ploughWhilst I very much enjoyed what there was, the lack of RAF participation was disappointing, particularly with the lack of ‘Sally B’, and the unexpected lack of an airborne Vulcan.
Whilst I fully understand and accept that the RAF has been cut to the point where it is struggling to honour all its operational commitments, a mere flyby by each aircraft from the ‘home teams’ was nothing short of pathetic.
Even the E3D, and Nimrod returning from operational sorties during the day could have surely made another flyby at least or even a touch and go and a circuit, rather than appearing in the distance on final approach and plonking themselves straight down on the runway (at least they were there though – I seem to think that the operational aircraft have usually been based elsewhere for the weekend in the past?)
For what is primarily an RAF/Military show, the amount of the flying display made up of civilian aerobatics was disproportionate.
For the most part, I thought the static displays were reasonably well arranged , but aircraft in the line up would have been better angled SE-NW, rather than NE-SW (from a sun/photo point of view, particularly in the morning).
With some interesting aircraft on static display, it was a shame we were not given the sight of some of them in the air (German Phantom for one!).
As I said, I enjoyed what I saw, but felt it was no longer the ‘Big’ occassion it was the last time I went (which would be about 7 or 8 years ago).
ploughjust had a look at the NEWS section on the VTS website, and it says the reason the permit hasnt been renewed was down to structural tests not being done in time using XM603
Does this mean the end is imminent for XM603 🙁
It has been ‘imminent’ for quite some time.
The impending doom for 603 (and her similar age) was the reason for the CAA accepting that the testing be done on 603 when she was broken, rather than major dismantling work being done on 558. As 603 is still intact, the required testing hasn’t been done.
ploughOn this occassion, the issue isn’t money (for once!)
plough“unexpected” …hardly as its been deferred since the 2005-7 Major servicing.
I think it is unexpected in that VTOC were under the impression that the Permit would be granted in spite of the outstanding inspections.
I gather most of what was required have been done on 588, but the remaining ones would require substantial dismantling of parts of the aircraft to achieve (the fin would need to come off for one, I am told). Had 603 been scrapped as had been planned, the remaining inspections would have been carried out on her instead. The fact that 603 has not yet been scrapped has meant that the remaining inspections have not been done.
The other problem is that the CAA require a months notice of the application for renewal of the permit, and as the annual service was only completed a couple of weeks ago, this lead time was not possible.
It is disappointing for both those who work with her, and those who wanted to see her fly this weekend, but at least she was able to be on the static line at Waddo for all to see, which is better than her being stuck at Brize.
ploughHeres one for some of you older members of the board “I Flew With Braddock” Which was a weekly story in one of the comics it was the Rover or the Adventurer.
Chris G I seem to remember him in a Lancaster on a few “operations? Wasn’t the comic “Victor”
ant now you,ve stired the muddy waters of memory,sure it was Rover,
You are both correct – ‘I Flew With Braddock’ appeared first in the Rover as a text story, and was subsequently used as a strip in Victor.
Like Newforest, my first encouter with aircraft in books was with Biggles 🙂
ploughTwitter at 13:03 – “Engines starting”.
She is to fly to Cosford for practice display, then on to Brize, another practice display and land. Possibility of a further flight this afternoon if all OK
ploughThere are 3 engines with corrosion (two are still in situ) and have been passed by RR as acceptable to fly.
ploughNo issue with Ellesmere Port. Happy for them to turn out Opel badged cars
Moggy
They already do 😉 Astras built at Ellesmere that are bound for Eire are badged as Opels.
Can’t see how the Opel brand is more stylish either – they are after all the same cars with different badges. (Opel was withdrawn from the UK many years ago because it had very little impact on the market here).
The Vauxhall badge has 14% of the UK market, in no small part because the public perceive it as a British brand. It is also the strongest market for Opel products in Europe. I would think it unlikely that the Vauxhall badge will be dropped anytime soon.
FIAT turned their back on the talks some days ago (due to being required to provide even more funding). The deal has effectively been done with Magna International/Russian banks, and this has been approved by the German government (who are providing a significant portion of the funds, in return for a promise that no German factories will be closed).
ploughNo issue with Ellesmere Port. Happy for them to turn out Opel badged cars
Moggy
They already do 😉 Astras built at Ellesmere that are bound for Eire are badged as Opels.
Can’t see how the Opel brand is more stylish either – they are after all the same cars with different badges. (Opel was withdrawn from the UK many years ago because it had very little impact on the market here).
The Vauxhall badge has 14% of the UK market, in no small part because the public perceive it as a British brand. It is also the strongest market for Opel products in Europe. I would think it unlikely that the Vauxhall badge will be dropped anytime soon.
FIAT turned their back on the talks some days ago (due to being required to provide even more funding). The deal has effectively been done with Magna International/Russian banks, and this has been approved by the German government (who are providing a significant portion of the funds, in return for a promise that no German factories will be closed).
ploughI am, perhaps, a little biased, but the Vulcan was a fairly dirty aeroplane in this respect.
This clip is admittedly not typical of normal operation, but if its black smoke you’re after, there is none better 🙂
ploughDo aany of the ‘negatives’ who are critiscising Richard Branson have any evidence that he has not contributed any funds?
Like many individuals in his position he has been generous in his support for charitable organisations in the past, and bearing in mind his own obvious interest in things aeronautical, I would not be in the least surpised if he has already given or promised to give financial support.
To try and put a little perspective into the argument, it has been stated on numerous occassions that around one and a half million people saw XH558 fly at shows last year. If they all contributed just £1, the debts would be paid off. From that, it does not look such an insurmountable target to me.
What does put people off contributing is the amount of negative speculation giving them the impression that their contribution would be wasted.
While I am here, I would also question the constant flagging of the Cold War/Nuclear role of the Vulcan in service being used as the primary reason for her continued flying.
For me at any rate, it is the quantum leap in aero design which took place during WW2 and the years immediately afterwards which is important. It was a time of great changes and huge improvements in performance, controls and abilities for aircraft in general.
No other aircraft symbolises this giant leap forwards as well as the Vulcan.
Anyone who was at Waddington to see XH558 fly with PA474 last July will appreciate what I mean.
There was only about 10 years between the design of the Lancaster and the Vulcan, designed by the same company, and the same designer in Roy Chadwick. To see the two together it was hard to believe how far and how fast things did change.
I still live in the hope of good outcome, but realistically it is hard to see where continuing large scale sponsorship for this (and indeed many other) projects will come from in the pesent dire financial setting (a situation I do not see improving for many years. If the Vulcan project fails, it will not be the last!
ploughAs you know Corgi went belly-up and sold their models to Home Bargains for 50p each.
Where did you get that idea from??
The diecast business of Corgi International was purchased earlier this year by Hornby, and is still in business, now trading as Corgi Classics.
What I think you will find is that the new owners have rationalised the ranges and end of range/end of line models were remaindered to the trade at bargain prices to clear them.
This has been normal practice for years, and Corgi in particular have had a constant stream of clearance items which end up being sold at toyfairs for about a quarter of their original price. I bought several of the early 144th scale ‘Aviation Archive’ models a few years ago from these sources.
ploughVulcan (very low) heading south east over Sunderland from Nissan towards the town centre at about 13.30. Nice sight apparently! (I didn’t see it).
I also spotted her over Waddington (around 14.00ish I think). I heard her and thought “What’s that flying on a Sunday?”, and looked to see her heading SW back to Brize.
ploughJust guessing by the fact it appears it’s going to be out of action for a few weeks.
Where did that come from?
I wonder if you misunderstood may post above. I was referring to XH558 being operated from Brize for the next few weeks. (most forthcoming displays are Sunday ones, which is problematical for operation from Waddington, because Waddo is closed on Sundays).
plough[QUOTE=Jet 22;1288546]….pull out and let the powers of the country do what they want.
QUOTE]
Sadly, that is the reason they went there in the first place.
Sign In
