Duo with Sea Vixen highlight of Vulcan weekend



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It's been another rip-roaring weekend as far as Avro Vulcan XH558 is concerned as the Yeovilton Air Day came and went, with a treat for all fans, as the Vulcan not only provided its own display, but twinned up with the Sea Vixen for an excellent fly past during the airshow.

The Vulcan as we know has been a key attraction at recent events, and next week will no doubt be the centre piece for many at RIAT - the Air Tattoo - which has been struggling to name some star attractions, mainly because of the cut backs in the military world, but also because of the current conflicts taking place in Libya & Afghanistan.

Yeovilton was of course eagerly anticipated just like Waddington, and whilst the airshow weather wasn't as kind this weekend, it was still good enough, although many were fearing that the Vulcan wouldn't attend due to the engine problem being experienced earlier in the week, but fair play to the many volunteers who worked long hours in the week to get XH558 ready for action, and on Friday afternoon she was declared ready for action, and off she went from Waddington to Yeovilton, no amazing overshoot opportunity this time a it was straight into the base at the first attempt, but thanks to the volunteers she had made it to her destination.



Sea Vixen & XH558 together in stunning flypast

 And so on Saturday, she took to the skies mid afternoon ready for another display to whip up the masses and she didn't disappoint with a spectacular fly past with the De Havilland Sea Vixen, unexpected that's for sure, but very much welcomed by the attending public, and as you can see from the pictures very special indeed.

Another great display from the team, and also on the back of another boost with the current Vulcan Appeal total standing at £281k, meaning that now the remaining target is £79k, very much achievable, and surely at this stage the decision must be made to continue, as there are several key venues to visit, and display at in September, let's hope Leuchars can find a sponsor for the Vulcan to attend their airshow so that the Scottish public can once again witness the great display that the Vulcan is capable of - and also command the attention of everyone on the airfield, that has been prevalent at each display so far, with everyone having their eyes fixed on the 'tin triangle' in the air!

Another week starts tomorrow, but it's no ordinary week, as its the build up to the Royal International Air Tattoo, and hopefully two great displays on Saturday & Sunday will see the donations come flooding in as that £350,000 target gets closer and closer.

XH558 will remain at Yeovilton this week until the trip to Fairford, which at present is likely to be Thursday or Friday, and many will I'm sure flock to Yeovilton to witness the take off whilst at the other end at Fairford, there are sure to be many waiting on one of those Arrivals Days.

As a reminder, here's the link to the Vulcan Appeal where you can contribute, or indeed text Vulcan to 70558, where each texts sends a Fiver to the Appeal - let's do it for XH558!

Funds flying in following Waddington Weekend

There was real reason for Vulcan fans to celebrate the last few days with appearances at Waddington on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Tues....ah hold on, not so much Tuesday thanks to a fuel line issue which was preventing Number 2 engine going past 'idle' so the planned departure on Tuesday was placed on hold, and will hopefully take place later this week, before the Yeovilton show this coming weekend.

So, with three appearances in the air in just four days, plenty had got to see the Vulcan and hear the Vulcan howl, and all of that including a very busy Vulcan Village must have contributed to the best weekend of donations so far, as nearly £12000 was raised over the weekend pushing the Appeal total past the £275,000 milestone, and the Trust are now only £73,000 away from achieving the £350k needed by the end of July, and hopefully with the Air Tattoo coming up, that will generate even more income.

It was interesting to note that £2000 was raised via the Text Donations, and with nearly 500 people texting in their £5 donations it is proof that the appeal campaigns are working well. Don't forget just text Vulcan to 70558 and you can donate a fiver to the appeal.

There have been several great Waddington you tube videos of the Vulcan's performance the last few days, so I may pick one of those out shortly, but its great just to think back and visualise that stunning display, and fortunately I was there on Saturday to see it, and thinking back to that cork screw climb too - brilliant.

I was speaking to one of the Vulcan crew about the future and in particular next year, and the hopes are still high for the Vulcan to take part in the Queens' Jubilee celebrations, and with the Vulcan team proving their worth in keeping the aircraft in the air and delighting hundreds of thousands, they are also demonstrating their airworthiness too, and that is of interest of course to the likes of the CAA - and just may be the clincher as far as the flight next year is concerned.

2012 is of course not just the Queens' Jubilee, but it is of course the 30th Anniversary of the Falklands Conflict where the famous 8000 mile sorties were made, and not forgetting that the first flight of the Vulcan took place in 1952 - so next year will also see the 60th anniversary of that milestone too - what a year 2012 could actually turn out to be!


Just a fantastic aircraft, and one that this blogger really enjoys watching, along with many many others, long may it continue.

A great weekend for the Vulcan!

It was of course the Waddington Airshow this weekend, and I think its fair to say that the Vulcan thrilled all those who watched her display - the crowdlines suddenly tightened up as far as vacant space was concerned, and eyes all gazed over to the left for the take off following the towing out of XH558 from its Vulcan Village home.

The weekend had started with great news in that the Vulcan Appeal had passed the £250k milestone, and in fact had reached £265k, so with that, all that was needed was a great display on the saturday - and the Delta Lady did not disappoint.

XH558 - looking good in the sun!

Saturday morning started for me based in Lincoln having stayed overnight following the journey from Chester, and at 7am it was time to leave for the base, and nestling up alongside the entrance gate where the other static Vulcan was sitting - looking on as if to say "You're in for a hell of a day Vulcan fans" - and when the gates were open, it was perhaps fate that we were directed to park very close to the Vulcan Village!

A quick look at the programme confirmed that the Vulcan would take to the skies at around 3.30pm - thanks Twitter - and then the usual morning walkaround (complete with overpriced bacon butty) around the static stuff, and breathing in the fresh Lincolnshire air, you know the airshow type where the anticipation generates its own kind of atmosphere.

I visited the Vulcan team to see the Summer Plaque which features both my name and also Chester FC's name - more about that in a later blog - and had a good chat with the team, who were so desperate to show her off around the country, and confirmed that it costs as much to keep the Vulcan on the ground as it does to get her in the air, and around the airshow circuit.

In that conversation was the discussion about XH558 taking part in the Leuchars Airshow, and the fact that the team had left several messages to the organisers in a bid to see the Vulcan up there to allow the Scottish supporters the chance to see her in action.

There is of course the discussion about finance, but with the costs required for the Vulcan - nowhere is going to get a free show, and indeed many will get the display sponsored and that should be the hope for the Leuchars fans.

Anyway, for the morning in the searing heat, there were plenty of tours of the aircraft, and fairdo's to the team, as they must have been roasting do those, and also the volunteers in the tent, who were doing very good business throughout the day it seemed.

Ready for action

As soon as the Lancaster set off it left a space for it's older brother the Vulcan, to slot into, and so it was that XH558 was towed over to be fuelled up for its display.

The Red Arrows were performing, but thousands of eyes were concentrating on XH558, and as soon as the reds had departed, it wasn't long before she moved on to the runway ready for take off - and that didn't take long either!

The Vulcan roar (and howl) followed, and we were all treated to a very good (and loud) display - many voices claiming that was the best they'd seen since the oden days (and the new cork screw manouvre seemed to boost those claims) - a big display was needed I felt to give everyone else the Vulcan effect, and I think it worked a treat.

Not sure if any awards were given out for the display, but surely she would have been a candidate, and hopefully she'll do just that at the Air Tattoo in a couple of weeks time.

So, a great day, and I'm sure a great Sunday too given the weather, and hopefully everyone at Waddo & Goodwood enjoyed the appearances.

Next movement sees XH558 go from Waddington to Yeovilton, for the display down there, and hopefully weather permitting, they are all in for the same treat!

Remember that you can help keep the Vulcan in the air by texting VULCAN to 70558 - it costs a fiver but think about the display you've just seen at Waddo, and help try and keep it going through to next year!

Top 10 Vulcan Videos - Day 1

Well, we're not that far away from the Vulcan's appearance at the Waddington Airshow now, and as the battle to reach the £350,000 donations target continues, I thought it time to have a look at my favourite Vulcan videos posted on You Tube.

I'm sure everyone has their favourites, all for differing reasons, whether its for the power, the majestic sight of XH558 owning the skies, the howl, or indeed the old barrel rolls - whatever the reason I hope you like the 10 that I've selected, so here we go (and in true reality show style) in no particular order here is the first pick:

Yeovilton

What a way to start, with this monster of a video, with over 50,000 hits. It can be a little shaky at times, now whether that's the nerves of the person holding the camera I'm not sure, but considering what happens once the fence has been cleared, I'd be shaking too - the sight of the sheep darting off in all directions is quality too!

Anyway, enough jibber jabber, time to enjoy the video....



That video is legendary!

Tune in tomorrow for another one!!!

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