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The Vulcan Experience

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  • Geoffers
    SMF Supporters
    • Jan 2017
    • 1735
    • Geoff
    • Shropshire

    #1

    The Vulcan Experience

    Hello chaps,

    To any of you who live in Great Britain and are interested in aircraft can I recommend a visit to the Vulcan Experience based in ex RAF Finningley.

    I was lucky enough to spend a very pleasant Sunday morning getting close upto this magnificent old lady.

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    It’s XH588 the last flying Vulcan in the world, now sadly grounded ​​​​.

    A two hour visit allows you to have a good look at her, plus a look in the incredibly cramped office.

    Click image for larger version  Name:	IMG_4311.jpg Views:	0 Size:	392.7 KB ID:	1256355 My son had arranged for my name to be placed on her for a small fee, so that was the primary reason for the visit. I managed to find it amongst the thousands of others placed under the wings .

    The visit culminates when she is powered up and all the control surfaces are moved and lights switched on etc.

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    You need to pre-book but definitely well worth a visit if you get chance.



    Cheers,

    Geoff.
    Last edited by Geoffers; 28 April 2025, 06:26.
  • Tim Marlow
    • Apr 2018
    • 18938
    • Tim
    • Somerset UK

    #2
    Great stuff. Very impressive bird when it is in the air. I saw her at one of her last air displays, at Old Sarum airfield. I wasn’t at the event, which was RAF only I believe. I sat in my garden and watched from about a mile away. Very loud even then……

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    • Geoffers
      SMF Supporters
      • Jan 2017
      • 1735
      • Geoff
      • Shropshire

      #3
      Originally posted by Tim Marlow
      Great stuff. Very impressive bird when it is in the air. I saw her at one of her last air displays, at Old Sarum airfield. I wasn’t at the event, which was RAF only I believe. I sat in my garden and watched from about a mile away. Very loud even then……
      Great stuff Tim, we were very lucky to see them flying.

      I managed to see both the Vulcan and Nimrod flying and they were extremely loud I can’t think of any on the airshow circuit now that compare.

      Geoff.

      Comment

      • flyjoe180
        SMF Supporters
        • Jan 2012
        • 12463
        • Joe
        • Earth

        #4
        What an amazing experience for you to have had, Geoff. When they 'power her up', do they start the engines or is it an APU or GPU?

        Comment


        • Geoffers
          Geoffers commented
          Editing a comment
          It was a GPU that they used Joe. I’m not sure if the engines are operational these days.
          Last edited by Geoffers; 28 April 2025, 08:06.
      • Airborne01
        • Mar 2021
        • 4024
        • Steve
        • Essex

        #5
        It's areal sadness when a piece of our history is laid up - still, we still have her to admire and wonder over!
        Steve

        Comment


        • Geoffers
          Geoffers commented
          Editing a comment
          Your right Steve, I think they would have carried on flying her if possible but I believe a lot of the companies they relied on for engineering support did not want to carry on.

          Geoff.
      • PaulTRose
        SMF Supporters
        • Jun 2013
        • 6536
        • Paul
        • Tattooine

        #6
        Ive been inside the one at newark air museum.......and to think they flew to the falklands and back in that little office

        Mind you ive been in the shackleton at NAM too.....vulcan is the spacious one lol

        The week before 558 did its last display i was at Waddington on a gun course and it went up for a practice......whole station turned out to watch........marvellous sound.......nothing like the vulcan whine
        Per Ardua

        We'll ride the spiral to the end and may just go where no ones been

        Comment

        • Mr Bowcat
          • Dec 2016
          • 4613
          • Bob
          • London

          #7
          There a Vulcan at RAF Hendon, though you can only walk around/under it. Still awesome to see one up close.
          Si vis pacem, para bellum.

          Comment

          • Gern
            • May 2009
            • 9233

            #8
            Thought for one mad moment you'd met Mr Spock!

            Comment

            • stillp
              • Nov 2016
              • 8102
              • Pete
              • Rugby

              #9
              Originally posted by PaulTRose
              Ive been inside the one at newark air museum.......and to think they flew to the falklands and back in that little office

              Mind you ive been in the shackleton at NAM too.....vulcan is the spacious one lol

              The week before 558 did its last display i was at Waddington on a gun course and it went up for a practice......whole station turned out to watch........marvellous sound.......nothing like the vulcan whine
              Is there a Vulcan at Newark?
              I've been inside the Vulcan at Midland Air Museum in Coventry, and also in the Shackleton at Newark, and I can't agree that the Vulcan is the spacious one! After all, the Shack has a kitchenette and rest beds (well, padded benches) for the crew.
              The last time I was at Newark I was just getting back in the car to go home, when I heard that unmistakable sound as XH558 flew overhead on its last flight. ???? Shame I didn't have a good camera with me.
              Pete

              Comment

              • langy71
                • Apr 2018
                • 1955
                • Chris
                • Nottingham

                #10
                A truly beautiful feat of engineering,
                As well as seeing her on what was to become her final air show season, we managed to see her carrying out her final flypast over East Midlands Airport just after we'd returned from a holiday, (we were in the car park collecting our car as she flew overhead), the sound of her engines rank up there with the sound of a Merlin

                Comment

                • Jim R
                  SMF Supporters
                  • Apr 2018
                  • 15774
                  • Jim
                  • Shropshire

                  #11
                  What a wonderful experience Geoff. Not far from me is Cosford Museum. They have all three V bombers.

                  Comment

                  • stillp
                    • Nov 2016
                    • 8102
                    • Pete
                    • Rugby

                    #12
                    Originally posted by stillp

                    Is there a Vulcan at Newark?
                    Silly me, of course there's one there!
                    Here's the 'kitchenette' and rest area in the Shack - if this works.
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                    Try fitting that in a Vulcan!
                    Pete
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