Had read something about a minor fuel snag? Hopefully Smiler or JBoyle will be along shortly with an update!

“DA flight postponed due to adverse weather
Friday, May 30, 2008

Due to poor visibilty and slow clearing cloud cover today’s DA flight was not possible.

The aircraft is fully servicable and ready to go and a replacement flight will now be arranged in the very near future.

Rusty Drewett, Commercial Manager, VTST “

I have already got my ticket for the Biggin Hill Air Fair on 7/8 June – I guess if XH558 is servicable and makes it, the queue of cars will stretch back to the M25!

I still have my nice certificate from TVOC dated Sept. 2000, thanking me for my (first) donation, and promising that my name would be written in (very small) letters inside the bomb bay…hmmm, I’ll need very powerful lenses to spot that one!

More memories – of chatting to Dave Thomas at the 1995 Air Fair when the idea of a possible return to flight was first a tantalising thought – I never really believed it would happen, there have been so many ups and downs (which have followed on this forum and elsewhere ad nauseum), but I guess “Never give up” is truly the motto here!

On a practical note, it will interesting to see what sort of routine ‘558 will follow on the display circuit. I remember the old days when Paul Millikin and Mr Thomas would open the taps, pull up in a near-vertical climb (incidentally removing large chunks of tarmac from the runway last time they did that at Biggin), stand the old girl on a wingtip etc. I suspect she’ll be put through rather gentler maneouvres to save airframe fatigue this time around – and at least to start with, there probably won’t be time to evolve anything too fancy before display commitments start. (But here’s hoping 🙂

You see from the above, I AM an optimist:rolleyes:

I did speak to David Thomas about the display routine and it was included in the lottery bid as the HLF wanted to see what the display was about.
It will, I think be a lighter version than the original RAF version though similar. Keeping the engines, airframe and undercarriage from too much stress will be the name of the game this time round. Having now heard a few times 558 sounds more like a 301 engined Vulcan, she is not so screachy now.
Soon you will be able to see for yourself at RAF Scampton when the crew go through the routine. If you can pop £5 in the e donate though, just to help her a long in leiu of a commerical sponsor. Ta

Test flights are not a public event. I would not advertise the thoughts of the air crew on departure. Its a busy day for the airfield owners and all the transporters in and out of Bruntingthorpe.
The date of the test flight is public knowledge and even VOC web site gives it, which if the surrounding roads get blocked or restricted tomorrow, the Police will need to review the situation and could charge VOC for there time for traffic managment as they have “advertised” a test flight.
I am not going be the bad boy with the CAA, C Walton Ltd, Rusty, Dr Pleming, Mr Manns et al.
Mr Smiler also needs lunch first.
Look around on other forums and the times are given.

DT has just given an interview on East Midlands today, false warning from an indicator on the APU. They are going to do a rover wash and check before they depart.
Why wait months for an update on the VOC web site when the Chief Pilot can tell you very quickly!

She’s on finals to Cottesmore now.

Soon

has she gone?

Not yet, power is not on yet.

Engines will be out of life before the airframe. Not forgetting the Nose wheel gear also.
Lets make the most of her while we can. How cash is rasied is not our business, it’s up to VTTS how they do and as long as the charities commission are happy, then all is well.