Vulcan XH558

It was great to see her for one last time.

 

A grand tour of the UK has been announced over a weekend "sometime in October" if the £75,000 cost can be underwritten by her adoring public.

 

She had some under carriage problems over the weekend culminating in something of a limp from Prestwick to Donny yesterday afternoon with the undercarriage locked down.

 

There is a video on you tube of her circling with the Spitfire chasing after her to review whats happening (made me smile - want something sorting get a spitty involved) and then the landing itself which was impressive to watch - the skill in keeping the nose up for as long as possible then gently dropping it down!

 

Wasn't the PR19, was the low back Mk.XVI from what I saw.

 

Mon plaisir.
This is the one that was involved. http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/theaircraft/spitfirete311.cfm

 

More dates for the diary pending a resolution to the undercarriage problem.
October 4th Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden. http://www.shuttleworth.org/events/uncovered/
October 4th Gaydon Heritage Motor Centre. http://www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/event/vulcanxh558/

 

Here is a video of the incident:

 

The Vulcan made her final visit to Clacton on the 27th of August, sadly no sun but she looked great:

There are more shots of her here:

http://khardy.zenfolio.com/p460598878

 

Was at Old Sarum Airshow today - the Vulcan was a no-show (and apparently didn't make Goodwood either) on account of what was described as a "major fuel leak". Last report given was that having turned back from Goodwood, it has got back to Doncaster air space.

Tom

 

Correct it didn't display at Goodwood, although it could be seen in the far distance returning from a photshoot near Brighton. Soooooo near!!!!

 

That's a great shame. Seem to be a run of bad luck in the last few weeks, bad weather, nose wheel and now this. Landed safely though.

 

Watched it fly south along the Arun valley and turn east along the coast. It was making some unusual manoeuvres, gaining height in short steps as if going up a flight of stairs.

 

As was I, The weather was superb, the light was brilliant where I was, and I had an uniterupted view of the flight line and display skyscape. It was my last chance to see it.

 

OK again and in the air now, en route to Coventry (ETA 15.45) for a Vulcan to the sky club day flypast. No route details posted though.

 

Saw it flying over Coventry Airport this afternoon, a pleasant surprise as I only found out it was coming this morning! First and probably last time I have seen it close, what a machine.

 

Likewise. Was a shame not to see it one last time. At least I made it to Bournemouth this year. I'm not too sure there was a dry eye on the beach after it rose into the sky a departed into the sun.

A friend of my wife was looking forward to catching the Vulcan at Goodwood as she missed it earlier in the summer. She went to Shoreham on that devestating day hoping to see it but ended up witnessing something that will now live with her forever.

 

I'm glad she is back airworthy, but a bit sad that that may have been my last realistic opportunity to see her. I was hoping that the children would see her as well, not that they would necessarily remember, but so that in years to come they could say that they had done so.

Two observations from old Sarum, one a bit sad, the other maybe a warning. The last aeroplanes due at Old Sarum were Harvard - Mustang - Vulcan - B17, and I think the no-show was announced after the Harvard flew. Almost immediately, we were passed by a steady but significant stream of people leaving, not bothering to wait for the Mustang and B17. The sad observation is that the crew of those two aeroplanes flew wonderful displays, but many were not sufficiently enthralled to bother to watch. The warning is that it shows just what a major draw the Vulcan still is: I wonder if attendances at air shows will be significantly down next year when she isn't flying, and there is no comparable draw?

Incidentally, photos from Old Sarum, without the Vulcan, here: https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/old-sarum-airshow-12-september-2015.564550/

Tom