XH558 50th Birthday Appeal (The Positive Thread)

[PhantomAviator]

Suggestion.
It goes something along the lines of:
If BA can do it.
If Small Engineering Firms can do it.
If Some Large Companies can do it.

Why can't the upper management work for half their wage for a couple of months so as to show how sincere they are to keep the project rolling?
In some companies, the workers have actually gone to work for a month unpaid so as to keep their jobs.

[Wedgy]

How could they? The salaries of some just massage their huge egos. These few, do the job for the kudos, not love - hard fact.

[Mayfly]

Whilst there are more cons to the present management that pros I have to say - I have never met anyone who could have got all the required ticks from the required establishment and subsequently the go a head for 558 to be returned to flight other than Robert Pleming. He worked for over 3 years for no financial reward, giving up a lucrative profession to do so.

For that I applaude him & think he did a wonderful job.

Having said that, once the first flight was over I think the project out grew those in command & the flight operations side in particular was/is something they don't understand.

If there ever was a change of managemnet I know a few people who could do the job & do it well, because it is what they have done all there working lives - whether or not they would be interested I have no idea. [and no I'm not including DT in those people ]

[Spitfire]

Whilst there are more cons to the present management that pros I have to say - I have never met anyone who could have got all the required ticks from the required establishment and subsequently the go a head for 558 to be returned to flight other than Robert Pleming. He worked for over 3 years for no financial reward, giving up a lucrative profession to do so.

For that I applaude him & think he did a wonderful job.

Having said that, once the first flight was over I think the project out grew those in command & the flight operations side in particular was/is something they don't understand.

If there ever was a change of managemnet I know a few people who could do the job & do it well, because it is what they have done all there working lives - whether or not they would be interested I have no idea. [and no I'm not including DT in those people ]

DT ..... now there's an idea

I've made the same points to them .... restoring and aircraft of this complexity and getting it back in the air - to all top marks and well done
But now running a profitable single aircraft airline is a totally different animal and requires different skills - it would be arrogant of anyone to say they profess to have ALL the skills for both

I gave the analogy of my job in my email - financial services - for example - a very successful sales professional makes a huge success of selling and hits his target time amd time again.... he's so good the top brass promote him to area sales manager to inspire the other salesmen. But within 6 months he's failing and so are they. He is disliked - he cannot inspire and resorts to 'if I can do it you can do it' .... not so.
That's because leadership of a team and man management is a totally different skill set to being a successful salesman. I've seen it time and time again - successful people soaring up the promotional ladder - then plummeting back down even quicker.
It needs specialists - and so does running XH558 now.

I rest my case your honour

[Mayfly]

I've always said about myself I would be a dreadful leader - but I am a conscienceous & loyal follower - tell what you want done & I'll do it to the best of my ability.

[Old Rigger]

Totally agree with the above, we have at least one bloke at work who was very good in his previous role in engineering has now been promoted into a managers job and is finding that he cannot cope, so things get forgotten, not done or it is done in a panic at the last moment/late, oh that sounds familiar .

Horses for courses, and the ones we got don't seem able to run this new course, but managed the previous just fine and it is the hard core committed peeps that are having to try and take up the slack and fill the gap, though I do think this time even with 'our' history of success it could be difficult to pull this trick out of the bag all by ourselves without a generous lottery winner/sponsor.

[Xplumberlives]

I've always said about myself I would be a dreadful leader - but I am a conscienceous & loyal follower - tell what you want done & I'll do it to the best of my ability.

We would like you to get over to Leicestershire and KICK SOME BUTTS!

[Old Rigger]

Well I knew I should not have got involved, even when you try to be semi positive/contructive, try to discuss what more we can do, still go out in the cold for free, put posters up, try to get friends and familt to donate/help and send money find that by posting on the VTSC forum are starting to attract the accusations of just being arm chair warriors decrying the efforts of the core people, letting them down and doom mongering, yadda yadda, yadda, all it needs now is for the infamous 'N' word to be bandied about and we will have the full set of usual responses soon.

I think if it carries on there will be others who will just 'if that is what you think, then bye bye'

[Mayfly]

I've always said about myself I would be a dreadful leader - but I am a conscienceous & loyal follower - tell what you want done & I'll do it to the best of my ability.

We would like you to get over to Leicestershire aand KICK SOME BUTTS!

I wouldn't advise winding me up & pointing me in the right direction

[Exceptionalsleeper]

Out of interest, how many previous core supporters do not support the Trust or management?

[Dan4th]

It's almost as if the Anniversary Appeal has
turned into a Referendum!

D.

[Xplumberlives]

It's almost as if the Anniversary Appeal has
turned into a Referendum!

D.

Try MUCH NEEDED WITCH HUNT!

[Pujgnie]

I paid a visit to Bournemouth Aviation Museum today.. just to catch up with the newly arrived Jaguar.

Whilst in the shop - chatting to the volunteers who run the Museum....... (and drop off more PR stuff ) - I was asked - 'Where do we send the money to ?' (seemingly they had a donations box running during the display season )

They were going to post it to an old TVOC employee at based at Wimborne !! I remember from a yonks back a certain Felicity (surname forgotten) operated from Wimborne on an AOL addy.

Needless to say - I told them to contact Roma at Brunty for further details of where to send it to.

My Beef is - why does this little museum - who tries to help, and sympathises with 558's predicament... not get updated with changes of addy/website changes and contact numbers ?

Those donations they collected were going to be mis-directed, and possibly lost !

Wheres' the communication break down and what has become of PR of late ?

Having witnessed todays debacle... I will take it upon myself to keep Bournemouth Aviation Museum on our side with up to date info.

Am I losing faith...... YES.
Am I going down without a fight ...... NO WAY

Beggars belief... but fighting on

[Saracenman]

Mr. Knees - i suggest you get on to Ian Homer about this - Ian.Homer@vulcantothesky.org

sm

[Stigish]

The museums could be our only hope of jogging peoples memories this time of year with 558 being "out of sight, out of mind" for most of the public.

[Pujgnie]

Mr. Knees - i suggest you get on to Ian Homer about this - Ian.Homer@vulcantothesky.org

sm

Whats' his role.. is he newly appointed.. he is not on list. Richard Clarke is 'supposedly' i/c of that bit ?

[Mags]

Don't think I've even posted anything in this thread yet. I suppose I'll reply something to the email but no idea what and not right now as I've more pressing things to do (Vulcan related ).

Pugnie's report - poor show - unbelievable that sources like that aren't being kept up to date!

Are any other museums involved in this way?

[Saracenman]

Whats' his role.. is he newly appointed.. he is not on list. Richard Clarke is 'supposedly' i/c of that bit ?

oh come on Pudgeyknees, you can't expect them to be that up to date can you? he's only been in place for a mere eight months or so - give 'em a chance!

Ian's the "Marketing and Public Relations / Events Manager" (taken from the footer of his emails )

he IS effective and WILL take your email seriously

sm

[Hungry Haggis]

I've always said about myself I would be a dreadful leader - but I am a conscienceous & loyal follower - tell what you want done & I'll do it to the best of my ability.

We would like you to get over to Leicestershire aand KICK SOME BUTTS!

I wouldn't advise winding me up & pointing me in the right direction

Id point you in the right drection Mayfly only I don't know what that s anymore .I got lost about 3 turnings back when I disapeared up this dark hole now I havent got a clue which way to turn without falling in this squishy stuff.

[Pujgnie]

Email sent.......

Hi Ian

Can I just say that this little museum of ours needs to be updated on all things 558 orientated - ASAP !!!

I visited today.. to drop off PR stuff re latest appeal, only to learn that they were going to send monies they had collected this year - to an address in Wimborne. (Thinking that was were it was to be sent)

Further investigation revealed they had LONG out of date cards/flyers dating back to TVOC with an aol address as a contact. Felicity (surname forgotten)... at a Wimborne address.

I told them to contact Roma at Bruntingthorpe for paying in details ASAP.

More worryingly... this money could have been easily lost had I not visited today !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bournemouth Aviation Museum have kindly bent over backwards to help 558 in the past. They need MORE UP TO DATE PR stuff.

If VTTS see's fit to overlook these supposed 'insignificant' museums etc.. with current updates - then what hope do we have for 558's future ?

In the meantime - I will do everything I can to help, and if that means taking BAM under my personal wing... then be it.

Your comments would be appreciated

[Stigish]

Email sent.......

Hi Ian

Can I just say that this little museum of ours needs to be updated on all things 558 orientated - ASAP !!!

I visited today.. to drop off PR stuff re latest appeal, only to learn that they were going to send monies they had collected this year - to an address in Wimborne. (Thinking that was were it was to be sent)

Further investigation revealed they had LONG out of date cards/flyers dating back to TVOC with an aol address as a contact. Felicity (surname forgotten)... at a Wimborne address.

I told them to contact Roma at Bruntingthorpe for paying in details ASAP.

More worryingly... this money could have been easily lost had I not visited today !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bournemouth Aviation Museum have kindly bent over backwards to help 558 in the past. They need MORE UP TO DATE PR stuff.

If VTTS see's fit to overlook these supposed 'insignificant' museums etc.. with current updates - then what hope do we have for 558's future ?

In the meantime - I will do everything I can to help, and if that means taking BAM under my personal wing... then be it.

Your comments would be appreciated

Nice one Phill, couldn't have put it any better. Short & sweet!

I'll look forward to hearing the reply, IF they do respond. Sounds like Ian is good for the job if he's got the support of SM.

[Saracenman]

Ian has an awful lot on his plate, but he is dedicated to keeping lines of communication open - it's largely due to him that we now get regular email newsletters

sm

[Pujgnie]

Ian has an awful lot on his plate, but he is dedicated to keeping lines of communication open - it's largely due to him that we now get regular email newsletters

sm

His plate just got larger..

[PhantomAviator]

Ian has an awful lot on his plate, but he is dedicated to keeping lines of communication open - it's largely due to him that we now get regular email newsletters

sm

Perhaps he could then do with some assistance?

[Mackrick]

I hope everyone is sending feed back as has been requested.