Vulcan XH558

I used to live at the Park Street end of Radlett Airfield and have many memories of the Victors being test flown,the early morning call was engines being run up at about 0700 prior to flying.
Colin.
PS I saw XH558 executing a very tight turn low over my house while waiting his slot at the Clacton Airshow.

 

My first job after leaving uni was close to the airfield, at the Park Street ITT Television factory, just after they closed down Handley Page.

 

It was flying over Northampton today

 

I used to watch the Abingdon air shows from a place called Boars Hill, a little way north on the extended centre line, and on rising ground, so when the fast movers did a fly by they were only a matter of a couple of hundred feet above me... I was really looking forward to see the Vulcan 'up close and personal' but I swear (politely!) that the display it gave was so tight it barely left the airfield boundary. Every turn seemed to be a 90 degree bank angle and it never came anywhere near me... gutted!

 

Well, given that the final flights were given more than a mention on the 6 'o clock news............ be interesting to see if she has company, or not.

Never mind what circuits she will do.......

 

I presume no dates were mentioned though.

 

Competition winners being honoured apparently.

 

No, unsurprisingly - though it was hinted at in the teaser something should be known in the next few days.........

Cue dates being announced on the news, website meltdown, and tailbacks & gridlock all along the routes!

 

I wonder if Coningsby is on the agenda seeing another certain old lady took to the skies again.

 

In today's newsletter it was announced that THE final flight is going to be broadcast live on YouTube, so at least those of us who can't travel to Donny can still watch her land for the last time live, 8 years after I watched the first takeoff via the webcams.

 

Very large crowds turned out for the Canadian Lanc last year and the authorities seemed to manage that ok but I suspect there'll be even more for 558's last flight so I wonder if they'd want it at a busy RAF base - unless it was a weekend of course.

 

Next Sunday, 9pm, BBC2 Britain's Ultimate Pilots series showing XH558 with Red Arrows.

It's a great series, 4 progs. Terrific one tonight, featuring BBMF at RIAT.

 

This was in the VTTS newsletter yesterday:

"We remain in discussions with the Robin Hood Airport management and the police on whether a final flight can be scheduled, given concerns about crowds around the airport.

Any final flight will need to be before Friday 30th October, because after then, certain components on the aircraft will have exhausted their cleared calendar life, and so the aircraft will no longer be airworthy prior to overhaul of those components.

Given all the constraints, any final flight will need to be carefully co-ordinated with the full support of our neighbours, with above all else, public safety firmly in mind.

The draw of seeing XH558 on such a historic occasion will be significant, and is confirmed by the huge crowds seen during this her Final Season. ‘The Vulcan Effect’ may now actually be counter-productive to what we all wish to achieve!

We are determined that as many people as possible have the chance to view any final flight and landing by live streaming over the internet and by recording it, both with high quality still photography and in the very latest 4K video.

Just as soon as we have news on what will be possible we will advise you here.

REST-ASSURED – IF XH558 DOES FLY ONE MORE TIME
WE WILL LIVE STREAM THE OCCASION OVER THE INTERNET."

James

 

Hope their servers can stand the strain if they do a live stream.
Latest rumour from the fence at Coningsby is XH558 + Lancaster on Sunday. Place your bets!

 

Did you read the line in the statement above?
Any final flight will need to be before Friday 30th October, because after then, certain components on the aircraft will have exhausted their cleared calendar life, and so the aircraft will no longer be airworthy prior to overhaul of those components.

 

And Sunday is 25th October, so what's the problem?

 

Er, yes. As Dimaond Gaz has pointed out, Sunday is the 25th of October - 6 days before the deadline.

 

Ah.
I will let you off then.

 

You're so kind.

 

There's an interview with someone from the BBMF Lancaster team that's gone up on Farcebook. He was asked about a bash with the Vulcan before the end of the month and he said it won't happen due to insufficient time left to practice with the pair together. Fair enough but I can't recall them practicing the two Lancs plus Vulcan flight from last year, they just did it.