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Re: Vulcan XH588

Posted by Tony C on Wed Nov 20, 2002 11:47:21 AM

In reply top Re: Vulcan XH588 posted by Mike on Tue Nov 19, 2002 03:07:45 PM

I feel that you have missed the point of my suggestion.

Therefore.....as I understand things, for XH558 to fly again, permission/engineering support first needs to be gained from the original manufacturer.
I tried to suggest that to overcome this problem and if the RAF were to/or had operated an Historic Flight, would this permission still be required, as the aircraft would still theretically be on "active" service?
Alternatively, at a point in time, could the aircraft be sold on to private individuals/Companies but flown and maintained by the appropriate Service?

I appreciate that it would not be feasible to operate every single type, but maybe for those most emotive, including the Lancaster, Spitfire, Hurricane, Meteor, Swift, Scimitar, Lighting, Victor, Vulcan plus any others that may like to added, could have been kept live and flown in alternative seasons thus extending the life of each airframe.

As for diverting funds from the Armed Services, this is not what I intended. I am a firm supportor of the Services and fully appreciate the problems that diverting funds elsewhere would create. For this reason, I suggested that maybe the private sector could be bought in, to help fund the expenses.

I do find the statement that the owners had bitten off more than they could chew, a little demeaning because without the hard work put in by the Owners, staff and volunteers, like the Walton family, taken on projects like XH558, the chance to see the aircraft at Bruntingthorpe, would be no existant. More power to their elbow I say.

As for the Lottery claim, why not....
It would appear that it is OK to fund a large, complex live steam engine, capable of running on the main line, with passengers but not to allow an aircraft to be returned whence it came. Should a boiler explode at the wrong place, at the wrong time, the effects could be just as disastrous as a aircraft impacting.

Having got that of my chest, I will happily fly back to Cloud Cuckooland and yes I have beautiful plumage.

Tony

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