Last airworthy Vulcan soon to be grounded

[Analoguesat]

Looks like XH558 will soon be confined to fast taxis along the runway at her home base - the engines are almost out of runtime and major modifications are needed for the wings

-http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-19952395

 

[2cvbloke]

Probably a logical decision...

 

[Piltdownpaul]

I hope she comes back to Bruntingthorpe seeing as i am very very close to it.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Any idea how many gallons to the mile ?

 

[Analoguesat]

Lots

Heres sister Vulc XJ823 now based at Carlisle Airport

 

[Analoguesat]

Typical Vulc fuel consumption figures

2000lb for a engine start, atxi to the end of the runway and taxi back again

10000lb/hr of fuel for an economical cruise at altitude

~12000lb for a take off, pootle around & display then land again.




10000lb is about 4.5 metric tons of fuel.....

 

[Analoguesat]

Ive seen XH558 fly past this afternoon whilst out & about down Liddesdale - and sad to report the VTTS website says this year really is the last season - the airframe is well past the hours any other Vulcy has done, the technical partners are withdrawing at the end of the season, and the engines are getting to the point they need a lot of money spending on them.

So see her whilst you can!

 

[Analoguesat]

Last chances to see her flying before the hours finally run out on the airframe:

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

 

[Analoguesat]

And heres a pic of 558 I took this afternoon - cropped of course - you dont want the full sized multi meg pic taking what feels like weeks to load!

 

[zorbua]

Mentioning the Vulcan I can't but remember vividly the crash of one of these Aircraft in Malta way back in 1975. The Aircraft was the XM-645
which due to a bad landing at Malta international airport suffered the loss of one of the landing gears and on immediately powering up the engines
to gain height again exploded in mid-air over the small village of Zabbar. Five crew members were killed and one resident woman in Zabbar.
The crash caused devastation on the small village and many consider it a miracle that only one person died.
On the first photograph one can see the missing undercarriage.

 

[Analoguesat]

Blimey those are dramatic pics.

 

[zorbua]

Blimey those are dramatic pics.

I lived them, that place is about 1.5 k/m away from where I live and and the scene was horrible at that time.
The Vulcans were quite a regular scene in here for quite a number of years. They use to come from RAF Waddington.
Oh forgot to mention that the Pilot and co-pilot ejected and parachuted to safety. Sadly the other 5 crew members didn't make it.

Here are two links:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20051017/local/vulcan-crash-at-zabbar-was-avoidable.74993