XH558s future at Doncaster

[Minty4371]

http://www.vulcantothesky.org/uploads/d ... y%2018.pdf

[Spitfire]

uh oh .... "We are talking with a number of interested potential individual investors with regard to raising the total of £3million needed to complete the project"

Here we go again ....

The 'potential investors' failed to materialise .... SO .....



Please Sir ... I want some more .......

It was your fault - you didn't stump up and now its failed - again ...

AND - no mention of THUNDER RUNS from either side ....

[Sooty655]

I like the "Our business model is well-tested.......". He forgets to add it has failed repeatedly and has led to round after round of begging.

Unless perhaps he means the well-tested business model is round after round of begging.

[Spitfire]

Unless perhaps he means the well-tested business model is round after round of begging.

Got it in one

[Minty4371]

A year ago today, I saw XH558 for the last time in the hangar.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/16521384@ ... 7605537742

[Spitfire]

How sad is that - all those beautiful images consigned to an existence outside on a sewage farm

[Spitfire]

I recently commented on Facebook on a lovely picture of XH558 in its heyday - taken from the tail turret of the BBMF Lanc' as it flew over her then base ...
I commented about how sad that was considering her current appalling situation stuck outdoors on a sewage farm and it gobsmacked me just how little everyone knows .. the general feeling was that she was safely tucked up in a small hangar at Doncaster awaiting her new home ...

David XH558 is not under a tarpaulin she's moved to another, albeit much smaller, hanger on the airfield.

Oh no! That is awful ... You’d think someone would step up & provide / loan her a home!

thats disgusting given the boost in cash donations they achieved whilst she was airborne

thank you for clarifying that as the last I'd heard she was moving into a small hanger just big enough to take her

But then someone posted a long shot of her current very sad position

She doesn't even seem to have a rudder gust lock in place as her rudder is well deflected to port - unless that's standard (perhaps DT knows MF)



Such a shame ... it still winds me up how it all came to this - but funnily enough less so as time passes ...
in the grand scheme of things its not the end of the world and maybe even retrievable should things turn around by some miracle .. more pressing is perhaps the crap situation the lads at Wellesbourne find themselves in with the threat of land development.

Hey ho ... worse things happen at sea I suppose ...

[Sooty655]

We don't use a rudder lock at Wellesbourne and have never had a problem. The pistons in the PFCUs act as dampers to minimise excessive movements.

Apparently Dr Bob is going to give the assembled faithful an update on progress with the new hangar at the forthcoming (and much criticised) "event" at Brunty on 24th March.

[Mayfly]

From what I've heard, tho' I have no proof, there hasn't been that much of a take up for tickets for the event on the 24th March and tickets were still available last Friday.

I have to say the I have always found Dr Bob to open and honest when directly asked any questions. As to whether any awkward questions will be asked on the day will depend, I guess, on whether those who no longer support 558 because of the decisions made, has actually bought a ticket to go to the event.

[Sooty655]

Don't know how many they were hoping to sell, but there are 35 tickets left as at 0850 this morning.

[Spitfire]

How many seats were originally available?? 36 perhaps

[Dee]

Wont be going, not another penny from me!

[Mayfly]

And sadly Dee, from someone who was a core supporter, that speaks volumes.

[Spitfire]

And sadly Dee, from someone who was a core supporter, that speaks volumes.

Yes that does indeed - as I remember getting my knuckles rapped by Dee a few years back when I made a comment about her hard work with cleaning and polishing XH, when I was already a sceptic, but she was still one of the 'faithful' ..

[Minty4371]

Report from Bruntingthorpe in here.
https://mxm.mxmfb.com/rsps/m/Gvq8LEHj7x ... cOyaMiF-PE

[Spitfire]

with places available for close-access to the aircraft during the summer and autumn

At what cost I wonder - and very limited numbers I bet ....
Let's see them match the extremely cheap entrance fee to see full engine runs of Shackleton WR963

AND they have the audacity to promote the BBC programme - claiming 'our very own Martin Withers' was involved (does he know he's 'owned' I wonder ...... but, also, he had to sit in XM655 .... oh the irony

[Minty4371]

with places available for close-access to the aircraft during the summer and autumn

At what cost I wonder - and very limited numbers I bet ....

I won't be able to afford the cost. Think I saw the last of her just over a year ago in the hangar.

[Mayfly]

And from the report isn't it just typical that Barry who also was on the VDF and supported them throughout 558s second life, was an integral part of the restoration, wrote weekly blogs, gave presentations AND still supports them doesn't get a thank you or a mention in the write up.

[Minty4371]

I became a member of the XH558 Club today in 2008.
I let my membership lapse in 2016 due to lack of funds.