Reading through the posts on their website a number of members there have brought up briefly the subject of were TVOC will go once XH558 is airbourne, currently their time is obviously taken up with the current airframe, but the expertise and facilities built up during this work is in itself a saleable product that could possibly be offered if only on a consultancy basis to other restoration projects for the future. Mention has been made of possibly restoring a lightning, but time and lack interest and support in the right places appears to write this idea off, however some of the more recent airframes struck off charge might be candidates.
By: Ant.H - 12th December 2006 at 23:42
Another reason why a Victor will never fly again is the spares availability. There was an article about Lusty Lindy in Flypaper a few years ago, and in it the owner Andre Tempest stated it was probably easier to get hold of spare parts for a Lancaster! The Victor was in service so long that the RAF had practically exhausted the spares by the time the type was retired.
By: bexWH773 - 12th December 2006 at 22:44
Cypherous, Im restoring an airframe thats been sat outside for over 20 years and unlike Brunty’s Victor hasnt even been touched so I can well understand the Victors owners attitude of no return to flight for her, no matter what experience is knocking around, British weather is definately not aeroplane friendly in any way shape or form. Bex
By: David Burke - 12th December 2006 at 22:33
Cypherus – Mr Walton decided to buy a massive supply of Vulcan parts when they became available . This effectively was a massive insurance policy which has to a great degree allowed her (XH558)to get to where she is now.
The best maintained Victor in the U.K is undoubtedly ‘Lusty Lindy’ – the owner is a great realist however in saying that there is no posibility that she could take to flight again. There is not the money – airframe structural integrity or indeed spares support to put a Victor in the air again.
It would be easier to form the Handley Page company again and build a new one !
By: cypherus - 12th December 2006 at 22:27
Remaining Airframes.
Hmmm, so was 558 I believe, or did I miss something along the way, seriously though, such a venture is not beyond those that have the determination to achieve the results….. :diablo:
By: David Burke - 12th December 2006 at 22:19
Cypherus – There is never going to be a Victor in the air again. The remaining airframes have all been exposed to the U.K climate and that has done it for them .
By: cypherus - 12th December 2006 at 22:08
Future commitments.
Dunno about the amount of their current staff they will require too maintain to keep XH558 in the air, but considering that a lot of them are from the marshalls stables and others donating their time, there will not be a lot of staff required for that task apart from general maintainance, but it is the other side of the goups technical expertise that could be of great interest too people that might wish to follow their lead and put old warbrids ect back into flying trim, they have by their own admission a wealth of experience in dealing with the various bodies involved to work up a scheme the CAA will accept, they also have working contacts with the various OEM’s that are left in the UK, the list goes on and on, all of this might be packaged for sale as an assistant income provider for XH558’s future operations,The Victor mentioned above should it ever come forward as a candidate would require a similar scenario as the Vulcan I believe, and the experience gained in returning one large Airframe to the air would prove invaluable in such a venture. Anyone fancy drumming up support for such an idea??? 😀
By: andrewman - 12th December 2006 at 11:46
Wont TVOC be a bit busy keeping the Vulcan in the air once the rebuild has been done.
By: Peter - 11th December 2006 at 14:59
How about the Victor?
Wont even need a change in the letters? The Victor Operating Company. They could lend there expertise and support to keeping the brunty Victor healthy!:rolleyes:
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December 11, 2006 at 1:28 pm