Guy Martin: Last Fllight of the Vulcan Bomber.

[slappy]

As title says, 7.30pm -9.00pm channel 4  Sunday 29th November. Should be interesting as long as Guy can string a sentence together.

[celticdog]

I'll watch that, I see Guy's got a book out for Xmas- I'll wait till Feb and pick it up @ bargain books.   

[YamFazFan]

Ta for info. I'm definitely watching that .

[YamFazFan]

Just a reminder...7:30 Channel 4 this evening .

[YamFazFan]

Brilliant programme .

[joebloggs]

Clarkson should have narrated the scene re the Falklands

[HarryHornby]

Just tuned in, wow, isn't that cockpit small......

[joebloggs]

Just tuned in, wow, isn't that cockpit small......

Yeah and how many gauges
Wouldn't want to upgrade that lot to LED's

[maddog04]

f**ckn forgot about it due to the mrs having strictly on

hope its on demand or catch up tomorrow

[joebloggs]

f**ckn forgot about it due to the mrs having strictly on

hope its on demand or catch up tomorrow

its on demand, had to go out earlier and just watched the rest

[maddog04]

cheers joe

[joebloggs]

cheers joe

Next time you should tell her that strictly's on catchup, you know......Just in case she wants to watch it again

[maddog04]

just watched it and it was quite emotional.....I really liked the old girl and loved seeing her fly. Shame we don't have the technicians anymore (the aircrew lads would argue that point) but it goes to show how good a nation we were when we had the brains to build these things.

very moving about the pilots saying we knew we'd be dropping the bomb if a certain call came in but had to laugh at the lad saying he was told to drop the bomb, carry  on flying East and settle down with a nice Mongolian......coz that's all that would be left

that Guy Martin is one lucky foccer too, must have been some buzz running that down the runway even if you had to slam on at the end, his grand kids will never go short on bedtime stories for sure

[locksmith]

Nothing wrong with Strictly. Its the only time I can openly watch gorgeous women wearing next to nothing with the wifes  approval

[BBROWN1664]

The issue is not the team that maintain 558 but the manufacturers that support them. i.e. Rolls Royce, Avro etc.

It is a great aircraft to see flying and on the ground though I would rather that it was flying still.

I recall in the late 80's as an aircraft apprentice, one of our lecturers managed to get us a day trip to Southend to see how a small airport worked (we were based at Gatwick). While we were there we were allowed to climb in XL426 that was on the ground there and have a nose round.

[fazersharp]

I missed it also and do not have any catchup services so my last hope is to get it on 4 -7 which shows random stuff from the week.
Also just another excuse to post my fave photo from my year, I had some great riding chasing that thing around the midlands- checking flightpaths - ETAs - filtering past 100s of cars too and from said points.
East mids airport

[maddog04]

The issue is not the team that maintain 558 but the manufacturers that support them. i.e. Rolls Royce, Avro etc.

my mistake mate, I was in and out doing the tea and thought they'd said it was lack of knowledge rather than lack of parts

[maddog04]

nice pic FS


















and the Vulcan don't look too bad either

[BBROWN1664]

Maddog, its the lack of knowledge within the manufacturers which means the parts and systems would be impossible to make or support.

These aircraft were retired from the RAF 30 years ago. Too many unique items on them to be able to use third parties like they get away with on some other old birds. It would cost too much for a third party to pick up the work even if Avro etc would share the documentation.

It is a shame. I would love to see the Vulcan still flying in another 30 years.

[fazersharp]

which means the parts and systems would be impossible to make or support.

 Too many unique items on them

Well they missed a trick then because there were loads of parts for sale here http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/vulcantotheskyenterprisesltd/m.html?item=111614014216&hash=item19fcb6b308&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&LH_Complete=1&rt=nc&_trksid=p2046732.m1684 

[fazersharp]

nice pic FS
and the Vulcan don't look too bad either

Thanks lucky I got anything as its a crappy phone that takes the picture about 2 seconds after you press the button
Every one was pushing to the fence looking up --------- I was moving back crouching down to get the best angle on my bike and this fecking great big plane came across and spoilt it

[maddog04]

no shortage of bidders on that kit

once in a lifetime opportunity to own a piece of history

[BBROWN1664]

yes, lots of parts there on fleebay but Avro and Co have no certified people with the necessary experience to test them and certify them as 100% serviceable.
Without that bit of paper they cannot be fitted to the airframe. Every single nut and bolt on that thing needs a certificate to comply with CAA rules. Without it, its not allowed to fly.

[fazersharp]

My ebay post was meant as a little joke because its the Vulcan people themselves selling the parts

[maddog04]

the Vulcan people?

SPOCK  is selling parts off?
.....foccin 'ell, the Enterprise will be next