'558 Delayed until Waddo?

[Gully]

This article doesn't make good reading for anyone hoping to see '558 at Cosford or Biggin, let alone Paris. Reading between the lines Waddo may well be the first appearance of '09.

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/news/time-pledge-historic-Vulcan/article-901513-detail/article.html

It's unclear what paperwork Dr. P is referring to: DA's (followed by witnessed flights), Winter service info for the CAA or the renewal of the PtF. Typically wooly!

What a disappointment if Cosford misses out again after all their support .

Gully

[IanM]

Remember that it's a Lincolnshire website so would be biased towards events in the county. I think Dr P is just saying that 558 will be ready for Waddington. I'm sure he would say Cosford if he was being interviewed in Wolverhampton.

[Dee]

I hope 558 can get to Cosford purely for selfish reasons I will be on holiday for Waddo and Cosford and Riat are the only 2 i can get too

[Gully]

Remember that it's a Lincolnshire website so would be biased towards events in the county. I think Dr P is just saying that 558 will be ready for Waddington. I'm sure he would say Cosford if he was being interviewed in Wolverhampton.

Fair point Ian, but I'm still concerned by the line "...paperwork...submitted just before end June and...last checks done a few weeks after that." Cosford is 14th June!

Gully

[IanM]

The PtF runs out on the 3rd July so I think he's saying that they're getting the paperwork done now so there will be no delay in getting the next one. I'm assuming she can still fly on the old permit up to that date.

[Saracenman]

don't forget that in Dr. P's statement on March 24th, he said,

I am able to let you know that the current plan is for on-aircraft work for the Winter Service to commence by 20th April. The Service is projected to last 6 weeks, and will culminate in a test flight. Including a two week period for aircrew work-up, XH558's first public display appearance is proposed to be at the RAF Cosford airshow on 14th June.

i know that that was based upon 558's servicing and other engineering working taking six weeks - obviously, if it takes longer, then the required airtest, and crew currency/training/DA flights will slip to the right as well - hence 558's first display date will be directly affected too

I'm sure they want to get her out there soonest to earn some revenue, but if she ain't ready,she ain't ready!

sm

[Mayfly]

as I said on TVOC my understanding is, like a car MOT, she can continue to fly on old PtoF until the expiry date - [unless she fails her winter service test flight & then the snags will need fixing], but they need to get the paperwork in to the CAA to give them time to vet it & do whatever audits they deem necessary

[Prometheus]

I went to the IET (XH558) presentation earlier this evening given by Taff and and he mentioned Cosford would be the 1st display this year.

[Gully]

I went to the IET (XH558) presentation earlier this evening given by Taff and and he mentioned Cosford would be the 1st display this year.

Great - thanks for that info Prometheus!

Gully

[Mayfly]

Thanks for the clarification Prometheus, - goes to show that any info coming out of Bruntingthorpe needs to be clear & concise to stop any misunderstandings either by the public or the media.

[Ducati Boy]

Far as I know we start the planned maintenance work next Monday, our 1st Contractor, Sad Sam, is already here at Brunty. I think the MA boys are up on Friday to prep' for start on Monday 20th.

Assuming the maintenance work fits the plan, only God can tell you that one I am afraid, she will do her test flight after 'Winter' maintenance and the current Permit to Fly remains valid until renewal in July I think. As far as I know, the maintenance programme does not mean a new PTF is required. We do not need to apply for a renewal of the PTF just because of maintenance activity during the life of the PTF. I don't believe that Dr Bob meant we would need to apply for renewal because of the 'Winter' maintenance, merely that we would be making sure the necessary applications for renewal would be made in a timely fashion. Renewal of the PTF is another issue and I am confident our Ops crew have the application and flights planned for that when it falls due.

So unless I am wildly off base, subject to the planned work making the schedule, successful test flight/s and crew Display Authority flights she should be available to fly as planned at the venues already published on the Trust website under cover of her current PTF.

[Mayfly]

Far as I know we start the plannedmaintenance work next Monday, our 1st Contractor, Sad Sam, is already here at Brunty. I think the MA boys are up on Friday to prep' for start on Monday 20th.

Assuming the work fits the plan, only God can tell you that one I am afraid, she will do her test flight under the current Permit to Fly, which remains current until renewal in July I think. As far as I know, the maintenance programme does not mean a new PTF is required. Renewal of the PTF is another issue and I am confident our Ops crew have the application and flights planned for that when it falls due.

So unless I am wildly off base, subject to the work meeting schedule, she should be available to fly as planned at the venues already published on the Trust website.

I think some of the confusion DB stems from Dr Bobs quote from the website home page...

the VTST management team met with directors of Marshall Aerospace earlier this week to finalise plans for XH558's "Winter Service", which is required to be completed prior to the renewal of her Permit to Fly on 3rd July.

hence my remark earlier about clarity of info

[IanM]

I think it means that without the winter servicing 558 won't get another permit to fly. Unfortunately it reads like the winter servicing needs to be done then immediately afterwards a new permit has to be applied for however if the winter servicing was done in February, for example, then there would have been 4 or 5 months before a new permit had to be applied for. I think it's just that everything is so close together at the moment because of the uncertainty earlier in the year.

[Ducati Boy]

Yes, Pam I can see what you mean, that could be a touch confusing.
If we take that long to complete the planned work, then of course the two events could come at the same time. No one can guarantee that won't happen, it is in the lap of the Gods. If she's ready she's ready and that's the best we mere mortals can strive for.

IanM,
You are I think correct mate, when the PTF runs out, if she had not done the planned servicing she would not get a renewal. No one could have brought forward the servicing to Feb as you know, there was no cash to pay for it, unfortunate, but that's what happened.

However, I believe the plan is to be finished the 'Winter' maintenance and flying, under the still current PTF, well before the renewal date becomes an issue.

[Mayfly]

yup thats exactly how I understand it,

Fingers crossed that it all goes to plan to relieve the pressure on both ground & aircrews to make the first display venue

[Gully]

Thanks for the info, all.

Gully

[Prometheus]

Taff confirmed lastnight that the Winter servicing schedule would commence on Monday (20th April)

[Smiler]

This will either clear things up or confuse you all again.

We need to carry out winter servicing and some outstanding work on XM603 by the 3rd June as you have to apply to re-validate the 'Permit to Fly' a month before it expires to ensure continuity. If we apply after the 3rd then there MAY be a gap between the expiry of the old and the issuing of the new.

There how was that, any better?

[MadNaddy]

This will either clear things up or confuse you all again.

We need to carry out winter servicing and some outstanding work on XM603 by the 3rd June as you have to apply to re-validate the 'Permit to Fly' a month before it expires to ensure continuity. If we apply after the 3rd then there MAY be a gap between the expiry of the old and the issuing of the new.

There how was that, any better?

MUCH better! Thanks Taff

[Dangerousdave]

So long as she's ready for Waddo I'll be happy. It's taken me a whole year to pursuade the wife to go to the show with me to see 558.

[Mackrick]

Thanks for the update Taff

[IanM]

and some outstanding work on XM603

So what are you up to with the white one then??

[Sad Sam3]

Just in case anyone was interested the annual service is ticking along nicely at the moment.

For the record I'm having a great time doing something I love.

See you all on around some time this year (I hope )

[Mayfly]

Thanks Sam, pleased you're enjoying it.

Will you be at Waddington?

[Sad Sam3]

Thanks Sam, pleased you're enjoying it.

Will you be at Waddington?

Yes, I'm hoping to be there.

Will yourself and DT be in attendance?