Vulcan to fly March 2007

[Mike]

Just curious, but this goes back to the "Jet Bomber" thread... what is an estimate on the cost of getting say like a B-47 or B-58 flyable as compared to the Vulcan? I'm guessing pretty much the same?

I'd say the B-47 or B-58 would be in the 'impossible' category.

When the Vulcan was retired from the RAF's display team, it came with a vast amount of spares. I doubt many of the B-47 or B-58 spares are still around.

[AndyG]

Andy - I think you misunderstand the meaning of moderation. The purpose of it is to keep debates civil and try and keep them roughly on track . It is not to gloss over gapping cracks which appear in projects or indeed to rally a cause when there are deep concens about it.

Some of my concerns are:

1. Funding a £1 million operating cost each year.
2. Why she should be preserved at Duxford when they already have a prime example.
3. How they could fund her insurance as a taxying machine at Duxford
4. How many air shows could actually afford to book her
5. Why would she appeal to more than a couple of displays each year if the booking cost is high - surely enthusiasts would just visit one display!
6. If current instability in the Middle East continues the cost of fuel
could spiral dramatically in the next few years.
7. Why would potential sponsors choose to have their products associated
with a 1960's bomber when the public is getting increasingly tired of war on their televisions.


Address these concerns with accurate and thoughtful comments and maybe even I would come on board in supporting the project .

The moderators should IMHO have taken an unreservedly neutral stance in the apalling threads that ensued, even not involving themselves at all other than to Moderate! Certain moderators certainly should not have been flag waving for a biased one sided rant and beating the project to death and down the toilet with a cricket bat...

[David J Burke]

Andy - The moderators are allowed to have an opinion . They are just as likely to be in favour of a project as against it. As always the valid questions remain unanswered and whilst it might not be important in the
operation of a Cessna 150 it is in the case of a Vulcan.

[croweater]

Fire it up and fly it Down Under, we'll look after it!

Regards Croweater

[Randy Haskin]

Politics aside, I'm looking forward to seeing this. One of my best airshow memories as a kid is seeing a RCAF Vulcan fly at the Abbotsford Airshow in the late 70s.

[Mike]

Politics aside, I'm looking forward to seeing this. One of my best airshow memories as a kid is seeing a RCAF Vulcan fly at the Abbotsford Airshow in the late 70s.

That must have been from the secret RCAF Vulcan squadron that never made it into any official records.

I agree, the Vulcan was indeed an impressive sight in its heyday.

[Randy Haskin]

That must have been from the secret RCAF Vulcan squadron that never made it into any official records.

Whoops! That was a funky slip of a typo. Yes, of course it was an RAF Vulcan. Thanks for settin' me straight!

[airnutz]

Just curious, but this goes back to the "Jet Bomber" thread... what is an estimate on the cost of getting say like a B-47 or B-58 flyable as compared to the Vulcan? I'm guessing pretty much the same?

I'd say the B-47 or B-58 would be in the 'impossible' category.

When the Vulcan was retired from the RAF's display team, it came with a vast amount of spares. I doubt many of the B-47 or B-58 spares are still around.

Mike,
Being the eternal optimist, I'd say the B-58 would be NEAR impossible. The
only way it could happen..outside of dollars and acquiring an airframe limitations..
would be stripping-out the period control systems and engineering modern
fly-by-wire systems. It would essentially be a B-58 replica. You'd have
the sight and sound of a '58 and it's J-79's without the maintenance complexities,
which rightly gave the Hustler its reputation. I know this is Walter Mitty stuff
but it is an intrigueing thought. Between you, me and the fencepost..I'd rather
spend my Lotto money on re-engineering the Napier Sabre and building
some Typhoon or Tempest replicas...but if I had a few bux left over...

[Tom Crawford]

I agree Airnutz..whoever you are, I keep trying to imagine West Galveston Bay Shore...but anyways I think we have a "B-58" in the B-1B
or at least enough that we don't need to theorize what it would be like...we need a Typhoon or Tempest. I'm cherry picking and admit I'm just one of the crew with no pot but find an engine someone with a pot of piss get a Typhoon in the air, I would if I could and I would use an "Emeril" Pot.....Tom

[airnutz]

..but anyways I think we have a "B-58" in the B-1B

BLASPHEMY!!! That Wheezer!! Seen 'em both fly...NO comparison!!!

West Shore, Galveston Bay..kind of a joke. It used to say Galveston, Tx.,
but folks thought I worked at LSFM.

[Tom Crawford]

Are the "Specks" bite'n?

[airnutz]

Are the "Specks" bite'n?

I haven't thrown a line off the dock lately since the landlords bonehead guest
knocked the docklight transformer into the bay. A neighbor lady has
been dayfishing tho, and shares me a nice Red or small Black Drum(2#'ers) once in a while. I prefer the Drum over the Reds..sweet meat. An
occaisional Speck, but she don't share too often. The Specks have been
hitting still at April Fool Point at the shore. Better in the Ship Channel or
deep in Dickinson Bay..waters cooling and the Flounder are starting to
warm-up!

[RickH]

The waters are cooling ? Day temps are still in the 90s !

Deep water in Dickinson Bay ? That's kind of an oximoron unless you are in the middle of the channel, isn't it ?

[Tom Crawford]

Ahhh...sounds good to me in any weather.
Tom

[RickH]

Welcome to the WIX fishin' report.