I've been a huge fan of the Vulcan ever since childhood. The first time I saw it was when I was playing out in the street and without warning it appeared at quite low level from behind the roof of my childhood home, throttled up, banked and howled its way back to the local airfield where it was taking part in an airshow. By next morning I'd persuaded my parents that we needed to go to the airshow and I've loved the Vulcan ever since.
Operation 2015 is all about keeping the Avro Vulcan XH558 in the air for another couple of years. It's the last all-British four-engined jet aircraft capable of flight world-wide. It needs some serious work to extend the airframe's life and they have been raising funds for a while now.
Quote from: Operation2015.orgYour guide to how we plan to deliver two further flying years for XH558
At the end of the 2012 season, we reviewed the many technical challenges that have to be solved if Vulcan XH558 is to continue flying beyond 2013. Since then, we've been working hard to find solutions to each one. We have searched archives for original technical documentation,
commissioned design analysis and consulted specialist system suppliers. The result is that we now have a high level of confidence that we can release enough additional flying hours for full display seasons in 2014 and 2015, assuming no insurmountable technical issues arise.
Following the final flight of the Vickers VC10 on 25th September 2013, Avro Vulcan XH558 is now the very last all-British four-engined jet aircraft capable of flight world-wide from the time that British aviation led the world.
With your support, this is how we will complete XH558's most ambitious engineering programme since the 2007 return-to-flight.
Engineering Overview
There are two elements to the engineering programme. The most challenging technically is the modification to the leading edges of the wings required to increase the fatigue life of the airframe. This will be carried out to Modification 2221, which was developed by Avro while the Vulcans were in service.
The second element, which is less technically complex but in some ways even more difficult to solve, is to ensure that we have sufficient stocks of all the components needed for the additional two flying seasons. In parallel with Operation 2015, we will need to carry out the annual winter service. For 2013-14, this will be a 'Minor'- a relatively light service in which the only substantial system overhaul will be the ejection seats. We have scheduled the service to be completed by the New Year so that from January, we can concentrate on installation of the wing modification
Modification 2221 requires four aluminium alloy plates, each about two square metres, to be precisely shaped in three dimensions so they fit each wing leading edge 'like a glove'. They must then be installed with absolute precision. With none of the original manufacturing drawings or installation jigs surviving, the project requires us to "reverse engineer" the plates and fasteners required for this high precision operation.
If you'd like to support the privateers who are keeping such a beautiful aircraft flying, then please visit //www.vulcantothesky.org and join the Club, it's just £24pa for a family. You can also make donations to the fund, or buy merchandise to support the fund-raising.
The Club's store is at: //www.vulcantotheskystore.co.uk
(it currently has a Sale on and has several clothing lines with 50% off - e.g. Polo shirt for £10)If you want to know why this fabulous aircraft should be saved then simply
turn up your volume and
watch this video!Thank you!
i had bought the pss vulcan for fs2000, fs2004 and fsx of which 1/2 the cost went to the vulcan to the sky appeal, seen her at 5 air displays and at coningsby doing engine tests, well worth the total cost of the 3 planes of £60
Folks, bit of a shout out for help here with the Vulcan XH558 charity:
(https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/-AG0MYIFBkaTQ01gU8oK0l7XfkzcJtUd6QJxyQUyoDhjHcXpOPWaVTUyxnlUX5w_d1jEkzEMpxeTdwD0jkjsAaCv8wuHlJRJBKx3gBljt5A5NNoqOWjPZPQYWRMSSwQdRJ1NDK-KFQ=s0-d-e1-ft#http://cdn.maxemail.emailcenteruk.com/c1216/23d4ff06cf161315584da82d0c323ecf.jpeg)
We're 80% of the way through the 2014 season and only 50% funded for the 2014 summer display season. There is a real danger that they will not even call in the Winter service pledges and then XH558 is grounded.
2015 is the very last year you will see this bird flying, but only if it is funded. Otherwise it's destined to become a static ground display RealSoonNow
TM.
If you can and want to support this beautiful aircraft you can donate here:
http://www.vulcantothesky.org/donate.html
You can join the Vulcan To The Sky organization here (it's dirt cheap):
//www.vulcantothesky.org
(http://www.vulcantothesky.org/images/peoplesaircraftbanner.jpg)
Please help if you can.
(https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/Pz4gHu_eeZI5UOGv6EF6zAD7voi6x3mGmDmVE06RfxZwlaK95TRzC9Z_wrT34oNaP2kECHsskJw275jh9TCzO9Xkpm6lXfBaV_C3an2umnMRmMa3MKzMFN5z8ZYoLRXkgKNxxwMHZA=s0-d-e1-ft#http://cdn.maxemail.emailcenteruk.com/c1216/d8d0bc1b40c4253f5779b35918307a1f.jpeg)
Only 2 weeks left to raise 39% of the season's needs.
And a date for your diary:
(http://cdn.maxemail.emailcenteruk.com/c1216/c168005c410182c7d42920cd4a7c7d8f.jpeg)
I'm bumping this thread deliberately to remind people that this is it. The last year of flying for the venerable Avro Vulcan XH558.
Turn up your volume, watch the video and feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand to attention.
Say your goodbyes to this legendary air frame with me at RIAT on July 18th.
Info for the dMw trip to RIAT:http://www.deadmen.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?41195-RIAT-18th-July-2015
Walked out of work this afternoon to hear a huge roar coming from the sky. Assumed it was a pair of F15s which is normal for these parts but the sound was much, much more powerful. I faced the direction of the roar and the Vulcan appeared over a building almost directly overhead, its wings were vertical and the engines were screaming. It finished its banking manoeuvre, levelled out and headed off to the north.
I am *so* pleased I lucked-out with this viewing. The sight and sound of this incredible aircraft is truly amazing.
Quote from: OldBloke;402952Walked out of work this afternoon to hear a huge roar coming from the sky. Assumed it was a pair of F15s which is normal for these parts but the sound was much, much more powerful. I faced the direction of the roar and the Vulcan appeared over a building almost directly overhead, its wings were vertical and the engines were screaming. It finished its banking manoeuvre, levelled out and headed off to the north.
I am *so* pleased I lucked-out with this viewing. The sight and sound of this incredible aircraft is truly amazing.
It rattled the windows of our place over on Capital Park. Quite magnificent.
One of the best planes you can ever see & hear at an airshow. So sad that this is its last year in the air. :sad:
Always loved her.. Guess these will be my final shots.. (taken from my #iPhone)
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Interesting documentary on the last flight by channel 4. Currently available on demand and will be reshown during the holiday season.
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/guy-martin-last-flight-of-the-vulcan-bomber