When XH558s flying career is over, I will no doubt agree with you. However, what can be a better representative of a type than one that can display any aeroplanes primary function?
When XH558s flying career is over, I will no doubt agree with you. However, what can be a better representative of a type than one that can display any aeroplanes primary function?
I have distinct reservations about Grosvenor House flying again -if it wasn’t totally unique it would be a different matter.
I feel quite the opposite. They compromised the originality of the airframe during the rebuild (incorporating kevlar front decking and later-series engines, etc) to give us a flying Comet, then deprived us of that sight and sound.
I have distinct reservations about Grosvenor House flying again -if it wasn’t totally unique it would be a different matter.
I feel quite the opposite. They compromised the originality of the airframe during the rebuild (incorporating kevlar front decking and later-series engines, etc) to give us a flying Comet, then deprived us of that sight and sound.
In my view XL318 should be at the top of the list. XH558 has been modified significantly for its civilian flying life, so is no longer representative of an in-service aircraft. XL318 went straight from RAF service to indoor display, the remainder have spent time outside, with inevitable deterioration. This means that ‘318 is the benchmark example for future generations to refer to, as the only Vulcan preserved indoors straight from service, in her original service paint (just look at how much store is set by original, unmolested Spitfires these days for confirmation of how important this is)
Lovely pics again.
Sadsack asked about the differences. As I understand it she is essentially very accurate. Washout aside, she has a tailwheel, modern avionics, Queen II’s as opposed to Six Series II’s, with C/S props and power operated flaps.
Another difference is that the Wathen replica has less kevlar content than the ‘original’! 😉
Regarding other differences, I researched the replica for a pair of magazine articles a couple of years back, I’ll have to dig out my notes and have a look.
The original wing drawings dont show any washout at all. Original test flight reports and the later tests done by Shuttleworth state that when stalled there is a rapid wing drop.
The American Comet has 3 degrees of washout built in which must have helped as they always seem to do a three point landing. Sadly they have never stalled it so we dont know how it reacts at the stall.
Ken,
I believe Christophe may have stalled it whilst testing the aircraft this summer – I’ll ask.
Author
Posts
Viewing 15 posts - 3,076 through 3,090 (of 3,162 total)
Sign In
