Looks like a D9 is the only tool required.

Whats one of them?
😮

Looking at these photos the condition of XL391 is getting worse by the day, it must be getting very close to the stage where it is considered a “dangerous structure”

I think that stage passed by several years ago to be honest. Look at the metal clamp holding the front undercarrige leg together… 😮

You can see one of the missing elevons to the right of the picture. The wing structure behind it looked extremely powdery… Also, there was a washing up bucket slung in one of the jet pipes.

Went up to see her today, unfortunately some typical Lancashire weather made the skies very dark and overcast, not to mention bloody freezing (my excuse for the blurring…), but i’ve done what I could. Here they are.

I have actually met Brian Bateson on a couple of occasions and found him to be a very money orientated individual. When the Vulcan arrived at Blackpool it was open to the public as a tourist attraction offering tours around the aircraft for a fee then when she was declared unsafe for public access she was fenced off and left to rot. On a number of occasions a friend of mine, who runs the local Air Cadet unit located at the back of Blackpool Air Centre, tried numerous times to offer the services of the cadets to help preserve the airframe (under the guidance of a team from BAe) but was turned down flat. Bids were also offered for the airframe from numerous people and organisations over the years but were told it wasn’t for sale, still under the illusion it is still a tourist attraction.

Now Mr Bateson has found an opprtunity to make lots more money with the proposed expansion of Blackpool Airport and needed to get rid of some dead wood (or rather metal) and flog the Vulcan to the highest bidder.

I do feel it is now ‘too little too late’ when a bit of TLC on the part of Mr. Bateson and a few willing young volunteers could have helped save a piece of history.

And so the possibilty of a bigger profit for Mr. Bateson with the sale of a half decent Vulcan airfame is now lost.

RIP Vulcan XL391

Martin

Thanks TGR

He still trebled his money… (bought for £5000 in 1983), and I hope I never meet him either…

😡 😡 😡 😡 😡

XL391- Sadly the moment her wheels touched the concrete at Blackpool she was doomed. It’s simply not possible to ensure the long term future of any aircraft by keeping it outside. The elements are not kind to aluminium and the host of other
materials that make up an aircraft.
If you wish to get involved in the preservation of Vulcans I am sure there
are groups around that could use your help.

Of course, the elements are highly damaging. But ‘391 hasn’t even had a fresh lick of paint since she landed there, which, i’m sure you’ll agree is quite important to preservation. I am sure it costs a lot of money, but if you had seen the size of Mr Bateson’s operation, i’m sure he could have give her at least one new coat once every 5 years? Manpower certainly wouldn’t have been lacking. I used to fly out of Blackpool regularly and the guys I know in and around the airport were truly disgusted with the condition she was/is left in. A couple of the guys I remember wanted to floodlight her at night, which would have looked superb. But it wasn’t to be for the old girl and she has been left to rot by Mr Bateson. A businessman. Apparently.
With regards to assisting with the preservation of Vulcans, tell me how to get involved, i’d love to. I adore these beautiful beasts like no other aircraft. I get one weekday off a week and live 40 miles from Blackpool. Tell me how!

My sincere condolences. We owe people like your father and my grandfathers an enormous debt for what they did all those years ago. May he rest in peace.

Any news gents?