Avro VULCAN XH558 enjoys enormous, possibly unprecedented, public support - as does the charitable Trust behind its return to flight.
Yet we are to lose this incredibly popular & treasured National resource from our skies forever. People seem prepared to simply accept this as a
fait accompli. There doesn't seem to be anyone anywhere fighting to stop this happening.
Anyone who reads this is presumably a massive
VULCAN fan, are you content so have seen the last of a
VULCAN in flight?
This
VULCAN has been termed
The Spirit of Great Britain, now Britain is set to lose it's Spirit.
No-one really understands why
XH558 is to be lost, there have not been any comprehensible statements put in the public domain other that some mumblings about there being "
... no upside ... " for them from the Technical Authority companies which I would take to mean "
We're not making enough of a profit." The upside should just be having your company's name spoken in the same breath as
VULCAN!
http://www.vulcantothesky.org/history/eof-q-a.htmlMarshall Aerospace & Defence Group appears to have been the prime mover in 'shutting down'
XH558's flying future.
I understand from the Trust's posts that there is another company waiting in the wings ready to act as Technical Authority but they cannot work without the vital original
A V Roe Technical documentation held by BAE - which BAE refuses to share. So not only is BAE refusing to help keep
XH558 aloft, it's obstructing another accredited competent company from doing so.
This entire state of affairs is absolutely appalling!I turned out to see
VULCAN on the Farewell Tour Southern leg, I was on the Severn Bridge, (which the pilot eventually remembered he was supposed to visit), this enormous stretch of bridge was rammed solid with people wanting to witness
VULCAN in flight, as was every venue across the UK during this weekend. So many people obviously love this plane, (is there any single person in the UK who could lay claim to such widespread adoration?), yet we are set to lose
XH558 for no apparent good reason.
OK - money may be a central issue here, it's probably why the 'Technical Authority' companies want to distance themselves as things stand.
Just think of all the public money that gets poured into lame / ridiculous causes every year which don't enjoy great, (or any), public support. Surely money could, (and should), be found to back a cause which enjoys
HUGE public support?!
Yes, we can still go to visit a diminished
XH558 in storage but how would you rather remember your hero? Speaking personally, I'd rather have watched seen Sugar Ray Robinson in his greatest ever fight against LaMotta than have met him when dementia had reduced him. In much the same way, this beautiful aeroplane was created to fly and to overawe so 99% of the VULCAN experience is in watching the grace in flight, feeling the vibration through your feet and, most of all, the noise - that incredible noise when the 4-throttle levers are wrenched open to free the howl!
The weekend before the 'Farewell Tour' a famous £20M racing Aston Martin of the 1950's was badly damaged in a smash at the Castle Combe racetrack. The owner, Adrian Beecroft, is someone who obviously appreciates that this car was created to race, not sit glumly in an auto museum somewhere. The same is true of
XH558!
I think that it's vital that as many people as possible sign & 'viralise' this e-petition which has already been promoted by 'Steve W' in these forums.
Sign, forward the link to everyone you know, ask them to sign & forward it to everyone they know, etc.
https://www.change.org/p/rolls-royce-bae-systems-marshall-aviation-reverse-your-decision-not-to-release-vital-information-and-documentation-to-enable-other-willing-parties-to-take-over-as-the-technical-authorities-on-vulcan-xh558-g-vlcnThis year has seen the quote, (disputedly attributed to Dr Seuss), “
Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” It's a very good and applicable phrase but after the tears I just feel anger, I don't want to smile, this
SHOULDN'T be over, there is
NO NEED for this to end. Not quite yet at any rate!
So you've signed the e-petition, what now?
Well I think we need to look towards the corporate entities behind these tragic decisions and the people inside these companies. Get in touch with these companies, the head honcho's, let them know what Vulcan means to you - let them know their decision is wrong!
Anything else you can do? Well yes there is actually, you could buy a share in BAE / Rolls Royce. Owning just one share entitles you to attend their AGM and it entitles you to question the Board.
YOU can hold them to account for this decision! Details / links below.
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is a tangible, living memorial to the brave fliers who participated in WWII, many of whom did not survive. The relatives, including great grand-children can watch Spitfires & the Lancaster bomber aloft knowing they are watching a tribute to and paying tribute to their brave relations.
Very many brave men & women put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe at the height of the Cold War, they started a day of their duty not knowing if it would be their last, indeed many were lost when these planes came down to earth with a bump.
These Cold War fliers, as much as the WWII fliers, deserve a tangible living memorial -
XH558 The Spirit of Great Britain is / was that Memorial. Their great-grandchilden deserve to witness this tribute in flight.
Refusing to help maintain this memorial, or standing in the way of those who would, is
unpatriotic and the
grossest insult to the memory & sacrifice of the legion of brave servicemen & women who served in or around
VULCAN.
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BAE SYSTEMS:
Directors -
http://www.baesystems.com/en/our-company/our-people/board-of-directorsExecs -
http://www.baesystems.com/en/our-company/our-people/executive-committeeStirling Square, 6 Carlton Gardens, London SW1Y 5AD
01252 373232
baesystemsinfo@baesystems.com
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ROLLS ROYCE:
Directors -
http://www.rolls-royce.com/about/who-we-are/board.aspxExecs -
http://www.rolls-royce.com/about/who-we-are/executive-leadership-team.aspxHead Office
62 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6AT
020 7222 9020E
UK_enquiries@rolls-royce.com
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MARSHALL AEROSPACE & DEFENCE GROUP:(no shares)
Execs -
http://marshalladg.com/about/executive-team/http://marshalladg.com/locations/(Head Office)
The Airport
Newmarket Road
Cambridge
CB5 8RX
United Kingdom
01223 373737
email addresses here are definitely fomulaic, e.g.
glen.clark@marshalladg.com