Update - 28th August 2010
Aug 28, 2010 by Ian Homer. Posted to category: General
South Coast Washout!
Dear Supporters,
One thing that none of us have any control over is the weather, but the weather certainly has control over what XH558 is able to do!
As you know, legally XH558 is restricted to flying under “Visual Flight Rules”, in simple terms good visibility and a cloud base no lower than two thousand feet. Last weekend at Bournemouth, its airport and at Shoreham, the weather was so bad we had no opportunity to fly, let alone display.
“Gutted” is an appropriate word to describe the feeling of missing the opportunity to fly for nearly three-quarters of a million expectant people at the six air displays where XH558 was supposed to display last weekend – a fifth of our planned displays this season.
Not only were we forced to let our fans down, but our cashflow suffered from the lack of the anticipated airshow appearance fees – to the extent of nearly £50,000 in lost profit.
The Weather Gods of course had the last laugh too, because the flying conditions at the sixth and last display venue, Sywell in Northamptonshire on Sunday, were reported as being perfect.
Now that we are within a few weeks of the end of our 2010 display season, we are looking to the future, and as ever, the need to keep XH558 flying for the benefit of the public and her knowledgeable and enthusiastic supporters.
The No.1 Goal above everything else is to make sure that XH558 is flying in 2012 for the 60th – Diamond – Anniversary of the first flight of the Vulcan type. We must make sure that we achieve this, to the sacrifice of almost everything else, because so to do will be such an important testament to the excellence of British engineering, to the memory of all those who served during the Cold War, to the still vital strategic policy of deterrence, and to the huge support from the British public that the Vulcan retains. Our plans going forward will be geared to guaranteeing that this goal of flying in 2012 is achieved, but I know now that there will be significant funding challenges ahead.
On a much more positive note, I am delighted to report that well over 10,000 people have now signed XH558’s 50th Birthday Card on our website. Please take the opportunity to read some of the hugely affectionate comments – they are ample evidence of exactly why we need to keep XH558 flying.
We will of course continue our unstinting efforts to gain a secure future for XH558, but in the meantime please join the rest of the Vulcan team in keeping fingers crossed for good flying weather for the rest of the season.
As ever, many thanks for your continuing support and enthusiasm.
Robert Pleming
Vulcan to the Sky Trust
