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Vulcan XH558
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Rick
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

without checking first (!) was 903 the development B1 that I've seen pics of? somewhere I have/had some negatives of a B1 with an engine slung underneath. B1 XA903 survives in cockpit-only form now doesn't it???

of course I might be wrong on all counts Smile
Rick
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XL391
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 6:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Read all about her here. She does only exist as a cockpit now, sadly. Why this aircraft wasn't preserved is beyond me. Last flying Vulcan B1, Blue Steel missile test bed, Concorde engine test bed, Tornado engine test bed and scrapped at the end of it. No B1's left at all now, except for the odd cockpit... Sad
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Rick
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

penman, it'd be interesting to hear about your time at Filton. I've got some original design drawings for the Concorde about here somewhere, they are fascinating really.

Dad once told me of a story told to him by someone he worked with. This chap used to fly in Vulcans, and was unfortunate enough to be on board one that was in the process of crashing. I think it came down in the hills somewhere - Pennines perhaps?? anyway, the only way out was to lower the undercarriage, clamber down the undercarriage leg then jump for it while barrelling earthwards .. sounds like the kind of thing that could ruin your entire day if it went wrong!

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PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Penman wrote:
There was also 894 which had another engine (Was it the TSR2 engine) slung underneath.


Hi Penman, yes it was TSR 2's Olympus 22R that she was testing. Click here to see a pic of her at Farnborough. She was destroyed by a fire on the engine detuner at Filton after the 22R shed a turbine disc. You can read the 3 page story and see the dramatic pictures here. The fire also engulfed Filton's brand new fire engine!!

Did you witness this event Penman?

Also, do you remember a Vulcan demolishing the garage on the A38 at the end of the runway? Shocked
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Penman
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 12:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi
No when I went to Filton in '66 it was 903 with the half Concorde Nascelle.
I did hear about someone parking a Fire engine downhill from a fire at sometime in the past, didn't realise it was probably that one.

I spent sometime in the Flight Ops and was on duty the pm that 903 had it's hydraulic failure and had to go to Fairford and I remember being told that they had to bounce it on the mains to lock the nosewheel down.

I can also remember the noise when the dispersed RAF Vulcans were running up at the A38 end of the runway when they were on Dispersal exercises.


Last edited by Penman on Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:51 pm; edited 1 time in total
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XL391
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 1:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

She's going out right now!! Click here for the cameras and be patient while they load. Laughing
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

She's headed for the runway... Surprised Very Happy
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XL391
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 2:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, her engines were fired up for the first time in 8 years yesterday, smoke everywhere apparently, as she burnt off all the protective oils inside them. Here are some pictures:

A nice set of teeth first thing in the mornin...



...were removed later!



Aircraft tug hitched up...



An empty hangar



And a triumphant return after her runs







All being well, the next few weeks will bring these sights to our eyes once again...





Very Happy
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Rick
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 2:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

superb, thanks for putting those pics on here. Must be soooo exciting to be involved with the maintenance/recommissioning work, bet they're all very impatient to see it airborne as much as the rest of us Smile

Rick
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 5:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I saw one at Mildenhall display a good few years back - I wondered how the thing didn't just fall out of the sky. Absolutely amazing to watch as it slowly banked. And the racket!! I've not heard the like since.
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 5:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm 99% sure it's this exact aircraft you saw Wink
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 9:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mid August Engineering Update
Friday, August 17, 2007 - TVOC
Words & Pictures by Taff Stone


This week has seen us reach the final stage of the functional phase GROUND RUNS!

So where shall I start, Monday saw the beginning of yet another busy and momentous week. All of the fuels checks have now been completed, the make up pieces have been fitted to the engines and panelling up ready for ground runs. The flying control friction checks are complete and the mammoth task of setting them up as started. The original radome is also back on just in time for us to take XH558 for a little walk.

Thursday saw us down on the running pan where we took the engines through a range of dry and wet starts (basically turning the engines over to lubricate them and check all the right things get to the right places!). With the finale of the day starting No3 engine, this is the first time the engine had been run in over 20 years. Friday then became the big day where we have now started all four engines and the AAPP.

So next week we will be carrying on with the ground runs and the setting up of the flying controls, so bye for now.









Last edited by XL391 on Wed Aug 22, 2007 4:08 pm; edited 1 time in total
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 3:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just found this picture gents, taken by Damien Burke, showing her undergoing engine trials on Friday afternoon. Shows just what a beautiful shape she is. She is outside once again today, having more engine tests, and they are setting up all the flying controls, a nightmare of a job apparently...

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XL391
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Click this link to see her having full power tests on all 4 engines yesterday!!! Very Happy
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Rick
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 5:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

thanks for the link, great to see the engines running again Smile

R
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