Vulcan XH558 Farewell Flight Weekend

[CyberNerd]

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.

 

Thanks, that makes perfect sense.

[mikeprice]

iirc someone on the radio said that the main problem is that they are now so far past its intended total number of hours that they no longer know what to look for in term of stress cracks etc etc

 

In terms of Lanc and Spitfires etc I suspect that the alloys used in the old aircraft may be less subject to stress so there are less likely to be problems - and as previously started - the parts are easier to see

I think that some materials 9e.g. steel) can be made to be below a stress threshold and so never suffer from stress fractures - whereas modern alloys do not have such a threshold and so stress can always cause fractures - even at low levels of stress as long as it goes on for long enough

 

I think

[elsiegee40]

Just had an email about the final final flight

Final Flight Confirmed

 

Following the positive negotiations with the airport that we announced on Friday, a final flight has been confirmed but with substantial restrictions. To absolutely guarantee that there is no disruption to their operations from the crowds that are expected, their primary requirement is that the flight takes place at very short notice.

 

We have agreed to this with regret because we believe it is important to have a symbolic end to flying, which is professionally recorded and made available to you as video and stills, but understanding the disappointment that it will rightly bring to all those who have generously supported XH558 and would like to see the final touch-down.

 

As discussed previously, any delays to commercial flights due to congestion around the airport will be extremely expensive for them and they will have no choice but to pass those costs on to the Trust, which would have a dramatic impact on the future of XH558. It is for this reason that our original plans for an event around the final flight had to be cancelled with apologies to all those who deserve to be there. Thank you again for understanding this difficult position.

 

We have used almost all the available flying hours taking her to you, across the UK this year, flying more than 50% longer than in any previous year, with many thanks to Marshall Aerospace, the Civil Aviation Authority, and K M Dastur, our aviation insurance brokers, for agreeing this extension.

 

After such a fabulous year, we have only a handful of minutes left, so the final flight will be around 15 minutes with no display, simply saying Farewell to the Skies.

 

We are still negotiating exactly how much notice can be provided, requesting a reasonable relaxation of the original very strict requirement. Do please keep a close eye on our social media – Facebook Vulcan XH558 and Twitter @XH558 (repeated on our website) – for updates and for details of how to see the flight live, online.