558 2013 looking good...?

[Jigsaw]

Thanks for the link Hazzer.

[Snapper]

Just came across the Look North TV report... I hope I'm not duplicating the posting of the Youtube link.... better to have it twice than not at all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmyJVjS7QcI

[Dan4th]

Thanks, Your Snappiness

It's nice to see Taff is still 'Live 'an Kickin'

Not to mention 558.....

Danf.

[Hazzer111]

Dear Supporter,

As you will see in today's newsletter, the winter service continues to make good progress, indeed we have managed to make up much of the time lost at the end of last year due to lack of funds.

With the Non-Destructive Testing X-ray work completed, we are now awaiting the final results. The aircraft was taken off jacks yesterday following undercarriage retraction tests, and final components will soon be arriving back to complete the service. None of this would have been possible without your continuing support. All the team thank you for this most sincerely.

I am however most concerned that the second phase of our appeal, launched at the beginning of the year to enable start of testing following completion of the service, is yielding a much slower return than previously experienced. Our funding target for the end of March leaves us with over £200,000 left to find in only 5 weeks.

This target is a firm estimate of the funds that XH558 needs over the next few months. It is made up of the £39,000 shortfall carried over from the 4th quarter 2012 appeal, plus the remaining needed for our second phase target; you can see this illustrated in the dials on the website. We recognise times are tough for everyone and so we try very hard indeed to accurately forecast what is needed.

With XH558 in such great shape for the coming season, it would be a tragedy now to fall behind and be faced with such unpleasant consequences as significant delays or worse.

As you all know, the Vulcan to the Sky Trust operates as a cash business; it has no cushion of funding reserves and is not permitted to take out loans to tide it over. Looking at the current daily appeal going rate of £3,000 per day, to reach our target, we will all have to double our efforts now to achieve £6,000 per day.

Therefore, I ask you please to read this newsletter today and decide if you can help either by taking part yourself through our Raffle, Shares or Merchandise, or by passing the word on to your friends, or both!

The first prize in our Spring Raffle is your very own personal display from XH558 as part of a full day's experience with the VTST team - this is a globally unique opportunity!

With this letter today, may I urge you to please now do everything you possibly can for XH558?

Kind regards,
Robert Pleming
Chief Executive, Vulcan to the Sky Trust

[Sooty655]

What a surprise.

[Mackrick]

[Sploosher]

What a surprise.

Indeed..........

[Minty4371]

From the newsletter today.
Statement from the Board:
At their recent regular meeting earlier this week, the Board of Trustees of the Vulcan to the Sky Trust (VTST) met via conference call to review the financial status of the Trust. The Board discussed the latest funding appeal, which is currently falling behind the level needed to sustain the Trust's continued operations.
The VTST has no cash reserves: if the appeal fails to raise the £133,600 required by the end of March, then the additional £150,000 needed by the end of June for XH558 to reach this summer's display season and the resulting revenue opportunities, there are no emergency funds available to allow the Trust to keep going.
Notwithstanding the serious shortfall in the current appeal and the absence of any reserve, the Board have asked the Trust's executive team to re-double their efforts over the next four weeks to generate increased funds from the current appeal, and to explore all other avenues of funding. If that endeavour proves unsuccessful, bearing in mind their duty to ensure the Trust remains solvent at all times, the Board will have no option but to place the staff on one month's notice.
The Trustees considered that XH558's stalwart community of supporters would want to know of the critical funding issue which the Trust now faces, which could result in the Trust ceasing operations before the planned display season.
The Board would like to assure all of XH558's supporters that they remain as determined as ever to ensure XH558 participates in this year's display programme and, indeed, to carry on with the feasibility studies for the extension of her flying life beyond 2013. However, without the requisite financial support we cannot deliver that.
John Sharman FRAeS, Chairman of Board of Trustees
7th March 2013

[Xplumberlives]

De













Ja














Vue!

[Ducati Boy]

Love this forum it proves without doubt that sarcasm is indeed the lowest form of wit.

[Xplumberlives]

Love this forum it proves without doubt that sarcasm is indeed the lowest form of wit.

NOT sarcasm D.B. REALISM!

Every bloody year the same!

[Minty4371]

£160,233 - 64% of Phase 2 target.
£128,767 left to get before 31st March.
£521,372 - 65.1% of overall target. (£800,000 by June 30th)
Total as of Saturday 9th March at 5pm.

[Mayfly]

For goodness sake stay away from Ukar then DB!

I'm not sure what else the VTST can do other than declare the state of play. It was obvious from the end of 2007 there would always be funding issues.

[Minty4371]

From Vulcan XH558 Facebook page today about 36 minutes ago.

Great news on the airframe – all the test results are now back and she is in magnificent condition with just a few minor non-structural items to address. The technical team is now refitting the crew and engine safety equipment, including the oxygen bottles shown in the captioned photographs just posted. She should be ready for the first check flight in April.

[Ray C]

Tremendous news....That should get the "Dosh rolling in". They made um well in Manchester...

[Minty4371]

£163,018 - 65% of Phase 2 target.
£125,982 left to get by 31st March.

£524,018 - 65.5% of overall target.
£275,982 left to get by 30th June.

Total as of Sunday 10th March at 5pm.

[Minty4371]

£169,263 - 67.7% of Phase 2 target.
£119,737 left to get by 31st March.

£530,263 - 66% of overall target.
£269,737 left to get by 30th June.

Total as of Monday 11th March at 5pm.

[Minty4371]

£174,982 - 70% of Phase 2 target.
£114,018 left to get by 31st March.

£535,982 - 67% of overall target.
£264,018 left to get by 30th June.

Total as of Tuesday 12th March at 5pm.

[Minty4371]

£178,230 - 70% of Phase 2 target.
£110,770 left to get by 31st March.

£539,230 - 67.4% of overall target.
£260,770 left to get by 30th June.

Total as of Wednesday 13th March at 5pm.

[Dan4th]

Thanks for posting these figures, Minty....

It does look like they're inching-up there,
but time will tell!

Danf.

[Minty4371]

£182,861 - 73% of Phase 2 target.
£106,139 left to get by 31st March.

£543,861 - 68% of overall target.
£256,139 left to get by 30th June.

Total as of Thursday 14th March at 5pm.

[Minty4371]

£189,233 - 75% of Phase 2 target.
£99,767 left to get by 31st March.

£550,233 - 68.7% of overall target.
£249,767 left to get by 30th June.

Total as of Friday 15th March at 5pm.

[Minty4371]

£193,715 - 77.5% of Phase 2 target.
£95,285 left to get by 31st March.

£554,715- 69% of overall target.
£245,285 left to get by 30th June.

Total as of Saturday 16th March at 5pm.

[Dan4th]

Projecting out for 15 days, I see
them getting there or Damned
Close!

We shall see, but I don't think
there's any doubt she'll fly

I'm sure there are some donors
who like being Penultimate

Thanks, Minty.........

Danf.

[Minty4371]

£197,563 - 79% of Phase 2 target.
£91,437 left to get by 31st March.

£558,563- 70% of overall target.
£241,437 left to get by 30th June.

Total as of Sunday 17th March at 5pm.