XH558- The Final Flight

[Blue_2]

I was lucky enough to be off work on Wednesday, so I went to Finningley to see if the whispers I had heard were true. The met on arrival was not encouraging

First aircraft sighting of the day; a Herc in the murk!



We adjourned to Bawtry to wait out the weather, returning after lunch. about 2pm she emerged from her lair

Started and taxied out

Past some of the waiting media

Before howling along the wet runway and leaving Finningley's runway for one last time







After staying low she put on an impressive climb

Turning back for a fast pass





After that we were treated to a missed approach



and then a touch and go











Another circuit, and it was time for the final ever landing of a V-bomber







After she dropped the chute, there was a spontaneous round of applause from us spectators



She received the traditional salute from the fire crews

And finally at rest, for the last time.

Farewell 558, thankyou for 8 wonderful years.

[Sploosher]

thanks for the pics Graham................a sad day indeed, must have brought back memories of your lady arriving at Elvington, knowing she will never fly again..........

[Ray C]

So that's that...No more airborne 558, What will become of her in the intervening years before
they raise funds to build the permanent facility ....? I understood her current hangar is not cheap accommodation.

[Sooty655]

So that's that...No more airborne 558, What will become of her in the intervening years before
they raise funds to build the permanent facility ....? I understood her current hangar is not cheap accommodation.

The management isn't bargain basement either.

[Mayfly]

So that's that...No more airborne 558, What will become of her in the intervening years before
they raise funds to build the permanent facility ....? I understood her current hangar is not cheap accommodation.

I mentioned the other day on the 558 forum that they need to get the info out there as a lot appear to think it's taxi runs and hangar visits are what is going to finance this next phase. Apparently there is a update to the future expected soon.

[Spitfire]

I mentioned the other day on the 558 forum that they need to get the info out there as a lot appear to think it's taxi runs and hangar visits are what is going to finance this next phase. Apparently there is a update to the future expected soon.

So as I suspected the begging bowl and endless emotional blackmailing will continue along the "You need to support us by sending you 'pledges' or else this will happen - or not happen"

I grew to hate the word 'pledge' .... a euphemism for 'give us your money'

[Mayfly]

I don't know, that's why the info needs to be out there, there is the following info on the the Trust website......

http://www.vulcantothesky.org/history/post-flight.html

but it doesn't really say a lot. Reading it I would guess it is grants and industry that will in main finance it. I can't ever see donations and pledges from Joe Public financing the hangarage required but who knows?

[Spitfire]

I can't ever see donations and pledges from Joe Public financing the hangarage required but who knows?

Perhaps not - but can you see Vulcan To The Shed not utilising its Newsletter and die hard followers by suggesting they may want to stump up a pledge now and then because another funding source has not materialised or pulled out etc etc

I also see that the DONATE button and attendant STO possibility is still very much in evidence

[Old Rigger]

The donating ability is probably there for the die hard supporters who are still not convinced that XH558 is not actually going to fly again/pay for fuel & maintenance so she can trundle up and down the runway occasionally (that will probably need shed loads of money, of course not as much as required for flying her), or maybe to maximise income before moving on to something else/redundancy payments/retirement pensions/ etc.

The only people that know won't be telling any time soon if historical evidence is to go by, so it might be better to not discuss anymore so the whole project can be laid to rest once and for all and keep the good memories and hopefully the bad ones will no longer be important.

[Spitfire]

so it might be better to not discuss anymore so the whole project can be laid to rest once and for all

Amen