Not looking good – XM603.

re;

The avro ones? Pics went up on here a while ago n they looked in good shape externally would be ideal if they went to a good home if all else fail.

They’re not listed so who knows what might happen. None of the plans seem to involve preserving any of the buildings at Woodford. The assembly hall must be useful for something – it is 1/4 mile long and in good condition. Some of the flight sheds buildings were not in a great state even when I was there so I shudder to think what they’re like now.

re;

im concerned whats going to happen to the WW1 Flight Sheds.

Thanks for posting that. The paintwork has been looking a little faded recently.
I look forward to her getting back into shape.

To take the thread back off topic for a second and answer an earlier worry;

Yes, but I think it doubtful that they will be allowed to leave it where it is for
the long term. With the rapidly expanding airport, the flying club and Vulcan
will no doubt have to find new homes.

Message from the VRT chairman on their facebook group;

“We are on the move from our workshop building by the end of september but have an exciting new location being prepared. XL426 is staying on its current pan for quite a while. The airport supports our work and doesn’t want us to leave. Needless to say we have no plans to leave either. Look out for detailed updates in our Members’ newsletters and please do let us know if you are interested in joining the volunteer team”

Sounds like XL426 is safe for a while yet. Let’s also hope that the rumours JT442 heard are true.

In the interests of accuracy.

Dauntless dive bombers were “eyesores” when they came out of Lake Michigan, some of them are now FLYING.

Not as far as I’m aware. Two F4F Wildcats have been restored to flight from lake recoveries, but no Dauntlesses. Several SBD Dauntlesses, the only Vultee SB2U Vindicator, and recently a number of other historic types have been recovered for the US Naval Aviation Museum, and are stored, restored, on display or loan to other museums – but not flying.

Regards,

When Hatfield closed, the old BAe Trident 3 remained. Although it was gifted to the dH museum, there was no practicable way of moving it, and once all avenues had been discounted for moving the collection to Hatfield, it was taken back by Arlington Estates and scrapped.

We cannot save everything, and nor should we. Better to spend time and money on examples which are secure, and can be restored more easily.

Bruce

If a group was to come forward do you have any idea whether BAE would release it to them at all? I guess the estates company will want it off their land fairly shortly.

MH

That’s all very well but it is in a poor state and would require a large amount of restoration which no-one seems willing to take on or to fund.

I think its a shame if people don’t mind it being scrapped. There maybe several other examples but they aren’t all completely safe and above all its nice to have a selection spread across the country for people to see.

Woodford was the birthplace of the Vulcan and after 603 is gone where will the next nearest example be? Its also nice to see an example in white, something that is very unlikely to ever happen with any of the others.

MOSI would be a good place for some or all of 603 but its hard to tell what they are up to at the moment. Their plans at one stage were to ‘modernise’ the air and space hall by merging it with the rest of the museum and only keeping certain exhibits, I think the feeling there is that there is currently too many. I believe they have a Tornado F3, Vampire and bits of an RJX in storage too.

MAN airport viewing area would be nice, expecially with the Nimrod there now too.

Personally speaking it was sheltering under 603 at a rainy 80’s airshow that started my interest in the whole aviation subject, so I guess at least one person does care still 🙂

MH

Aw a bit naughty Sadsack, XL318 was properly dismantled at Scampton, roaded to and rebuilt at Hendon by an RAF team with no wrecking of it at all, in fact it must have been quite a labour intensive and expensive task.
Pics here, http://www.avrovulcan.org.uk/XL318_dismantling/index.htm

What a fascinating series of photos

Mentioned this before but..

“Crying shame that at least part XM603 can not be saved for the Manchester Science and Industry Museum. Ok I understand they lack the space for the whole aircraftt and the cost to dismantle and move would be huge. But surely the nose, fuselage / bomb bay and vertical tail are could be relocated and placed on display. It would make a stunning exhibit with wings removed. Not ideal but better than just ‘pots an’ pans’ “

Isn’t the MOSI aviation gallery stuffed full enough? There’s other vulcans and more lively ones than that. I’d rather see the pristine Shack stay than yet another example of pieces of another dead Vulcan.

Mentioned this before but..

“Crying shame that at least part XM603 can not be saved for the Manchester Science and Industry Museum. Ok I understand they lack the space for the whole aircraftt and the cost to dismantle and move would be huge. But surely the nose, fuselage / bomb bay and vertical tail are could be relocated and placed on display. It would make a stunning exhibit with wings removed. Not ideal but better than just ‘pots an’ pans’ “

I think it’s already done what it can for other Vulcans. Both XH558 and XM655 have had various parts from it to help keep them running.

I always thought it would inevitably be scrapped with perhaps the cockpit being saved, but we’ll see I guess.

Keep your eyes peeled as I dont think your comments are far from the mark if what I have been told by the Avro Heritage guys works out.She will at least benifit at least four other aircraft and that is probably the best and fairest thing at the end of the day benifit others rather than the scrap mans torch.

mike E

www.whirlwindfighterproject.org

Well quite.
Some think it is going to be saved – I’m not sure where though as the site is closing in a few weeks.

Father Pewtey

Surely it wouldn’t be doctor Pewtey? Father Pewtey maybe, come to give her the Last Rites…..

As others have said there are plenty of Vulcans about still. If she can be saved then great, but if she can’t it’s hardly worth shedding a tear over is it?

Regards,

kev35

Yes it will be – it had better happen soon though.

It’ll be a nice surprise then.

I’d pretty much agree with Derek’s post above. Plenty of Vulcans preserved already, this one has helped keep other Vulcans running and I don’t really see what else they can do with it.

Like I said before, maybe the cockpit can be saved and displayed somewhere hopefully, but I’d be very surprised if they could save the whole airframe.

Meanwhile back at XM603…..

What part of “Aircraft Preservation” are you having a problem with? The Canadian Halifax was an “eyesore” when she came out of the Norwegian Lake, now look at her. Dauntless dive bombers were “eyesores” when they came out of Lake Michigan, some of them are now FLYING.
Thank heavens you’re not a doctor…

I’m not having a problem with aircraft preservation at all. Why would you want to preserve XM603 anyway? XM603 It has been sitting outside for over 20 years, slowly corroding away. It is in a poor condition and efforts to save it have come to nothing. There are 15(?) Vulcans in the UK. Most in better condition than XM603 and anway nobody is interested enough to want to save it. The Halifax was unique and worth saving – it is not even worthy of comparison.

I would be obliged if you could use a little less confrontational language in future.