558s Future plans

[Minty4371]

http://www.vulcantothesky.org/news/134/ ... to-go.html

[Old Rigger]

Good luck to the enterprise, I have said, as others have, that they will probably be saved at the 11th hour by those who kept the faith and anonymous donors of larger sums, but I have no doubt there will be much crowing again by those same people against those of us that called it day and were 'n******e' and failed to keep the faith, but they can enjoy the moment until end of this year/beginning of next when they can keep that faith and dig deep again to get 558 in the air next year.

Unless of course this money will see it through the winter service and into the air next year and all the secret/in the pipeline/forthcoming promises actually come to fruition and this will be the last pay up by whatever or else 558 is grounded appeal, one can but hope, can't we?

[Mayfly]

Following successful restoration by The Vulcan To the Sky Trust, the legendary cold war bomber has packed airshows for the last two summers, helping to make them the second most popular visitor attraction after football. But now due to a substantial drop in donations during the recession and poor weather that stopped her flying at several profitable events this year, the Trust must raise £400,000 by the end of October.

Q& A with Dr Robert Pleming

How serious is the financial situation?
It's very serious. We need to raise £400,000 by the end of October. This will see us through to the end of the year and prepare the aircraft for the 2011 display season, but we have to know very soon that it will be available to cover our commitments.

How much do you need to operate through 2011?
We typically need about £150,000 a month to cover all our costs, including flight operations, maintenance and educational activities.

The above is taken from a couple of different updates

I read it as the £400K will see them through Nov & Dec @ £150K each month leaving £100K for the servicing

[Mags]

Website seems to be down this morning ?? Anyone else not able to get on it?

[Mayfly]

I can't either Mags neither the new or the old

[Sickbag_andy]

site appears to be down at the moment, maybe doing some updates unless it's a server thing.

There was a nice lift in donations yesterday including 'a 5 figure sum' at 2pm yesterday the amount raised was £214k so over half way, seems to be an acceleration in the income so fingers crossed.

[Old Rigger]

I think the site is back up as I managed to get into it. I also notice that the comments have started earlier than usual towards the doom mongers, as it would appear that all might actually be rosy for this funding appeal and from the recent increase in donations it is being projected that the funding will be achieved or exceeded by Sunday, so best us doom mongers get back in our boxes until next time so we can emerge later and continue our doom mongering again.

I just love optimism and dedication from those who can cope with the desperate funding appeals and emotive statements, to the highs when 558 is pulled from the brink of ruination and despair over and over again and I was one of them and as stated previously I have enough to contend with at work and home these days that I have found my limit of optimism so something had to give and of the three unfortunately it had to be the Vulcan.

I make no apologies for my posts and have only said what I have said from the heart and based on what I read on the VTSC site and in the newsletters I receive.

[Mags]

Well I'm hanging in and doing what I can. We can slate the running of the show to date but at the end of the day, if she doesn't make it through this, then it won't matter a toss as she'll be gone and that'll be the end of the story. I can however understand folks getting fed up with it all!

[Wedgy]

I said all I needed to say last year.

But I will repeat one thing .... again, I feel for those put on notice who have given 110% to 558, but have no control over the management decisions.
Having been put on threat of redundancy 13 times in 19 years myself, I know how they feel

[Old Rigger]

Hi Mags, apologies if my posts have come across as having a pop or criticising those who are still hanging on in there, they were not written with that intent as I try to pick my words carefully to avoid getting misunderstood, which I know happens a lot on forums.

[Mayfly]

Mick I wouldn't worry about anything written on IA, everything said in this thread is positive compared to other fora!!

But I do understand some of the points and comments made on them.

My concern is where we go in January but PA28 said

Lots of commercial and fundraising opportuntites are opening up, and will be announced and activated once we get past this hurdle. All one can hope for is continued improvement from "where we are".

I wait the announcement.

[Xplumberlives]

Well I'm hanging in and doing what I can. We can slate the running of the show to date but at the end of the day, if she doesn't make it through this, then it won't matter a toss as she'll be gone and that'll be the end of the story. I can however understand folks getting fed up with it all!

I wish THEY could!

[Mags]

Hi Mags, apologies if my posts have come across as having a pop or criticising those who are still hanging on in there, they were not written with that intent as I try to pick my words carefully to avoid getting misunderstood, which I know happens a lot on forums.

Old Rigger, no apology needed at all I was just stating that I was hanging on in regardless and trying to keep as neutral a view on the matter as possible - I'm just TOO lazy to be bothered discussing it

I do however fully agree with Wedgy re the engineering staff and the pressure they've been put under - I really feel for them!

[Minty4371]

The total at 9am today stands at £240,619 (60% of the total) . 5 days left to get £159,381.

[Gully]

Mick I wouldn't worry about anything written on IA, everything said in this thread is positive compared to other fora!!

But I do understand some of the points and comments made on them.

My concern is where we go in January but PA28 said

Lots of commercial and fundraising opportuntites are opening up, and will be announced and activated once we get past this hurdle. All one can hope for is continued improvement from "where we are".

I wait the announcement.

I think we all share your concerns, MF, but PA28 and EddieF seem pretty positive in what they've said over the past few days and they certainly know more than I do!! Hopefully, not misplaced optimism...

Gully

[Xplumberlives]

I think we all share your concerns, MF, but PA28 and EddieF seem pretty positive in what they've said over the past few days and they certainly know more than I do!! Hopefully, not misplaced optimism...
Gully

Positive about this part of the whole shebang or that it might actually go up a gear and be an ONGOING CONCERN?

[Gully]

The latter - ongoing charabanc!

Gully

[Xplumberlives]

[Mayfly]

Only £10,660 raised yesterday another 4 days to go at the £10k per day rate that would make the funding around the £300k mark by the end of the month.....

quote from 22nd Oct update

“By Thursday evening, we need to be sure that we will have £300,000 by the end of the week. If there is any doubt, she will follow Concorde into permanent retirement or be sold to a collector almost certainly abroad,” warns trust CEO Dr Robert Pleming.

[Gully]

Received a text at 6.51am today to say that Dr. Bob had just been on Radio 5. It is available on iPlayer, but not got the link - sorry! Be good to know what he said about funding levels and deadlines...

Gully

[PhantomAviator]

Received a text at 6.51am today to say that Dr. Bob had just been on Radio 5. It is available on iPlayer, but not got the link - sorry! Be good to know what he said about funding levels and deadlines...

Gully

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b0 ... 27_10_2010

Time is between 40 and 50 mins on the slider.

[Xplumberlives]

What will he say that is ANYTHING DIFFERENT from every other time?

[Mags]

For the ground crew - hope it doesn't happen

[Jigsaw]

As always, that is really good Mags

[Sploosher]

What will he say that is ANYTHING DIFFERENT from every other time?

Just had a listen, there is nothing new in what he says, unfortunately its the same every year