Final Vulcan bomber flight

[threegee]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/aviation/11910772/Final-Vulcan-bomber-flight-Crowds-urged-to-stay-away-from-XH558s-farewell.html

 

 

I thought the comment "They don't cancel the Notting Hill (stab) Fest because too many people turn up." was amusing.  All part of the modern PC Britain Experience, I suppose.  Why don't they replace the RAF roundels with circles of yellow stars?  Then there'd be oodles of free money to keep it flying!

[mercuryg]

The warnings to stay away from Doncaster are valid, as people have been parking over safety exits and entrances. As for kerping her flying, it's no longer about money. She's exhausted her natural life. I'll be there - where yet I don't know- to bid her farewell this weekend. Just sorry I missed her at Coningsby yesterday in company with seven Spitfires and a pair of Hurricanes

[mercuryg]

For anyone wishing to see this spectacular, quite extraordinary old girl in flight (note - this is weekend is NOT the final flight, but almost certainly the last time she will be seen in these parts) she is following a path that includes a low level flypast at Newcastle Airport then a straight route approximately following  the A1 with a flypast at Eshott Airfield. I am probably heading to the latter. The details can be found at http://www.vulcantothesky.org/ - no times have been released yet but it will be pm, I will keep you posted. This aircraft was part of my young life, having been built at the airfield close to my childhood home, and it will be an emotional moment to see her for the last time. What is also extraordinary is that the testbed prototype for the Vulcan design - the Avro 707, essentially a third-scale Vulcan - first flew in 1949; think about that - it's just four years after WW2; the Vulcan itself first flew in '52, itself an incredible achievment.

 

Go and see her; she's worth it.

[Maggie/915]

You are a mind of information mercuryg.

Good luck in seeing 'Vulcan'.

I hope we can expect to see pictures of the plane over Northumberland

[mercuryg]

As of this morning still no times for Vulcan forecast as departure time from Doncaster has not been fixed. She willbe at Newcastle Airport 40minutes after leaving Doncaster, Eshott 5minutes later.

[mercuryg]

For those who may be interested it is now confirmed she will leave Doncaster at 1pm, estimated time over Newcastle 1.40.

[Maggie/915]

Hope the flight was seen and filmed.

[Andy Millne]

 

[Andy Millne]

[threegee]

Whoops you didn't tell me you'd Tubed it!  Anyway, I will leave it in the gallery now that it's uploaded here.  Maybe you want to upload some hi-res stills?

[Vic Patterson]

For anyone wishing to see this spectacular, quite extraordinary old girl in flight (note - this is weekend is NOT the final flight, but almost certainly the last time she will be seen in these parts) she is following a path that includes a low level flypast at Newcastle Airport then a straight route approximately following  the A1 with a flypast at Eshott Airfield. I am probably heading to the latter. The details can be found at http://www.vulcantothesky.org/ - no times have been released yet but it will be pm, I will keep you posted. This aircraft was part of my young life, having been built at the airfield close to my childhood home, and it will be an emotional moment to see her for the last time. What is also extraordinary is that the testbed prototype for the Vulcan design - the Avro 707, essentially a third-scale Vulcan - first flew in 1949; think about that - it's just four years after WW2; the Vulcan itself first flew in '52, itself an incredible achievment.

 

Go and see her; she's worth it.

That was quite an era for experimental aircraft, Fairey Delta 1-2 Boulton Paul 110-120, Armstrong Whitworth, Handley Page and lots more, we led the world in aircraft development , swept wing, swing wings, hovercraft , vtol, stol, supersonic, oh well can not live in the past!

[mercuryg]

You make an interesting point, Vic. That post war period was the absolute heyday of the aviation industry in this country, right through from there until the early 70's. A quick look online lists nine 'aircraft manufacturing  plants' in the UK today, although Warton is listed twice and I'm no convinced Filton is still building anything. There must have been loads back then! I lived very close to one - Avro Woodford, where the Vulcan, among others, was built - and would regularly ride my bike down the farm track  to the perimeter fence and watch all manner of planes coming and going. Great fun in those days!

[webtrekker]

Any old Air Cadets in here?

We had summer camps in the late 60's at 'V' bomber stations, most notably Finningley and Waddington.

I remember sitting at the end of the runway as they did touch & go's.

Incredible experience!

[Vic Patterson]

1110 ATC in Ashington, visited RAF St Mawgan, Avro Shackletons and aerobatics ifs in DH Chipmunk. Around 1957-8, I think!

[webtrekker]

Haha! 1110, 66 to 68/9. Would happily do it all again!

Gliding licence at 16, RAF & ATC marksman, aircraft recognition team, unarmed combat team, and represented Northumberland Wing shooting 303's at Bisley.

[John Fox (foxy)]

And from an outsider looking in,..What a cracking good forum we have here!! 

[Brian Cross]

I think it was in the early fifties, we lived in Wollongong N.S.W. we saw the Vulcan fly over us it was on a round the world non stop flight i can remember it what a sight and sound.

[Vic Patterson]

Quick pull-up over Mt Kembla

[Brian Cross]

Quick pull-up over Mt Kembla

Yes Vic just to impress the Poms living in the Gong