Vulcan XH558 has no legacy plan if retired now??

Sadly no more flights this year. The fuel tank is it repairable so a new one has been ordered with 16week delivery time.

They could fly it into Cosford, paint it grey and white and pretend it is a VC10

You could do that on one side and on the other just paint it white with a row of windows and call it Concorde, who would know!

Richard

They could fly it into Cosford, paint it grey and white and pretend it is a VC10

………..would it be a ferry flight to Mr Weeks?

Why on earth would Kermit would be interested in it? I’d quite like to them them trying to land it on FoF’s grass strip though! 🙂

The thing is of little or no historical significance, being unrepresentative of a service example. The country is already littered with numerous examples rotting into the dirt, way in excess of the number warranted by the type’s fairly limited contribution to history. I say burn it!

Its all down to money, would the current custodians give it away,or try and flog it for an astronomical figure that no one in the UK could afford or would it be a ferry flight to Mr Weeks? I don’t want to see her sold to people with the best of intentions but find they have a money pit and it just deteriorates to nothing. Its a big aircraft and needs to be under cover. I have the utmost respect for those who keep the Victor and Nimrod and soon to be the VC 10 running but how many aircraft like that can such a self sacrificing band of volunteers handle? I am trying to be realistic here. If there was a bottomless pot of money all our aeronautical heritage would be under cover and cherished as they deserve. I am not forgetting the sterling work done on such aircraft as the Shackelton either against all odds.

David, yes hangared is highly desirable although neither of the Victors are. Did the lottery funding require an ongoing educational element when she stops flying? One would hope that the VTTS trust legacy plan would include the cost of a hanger funded by a further cash raising drive. The raffle prices are truly amazing and certainly draws my money. I think unless taxi running is included in the legacy plan much interest and therefore funding will be lost. Also if it was a solo exhibit interest will not be as high as in conjunction with a collection. Whilst Elvington is planning another hanger I assume this already has all its space allocated and do they have room for another? Would building a hanger at Bruntingthorpe be possible?
Ve3 consultation document, http://www.vulcantothesky.org/uploads/documents/Ve3BrochureA5-Final-Reference%20v7.pdf, appears to advocate a purpose built building at Robin Hood with taxi runs. personally I cannot see a solo exhibit being viable and funding other than for flying is surely going to be difficult to get. The document does refer to a National centre for Aviation Heritage which sounds fantastic but in reality where is funding going to come for that let alone the artefacts. Whilst this statement is sadly very true “‘Britain is the custodian of much of the world’s most important industrial heritage, but this legacy is increasingly at risk.’ The quote was attributed to the government’s heritage advisor for England. The article then quoted English Heritage as highlighting that our 20th Century industrial heritage is poorly understood and therefore most at risk.” the hard strapped government is busy selling off many sites of interest and threatening already well established museums such as Manchester and York. I would suggest these free museums are very instrumental in inspiring young people.
Personally I would prefer a rescued period hanger rather than a new build, although I accept that the one at Duxford does afford a new perspective but I do not think the one at Cosford works at all.

At the end of the day she will go wherever the up front funding is available which no doubt will be VTTS, how long that can be sustained is another matter.

Paul the ‘best choice’ is the place where it can be hangered or at least a long term plan put in place to achieve that . Ground running is fun but it doesn’t stop the weather!

I’m damn sure Elvington would keep it’s wheels* firmly on the deck and wouldn’t paint it a stupid pink colour so they get my vote. :eagerness:

*(it’s main wheels at least)

Surely the point is that this is not just another dead Vulcan. 558 is fully functioning and presumably ready for ground runs. Think of the sight of a Victor and Vulcan doing ground runs together making Bruntingthorpe or Elvington natural choices with lots of other attractions as well. Does Elvington still have ongoing problems with noise, or is that not related to planes ground running? Bruntingthorpe has other cold war jets ground running so would seem the best choice if this is an option. Funding and staffing is of course another matter.

Wasn’t that dependent on the IWM wanting her. They’ve certainly nowhere to put her at the moment….and already have a Vulcan.

Didn’t the lottery state when they gave the money that when she retires she’s to go to Duxford??

If the well runs dry and there is no money for upkeep or ground running,weigh it in for scrap its just another dead Vulcan. Remind me how many of those have we got and do we want another one rotting away? You may think I am being harsh but it could just end up as a great big millstone around a museums neck who might be better off working on something more manageable.

Also who on this forum would be prepared to turn up and help look after her?

I would, for one.

Being a former bomber base in Yorkshire which has a direct connection with the V bombers its more of a question as to why Elvington wouldn’t want her!

Personally i think that Finningley is not viable, as the Vulcan willl be completely isolated and arguably less likely to attract visitors or volunteers. But before anyone assumes that either Bruntingthorpe or Elvington is a viable option either – has anyone even asked them the question if they would be happy to take the Vulcan on, possibly at very short notice?

Also who on this forum would be prepared to turn up and help look after her?

Rob

To be honest i think they change their minds more often than they change their underwear! Theyll tell you anything to keep the money coming in, dont get me wrong i love seeing the old lady fly,and ive donated a sizeable chunk of cash over the last five or six years to help keep her in the air, but i think the main interests is to keep the Doctors pockets bulging these days, as hes told us himself he has no pension and therefore he needs to keep creaming a bit off the top during these twilight years of operation, quite what he’ll do next is anyones guess, afterdinner speeches, forums on fund raising for other charities, one things for sure his mortgage will be paid, i doubt the same goes for many of the other employees of vtts trust! Who seemingly live and work hand to mouth awaiting the sliding scale to reach its quarterly goal.Ive said it before and ill say it again, send her off to Brunty now before something else goes u/s which they cant repair and shes ground bound at Robin hood with her only alternative being taken to Brunty in five sections! Her future at RH cant be guaranteed if that airport expands theyll have no plans for an education centre and little time to allow an old corroding Vbomber to pound up and down a live runway on highdays and holidays!

When the end is near the money left should offer to buy a hanger to house the old girl & Elvington has the space for it.:eagerness:

I doubt there’d be any money left, certainly not enough to buy a hangar.

What about ground running her? Is anyone interested having her as a ground runner?

VttS were talking about ground running it at Doncaster and having an education centre, but I couldn’t see that working as surely their finances (and future finances) wont cover the costs.

As I said, I’d probably like to see it go to Elvington as they seem a pretty decent bunch who’d look after it as a ground runner, presuming they’d want a Vulcan of course.

Anyway, it’s not grounded yet so we’ll just have to wait and see what happens in the next couple of months.

What about ground running her? Is anyone interested having her as a ground runner?

When the end is near the money left should offer to buy a hanger to house the old girl & Elvington has the space for it.:eagerness: