My traditional show of the year to support XM655, and as usual i went 🙂 free entry as im a member of 655MAPS 😀
as always a lovely day (certainly less windy that last year 😮 ) and as usual 655 looked the biz.
at midday ish we had a flyover from the reds which was ace 🙂 unfortunatly my phone went phut so i took few pics but some good vids hopefully, which ill get uploaded as soon as possible
at 2:30 655 spooled up ready for her fast taxi, up the runway she went and turned to come back down, slowly though which confused me she came to a stop midway down the runway and stayed there. as a minute turned to 5 i was wondering whats going on and looking rather confused. and just at that moment i saw everyone gasp and look to the south, where far off in the distance a smoke trail could clearly be seen.
at first i though “no, cant be” but as the smoke trail got bigger i saw what appeared to be 558 coming towards me as testament to my feelings when i realised that i was seeing her fly or the first time (and indeed seeing a vulcan fly for the first time in my life) i have goosebumps sat here writing this paragraph just thinking about it.
she made a pass out to the west and flew down the runway at about 800/1000 ft towards the east with a beautiful profile shot, she then circled out over charlecote to come back and do the reverse flypast. as she came in low along the runway she began a full throttle sweeping climbout. i could feel the air in my lungs vibrating, the ground shaking, and most surprisingly tears in my eyes. for absolutely no reason i suddenly felt very emotional at having seen the most beautiful thing in my whole life. and it really was breathtaking. totally lost for words….
having thought about it, this has to have been the first time that two running vulcans have been in the same vicinity for many years, and quite possibly the last time too.
so all in all i feel priviledged to have seen this today. After doubting if the money was well spent and that her operating costs were justifiable, my opinions are the opposite. Just a fantastic achievement, like i said brought real tears to my eyes. quite beautiful. there isnt a single sentence i could honestly write to describe what i feel
PLEASE VTST DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR 🙂 you guys have done a fantastic job so keep it up please 🙂
here are a couple of rubbish videos that my useless new phone took 🙂
sorry about the camerawork 🙁 i only had my mobile phone on me, please forgive me 🙂
By: warhawk69 - 23rd June 2009 at 22:13
I have updated my site with pics from this show.
Phill
www.outflankeduk.com
By: DGH - 22nd June 2009 at 22:20
I think XL426 at Southend and XH558 is more likely!!
By: Nashio966 - 22nd June 2009 at 22:01
Only one way this could have been topped and that would have been for 558 to land at Wellesbourne!
always secretly hoped for this, but i dont think the remaining runway at wellesbourne is long enough 🙁
…or for 655 to have become ‘airborne’. Did someone say Bruntingthorpe.?:D
one day 😉 :diablo:
By: Wyvernfan - 22nd June 2009 at 21:57
Only one way this could have been topped and that would have been for 558 to land at Wellesbourne!
…or for 655 to have become ‘airborne’. Did someone say Bruntingthorpe.?:D
By: Peter - 22nd June 2009 at 21:53
Only one way this could have been topped and that would have been for 558 to land at Wellesbourne!
By: Nashio966 - 22nd June 2009 at 20:20
glorious 🙂 lets hope this becomes a regular event!!! 🙂
By: warhawk69 - 22nd June 2009 at 20:12
Just starting to work on my shots from yesterday, heres what you missed-
Phill
www.outflankeduk.com – full set should be online tonight/tomorrow
By: Nashio966 - 21st June 2009 at 23:40
I did! I was there with our Dragon Rapide, we had a great day and took quite a few people flying all returning with happy smiley faces. The 2 Vulcans was really something special and you weren’t alone Nashio as there was some liquid forming in my eyes to – although I think it was the vibrations! ;):D
😉 i dont think i was alone, im not sure why. Having never seen one fly before? Appreciative of something i had only been told about? joy?
all of these factors combined with a sinking truth, that i will never get to fly one 🙁
again totally and utterly OBI
By: Nashio966 - 21st June 2009 at 23:37
all i can say, it was the most amazing thing i have ever seen i was totally gobsmacked, my dad and godfather were with me (both are ex RAF) and all three of us were totally and utterly OBI (Overcome By Immense)
VTST have totally outdone themselves with this, i honestly feel priviledged to have seen this. just wonderful 🙂
By: Arabella-Cox - 21st June 2009 at 23:22
You have no idea how hard it has been to keep me mouth shut about 558 visiting today 😀
By: DGH - 21st June 2009 at 22:12
no one else went? 🙁
I did! I was there with our Dragon Rapide, we had a great day and took quite a few people flying all returning with happy smiley faces. The 2 Vulcans was really something special and you weren’t alone Nashio as there was some liquid forming in my eyes to – although I think it was the vibrations! ;):D
By: WV-903. - 21st June 2009 at 21:07
Definately a Brilliant stunt.
Amazing, definately!!! Wellsbourne and the 2 Vulcans got it exactly right. both running too,—- What a modern Day combination.
Hey Nashio, thanks for your great Video’s, we got to see it too.
Bill T
( Ex-V’s airframes -RAF. )
By: Toddington Ted - 21st June 2009 at 19:51
That must have been a brilliant experience, one Vulcan running on the ground and another flying past, especially given the cost of maintaining a ground running Vulcan let alone a flying one. It’s quite a while since I remember seeing anything like that! Unfortunately I didn’t see the event at Wellesbourne but it must have been quite a fantastic event from what you described. I think it must have been one of those “You had to be there” experiences!
By: warhawk69 - 21st June 2009 at 19:41
I did, had a great day,This is my third time and it certainly wont be my last! Hopefully I will have some shots on my website tomorrow.
Well done to all of the team.
Phill
www.outflankeduk.com
By: Nashio966 - 21st June 2009 at 18:35
no one else went? 🙁
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June 21, 2009 at 4:06 pm