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My attempt to keep up to date with any news I find on Vulcans. Starting in January 2007.
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If anyone knows of any articles or events for inclusion, please let me know.
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The April edition of FlyPast had two pages on the progress of XH558, part of the article relates to the crew training needed for the flying phase. The following is from the article.
"For the first sessions [of crew re-familiarisation] they will use the cockpit section of XM602, on loan from the Avro Heritage Centre at Woodford, near Manchester, as a procedure trainer. In March the crew will travel to Wellesbourne Mountford, Warwickshire. Here XM655 is kept in taxiable trim by the XM655 Maintenance and Preservation Society, and it will be used as a 'live' crew trainer. This experience will bridge the gap before the day when XH558 makes her first flight under the command of Chief Pilot Sqn Ldr David Thomas.
This momentous feat is currently targeted for mid-May, after which the aircraft will face a hectic schedule of flight testing. The entire team has its gaze firmly fixed upon the calendar - June 17. On that date there will be a commemorative flypast over London to mark the 25th anniversary of the Falklands conflict and XH558 is planning to be the 'guest of honour'.
To achieve this, the Vulcan will need 10 to 15 hours of shake-down flying time to prove the aircraft and train the aircrew. After the Lonon flypast a series of airshow appearances is planned."
I'm sure we all look forward to seeing her in the air again, and many of us may well try to be in London that day to see the flypast.
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 The April edition of Aeroplane has about 25 pages dedicated to the Vulcan, Black Buck and updates on 558. Well worth getting.
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The photo shows a wing repair in progress on 558; photo taken from Apr.’07 Aeroplane.
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Photo on the left was taken by Dave Long on 2 Feb. this year. He went on one of the visitor days to see 558 at Bruntingthorpe. Still a lot to put together before she flies.
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1st March. News of hidden corrosion in the roofs of the main landing gear bays as well as in the internal structure of the inboard elevons is not good. To quote Bruntingthorpe; “Between them, these two findings have added more than £300,000 to our cost base.” Contributions to the 558 Flying Fund gratefully accepted.
The following is from Newsletter of the Vulcan To The Sky Trust.
Engineering News. Things are now beginning to come together as the workload increases in preparation for getting XH558 ready for functional testing followed closely by flight. Since the last update a lot has happened. On the Airframe side, work on the corrosion in both of the Undercarriage Bays is progressing, the Hydraulic System is going well with some of the pipe work replaced and the rest have been cleaned and flushed. we are just awaiting the components before the system is finally restored. Finally, the Control Rods are starting to be re-assembled as part of the Flying Control System re-build. The propulsion trade have also been busy overhauling all of the Throttle Control Rods, fitting the various Fuel Tanks as they return from the OEM.
A major constraint to the programme remains the return of overhauled components from suppliers. In early January we received the Port No 1 Fuel Tank which had been re-manufactured as the one that was due for fitment was found to be unserviceable. One of the most recent tasks was the fitment of all four jet pipes. The Electricians have continued the re-wire of various parts of the aircraft with the Starboard Undercarriage Bay progressing well. Servicing of aircraft components in the Avionics/Electrical Bay is underway and the new Avionics Suite is almost finalised, which will be published shortly after the finalisation of the Antenna positions.
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In May 2007 Newark Air Museum have an open day which includes a feature on the Vulcan and a speaking engagement by Rowland White, author of Vulcan 607. See details below.
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The February 2007 edition of Aeroplane has an article which includes flight testing of the first Vulcan.
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The November 2006 edition of the 44 Squadron Association Newsletter had a long article by Dave Thomas on the return of 558. According to Dave they are hoping to have 558 lead the Falklands flypast on 17th June this year. Martin Withers is hoped to be Captain with Barry Masefield as AEO.
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‘Flypast’ had an article on the Vulcan diverting to Rio in their June edition, and in the July edition there was a long interview with Dave Thomas on the return to air of 558. Back numbers can be ordered through their site on the web.
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VULCAN MEMORIES
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TO MARK THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE USE OF THE VULCAN IN ACTION DURING THE FALKLANDS WAR AND THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS ENTRY INTO RAF SERVICE, NEWARK AIR MUSEUM IS PRESENTING AN EVENING OF VULCAN BOMBER MEMORIES AT THE PALACE THEATRE NEWARK ON TUESDAY 22ND MAY 2007. THE EVENING WILL COMMENCE AT 1930 HRS AND BE HOSTED BY ROWLAND WHITE, THE AUTHOR OF THE BEST SELLING VULCAN 607.
FOR THOSE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE AIRCRAFT AND TO BRING BACK MEMORORIES FOR THOSE WHO ARE, AN INTRODUCTION TO THE VULCAN COCKPIT, ITS CREW AND THEIR DUTIES WILL BE GIVEN BY A COLD WAR VETERAN. THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A TALK BY ROWLAND WHITE ON THE BLACK BUCK OPERATIONS, WITH A LOOK AT THE DIVERSION OF XM 597 TO RIO DE JANEIRO’S GALAEO AIRPORT AFTER ITS REFUELLING PROBE BROKE OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC.
FINALLY, ROWLAND WILL BE JOINED ON STAGE BY A NUMBER OF RAF PERSONALITIES, WHO WERE CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE RAIDS AND THE AUDIENCE WILL BE INVITED TO EAVESDROP AS THEY REMINISCE, 25 YEARS ON. THIS WILL BE AN EVENING THAT NO VULCAN ENTHUSIAST CAN AFFORD TO MISS – BAR OPENS AT 1830 HRS.
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The photo is © John Voss, USA
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Tickets £8.00 available from
The Palace Theatre Box Office 01636 655755
Newark Air Museum 01636 707170
Or by sending a cheque, made payable to Newark Air Museum and enclosing a stamped, addressed envelope to Peter Robinson at 61 Harewood Avenue, Newark, NG24 4AN
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