Today I made the trip up to Wellesbourne for the annual open day in aid of the preservation of XM655. To keep an aircraft of this size in such fine condition is a tremendous acheivement and says alot about the dedication of her volunteer crew. The flight crew for todays two runs were led by Sqdn Ldr (RAF retd) Dave Thomas (pictured). Dave the former VDF display pilot of course is in line to fly XH558.
Here’s a selection of images from Wellesbourne.
Septic.
By: XL391 - 20th August 2006 at 16:57
As far as i’m aware, all Vulcans are and always have been heavy smokers!!
By: Peter - 20th August 2006 at 15:41
She does seem to be smokey particularly from the right side is this normal or just with sitting between runs?
By: Rob68 - 24th June 2006 at 11:20
Few more wellesbourne pics
By: TempestNut - 22nd June 2006 at 23:10
Vulcan’s were always visiting New Zealand and I saw my first Vulcan display some time in the early 70’s at Hamilton airport of all places. The thing I remember most apart from the noise was the fast run and steep climb to 20,000ft to end the display. No ATC probs in NZ in those days.
By: Septic - 22nd June 2006 at 22:45
Sorry Ray,
No stick used just considerably stronger left arm since lens purchase last year.
Septic.
By: Ray Jade - 22nd June 2006 at 08:54
Thanks once again for all the kind comments,
Jogger321, totally agree with you on this one, cotton wool wrapped future beckons, now where did I put my jigsaw. :rolleyes:
Lastly here’s a shot of XA903.
Septic.
That must be quite a lens – was that you with near the Air Atlantique departure lounge with something akin to a dustbin on a stick?
By: Smith - 22nd June 2006 at 02:32
Vulcan takes bite out of runway
As for New Zealand and the Vulcan – care to tell us more about the connection in terms of the operational careeer of the type?
Well there was the one that tried to smear itself all over Wellington’s runway
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=115748
By: wv838 - 21st June 2006 at 23:55
E-Bay and Vulcans -possibly not a brilliant combination !
Oh I don’t know… there’s a Manchester bidder who could be interested. 😀
Roy.
By: Septic - 21st June 2006 at 21:25
Great stuff Septic! I can’t believe how good she looks, considering this aircraft was vandalised with graffiti a few years ago! What a shame the same TLC can’t go into the other Vulcans preserved outside? :rolleyes: There must be constant work on her condition, most weekends I guess?
Thanks Albert,
As far as I’m aware the maintenance team for XM655 is relatively small but obviouslly very dedicated, BTW there is an excellent new DVD on XM655.
Septic.
By: Vulcan903 - 21st June 2006 at 17:29
Maybe just Flypast then if the price is right!
By: David Burke - 21st June 2006 at 16:06
E-Bay and Vulcans -possibly not a brilliant combination !
By: Vulcan903 - 21st June 2006 at 15:57
Vulcan – are you sure there isn’t room for 903 at Farnborough? The Lightning nose is moving out. As for New Zealand and the Vulcan – care to tell us more about the connection in terms of the operational careeer of the type?
Taken from VTTS! I never mentioned an operational career visit.
Born in New Zealand , Felicity first came into contact with Vulcan when XH498 visited New Zealand to celebrate the opening of Wellington Airport .
903 will go in Flypast / E Bay in the next few months.
By: Firebird - 21st June 2006 at 12:17
What happened to Paul Milikin? Did he not fly XH558 last, and thus surely he’d be the better choice for flying it again?
No, Dave Thomas flew ‘558 on her final flight delivery to Brunty, although IIRC Paul flew the last display weekend at Finningley and Cranfield.
I believe Paul doesn’t have the appropiate current license/flight time etc to be considered.
By: David Burke - 21st June 2006 at 11:41
Vulcan – are you sure there isn’t room for 903 at Farnborough? The Lightning nose is moving out. As for New Zealand and the Vulcan – care to tell us more about the connection in terms of the operational careeer of the type?
By: ALBERT ROSS - 21st June 2006 at 10:16
Great stuff Septic! I can’t believe how good she looks, considering this aircraft was vandalised with graffiti a few years ago! What a shame the same TLC can’t go into the other Vulcans preserved outside? :rolleyes: There must be constant work on her condition, most weekends I guess?
By: Vulcan903 - 21st June 2006 at 09:56
Hi piccy of XA903 indeed!
F.A.S.T do not have room for XA903 I’m afraid. It would have been handy for 903 to go back to Farnborough. And yes there is a connection with New Zealand and Vulcans, and yes a museum is interested in 903 down there!
By: Septic - 20th June 2006 at 22:28
Thanks once again for all the kind comments,
Jogger321, totally agree with you on this one, cotton wool wrapped future beckons, now where did I put my jigsaw. :rolleyes:
Lastly here’s a shot of XA903.
Septic.
By: Bluebird Mike - 20th June 2006 at 22:13
Lovely photos there.
What happened to Paul Milikin? Did he not fly XH558 last, and thus surely he’d be the better choice for flying it again?
By: ZRX61 - 20th June 2006 at 21:27
Whether New Zealand has any particular connection with the Vulcan as a type is debateable.
The RAF did a quite commenable job of re-landscaping the approach to one of their airports with one… Does that count? 😀
By: jogger321 - 20th June 2006 at 18:35
I’ve got a feeling at this rate everyone will die of boredom the way things are going if you get my drift 🙂
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June 18, 2006 at 9:30 pm