XH558 Vulcan airborne!

[GlynH]

XH558 in the air for the first time since 27th September last year.

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Due for scheduled 2 hr test with CAA test pilot land BZN into compass swing once complete and paperwork signed application for permit to fly. The permit is only to test today...
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I wonder if paperwork will be sorted in time to display (or at least flypast) over Waddington this weekend?

Hopefully see her at RIAT in a couple of weeks...

Regards,
-=Glyn=-

[viking9]

Clocked him south of Bath heading for OKESI at FL100 a few minutes ago.

[viking9]

1711 crossing the extended runway line west of Fairford in the descent to Brize.

[ACW367]

When will people work out that £2.3M for 25 hour flying program is unsustanable. Ground it in taxiable condition and use the money to create a state of the earth education/visitor centre with ground runs/fast taxi runs. 

Over its short life it has already accumulated £4M of waived debts.  If they don't follow a new (non-flying) business model this aircraft will be scrapped within a year.

This airframe will go down as the most expensive display aircraft ever. At my reckoning, by the time it retires it will be around £300-400K per display.

[DaveReid]

Ground it in taxiable condition and use the money to create a state of the earth education/visitor centre with ground runs/fast taxi runs.

Let the Victor crew taxi it and we'll get the best of both worlds :-)

[ACW367]

:-)

[Southwest]

Ground it in taxiable condition and use the money to create a state of the earth education/visitor centre with ground runs/fast taxi runs.

Let the Victor crew taxi it and we'll get the best of both worlds :-)

Thanks for the Friday morning smile.  I'm sure your comment will be lost with most of our American friends though!

[GlynH]

More news hot off the press;

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Permit to fly issued! 558 displaying at Waddington on Saturday, Waddington & Goodwood on Sunday
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-=Glyn=-

[Marpleman]

apparently operating from and recovering to Brize

No landing at Waddington, just display


Rich

[pure3000]

Does anyone know what time its due at waddington over the weekend ?

[Marpleman]

Possibly too late for you now mate, but it displayed around 14:30 today Saturday,don't know about Sunday as it isn't listed in the display programme as too late for press

display was concise, but I'm sure will get more dynamic as the season progresses

If anyones going tomorrow,make sure to chat with the Czech An26 crew, by asking a couple of friendly questions, we got invited to take a full tour of the 26 the Grippen and the Albatross, plus a couple of shots of peach schnappes and as much pilsner as we could get down our necks without being too giddy to continue taking photo's - absolutely top crew - going out in style as the aircraft is to be retired this year :-(

Rich