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Posted by Flightline UK on July 14, 2010 under Flightline UK Websites, Military Airshows, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Vulcan | 
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Flightline UK will be tweeting live from the Royal International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford (RIAT.) The tweets can be accessed at the following web address: http://www.airshows.org.uk/2010/airshows/royal-international-air-tattoo-fairford-riat-twitter.html
Posted by Flightline UK on July 6, 2010 under Military Airshows, Vulcan | Be the First to Comment
The legendary Vulcan bomber has been added to the Royal International Air Tattoo’s flying display next weekend after its operators won a last-minute battle to have the aircraft airworthy in time for the world’s largest military airshow.
The Vulcan, one of the most iconic warbirds of the Cold War era, was restored to flying condition in 2008 following a massive £7 million public campaign.
In order to display each year, the aircraft has to pass a series of rigorous tests, and operators overcame both financial and technical challenges to ensure that once again, the world’s only airworthy Vulcan would take to the skies for another season.
Vulcan XH558, which was built in 1960, enjoyed a 33-year career in the RAF, including service during the Falklands War. Along with the Valiant and the Victor, the three aircraft comprised the Royal Air Force’s legendary V-bomber force, designed to protect the UK from nuclear threat from the 1950s to the 1980s.
The ambitious restoration of XH558 was supported by a £2.5 million grant from the Lottery Fund, a £500,000 donation from philanthropist Jack Hayward, commercial sponsors plus contributions from more than 20,000 members of the public. The campaign also received significant fundraising support from the Air Tattoo throughout the restoration project.
Last year, its appearance at the Air Tattoo was considered by many to have been the highlight during the airshow’s eight-hour flying display.
Air Tattoo Chief Executive Mr Tim Prince said he was delighted to be welcoming back such a popular and unique aircraft. He said: “It’s been touch-and-go as to whether the aircraft would be ready in time but I am absolutely thrilled it is now able to join us. There are few aircraft flying today that can match its beauty and sheer thunderous power. In my mind, it is one of a handful of legendary aircraft, including the Spitfire and Concorde that has the ability to stir the emotions.”
Posted by Flightline UK on February 25, 2010 under Vulcan | Be the First to Comment
Vulcan to the Sky . . . . One again!
The Vulcan to the Sky trust has received an anonomous donation of £458,000 securing the short term future of the project. The donation has meant the £800,000 target of funding by the end of march has been exceeded allowing work to return XH558 back to the air for the 2010 airshow season to move forward. The trust now have to collect the thousands pledged over the last few months
This year sees XH558 celebrate it’s 50th birthday. Marshalls of Cambridge will be undertaking some life extension work on the aircraft which should see it remain airworthy beyond the 2010 airshow season.
The letter from Dr Robert Pleming this morning read as follows:-
There can now be no doubt that XH558 has a guardian angel looking after her: I can now confirm some really good news that vastly changes the status of our current Appeal.
Shortly, the Results Graph on our appeal site will show a massive increase due to a fantastic confirmed donation of £458,000! The donor has asked to remain anonymous, but I can reassure you that he is fully aware of the significance of this contribution.
As the result, I have pleasure in confirming that the Board of Trustees has decided that VTST now has sufficient funding in place to go forward with the planned engineering programme, and onward to the 2010 Display Season.
We have to temper this great news with the fact that our Public Appeal has been waning compared with previous years, probably as a result of the poor economic conditions and the weariness of boom and bust cycles.
Our main drive this year will be to finally put XH558 onto a firm business footing, with many new income generation schemes: Educational Lectures, New Merchandise, Regional Sponsorship, Competitions, and of course, an ongoing Annual Appeal. We must acknowledge we will continue to need public support, but gear the appeal over the whole year.
We will now focus our campaign on the 50th Birthday Appeal, which will also be marketed through our World Record attempt for signatures on XH558’s Birthday Card, until we launch our fresh campaign in May, aimed at taking XH558 on into 2011.
Very soon, those who have pledged will be receiving their “redemption” letters. Please await their arrival before making payment, so we can accurately record details and apply Gift Aid if applicable.
Your continuing support is much appreciated by everyone who appreciates what XH558 represents and by all those who have helped XH558 over the years. She is adored and appreciated by people all over the world. She is quite simply – the one and only!
Each and every one of us owes a deep debt of gratitude to every individual who contributed, no matter how small their donation, for keeping the dream alive.
My sincerest thanks and best wishes to you all,
Dr Robert Pleming
Posted by Flightline UK on February 7, 2010 under Editorials, Vulcan | Be the First to Comment
It’s winter and once again we’re being asked to “Save the Vulcan!” It seems like groundhog day with the Vulcan to the Sky trust in financial dire straits. The staff at the Vulcan to the Sky Trust are again on a months notice pending the results of another fundraising campaign. It all seems pretty grim.
Unfortunately, the Vulcan was made airworthy just in time for one of the deepest economic downturns in history. Sponsorship for such a project has proved very hard to come by despite some very high profile campaigns and appearances at some of the countries biggest airshows. Ever since it make it’s first test flight, the Vulcan has been almost entirely dependant in public donations to keep flying. It has been an amazing feat of will-power and public support that has kept the Vulcan flying.
The Vulcan has had a profound effect on UK airshows. While it may not have been totally responsible for the massive crowds that most shows have enjoyed in the last couple of years, it certainly has contributed. The Vulcan does attract significant media interest for the shows which can only boost crowd numbers and as well as attracting a band of ever enthusiast supporters. Indeed, Bournemouth Council put a large part of the success of it’s show to the Vulcan’s three appearances during the air festival. The sheer presence of this emotive aircraft has always turns heads, particularly the final “howl” as the Vulcan spirals into the heavens at the end it’s displays.
The season however, wasn’t without it’s low points. The first couple of weeks of July 2009 were particularly trying with issues with the aircraft’s “Permit to Fly” preventing displays at Waddington and combined technical issues (brakes) and poor weather preventing a display at Yeovilton. However, after that the Vulcan made some spectacular airshow appearances and it has enjoyed some superb support from the public.
But all the summer’s fund-raising has not been enough to secure the future of the project. There’s been plenty of critism of the Vulcan to the Sky Trust (VttS), mainly on internet forums and even media such as Twitter and Facebook! Many good valid points have been made but much of it is unfounded. Opportunities have been missed with the fund-raising, notably a very late start for the 2010 fund raising campaign that really should have been running way before the end of the 2009 display season. However, the Civil Aviation Authority have been very positive about the VttS’s approach to the operation of the Vulcan. In a recent interview on key.aero Padhraic Kelleher, head of Airworthiness with the CAA, commented about the “Permit to Fly” issues at Waddington and VttS’s approach to the problems; “They behaved impeccably, and just what you would hope for an organisation that’s in charge of such a fabulous symbol.”
I think it’ll be a huge shame if the Vulcan were not to make it to the 2010 display season. Airshows will survive without the aircraft but the displays would be greatly missed. However you view the Vulcan to the Sky trust, you cannot escape the fact that the Vulcan is a hugely expensive aircraft to operate and any operator would be struggling without massive financial support.
Whether the Vulcan flies or not in 2010 depends on whether the masses really want the aircraft to fly again. If it goes, it’s likely to go forever and end up being a lifeless museum exhibit rather than an inspirational and exciting living example of British engineering at it’s best.
To pledge money to help return Vulcan XH558 to flight and airshows throughout 2010 -- CLICK HERE.
Posted by Flightline UK on under DVD Reviews, Vulcan | Be the First to Comment
Vulcan Effect Blu-Ray Cover
Produced by Planes TV; Available from Planes TV -- Blu-Ray £24.99, DVD £15.99
There’s little doubt that the 2009 season was dominated by the Vulcan. The aircraft’s story during the display season had all the ups and downs you’d associate with ant popular soap opera. The production is narrated by Sean Maffett, the aircraft’s official commentator.
The production starts on high introducing the viewer to some of the many faces behind the display. Many of these people are overlooked by the airshow going public but they play a vital role in getting Vulcan airworthy. The season for the aircraft started off on a high with successful test flights and practice displays at Brize Norton. There’s some stunning footage from the first few displays at Cosford, Volkel, Kemble and Biggin.
It’s very good that Planes TV didn’t shy away from the the difficult period in early July when the Vulcan arrived for Waddington Airshow only to find it’s Permit were not going to be renewed in time for it’s displays there. The low ebb continued for another week where weather cost Vulcan another public display at RNAS Yeovilton.
But every hero needs a dramatic comeback -- cue RIAT, Lowestoft and the stunning Windermere Airshow. RIAT is covered in some detail including that take-off on the Sunday. Many of the Vulcan’s display appearances are covered including highlights of Dawlish (in formation with the Red Arrows), Bournemouth, the World Aerobatic Championships at Silverstone, re-enacting the Black Buck at Cosby and it’s stunning appearance at RAF Leuchars. Interviews are interspersed throughout, even with the viewing public demonstrating the affection for the cold war warrior.
The finale of “The Vulcan Effect” is nothing short of spectacular. High definition on board cameras cover the aircraft’s appearance at the Southport Airshow including the flyover of Woodford, where the Vulcan was built . But it’s not all over, Planes TV’s Iain Campbell gets the chance of a lifetime for film the Vulcan air to air from Ultimate High’s Extra 300L. The result is a truly fascinating sequence of filming despite the some typically grey weather and the cramp conditions in the front seat of the Extra! In Blu-Ray form, this sequence is epic.
The film ends at the Vulcan’s current home at RAF Lyneham with some more of the behind-the-scenes activities. The Vulcan faces some important fund raising over the winter and proceeds from the Blu-Ray/DVD goes to help keeping Vulcan flying. Even if you’re not a Vulcan fan, this a superb record of a “year-in-the-life” of an airshow icon. This is a stunning production and Planes TV really have done the Vulcan proud.
