Vulcan – Now cleared for full aerobatics?

It’s all exciting stuff but I think I’d be happier if it wasn’t so spirited. It would be a shame to lose a valuable aircraft – or worse.

It looks thrilling but the idea of the display is that the aircraft shouldn’t know that it’s not in straight and level flight. Even the most exciting looking wing-over is 1G ( when flown correctly ).

Take-off and landing are the most strenuous events in such a display.

Lastly, are there live bang seats fitted to ‘558?

Yes; perversely, to disarm the seats would actually be a deviation from the standard to which the aircraft was certified ( or released to service, in this case ) and hence would require recertification.

I can’t take credit for the footage – it was merely the most suitable video of that particular display that I could find on YouTube.

I am pretty sure that the display is flown in such a way as to keep excessive G to a minimum (even with Kev Rumens at the controls!) – the rather severe looking wingovers are pretty much G neutral, in spite of appearing otherwise.

In answer to your last question; Yes, XH558 does have live ejector seats for pilot and co-pilot, just as the Vulcans did when in service – the cost of servicing the ejector seats is one of the more significant costs within the winter service.

Having just watched plough’s excellent footage of ‘558 displaying, it occurred to me that, whilst being well exercised, the aircraft did not appear to be too well flown.

Also, some of the manoeuvres appeared to be over the crowd and certainly towards it. Does their operating manual (if it exists) stipulate maximum parameters by which the aircraft is allowed to be flown, i.e.max bank angle, negative “g” limitations and such like (apart from the obvious positive “g” loading)? If the aircraft broke up (which has been known to happen), it appears to me that half of it could end up the wrong side of the crowd line.

It’s all exciting stuff but I think I’d be happier if it wasn’t so spirited. It would be a shame to lose a valuable aircraft – or worse.

Lastly, are there live bang seats fitted to ‘558?

Right, better get me ‘ead down and await the flak:eek:

Anon.

Hi All,
I would rather see the Vulcan displaying a mundane routine than thrown all over the sky as for one thing this would prolong the flying career that XH558 has left yes it looks and sounds great but unless they are secretly planning to extend the flying passed 2015 why not accept the Vulcan for what it is the last flying example.
Just a quick question if they are in the throws of enhancing the flying life for a couple of years would it cost much more to extend that say for another ten years or so and is this a cost or a physical impossibility ?

Geoff.:D

Probably one the most embarrassing, shameful examples of armchair experts mud-slinging ever to disgrace a forum, that thread.

Totally agree with you there Blue_2, but it’s not widely known as UKARSE for nothing. 😀

You sure do!!;)

Just to add my comment to this, was there at Waddington on Sunday, and the Vulcan display was spectacular to say the least, best I’ve seen since the restoration to flight.

One general point though, I feel neither video nor stills capture an air display at all well, as once the camera is zoomed in enough to show the aircraft, you lose visible references and since your eye is trying to interpret both the heading, bank, pitch and position of an aircraft along with the heading and pitch of an unseen camera, it just doesn’t work. You just have to be there:)

Re-Martin Withers’ flying: The saying goes; there are old pilots and there are bold pilots – but there are no old, bold pilots.

Other than that, I have no opinion on the matter except that Mr Withers is an excellent and accomplished chap.

Anon.

Firstly I disagree with the opinion expressed about Martin Withers and secondly I am sure he has and he can also be comfortable with his service record as a Vulcan pilot beside which his armchair detractors’ views mean little or nothing. Pathetic, really.

A thread has been running on UKAR forum recently discussing the differing displays flown by each of XH558s pilots. Whithers is the captain that displays the most mundane and uninspiring displays according to the contributors of the thread.

Probably one the most embarrassing, shameful examples of armchair experts mud-slinging ever to disgrace a forum, that thread. I just hope that Martin Withers has a thick skin…

Edit: I forgot to say, surely any proper aircraft enthusiast would rather see a Vulcan in the air, albeit flown in a manner they’d call mundane, than sat on the ground gathering dust? I know I would.
It ain’t going to be flying forever…

‘I got seriously sun burnt at Waddington behind her for for two hours and it was worth it’

There’s a song with some good advice about this! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wear_Sunscreen

At least she flew at Waddington! Yes the display was a bit short but after all the blood sweat and tears, at least she got to fly. A few years ago the idea of her flying again was just that… now somebody is moaning that Martin Withers doesn’t fly the way they want her too.

I got seriously sun burnt at Waddington behind her for for two hours and it was worth it. In a few years at least I will have the memories of her howling away… I’ll never forget having my heart in my mouth when I first saw her lift off. And for that I thank everyone involved. The £20 I spent on getting there is nothing compared to what has gone into getting XH558 in the air and keeping her there…

They removed numerous parts and then replaced the lost weight with ballast to keep her within Cof G. I cannot imagine the weight loss has had a serious effect of straight line speed -rate of climb maybe!

One of my friends had close ties with the restoration team of 558 and mentioned to me that 558 is unique in being the ‘fastest’ Vulcan that has ever flown (thus probably the most manouverable?). It achieves this by being quite a few tonnes lighter than any Vulcan before it, much of the electronics for the bomb system in particular has been stripped out as it would not need to be ‘checked and certified’. They also lost lots of other items in the same manner….although it would certainly be frowned upon it would be interesting to see what she could actually do before finally being grounded!!!

RE: Shoreham – his flypast over the crowd was a result of getting out of position. In the post show wash-up meeting the Flying Control Committee reported he did what they expected him to do in the circumstances. He’d actually broken away from his display routine to reposition as it was a particularly dificult day weather wise with the cloudbase and visability just good enough. The Shoreham display area can be challenge with a number of areas that must be avoided.

Ah I see! Well, it was pretty epic!!! left everyone i was with, including myself, with jaws dropped =D

Apparently, 558 did something approaching aerobatics at Waddo this year. It certainly animated a few of the crowd and it was captured on video. I’m sure Googling it will elicit some footage.

I was at the show but wasn’t watching the Vulcan as my attention was focused elsewhere whilst manning the Phantom.

ANON.

I can see the reason for your distraction, it seems that rear crew member is totally in non-standard flying kit, clearly not nomex, no gloves, no helmet, non-standard flying googles….although the personal floatation gear seems properly fitted…..:D

RE: Shoreham – his flypast over the crowd was a result of getting out of position. In the post show wash-up meeting the Flying Control Committee reported he did what they expected him to do in the circumstances. He’d actually broken away from his display routine to reposition as it was a particularly dificult day weather wise with the cloudbase and visability just good enough. The Shoreham display area can be challenge with a number of areas that must be avoided.

Really? It certainly wasn’t on the Saturday. I was distinctly underwhelmed by watching it trundle up and down.

I was at both Saturday and Sunday
the Saturday was marked by a delay due to a technical issue plus the wind direction changed so the Vulcan had to taxi to the other end of the Runway the Display IMHO was spirited and was exactly as agreed with the CAA, very entertaining and a huge round of applause from the record crowd on both days with the Dynamic Braking roll out. We don’t need high jinks with the Vulcan as the CAA will close them down VERY quickly. If you want to see something spectacular check YouTube for the Vulcan at Eastbourne in 2012 coming around Beachy Head and roaring up over the Cliff.:eagerness:

A thread has been running on UKAR forum recently discussing the differing displays flown by each of XH558s pilots. Whithers is the captain that displays the most mundane and uninspiring displays according to the contributors of the thread. I’ve not seen 558 yet this year so haven’t an opinion.

re;

O was told that a US carrier received a call from a Vulcan making an “emergency landing” they panicked thinking a Vulcan was going to land on the deck only to roar overhead and cheekily waggle her wings climbing away. No idea if theres any truth in it…