Vulcans That May Not Survive…?

I noticed that someone suggested that XM597 at East Fortune should be safe, but does anyone actually know it’s true condition. It’s been on outside display since it’s arrival back in ’84.
Until the last few years visitors to the museum could getup close and indeed under the Vulcan, but now is barried off.

There was a sugestion that the only thing holding it together was rust and cobwebs, and was now deemed to be unsafe for visitors to be allowed under hence the barriers.

Does anyone know the truth on XM597?

I was up there a few weeks back, and she’s beginning to show her age now. Quite a few of the panels are frilly…. As for the ‘unsafe’ thing – I don’t know.

Any chance of a progress report on XJ823 in a seperate thread? Similiar to the XL319 thread would be awesome! She looks to be in such good nick!

XJ823 Is safe at Carlisle Airport, the Solway Aviation Society is continuing it’s development with the new owners of the airport Stobart Air. The Museum staff are preparing the awkward task of painting the underside of the Vulcan, everyone likes standing on the wings to paint the top !!! as you get a great view of the main runway.
You can see XJ823 at www.solway-aviation-museum.co.uk

I noticed that someone suggested that XM597 at East Fortune should be safe, but does anyone actually know it’s true condition. It’s been on outside display since it’s arrival back in ’84.
Until the last few years visitors to the museum could getup close and indeed under the Vulcan, but now is barried off.

There was a sugestion that the only thing holding it together was rust and cobwebs, and was now deemed to be unsafe for visitors to be allowed under hence the barriers.

Does anyone know the truth on XM597?

Quite a lot of paint was removed from her today looking at the state of the ground and the lack of paint stripper left at the museum.

Buy us some more please:D

XL 319 update

Well everyone it turns out our girl has more life left in her yet!!!

As of Fathers day weekend she will be the center of attention for 2 challenges involving Vulcan motorbikes and Mini cars.

AND

At the moment she is also being used as a nursery to some very small but cute Thrushes who are nesting their at the moment.

Quite a lot of paint was removed from her today looking at the state of the ground and the lack of paint stripper left at the museum.

a great shame none the less 🙁

Whilst talking about Vulcans and Cosford it is a shame the mk1 nose section is no longer on display due to health and safety…….. 🙁

Jon

Flypast did actually report on them once they had been put up for tender and the accompanying photos at the time (1985)? from inside the cockpit of XA900 showed how badly it had suffered.

I bought a copy of these pics several years ago from Colin Mears, taken by Duncan Cubbitt IIRC. Here they are:

Nashio966

While it may appear to be a travesty in the scrapping of the Vulcan and Victor B.1s at Cosford, remember that they were both ex 2 School of Technical Training airframes and had stood outside in all weathers since delivery in the late 1960s. And like most of the other airframes that Cosford gained from 2 SoTT, I suspect that didn’t help them, given there size. Not only that, but the then Aerospace museum still didn’t own the airframes, the MoD did, and I doubt there was anything that could have saved them from memory, although someone might correct me on that???.

Flypast did actually report on them once they had been put up for tender and the accompanying photos at the time (1985)? from inside the cockpit of XA900 showed how badly it had suffered.

just my thoughts

Tim

further updates on todays work on xl319 can be found at http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=71964

the facebook group “vulcan xl319 appreciation society” group has also been updated.

thanks for reading people

Vandals at S’land

I would quite happily vandalise them if I was ever lucky enough to come into contact with them…:mad:

The probe on XM594 at Newark was fitted post-delivery [07.02.83] by the museum volunteers.

ditto 319

I don’t think there are any Vulcans in IMMEDIATE danger of getting chopped, save for XM603. All told, things are looking good for delta wedges. Who knows what 5 years will bring.

Ones to keep an eye out for are the one at Goose Bay, and XL319 – both may be recieving help, but are still in danger. (Closure of Goose Bay? / Vandals at S’land)

The probe on XM594 at Newark was fitted post-delivery [07.02.83] by the museum volunteers.

I have been inside Vulcan XL360 at MAM in Coventry a number of times and she is in fantastic condition and is very well looked after.

And to answer a previous query yes Duxfords Vulcan was delivered by Martin Withers funnily i am rereading vulcan 607 and just read that part.

One question relating to that, did the RAF ever refit the refueling probes to the museum aircraft they took them from? and keeping on topic would any damage have occured from taking them off/putting them back on?

curlyboy

im pretty sure they did refit the probes after the falklands, i think its mentioned in Vulcan 607, if you havent read it, it is a FANTIASTIC read and is just unbelieveable!

If only she was 50 miles from me, i’d be there with my overalls in a flash…:(

Keep up the excellent work gentlemen!!

As im one of the current members working on xl319 as project leader, im the one that got a job at shannon aerospace in ireland that lindys lad talks of 🙂 . i will probally be leaving in august of this year but i really dont want to leave this plane. as lindys lad says, shes almost factory new inside. for those of you on facebook we have a vulcan XL319 appretiation society that is going to get updated on a regular basis from now on by me and some of the other lads, theres also some recent photos up there also.
not of all of us will be leaving. ill be leaving her in the hands of one of the youger members who still have another year left at the academy and i shall be visiting whenever im home.
she will be saved, currently we have a group of about 7 people working on her every sunday now that the good weather is here and work is progressing at quite a quick pace.

anyone feel free to join us on sundays if you wish 🙂

I have been inside Vulcan XL360 at MAM in Coventry a number of times and she is in fantastic condition and is very well looked after.

And to answer a previous query yes Duxfords Vulcan was delivered by Martin Withers funnily i am rereading vulcan 607 and just read that part.

One question relating to that, did the RAF ever refit the refueling probes to the museum aircraft they took them from? and keeping on topic would any damage have occured from taking them off/putting them back on?

curlyboy

Just a small point – as someone who was heavily involved with NEAM during the 90s and beyond I feel it is only fair to my former colleagues who spent so much time and effort working on 319 to point out that she was not ignored during that time. Indeed if it wasnt for the work of a small number of volunteers it would not have survived to be worked on to bring it back from “the brink”. I had no hand in the physical restoration myself – and would not claim any credit for it,however it does seem that this story has taken on a life of its own.

Of course this in no way detracts from the excellent work that has continued since – all credit for the continuing work done -however it would be nice to see some recognition for those people who quietly ensured that work progressed so that the airframe didn’t just rot away into nothing.

My apologies. I was under the impression from some long-time members that she was left alone – locked up and aside from allowing people on board, no work was done at all. Post ammended.

NEAMs Vulcan

Just a small point – as someone who was heavily involved with NEAM during the 90s and beyond I feel it is only fair to my former colleagues who spent so much time and effort working on 319 to point out that she was not ignored during that time. Indeed if it wasnt for the work of a small number of volunteers it would not have survived to be worked on to bring it back from “the brink”. I had no hand in the physical restoration myself – and would not claim any credit for it,however it does seem that this story has taken on a life of its own.

Of course this in no way detracts from the excellent work that has continued since – all credit for the continuing work done -however it would be nice to see some recognition for those people who quietly ensured that work progressed so that the airframe didn’t just rot away into nothing.