The Engineering Programme for Avro Vulcan XH558 begins.
Vulcan to the Sky Trust (VTS) and Marshall Aerospace have signed a contract which marks the start of the engineering project to return Avro Vulcan XH558 to flight.
It has taken four years for the VTS Campaign to raise sufficient funds for the Trustees to give the go ahead but this has now happened and work in the hangar at Bruntingthorpe, South Leicestershire will commence immediately. Further monies are still required as the engineering progresses to provide the ‘Partnership Funding’ required by the Heritage Lottery Fund and it is anticipated that the sight of the progress in the hangar will bring forth the much needed donations.
This will be the biggest heritage aircraft restoration project ever, and brings together Aerospace in the UK under the leadership of Marshall Aerospace as Prime ]Contractor and Engineering Authority. Technical support for the project is being provided by BAE SYSTEMS plc, the aircraft’s Design Authority, Goodrich, Meggitt plc, Messier-Dowty ,Rolls-Royce plc, Smiths Aerospace and many other giants of the industry.
“Marshall Aerospace is delighted to have finally signed a contract for supplying Engineering Authority services in support of the Vulcan to the Sky programme, and that funding is now in place to allow the recovery programme to commence. There is now much work to be done with training, maintenance and modifications necessary to secure CAA approval to allow the Vulcan to return to the sky.
Apart from the heritage aspects of the programme and the extraordinary sight of this beautiful aircraft in flight, the long term educational benefits for students and the general public are considerable.” Says Mick Milne, Marketing and Business Development Director of the Company.
“This is a truly significant day for all concerned” said Dr Robert Pleming ,Project Director of The Vulcan Operating Company, the division of The Vulcan to the Sky Trust that will manage the return to flight project at Bruntingthorpe. “This is a first, not only because the Heritage Lottery Fund made an ‘exceptional’ decision to award a grant of £2.73M, but also because a return-to -flight project on this scale has never been attempted before. Also the fact that it is for the benefit of the nation, makes it doubly exciting. We hope that everyone will share in the projects progress and ultimately enjoy the awesome sight that this magnificent aircraft provides in flight.
The engineering project will take a little more than a year, and will culminate in a significant aviation milestone: the Vulcan’s first test flight.
The sight and sound of the mighty 111ft wingspan and the deafening roar of the four Rolls-Royce Olympus engines that enable graceful flight at 61,000ft and unequalled manoeuvrability at 500ft will be part of the story being told in the Education project that is being developed alongside the aircraft’s restoration project, which will focus on taking the once secret facts of the Cold War, to the widest possible audience.”
Far from looking back with this great aircraft that was built to carry the nuclear deterrent of the 50s and 60s, ‘Vulcan to the Sky’ looks forward to proving how significant the design and engineering of the time was, and how relevant it still is today; to inspiring and delighting new generations to seek to achieve such lasting and worthwhile goals and to understand what contributed to the way history of that time unfolded, the men and women who made it, and the influence it has on our world today.
By: Firebird - 15th September 2005 at 17:39
Anyone would think you actually wanted this to happen.
Far from it ‘ol boy.
But, I am a realist. 😉
The simple fact is that the Hendon Vulcan has all the paperwork preserved in the RAFM archives, and there are undoubtedly others. Should the need arise, then it could be solved.
You forget this was a question I had already put, so that’s hardly being negative is it….. :rolleyes:
Sheez…… :rolleyes:
By: WebPilot - 15th September 2005 at 17:00
Just beat me too it…. 😀
I was going to say they are pretty much stuffed then.
All that LHF money, public donations and hard work could be up the swaney if the crew bash the nose down too hard a few times when they are learning how to land the think again on their test flying and display work-ups :rolleyes:
Anyone would think you actually wanted this to happen. I really do despair of the negative attitude of so many on here.
The simple fact is that the Hendon Vulcan has all the paperwork preserved in the RAFM archives, and there are undoubtedly others. Should the need arise, then it could be solved.
By: Firebird - 15th September 2005 at 16:38
Lets hope there are no heavy landings then,the rest of the airframe would be grounded if it was damaged,yikes.
Just beat me too it…. 😀
I was going to say they are pretty much stuffed then.
All that LHF money, public donations and hard work could be up the swaney if the crew bash the nose down too hard a few times when they are learning how to land the think again on their test flying and display work-ups :rolleyes:
By: trumper - 15th September 2005 at 16:05
Lets hope there are no heavy landings then,the rest of the airframe would be grounded if it was damaged,yikes.
By: Vulcan903 - 15th September 2005 at 15:53
Any nose wheel legs that could be used must have supporting documentation on there history so they can be traced back.
I doubt that paperwork still exists and the casts to make the legs have long gone.
By: Firebird - 15th September 2005 at 13:13
I believe Rolls wants the engines dropped every 20 hours. Also they only have one spare nose wheel leg.
As Steve says, it will be the engines that call the shots on the length of display years.
Yikes…..every 20 hours 😮
So, we’re talking in that first season, with the air testing and display work-up period and with the prospect of a busy first season…..what maybe 2 drops of all 4 engines a possibility….. :confused:
Hmmmmmm………
As for the nosewheel legs, are there not any of the static examples that could be used after a swop and re-furb…Hendons example springs to mind as having been indoors all the time????
By: Moggy C - 15th September 2005 at 10:00
Personally i think it will happen, and i’ll be there for the first flight, if possible
Even if your mobility is not so good by then, I expect your grand-children could wheel you down there 😀
Moggy
By: Vulcan903 - 15th September 2005 at 08:52
Sounds good! Does anyone know how much airframe life XJ824 had left when it was grounded? Presumbably though XH558 was one of the “better” airframes that the RAF had hence it’s survival as the last flyer. Or is that too logical?
Urr my brain cells need to get into gear. I think XH560 was due to replace XL426 after the 1986 display season? XH558 was already on the dump at Marham.
Someone in the RAF was going through the disposal paperwork and noted that XH558 had more FI than XH560, so they swapped airframes for the display flight. XH558 was prepared for flight once again and then went up to Kinloss for a repaint.
Steve Bond – To go back to the question about the length of XH558’s future flying career, it is not airframe life that is the limiting factor, but engine life. They have 8 engines, but all have finite lives based on operating cycles, which cannot be extended.
I believe Rolls wants the engines dropped every 20 hours. Also they only have one spare nose wheel leg.
As Steve says, it will be the engines that call the shots on the length of display years.
By: Steve Bond - 15th September 2005 at 08:23
To go back to the question about the length of XH558’s future flying career, it is not airframe life that is the limiting factor, but engine life. They have 8 engines, but all have finite lives based on operating cycles, which cannot be extended.
By: Rlangham - 14th September 2005 at 22:27
Whatever does happen with the Vulcan, i think it’s good that they’ve tried. Personally i think it will happen, and i’ll be there for the first flight, if possible
By: David Burke - 14th September 2005 at 22:13
How can HLF say that they will never fund a ‘return to fly’ project after the Vulcan -surely that’s somewhat akin to counting your chickens before they hatch!
I am sure they are just as prone as any other quasi governmental group in having the ability to stick to a policy and then completely reverse it the next day!
By: VTTSCM - 14th September 2005 at 21:29
But surely IF this project does collapse and make all the headlines for the wrong reasons the lottery and anyone else will look/think long and hard at any other aviation type project,especially a flying project. 😮
Success or (God forbid) failure of Vulcan project will not affect Lottery funding for any return to flight project of any aircraft, because the HLF has stated that they will not fund such a project, ever again, other revenue sources I can’t say.
.
By: mike currill - 14th September 2005 at 20:57
It’s a fair point, but it is not a reason “not to try”. Any major project has risk factors and I would expect that a detailed risk assessment has been undertaken on XH558.
To turn this back on you – should the failure of the project to recover the B29 Kee Bird be seen as a reason for not attempting any other similar recovery projects? Of course not – mistakes occur and one lives and learns. I fully believe that XH558 will fly again, but if it does not then that does not mean that it should not have been attempted.
Well said that person!!
By: mike currill - 14th September 2005 at 20:55
I couldn’t agree more.
BEcause the main contributors to this thread are pessimists?
By: WebPilot - 14th September 2005 at 19:03
That one failed because some muppet hung the fuel can for the APU directly above it, suspended from a coat hangar. B29 hit a ridge in the ice, coat hangar slipped, fuel can landed on hot APU, WHOOOOOMPH & the rest is history….
Indeed. My point was that to attempt such things invites risks. That does not mean such things should not be attempted.
Kev35. It’s all been said a million times before…
By: ZRX61 - 14th September 2005 at 18:56
To turn this back on you – should the failure of the project to recover the B29 Kee Bird be seen as a reason for not attempting any other similar recovery projects?
That one failed because some muppet hung the fuel can for the APU directly above it, suspended from a coat hangar. B29 hit a ridge in the ice, coat hangar slipped, fuel can landed on hot APU, WHOOOOOMPH & the rest is history….
By: kev35 - 14th September 2005 at 17:53
The delay to the delivery of alpha 1’s aircraft was as a direct result of production difficulties at Wooster Models further compounded by the inability to recruit sufficient Playmobil flight crew and a problem with the bedroom door.
I believe it to be eminently possible that Mr. Halstead has looked at the Vulcan as an option, so far he’s gone through Trislander, Twin Otter, Jetstream and Navajo, if I remember correctly.
As far as the Vulcan goes, I personally believe the project has had more than enough money thrown at it and it seems the project still wants more. People are saying about alpha 1 that he shouldn’t have announced it till he had the money to pull it off. Perhaps the same is true of the Vulcan project? Instead, great things were promised, not yet delivered. And the project has used the big stick of threatening to scrap 558 if money was not forthcoming for the rebuild. Was it not therefore irresponsible of them to dismantle the aircraft before the funds were in place to see it rebuilt?
How much progress has been made to date? Is it now partially rebuilt? When will engines be run and what is the estimated date for the first flight?
Regards,
kev35
By: Rlangham - 14th September 2005 at 16:24
They’ve got an aircraft now? 😮
Tell us more!!!! 😀
According to the website http://www.flyalpha1.com/ the aircraft is ready to be delivered, as of August 1 2005
By: WebPilot - 14th September 2005 at 16:21
well by that time the VOC would be itching to do another one just to keep their hand in, so the likely scenario is they swop airframes
btw you naughty boy, any dosh should be flung at the blue one not the silver boring thing
Sounds good! Does anyone know how much airframe life XJ824 had left when it was grounded? Presumbably though XH558 was one of the “better” airframes that the RAF had hence it’s survival as the last flyer. Or is that too logical?
By: philip turland - 14th September 2005 at 16:20
and TT stop mucking about with my posts otherwise i will find you another dirty job to do………..something involving oil or paint stripper……
anyway i went flying in a genuine D-Day Dak and you never….nah,nah,nah,nah,nah…..so there
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May 9, 2005 at 1:59 pm