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[Lagondanet]

It's gonna be a sad day when it happens but Vulcan to the Sky confirms retirement of the last airworthy Vulcan heavy bomber, XH558.

If you want to see & hear it one last time here's a link to the proposed display dates & locations for this, its final flying year:

http://www.vulcantothesky.org/

http://www.vulcantothesky.org/appearances.html

So far, I've booked for Shuttleworth on 5 July.

[Webby the Bear]

That is sad.

She is sooooo loud. Love it.

[driver115]

Yes, sad,If my memory serves me well, i remember seeing and hearing a vulcan bomber for the first time as it flew over our school in 1968

[Kevin Wood]

I remember encountering that very Vulcan over East Anglia in the early 90's, very shortly before its' first "final" flight.

I was flying a glider made out of wood and fabric, glued together with boiled up old nags, which was still a few decades more "modern" than the Vulcan. 

Was chuffed when I waggled my wings and got the same in response.

It's so good that it's had this swansong, but everything has to come to an end, especially when we're talking about complex jets. One more great British engineering project rendered a museum piece.

[LC0112G]

One problem is that the Vulcan costs a huge amount of money to book for an airshow/flyby. There are plenty in the airshow/warbird community who are relieved that the Tin Triangle is retiring because it is starving the life out of many of other 'acts'. Everyone agrees that the Vulcan is a big public draw, but in it's 8 years of flying it has meant that organisers either can afford to book The Vulcan, or perhaps 4-5 other things instead. The Hunter display team has gone, Miss Demeanor is up for sale, and things like the Sea Vixen only seem to get booked when the Vulcan drops out. If the Vulcan had continued for another 10 years then we may have had nothing else left by the end of it's time. 

The same accusation gets levelled at the RAF and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. AIUI it's much cheaper to book the Lancaster than Sally B, and similarly the BoBMF Spitfires are cheaper than the various privately operated ones. I know the Coventry mob are trying to get a Shak airworthy - I wonder if that will ever really be commercially viable.

There was a time not that long ago when there were two or three big airshows every weekend from May through to September - I once attended 50 in one year. Now we have less than 10. This year it's really only Cosford, Yeovilton, Fairford, Culdrose, Duxford, and a load of seaside shows. There just isn't enough money to go around, and if one 'big' act takes all the money that is available, then it can only get worse.

[tunnie]

It also means, possibly the end of 'retired' aircraft in clubs like this.

The spitfire needs basic tools to maintain, engine bits could be made I think? It's straight forward type stuff.

But all these new jets with full on-board bespoke computer systems allowing it to fly, massively complex electrical and engine systems means who can main these when the MOD has had enough?

I saw this beautiful aircraft at Bournemouth, the size, noise and everything, just WOW. 

[Bigron]

"tunnie", I was along the coast from you at Weymouth (not necessarily on the same day) when I had my first and only sighting of this magnificent aircraft, on Carnival Day.
LOUD.
I was on the pier at Weymouth when this noisy giant suddenly appeared, flying VERY low over my head with a roar from hell - nearly made me rush to the nearby Marks and Spencers!

Ron.

[the alarming man]

I have only seen the Vulcan once 3-4 years ago down at Westgate at the air show that was a disaster with regards to traffic and entrance....but tunnies is right the noise this plane makes is remarkable  

[Kevin Wood]

One problem is that the Vulcan costs a huge amount of money to book for an airshow/flyby. There are plenty in the airshow/warbird community who are relieved that the Tin Triangle is retiring because it is starving the life out of many of other 'acts'....

Yes, very true, in addition to the fact that everyone expects the the moon on a stick for free these days.

It was right that they restored it to flight, and it's right that it now retires to make way for something else, IMHO.

But all these new jets with full on-board bespoke computer systems allowing it to fly, massively complex electrical and engine systems means who can main these when the MOD has had enough?

If you don't have type support from the manufacturer(s) it doesn't fly. As simple as that. Aircraft flying beyond their retirement from service will be the preserve of the Spitfire generation in future.

[BazaJT]

I still remember oh so many years ago now that as a young boy I used to go to Finningley airshow and it always used to open with a "scramble" of four Vulcans,in those days of course they were painted white with a black bit on the nose.As for XH558 I passed this a couple of weeks ago as I came up the A15 from Bourne.It was just sat there within a few yards of the side of the road and what appeared to be only a small fence to keep people at bay,even stood still it's an awesome sight!They used to have a Vulcan at the Newark air museum which you could walk around and even underneath it.Anyone know if they still have it?

[Sir Tigger KC]

They used to have a Vulcan at the Newark air museum which you could walk around and even underneath it.Anyone know if they still have it?

http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/Aircraft-List

 

[Shackeng]

One problem is that the Vulcan costs a huge amount of money to book for an airshow/flyby. There are plenty in the airshow/warbird community who are relieved that the Tin Triangle is retiring because it is starving the life out of many of other 'acts'. Everyone agrees that the Vulcan is a big public draw, but in it's 8 years of flying it has meant that organisers either can afford to book The Vulcan, or perhaps 4-5 other things instead. The Hunter display team has gone, Miss Demeanor is up for sale, and things like the Sea Vixen only seem to get booked when the Vulcan drops out. If the Vulcan had continued for another 10 years then we may have had nothing else left by the end of it's time. 

The same accusation gets levelled at the RAF and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. AIUI it's much cheaper to book the Lancaster than Sally B, and similarly the BoBMF Spitfires are cheaper than the various privately operated ones. I know the Coventry mob are trying to get a Shak airworthy - I wonder if that will ever really be commercially viable.

There was a time not that long ago when there were two or three big airshows every weekend from May through to September - I once attended 50 in one year. Now we have less than 10. This year it's really only Cosford, Yeovilton, Fairford, Culdrose, Duxford, and a load of seaside shows. There just isn't enough money to go around, and if one 'big' act takes all the money that is available, then it can only get worse.

One of the problems in the past has been that is that those responsible who held the A/C drawings were obstructive and unhelpful to the team attempting this. However this may now have been resolved. It has regular engine runs, and has done a very high speed run down the runway, and may ( ) have been airborne for a few seconds, but this was 4 or 5 years ago. 

[05omegav6]

Presumably it also takes time, money and effort to keep the crews rated as well... And at some point the people who originally flew the aircraft in service will no longer be able/around to fly them

[Shackeng]

Presumably it also takes time, money and effort to keep the crews rated as well... And at some point the people who originally flew the aircraft in service will no longer be able/around to fly them

Sadly very true. I suspect I will not be recalled to fly it.

[steve6367]

I spent a day in the Vulcan hanger a few weeks ago and the operation to keep it flying is simply massive. Currently they say it will be kept fully operational, just not flying. At least some of the noise will still be available