Vulcan XH558 – Imminent completion

Go to this link…

http://vbc01.verifiedalarms.co.uk

Use admin/aaa as login and password. New cameras…

John

anyone know why the vulcams aren’t working anymore? have they been taken offline so people don’t know when she’s going to fly for the first time?

Thanks Bruce

I have to laugh over the hey the wheels are yellow now there silver posts lately on their forum.

As usual, you need to do some hunting to find the ‘real’ information. Stolen from another board, are two posts from ‘Flipflopman’, who also posts here from time to time. He is a busy man it seems, so I hope he wont mind me doing a bit of cutting and pasting:

First comment:

558 will be having no more ‘Retraction Tests’ and will not be going up on jacks again. Taxi tests are not in the least as important as some people appear to make out. Taxi testing does not form ANY major part of the post Major test. She is also not limited to a ‘gear down’ flight from Brunty on her initial flight. She is not a new aircraft, her systems are well tested, as is her performance with gear up and down.

Second comment:

The actual, current state of play with 558, is that she is now all but complete. Engine runs are now all but complete, with all idling/max adjustments done and satisfactory. There are another few runs to take place, but these will be for the Electrical trade, to allow them to set up their goodies. Flying Controls are the last of the Airframe jobs, with that in progress as we speak. This has ended up happening last, as we only recieved the PFCU motors a couple of weeks back. Those 10 motors held us up massively, and shockingly were completely out of TVOC’s control. Fuel, Oxy, Hyds (Including all retractions and blowdowns) are fully complete and serviceable. The ‘new build’ avionics suite is complete and fully integrated, with pitot-statics fully tested and rock solid. The electrical system is now fully serviceable, the last snag of #4 generator refusing to come on line, has been traced to a faulty pressure switch on the #4 CSDU, so this has now been cured.

All in, as I have stated, the aircraft is now essentially finished, with the exception of the remainder of the Flying Control set up. This is basically the Range of Movement checks, and the Force Deflection plotting. That then, will be that.

As goes ‘First Flight’ well, that is not far away now, but in honesty, I myself don’t actually know when this will take place. As was stated in the press release, we now have a hold up with paperwork issues, and final clarification by the CAA. This is purely an issue between Marshall Aerospace, who are effectively controlling 558’s rebuild and all paperwork issues, and the CAA. Once those issues are ironed out, then 558 will be legally fit to fly. Another major issue is now Aircrew Availability. Several of the aircrew are on, or are due to go on, long planned Holidays, or are tied up with their work rota. clearly we need the aircrew to enable us to fly the aircraft, so this is another of the issues to be taken into account.

Apologies to the UKAR board for borrowing their posts, and to FlipFlopMan. I hope this doesnt cause any further confusion!

Bruce

first flight

It was mentioned on their site that the first flight may be 3 to 4 weeks away as they have yet to do low speed highspeed taxi tests and brake chute tests then its back in the hangar for gear swings.

Genius!

How will the British meeja report it?

“The first of a handful of restored Bristol Vulcan nuclear bombers has made a surprise first flight from Bruntingham airfield in Lincolnshire. Powered by 4 huge Olympic afterburning engines, the supersonic Vulcan was just too late for the second world war, but went on to serve the RAF and Australian Air force, as well as serving as the prototype of the Anglo-American Concorde airbus at many Farnborough air shows in the 1950’s. The Vulcan also served as an airborne tanker for the Vickers Victors which carried out the Royal Navy’s famous raids on Mount Pleasant airfield during the 1982 Falklands war, credited with putting Argentina’s deadly Pucara fighters out of action. With its twin bat-like wings and ability to carry both crew and bombs if required, the Vulcan was even said to be the inspiration behind the American B-2 Stealth Boeing. The hush-hush restoration was carried out at the top secret RAF base by British Aerospace personnel over the course of several weeks, but an RAF Ministry of Defence spokesperson refused to either confirm or deny the Vulcans would be pressed into service in Afghanistan”

😀 😀 😀 😀

As EN830 says.

What started the recent flurry of excitement was the issue of a NOTAM covering the last couple of weeks in August and the first in September of a weekday, daytime, ‘exclusion zone’ around the airfield to allow greater safety for a proposed first flight.

This has now been withdrawn which suggests that the first flight is no longer imminent.

Moggy

In very basic terms as I understand them its Notices To Airmen, lists any info needed – ie no fly zones, display restrictions etc.

I’m sorry Moggy, but I don’t know what NOTAM stands for. Can you enlighten me?

NOtices To AirMen

I’m sorry Moggy, but I don’t know what NOTAM stands for. Can you enlighten me?

It appears the NOTAM protecting the Bruntingthrope area for the aircraft’s first flight has now been withdrawn.

Moggy

How will the British meeja report it?

“The first of a handful of restored Bristol Vulcan nuclear bombers has made a surprise first flight from Bruntingham airfield in Lincolnshire. Powered by 4 huge Olympic afterburning engines, the supersonic Vulcan was just too late for the second world war, but went on to serve the RAF and Australian Air force, as well as serving as the prototype of the Anglo-American Concorde airbus at many Farnborough air shows in the 1950’s. The Vulcan also served as an airborne tanker for the Vickers Victors which carried out the Royal Navy’s famous raids on Mount Pleasant airfield during the 1982 Falklands war, credited with putting Argentina’s deadly Pucara fighters out of action. With its twin bat-like wings and ability to carry both crew and bombs if required, the Vulcan was even said to be the inspiration behind the American B-2 Stealth Boeing. The hush-hush restoration was carried out at the top secret RAF base by British Aerospace personnel over the course of several weeks, but an RAF Ministry of Defence spokesperson refused to either confirm or deny the Vulcans would be pressed into service in Afghanistan”

I’m fortunate to live in Lutterworth which is about 2 miles from Brunty and literally 5 minutes away in the car but whats good is from where I live, you can hear her engines being tested and it’s an awesome sound to hear.

It’s not loud, but a thundering rumble in the distance and when you hear it, it sends shivers down my spine because I know what it is.Bravo 😀 😀

Jealous? Me? Too bleedin’ right I am! Still remember lying in bed as a lad and hearing them at Waddo, and seeing those awesome 4 ship scrambles at air displays.

😮 she’s out of the hangar now, could today be the day? 😀

Yep, its only one engine being tested but the howl is definately there 😀 :diablo:

http://www.tvoc.co.uk/imagegallery/gallery/Audio_&_Video_Files/No%204%20%20Eng%20Max.wmv

I’m fortunate to live in Lutterworth which is about 2 miles from Brunty and literally 5 minutes away in the car but whats good is from where I live, you can hear her engines being tested and it’s an awesome sound to hear.

It’s not loud, but a thundering rumble in the distance and when you hear it, it sends shivers down my spine because I know what it is.

I can’t wait until the day she takes off, because where I am, I will see her, she’ll be overflying Lutterworth quite a lot and I’m well excited!

Hats off to the boys and girls of VTTS for a stonking job. Hopefully in a few days time, their hard work will be well rewarded by seeing her lift off for the first time in years!!

Bravo 😀 😀

Oh yes the howl, Chivenor 1992 or it may be 93, (dont remember) the year just the howl as 558 climbed before almost going over the top—- bloody great.
Oh lets go and buy some tickets for next year, and please do a fly over very, very low over Newark where that guy told me in a very superior voice that the Vulcan would never fly again, however he did not understand that i knew what was required to get it back in the air and operating again, that it only needed the Design Authority (which was held by BAe Systems) the CAA and the Waltons (who at that time owed the aircraft)

Well, very well done to all involved for getting this iconic aircraft this far, Knighthoods, OBE, MBE and the like should be on their way to all who have laboured to give something back to a very sad and sinking country, (and thanks to those in charge aswel).

Paul.
(feel like a drink now, sod it, i’ll watch TopGun instead)

Gents I feel airshow attendances may increase next year including yours truly who has not attended an airshow for about 10 years, well there has not been much to go and see till now. Get the earmuffs out Blodwen.

Paul

I agree with the attendance thing… I’m still trying to convince the missus that she really wants to attend some big airshows next year just to see 558. I’ve drowned her in YouTube clips, and TVOC forum vids… I think she’s coming round to the idea….

Can’t wait to see her fly (558, not the missus….), and that howl sends shivers down the spine… I remember the last Finningly display – awesome!

Many years of heartbreak and labour soon to be justified. Well done to all who have had a part in making it possible. I can’t wait to see and hear the result.

Gents I feel airshow attendances may increase next year including yours truly who has not attended an airshow for about 10 years, well there has not been much to go and see till now. Get the earmuffs out Blodwen.

Paul