Afternoon at Duxford 10/04/14

Jamessquared · 2014-04-13

作者 big.stu: ↑

In the end, as with steam/railways, they do it because it is their passion.
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Thanks Stu - interesting!

Tom

big.stu · 2014-04-13

作者 Jamessquared: ↑

Thanks Stu - interesting!
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What I forgot to say was that if you think finding £300k-£400k every ten years for a major overhaul is a big ask, have some sympathy for the Vulcan boys - keeping that beast flying consumes that amount just for the annual winter maintenance (and considerably more this year due to it needing a significant modification to extend the airframe life).

There is even a group who think they can put Concorde back in the air - although my man at RR says there's no chance...

Stu

Spamcan81 · 2014-04-13

作者 Bean-counter: ↑

I won't disagree with you, because I don't - but I fear you may have mis-understood me. in no way am I calling into question the standards of restoration or operation. It is a point that doesn't just apply to "total rebuilds" but also to those aircraft which have passed into preservation intact - perhaps even more so. Things can, and sadly occasionally do, go wrong and even the best of pilots cannot always put the plane down in one piece. Are such aircraft too precious to risk by flying?

I know the same argument can be made about railway items but the risk of destruction is surely much less?

Or is you point that the "total restorations" like the 2 Spitfires mentioned are almost replicas?

Steven
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Aeroplanes were built to fly and thankfully most owners of historic gems do just that. The Shuttleworth Collection has some pre-WW1 gems and they fly them. Granted only in optimum conditions but fly them they do. To see the UK's oldest original airworthy aircraft in the air is an absolute joy and it wouldn't be quite the same if it had been built in 2001.

Spamcan81 · 2014-04-13

作者 Jamessquared: ↑

I'm curious about the economics of flying warbirds.

In the railway world, ultimately it is passenger fare income that pays both the running costs (coal, oil, water) and the restoration costs - at least in theory! Is it the same with warbirds? Presumably the main income sources are fees from air shows and filming jobs etc (And I guess museum entry fees at places like the Shuttleworth collection - but that is rare) - there is relatively limited opportunity to charge "fare" income, at least in a single seater! So are any owners actually making money, or at least keeping pace with the running costs, or is it exclusively a pastime for the wealthy?

Tom
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There is a degree of sponsorship with some warbirds. Red Bull sponsor a warbird team in Europe - the Flying Bulls - and for a while sponsored a Sea Vixen in the UK. I suspect the costs of warbird operation are covered by a combination of sponsorship, appearance fees and filming contracts. Add to this some wealthy owners as already mentioned and in the case of the Vulcan, countless donations from an army of fans.

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Afternoon at Duxford 10/04/14

Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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Afternoon at Duxford 10/04/14

Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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