My personal experience differs frm your opinion, Slipstream.

I have diabetes and my experience of the NHS has been very good – I know many people with the same condition who don’t share that view, but the service is good in parts.

Rob

I’m waiting to have my parts serviced. I too am diabetic and after a rough patch have really nailed my control. NHS is good in some areas and terrible in others. 6 to 12 month wait to get a wheelchair, but I couldn’t have one in that time as there was a two year wait for an assessment.

Regards,

kev35

Dave.

You’re depressed? We could all be depressed. Last week I was almost in hospital after having my head down the toilet for three days (That S-Bend is a bit of a bu**er.) The woman I wanted to spend my life with died in an accident, If I’d have been where I was meant to be, she wouldn’t.)

I’d just got a job where I was going to be made for life, then my health stopped me.

My friend’s just lost her nephew aged 16 in an accident. The majority of us have been in that place we call depression. There’s nothing there for us. We struggle out ourselves or our friends pull us through or a mixture of both.

Me? An animal for a day? No, i don’t think so. I am what I am and just like everyone else I make the best of what I have while trying to achieve my ambitions. They’re more modest these days than they used to be. Have i lowered my standards? No, they are just that bit harder to achieve, but strangely enough all the more satisfying.

Regards,

kev35

Hi, Ren.

Thank you. MINIDOH and Andrewm have been around for a long time and are valuable contributors. It would be very sad to see them get into any trouble because of this.

Thanks again.

kev35

What a fantastically detailed report. Great stuff.

I wonder whether MINIDOH or Andrewm would be as happy to substantiate allegations about safety in front of the lawyers of the airlines mentioned? That’s the trouble with forums, it’s easy to hide behind a mask of anonymity and say things you would never dream of saying in person.

Regards,

kev35

Ref “I was at Coningsby the other week and the RAF had knocked off and gone home before 4.” I’m sure that the chaps and ladies tasked with the defence of UK airspace would like you to know that they’re there 24hrs a day 365 days a year… as are the team supporting them..

Neil

Apologies, that was a very flippant remark. The point I was making is that flying activity had ceased by then. I fully understand that aircraft and crews are on alert 24 hours a day and that the infrastructure that keeps them operational is an ongoing commitment.

Hatton.

“….does imply that LN STrike Eagle doesn’t appreciate those that died in the second world war rather than the simple fact he just prefers modern aircraft. Perhaps this is where the misunderstanding has occurred.”

I see your point. The point I was trying to make was that I have the utmost regard for those who fought in the last war and, it’s horrible to say, but for me their contribution outweighs that of others. Through no fault of their own, those who served in the Cold War era, fortunately were not called upon to fight. Had they been I am sure they would have acquitted themselves just as well. You all know I am an emotional and emotive person, but one Spitfire and half a dozen veterans will always have more emotional pull on me than aircraft of the cold war or present day. I tried to make a point, I concede that it was clumsy in the extreme.

DaveB.

I understand why you take my thinking to be negative, believe me I would feel happier were I not thinking this way.

“To return briefly to the original point I was trying to make – Where would we be if no-one ever attempted anything difficult or potentially dangerous?? We certainly wouldn’t be here discussing aviation.”

You are quite right. But is it worth the risk when what is being tried is purely to provide entertainment?

Damien B

Yes, a B-17 would make a hell of a mess, but do you not accept that the Vulcan could make an even larger one?

And on that note perhaps I should withdraw from this thread. I am not making my points as clearly as I would like and in the process appear to be upsetting people. That was never my aim.

Regards,

kev35

What siginificance does the Jet Provost or the Hunter hold? F-86? T-33? Service history is no reason not to restore an aircraft to flight privately if the opportunity is there, and can be done safely.

None of them are as remotely complex as the Vulcan. You keep referring to the VTS and safety. I am not questioning that. Accidents do happen, no matter how good the crew or how efficient the servicing. I just feel that any such accident would be catastrophic.

regards,

kev35

Dan.

I think you have just struck the nail firmly on the head. The BBMF ‘operated for many years solely as a tribute to a significant era in this countrys history.’ I would question whether the Vulcan, having a somewhat less than successful combat history, deserves to be in that position, whether operated by the VTTS or the RAF.

I accept your point about the Red Arrows but question their marketing role when many regular airshow attendees use their arrival as the opportunity to make a quick getaway. Abroad, they are undoubtedly useful.

Regards,

kev35

RobAnt.

“The Vulcan doesn’t have reheat, which is the main difference between all the types that are not allowed to fly and those that are, so far as I can see.”

Why should that make the difference? Is it not more to do with the complexity of the airframe? I may be wrong but I don’t believe the Shackleton has reheat? Doesn’t fly over here though. I thought it was more to do with who accepts, don’t quite know what it’s called so I’ll say design authority?

“I don’t believe it is the CAA that won’t allow Concorde to fly, for instance, but the support company responsible.”

Exactly. See above. If Bae, Airbus Industrie, BA and Air France can’t do it what makes VTS so sure they can be successful? Don’t get me wrong, I’m asking because I don’t know.

“Bravely said Kev35, I understand where you’re coming from, but I don’t see any difference between a Vulcan and a Boeing 747 coming down. The Vulcan will be flown carefully and well within it’s limits (I hope) and 4 engines are better than 1, when comparing with, say a JP or Hunter.”

Firstly, there’s nothing brave about it. I’m sat in front of my PC airing my opinion just like everyone else. The fact that I have a contrary opinion to most does not make it brave.

I worry about your comment re differences between a Vulcan and a 747 coming down. Were you hoping for an insensitive comment in reply? The difference is that the 747 flies in service as an airliner. There are hundreds in existence. With the best will in the world accidents happen to airliners. With that same will accidents happen to Historic aircraft, I don’t need to remind you of the names of the crews who have been lost. The difference is that the Vulcan will be unique, the only flying example and the loss of such an aircraft in the context of an airshow will have a devastating impact on the airshow industry. Think of the headlines, I’m not going to spell them out. The outcry was huge followin the accidents at Biggin Hill a couple of years ago, an accident with the Vulcan would make that seem miniscule.

“If WE believe that the Vulcan crashing will completely stop airshows, then I think WE will be among the prime movers in that movement – the arguments and points raised will be recycled out of context and used against our desire to keep them going.”

Arguments are already recycled out of context, we know that. But such an accident would dwarf everything that had gone before. Should the Vulcan fly I earnestly hope it remains safe. I personally would not be able to watch it with the same enjoyment as before. But, should the unthinkable happen, can you really see there being a future for the historic aircraft movement? Th insurance companies alone would effectively see an end to it.

regards,

kev35