Positive news if you're sad about the end of XH558 flying

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Sat Sep 19, 2015 7:52 pm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34301689

BA continuing to be complete kebabs though while at the same time completely shunning the opportunity for some hugely positive publicity at minimal expense

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Sat Sep 19, 2015 8:40 pm

about time someone had the balls to do it

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Sun Sep 20, 2015 12:35 am

I don't think there's been a problem with someone having balls, it's more about having the money and connections to try and convince Airbus to provide the technical support necessary to gain an airworthy cert.

There's absolutely no technical reason why Vulcan can't keep flying, just commercial companies being overly risk averse/arseholes.

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Sun Sep 20, 2015 1:14 am

without Vulcan we have nothing and the Russians know it

Post by **simonc** » Sun Sep 20, 2015 1:57 am

Getting her back in the air should be compulsory. When I lived in Windsor I used to love hearing and seeing Concord taking off, there was something so wonderful about that sound and the sight of it really was mind bending.
I know I've read somewhere that since the aircraft were taken out of service it's the first time we have regressed technologically, as we had nothing 'better/faster/superior' to replace them.
Utterly foolish and knee-jerk reaction to stop flying them in the first place. Bring 'em back, now.

Post by **paul bristol uk** » Sun Sep 20, 2015 8:40 am

However, given a near-infinite pot of money, it would theoretically be possible to have new engines, and all necessary spares manufactured from new by the OEMs (assuming they can be paid enough to be bothered to do so). And, with another chunk of that infinite pot of cash, it would, theoretically be possible to do a full refurbishment to airworthiness of one, or more, of the retired airframes - or even to build a new example from the ground up. Granted, it is very, very unlikely to happen, but it is not (quite) impossible. Likewise, all the special engine airflow management systems that were removed upon retirement would need to be found and re-installed, or re-engineered from scratch...

But, with Airbus having withdrawn design authority for the type (IIRC), no-one will be able to gain the necessary permits/licences to fly one as a commercial venture as none of the aviation authorities will grant approval for commercial use of a type unless there is a suitable body to act as design authority holder. And surely, commercial ops are the the whole point of the exercise?

Again, were that infinite pot of money to be SO infinite that it can persuade/pay Airbus to re-open and hold the design authority etc, then that hurdle could theoretically be overcome too.

So, never say never!

But in reality I agree it isn't ever likely to happen, as I doubt anyone has (or ever will have) deep-enough pockets to persuade all the necessary players to play ball.

Post by **simonc** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 10:00 am

@wurlycorner, Hi Iain, just got my grubby mitts on the September issue of 'Octane' (takes an age to reach the mystic east!). In it is a really interesting article on XH558 with some fab photos.
Dunno if you've seen it but well worth getting a copy.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 10:23 am

Not seen it. Will take a look though.

Ps . Sponsored the final flight last week, which made me feel good and sad in equal measure

prelude91 · Post by **prelude91** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 11:19 am

I understand the last flight of the Vulcan will be in Bedfordshire 4th October, I have tickets booked. Saw her at Bournemouth late summer, awesome machine.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:09 pm

wurlycorner wrote: Ps . Sponsored the final flight last week, which made me feel good and sad in equal measure

But