XH558 future questions

Mark,

I’m sure the aircrew would be able to give you a more definitive answer than myself, but I believe that it will remain the same as before, at around 120kts.

As you probably know, the runway is split into two seperate tracks at Brunty, and as you saw, this is done around the mid point, with temporary barriers. We have to move these also when we take 558 down to the running pan. Obviously, these will all be cleared, and the runway fully swept and ‘fod plodded’ before 558 will be using it!!

Firebird,

I believe that the HLF issue is more about protecting 558 from wearing a ‘Red Bull’ style livery, although personally, I’d happily accept that to see 558 back in the air again! 😀 I believe that there is indeed scope for other authentic colour schemes to be worn, but the issue with this is, as ever, cost. I was a little surprised myself initially at the figures, but as it was explained to me by the painters, I could begin to see where the money was going. Couple that with the engineering costs, and even if it does happen, it won’t be happening for a few years yet!!

Flipflopman

Same colour scheme unfortunately mate, at least initially. This is a HLF requirement, as a condition of the grant.

Personally, I’d also love to see her painted White with Pastels myself. However, the cost of having this done professionally would be likely to run into six figures, so you can appreciate that it’s not really an immediate concern! :p

Six figures………yikes:eek:

White and pastels for me too…..cracking idea.

Strange that HLF requirement is to retain current scheme…….as I thought the whole idea of the HLF grant was this Cold War thingy…….so, her current wraparound scheme is decidely less cold war that the anti-flash white that she wore when originally entering service when the nuc deterrent was with the RAF……:rolleyes:

It don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things I suppose, compared to actually getting her in the air again, but, it still strikes me as odd…..:confused: but it is the HLF we’re talking about….;)

FlipFlop,

I was driving at Bruntingthorpe circuit this past Tuesday.

Out of interest, what would be the the rotate speed at the first test flight weight/fuel load?

Coming over the hump of the main runway for the first time at speed, I was initially alarmed, then amused, to see a perfect mirage of the of the end of runway warning markers, shimmering and strung across the runway at the mid point position dip. 😮

Mark

Same colour scheme unfortunately mate, at least initially. This is a HLF requirement, as a condition of the grant.

Personally, I’d also love to see her painted White with Pastels myself. However, the cost of having this done professionally would be likely to run into six figures, so you can appreciate that it’s not really an immediate concern! :p

Flipflopman

Is she keeping the same colour scheme?
Would love to see her in white!

From the dry weight figures that the TVOC have come up with, she now weigh’s in at 39.000lb .
the full fuel load on a Vulcan was around 74.000lb and her old display weight with fuel was in the region of 130.000lb, i dont think her old display weight was with a full fuel load .
so if she now weigh’s in at 39.000lb and you half fill her with say 35.000lb of fuel she wil be very light . so as for needing full power i cannot she her needing it.
unless ive got my figures all wrong.:eek:

You have got your figures quite catastrophically wrong I’m afraid mate. I think you’ve got confused with her weight on Mars!!! 😀

When XH558 flew into Brunty, she weighed 112,000lbs dry. This is without fuel, and it appears that this is another area in which you are getting confused.

After XH558 was subject to all of her deletions and all redundant wiring removed, she was weighed again, initially for CG purposes. This showed that the CG had shifted aft of the aft limit by 18 inches😮

Rather surprisingly, it showed that she was quite considerably underweight, and below the Minimum Zero Fuel Weight of an AVRO Vulcan B2, which is 96,000lbs.

Clearly this has required us to ballast, and so we have fitted 1.5” thick steel plate in place of the deleted H2S scanner, and we have refitted many of the heaviest NBS black boxes (Calc3, Calc6 etc..)

We are now in a state where XH558 weighs, Without crew, or usable fuel. 100690.96 lbs

So you can see clearly there, that there has been a weight reduction of around 11,500lbs.

Factored take offs are an area we have been looking into, due to the thrust excess, as is retaining the howl, with 1 engine cycle being classed as an excursion from Idle – Max – Idle. If the crew can flow the display as before, then there is a high probability of it remaining a major part of the display.

Hope that clears up a few grey areas.

Flipflopman

she now weigh’s in at 39.000lb

Probably more like 79K.

exmpa

From the dry weight figures that the TVOC have come up with, she now weigh’s in at 39.000lb .
the full fuel load on a Vulcan was around 74.000lb and her old display weight with fuel was in the region of 130.000lb, i dont think her old display weight was with a full fuel load .
so if she now weigh’s in at 39.000lb and you half fill her with say 35.000lb of fuel she wil be very light . so as for needing full power i cannot she her needing it.
unless ive got my figures all wrong.:eek:

Earlier this year in Flypast, David Thomas mentioned that he would be flying a “Vulcan Lite” and that the howl may no longer happen. Also engines settings will be less to preserve them as its the engines that will life expire before the airframe, even though they have two sets of engines.
Also to remember they have only one fully documented nose wheel leg as a spare (I think).
I think we have to assume that gently does it for the time being with limited fly aways on shows.

The display will be based on the RAF display and that was submitted to the HLF when they applied for a lottery grant. The CAA is are aware ofthe display pattern also. So you will get around 7 or 8 minutes of a Vulcan in display, as long as you help keep her running for example the 558 monthly prize draw would be a good cash generator for the operation with a chance to win £558 each month.

I heard that theres been a setback with XH558 last weekend, A hydraulics pipe burst, and they have taken an engine out.:confused:
I dont know to what extent the set back will be though!🙁

As I passed, this past Tuesday pm, the engine was going back in.

Mark

The guys involved in the restoration work of 558 came to the museum to look at our Vulcan and I asked a similar question and the reply was that the force of display was going to be less greater than before but would still look mightily impressive.

They did say that the usual howling growl at full throttle up on the runway would probably not happen to preserve the length of use of the engines. Because of the amount of weight loss gained from removing non essensial equipment they would not require full power to climb out.

A small loss compared to the events of finally seeing her fly;)

According to TVOC’s website forum (passed from the jockeys themselves) the plan is to display the aircraft in a similar manner – howling and steep climbs followed by a wing over. www.tvoc.co.uk