Vulcan XH558 Farewell Flight Weekend

[Dos_Box]

As some of you may be aware, this weekend is the last 'official' fight of Vulcan XH558 (although they may have one more final flight if the aircraft is up to it!).

The flight(s) will be over two days covering the north (Saturday) and the south (Sunday) of the country.

You can find out all of the information + maps here: XH558’s National Tour this weekend - Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th October. Details of where to see her fly..

Please note this information is upated regularly and may be subject to change. There are also apps available for iOS an Anroid which will allow to you track the aircraft in real time on the day.

 

To save you some time however, here are the links to the flight maps an a screengrab of each:

 

Northern flight: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zJoGZd3-Qg5U.k9_QAWQWnmes

 

 

 

Southern flight: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zJoGZd3-Qg5U.k3u8IUZTll6M

 

 

Hopefully I shall be up a hill catching it flying own the Ribble Valley

 

*Please note for the northern flight it will be flying the route 'anti-clockwise'. Not sure about the southern half.

Edited October 9, 2015 by Dos_Box

[bald_pig]

I'm on the southern flight path

[plexer]

Thing is I think the aircraft is more than up to it it's just the removal of engineering support from big sponsors which has had an impact on their ability to keep her flying.

 

Ben

[HallX]

Interesting read. Particularly like Q6 response.

[Dos_Box]

I'm on the southern flight path

 

It's actually going to fly right over my house, but going to get a much better view of it coming down the Ribble Valley from Mellor Moor.

Hopefully BAe will send up some planes to escort it over Salmesbury, Warton and Woodford.

Edited October 9, 2015 by Dos_Box

[clareq]

I live 6 miles from Doncaster airport, so I see (and hear) it quite often.

[Dos_Box]

I live 6 miles from Doncaster airport, so I see (and hear) it quite often.

 

I hate you

[hardtailstar]

I'm on the southern flight path

 

me too, in fact its going right over my town....

 

I am likely to still miss it like I did with the Spitfires etc.

[sted]

I live 6 miles from Doncaster airport, so I see (and hear) it quite often.

 

you don't need to be that close to hear them I remember hearing them as a kid from home lol. Im sure ive seen Vulcans fly over loads just not since this one has been flying from finningley. Typically it basically orbits leeds going nowhere near lol and they have said on website/email don't go to finningley as there isn't anywhere to see it and police may move you on

[bald_pig]

It's actually going to fly right over my house, but going to get a much better view of it coming down the Ribble Valley from Mellor Moor.

Hopefully BAe will send up some planes to escort it over Salmesbury, Warton and Woodford.

 

not that close for me, but I'll be heading to North Weald with the camera!

[HallX]

I live 6 miles from Doncaster airport, so I see (and hear) it quite often.

 

Me too

 

Saw her takeoff at Waddington once, all the car alarms went off!!

[elsiegee40]

Updated info on the flights

http://mxm.mxmfb.com/rsps/m/SlRCm2iFdP_-wJa4msERZkfTRkfhQoFdjj7E-0ZFkqE

 

Take off time to be confirmed

- Northern route on Saturday is anticlockwise. Gets to Dalkeith +60mins and Warton Aerodrome (Preston) +115 mins

- Southern route on Sunday is clockwise. Gets to Dover at +55mins and Bristol (Filton) at +130 mins.

[plexer]

Very interesting read, have driven past their Hinckley base a couple of times in the last few months on the way to the triumph factory.

 

Ben

[mikeprice]

Saw her do a full display at RIAT this year - she howled properly on take off

 

Pollen must have been high as my eyes were leaking - lots of blokes seemed to have the same problem

[elsiegee40]

We got a chance sighting as we were driving to York in the May half term. There was a fortunately placed lay-by where we could stop immediately to watch. She had landing gear down and looked to be heading for RAF Linton on Ouse.

[bald_pig]

Good view at North Weald:

 

[Iain.Faulkner]

I'm really fortunate in that I live pretty much at the end of the old British Aerospace site in Woodford (where all 136 Vulcan's were built) so we got a great view of it on Saturday :-) apologies, but I only had access to the cmaera on my phone

 

[hardtailstar]

I missed it as I thought.

 

It was early to my town but it appears not many people did see it where I live.

[CyberNerd]

Does anyone know why they can't fly it. I heard that it was because manufacturers wouldn't support it - but there is still an Avro Lancaster flying that is 10 years older - so how does that work ??

[JJonas]

Please sign folks

 

Petition Save Vulcan XH558. Persuade technical authorities to reconsider ending support.

[sted]

End of Flight - Vulcan To The Sky

 

but in a nutshell the 3 companies responsible for building it don't think its safe (or don't want to gurantee that) so the caa can no longer consider it airworthy (iirc this isn't a million miles away fromwhat happened to concord

 

also the experts who built / designed it are old/dead so its harder to get specialist help if needed

Edited October 12, 2015 by sted

[Dos_Box]

The vid my wife took on Mellor Moor overlooking Salmesbury on Saturday. Ensure you watch full screeen in HD as it went over the north side of the Ribble Valley rather than where everyone else was on the south side!

 

[sted]

Please sign folks

 

Petition Save Vulcan XH558. Persuade technical authorities to reconsider ending support.

 

much as I hate to say it they are the experts and are probably right. Maybe it would be better to look at building a replica with a new airframe?

[CyberNerd]

End of Flight - Vulcan To The Sky

 

but in a nutshell the 3 companies responsible for building it don't think its safe (or don't want to gurantee that) so the caa can no longer consider it airworthy (iirc this isn't a million miles away fromwhat happened to concord

 

also the experts who built / designed it are old/dead so its harder to get specialist help if needed

 

I thought that would apply to Lancasters, hurricanes and Spitfires too - or is it I guess just because it is a much more complicated Jet ?

[Dos_Box]

Does anyone know why they can't fly it. I heard that it was because manufacturers wouldn't support it - but there is still an Avro Lancaster flying that is 10 years older - so how does that work ??

 

Because most of the Lancasters superstructure is easy to inspect and get too. Most of the Vulcans is hidden.

Also, the Vulcan has had much more of a 'rough' life with a considerable amount of high speed, low attitude flying further adding to the airframes stress.

There is also the problem in that many of those qualified and experienced enough to work on it are now past retirement age and the RAF keeps its personnel trained up on the Lancaster, Spitfire etc in the BBMF.