Final Vulcan bomber flight: Crowds urged to stay away from XH558's farewell

I would love to be able to see this, but the tyranny of distance and budget prevents.

Mark

 

Never say never,

I was in Heathow airport reading the Daily Telegraph, the old newspaper one.

Which stated there would be a flypast over London, before they would all be scraped, the first time 1982.

The next min they were operational and flying over the Falkland Is. dropping bombs.

I doubt we have any bombs left now anyway.

 

A few of my ill-gotten photographs that I took Sunday 04-10-15 at Old Warden, Bedfordshire. Couldn't get a ticket so just drove up the College road to the gate and joined the many others along the fence. Soon got moved-on by the Security chaps, found another place close by to view from, the Police were already there, But ! they were saying it's ok to stay here on this private land, a field, then just when the Vulcan was due to arrive another Police vehicle arrived telling us to move now ! Most of us did then the Police left, the Vulcan was late we returned to our spot and took the above.

 

Thanks for persevering, great photos.

 

Thank you for the images. I am sure if my father was alive, and living in England he would have been one of the volunteers keeping it flying. He served as a Technical Sergeant in the RAF from 1947 tp 1969 and worked on the Vulcan, when it visited RAF Eastleigh, Nairobi, in the late 50's and at RAF Upwood. He also blamed the Vulcan for his hearing loss, as he said his ears were the best tool for finding some of the faults in the jet engine.

Mark

 

Thanks chaps, not the best ever shots, but the best that I could do from our field that is quite a way off from the airfield. There was also a Avro Anson accompanying the Vulcan during part of it's display. Also a Harvard just before all this. A pity that we were moved from that second location just before the Vulcan...

 

The official NATO ID recognition illustration for the Avro Vulcan from The Air Sentry List 1985

 

This Vulcan's flight path on the 'northern route' (Saturday 10 October) takes it over the Solway Aviation Museum (the wartime RAF Crosby-on-Eden, Carlisle). There is another Vulcan at this museum (XJ823).

Although the one at Crosby-on-Eden doesn't fly these days it is possible to have a guided tour of the aircraft and sit in the cockpit. I have done this a couple of times as have a lot of other people.

 

Further flights planned for October
sounds good in many ways

 

Glad that worked out. Did have tickets but didn't go, so it wasn't cancelled! Unlike the other three times I did try this season.

I'm probably the only person with a name in the bomb bay doors who has never seen her fly.

All the best

Andreas

 

Just seen the beauty, flew straight over our heads at low level, over the hills at Warminster.

 

Update re Cosford fly over

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2015/10/10/pictures-vulcan-flies-over-raf-cosford-and-midlands-for-the-last-time/

 

I see that the authorities are investigating an incident on 4 October when the Vulcan performed an illegal manoeuvre. over Grantham when it was rolled.

 

footage below

The Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed it is investigating whether the last flying Avro Vulcan broke aviation rules by carrying out a barrel roll during one of its final flights.
The footage purportedly shows the Vulcan performing a roll while flying over Grantham, Lincolnshire, on 4 October.
Footage by BDP Aviation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-34712344

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPuTgcrA2Zs

 

I really hope nothing comes of this.
Last flight, what did they expect, chuntering past at 200 mph?
Sorry, it's an iconic aircraft that is/was loved by people who never would otherwise have gone to an air display.

If this is simply because one of the watchers decided to complain, then shame on them.
It's gone, never to return to the skies, and if a piece of display flying such as that is censured then we really didn't win the fight for freedom.

If the pilot blatantly disregarded a specific safety order, that may be different but on the face of it, what was done was perfectly understandable and probably appreciated by all (bar one?) who witnessed it.

 

The CAA are enforcing the initiative arising from the air disaster at Brighton in August where a certain manoeuvre,thought not to be properly executed led to the crash of the de-militarised civilian registered Hunter on the A27......prevention is better than cure and the intention is public safety

Apart from that,was the Vulcan flying within its flying envelope when performing the roll?. It would be interesting to hear if the Vulcan was ever rolled during military service

Over 60 years ago I knew of a Lincoln pilot who it was said performed the same feat on an aircraft which would probably have a lower G limit..his flying record was such that the groundcrew nicknamed him" Pop Rivet"

 

Harry, watch the clip on Post #16

 

I'm sure there will be a lot more whining when some people work out why it might have done a roll over Grantham...