Mon, Jul 22, 2013
Contributions Sought For Vital Modifications To The Airplane
At precisely 13:00 on Saturday, July 13, the sound of jazz bands and multi-million dollar classic race cars was buried under the howl of four Olympus jets as the last flying Vulcan appeared low over the trees at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Piloted by Falklands legend Martin Withers, the magnificent delta-winged Cold War veteran lifted all eyes to the sky as she was put through a dramatic new display routine that shows-off the aircraft’s fighter-like agility.
“Vulcans were given a fighter-style control column in place of the control yoke found in most large aircraft of the period, reflecting just how maneuverable they are,” explains Dr Robert Pleming, chief executive of the charity that operates the aircraft. “Our aircraft, XH558, is even more nimble because she flies with a low fuel load, helping us to deliver a more exciting display without using-up so much of her valuable fatigue life.”
Each display is carefully planned to look as dramatic as possible while minimizing stresses on the aircraft, especially the cyclical stresses that create fatigue. XH558 is near the end of her permissible fatigue life, which could have grounded her at the end of this season if the charity’s engineering team had not been able to develop a strategy for a high-precision modification that will deliver two more flying years.
Dr. Pleming believes that Operation 2015, the program to release full seasons in 2014 and 2015, is the most exciting engineering activity since the award-winning restoration. “We will be keeping our supporters up-do-date through our eNewsletter and Facebook pages,” he promises.
The charity is currently asking supporters of the last flying Vulcan to pledge donations for Operation 2015. On the website, visitors can also read about the program and select from a range of special rewards that include badges, signed pictures and a VIP day with the aircraft and crew. To make the vital modification possible, £400,000 (about $608,000) must be pledged by the end of October.
(Images from file)
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