XH558

[guest311]

have just spent the last hour and a half, less  adverts, watching Guy Martin and the last flight of the Vulcan.

his enthusiasm made it all the better.

even saw the odd archive clip with fur box mechanics and brains on chains 

what a great pity that the ability to continue it's certification is no longer available.

never thought when I used to guard these that they would become such an icon to so many people in all walks of life.

alan

[scotsoft]

I have recorded it to watch later, Guy Martin seems to be one of those people who you either like at hate. I enjoy his style of madness so I am looking forward to watching the programme.

Cheers John.

[Newportnobby]

I generally enjoy anything Guy Martin does, whether it's trying to crack a nutty speed record or kitting out a narrow boat but I watched this programme earlier tonight and ended up with a somewhat large lump in my throat. What a wonderful plane the Vulcan was.
Many years ago I also knew someone who was rear aircrew on Vulcans and he informed me they always got very apprehensive as they approached the eastern side of Norwegian airspace in case they didn't get the recall signal.

[jonclox]

It was a brilliant program about a fantastic aircraft and Guy Martin was exactly the right person to take part in it. 
We often saw it flying as it prepared to make an entrance at Farnborough Air Show. I shall miss the anticipation of its appearance 

[Malc]

Many years ago I also knew someone who was rear aircrew on Vulcans and he informed me they always got very apprehensive as they approached the eastern side of Norwegian airspace in case they didn't get the recall signal.

I bet he wasn't as apprehensive as the Russians?

[Tank]

I really enjoyed it, and I like Guy Martin.  The size of that nuclear bomb though....huge!

[Malc]

They have a Victor in the Cosford Cold War section. They are quite big beasts.

[DJM Dave]

I afraid I don't like Guy Martin.
However the Vulcan program was just wonderful once my mind edited him out.

The final flight wasn't and for drama sake was edited as it was, 558 making the tour on the Sunday of the south coast, Sywell the following week for the A-2-A with GM, then a 15 minute last flight a week later with Martin Withers at the helm.

Great photography though.
I was on holiday when the last flight took place but luckily enough saw 558 8 times this last year including "that" display on Saturday at RIAT and a 2 hour mountain climb in the lakes for a 20 second flyby.

She was great while she lasted.

[guest311]

I count myself very lucky that not only have I seen her several times at air shows, but also got up close to her and her sisters during my posting to Waddington.
We also used to have Vulcans disperse to us when I was at Ballykelly.

I will never forget the sound, and the physical vibrations, of four QRA aircraft taking off in the early hours when the dreaded Taceval team arrived.

I am also very pleased that this program was presented by Guy, rather than some presenter who was afraid to get his hand dirty. For me, his enthusiasm for the aircraft, and indeed all things mechanical, shines through any of the programs he does, and adds immensely to the enjoyment.

She may not fly again, but in the hearts of those who care she will always be in her element, flying 

[PostModN66]

This was very poignant for me;  I worked at "Avro" at Woodford for eighteen happy years, and although I wasn't born when the Vulcan was designed, the echoes of the Vulcan were all around the factory.  XM603 was on the airfield as a preserved aircraft, being restored by retired engineers every Tuesday afternoon.
I saw Vulcans fly many times at airshows, but I missed out when some came in to the factory to have refuelling probes fitted for the Falklands - I was away at university.

Very sadly this summer the Avro factory was demolished to make way for housing.  On a trip "up north" I went to have a look and found it quite upsetting - the factory was half demolished and through the fence I could see familiar features exposed to the outside for the first time in 70 years.  It was like my history being erased.

Of course, Avro was also home to the Lancaster bomber (as the programme pointed out).  I found it odd that this very important site in British history has disappeared without any protest or ceremony.

I am not sure what is to happen to XM603.  I understand that there will be an Avro museum at Woodford, and I hope it will be the centrepiece of the museum.  You can still see it on Google Earth - easy to spot as it is in the original gloss white livery.

I like Guy Martin, and whilst there were other people who were more deserving of a flight, he was suitably amazed and delighted by this awesome aircraft.

Cheers Jon   

[acko22]

Jon,

Been a localish lad from round Manchester I know there was a lot of protest about the demolition of the Avro Works.

There was attempts to have it as a private airport and even a large private (freight operator) looking at buying the airfield and all the facilities, but the councils were against it not least Manchester City Council not surprising really considering they own IIRC 25% of Manchester Airport and they wouldn't want to lose any business!!

[PostModN66]

Jon,

Been a localish lad from round Manchester I know there was a lot of protest about the demolition of the Avro Works.

There was attempts to have it as a private airport and even a large private (freight operator) looking at buying the airfield and all the facilities, but the councils were against it not least Manchester City Council not surprising really considering they own IIRC 25% of Manchester Airport and they wouldn't want to lose any business!!

Thanks Acko - reassuring that people at least noticed!

Cheers  Jon 

[acko22]

OK avoiding the politics of it all with the vote that has just happened.

Why don't we get one last operational flight out of XH558, get it to do an unarmed Show of Force over Raqqa!

The sound of those 4 Rolls Royce engine roaring over head would have everyone running!!

[Agrippa]

Its still political not withstanding the house vote , as a show of force you
might as well fly a Ryanair 737 over  there . If you want to project airpower
get the yanks to fly in  B52s with 20,000lbs of cluster bombs. These would
thin the grass a bit.

[acko22]

Agrippa,

Believe me a Show of force by the vulcan if its anything like a B1B at will make void their bowels 
Make terrorist feel terror with XH558screaming over head low and fast at 2am they would know their arse from their elbow.