Turned up in my inbox about a half hour ago.
Update Friday 9th April 2010
Dear Supporters,
I am pleased to let you know that, having now paid for much of the Winter Service activity, our financial situation is keeping to plan. Our assumptions going forward include the honouring of the vast majority of the Pledges made since November last year, and the funds raised from broadening both our fund-raising activities and our visibility to the general public. It is clearly vital we have a successful 50th Anniversary season, to ensure we have the foundation for future years.
One such fund-raising activity that has raised nearly £800 plus a lot of local interest, has been the sponsored cycle ride by 7 year-old Joshua Parkyn, who completed over 20 miles between Bournemouth and Boscombe Piers in Dorset this Easter Sunday. The initiative, determination and commitment from someone so young, inspired by seeing the Vulcan at Bournemouth last year, exemplifies the reasons why we should do our very best to take XH558 to young audiences everywhere, as an inspiration to the next generation of Engineers and Scientists. Huge congratulations Josh!
Why not consider whether you and/or your friends have a hobby or a talent that could attract publicity and funds for XH558 via a sponsored event or activity?
Returning to Pledges, to date, some £80,000 has been received out of the £274,000 pledged, excluding Gift Aid. This equates to about 30%. If you have not yet honoured your pledge, we ask you do so now at your earliest convenience. Our Results page on the website will show the Pledge Redemption levels as a percentage on a regular basis, whilst also displaying ongoing fresh donations ahead of our new Annual Appeal launch.
The Winter Engineering Programme is proceeding to plan at RAF Lyneham. The "inspection" phase of the Minor Service has been completed, and rectification of defects discovered is under way. The most significant defects are corrosion on part of one of the elevon doors (which will require a long alloy bar to be manufactured), and delamination of part of the canopy. We don’t currently envisage any delays resulting from these defects.
Work is progressing in parallel on the two Fatigue Life Extension modifications, to the Front Spar Bottom Booms and the Landing Light Apertures on each wing; no issues have arisen to date.
There are still off-aircraft tasks to be completed to ensure the re-validation of the Permit to Fly, including the completion of the overhaul of the Port undercarriage, and the development of a revised engine cycle exchange rate algorithm.
We currently envisage that the aircraft may be ready for test flight at the beginning of June.
Away from Lyneham, the need to generate sustainable income flows for the next 3-4 years, and the longer-term strategy for XH558, are currently the main focus of our attention. In the short term, fund-raising and PR plans, including the launch of our Annual Appeal, are developing around XH558’s 50th Birthday at the end of May. As it is a phased plan, some initiatives will be announced sooner, as early publicity will increase the level of success.
Our display programme for the year is developing, but it will not be publicised until the end of May at the earliest. In developing the programme, the need to conserve aircraft fatigue life and to ensure that sorties are at least break-even in financial terms, whilst maximising our exposure to the public around the UK, have been important criteria. In achieving the best compromise, I expect there will be some negotiations on the way to a final flying programme for 2010.
Once again, I need to point out that none of this would have been possible without each and every one of you! If you have contributed £1, you have played a vital part in keeping this project alive. Now, with your continued help, we can continue to take our story out to the wider public and capitalise on this special year in the history of the one-and-only Avro Vulcan XH558.
Thank you and best wishes.
Robert Pleming
Vulcan To The Sky Trust.
