buccs at 100ft!
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by bro's just tipped me that http://planestv.com/live are streaming live from throckmorton today.

Today's takeoff!

Anybody go Vulcan spotting today? Rode over to Donny - think I managed to catch it 🙂

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Close enough to taste it on landing...