With the two replacement engines now installed in their engine bays on the aircraft, attention is focused on the complex, time-consuming but vital job of carefully reconnecting them back in to the various aircraft systems: fuel, electrics, hydraulics, cooling air, engine bleed air, and of course engine instrumentation: rpm, oil pressures and so on.
To try to make as swift progress as possible, whilst ensuring everything is done properly, we have engaged some extra temporary technical assistance, including a propulsion trade technician from Marshall Aerospace.
Assuming everything goes to plan, we hope to be thinking about engine ground runs in a few days' time. More news on Friday!
English Civil War Re-enactor with the Sealed Knot.
Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!
It's pretty unlikely Paul. RIAT will be it's first display appearance this season by the looks of it. Mind you, you never know. It's made the show right at the last minute before. This years line up at Waddington's the best in years. Having the Vulcan make it in time would be the icing on the cake .....oh! and sunny weather as well
More promising news here -
With steady progress on reconnecting various systems to the replacement engines, there are only a few small tasks to perform before we can consider taking XH558 outside to the engine ground running pan to begin preparing her for engine start and ground running.
This will be undertaken in well-defined procedures to test all connections and ensure engine parameters are as expected, before the engines are run for some time, first at idling speed and then intermediate settings, during which we will undertake various inspections and measurements.
Providing all is well, and no further rectification work is needed, we then progress to high power runs.
Here's a copy of the latest 558 update that's just Just arrived in my inbox. Great news. Let's just hope this so called "summer" weather doesn't bugger things up -
We are delighted to let you all know that this morning we received the formal clearance to allow XH558 to resume flying following the change of Nos. 1 and 2 engines. We would like to highlight in particular the contributions of Rolls-Royce and Marshall Aerospace, who pulled out all the stops to ensure as early as possible a return to flight, and the efforts of our own technical team, who have worked long and tirelessly to install and test the replacement engines.
Those following our news feeds will probably already be aware that XH558 took off earlier today on an initial flight to test the recently fitted engines. The crew reported no concerns and are now planning a further flight to develop the crew currency needed for our 2012 display routine.
Providing all goes well, the aircraft will take-off again on Friday and depart to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, ahead of this weekend’s Royal International Air Tattoo.
The first flight for XH558 involved an air test of the replacement engines and will be followed by one or two display practice and currency sorties. In addition to ensuring that our aircrew have done sufficient flying to re-establish currency, there is a mandatory regulatory requirement to carry out three practice displays prior to the first public display of the new season.
We all cannot have failed to notice the unseasonably poor weather being experienced across the country right now, which is set to continue for a few days. Our major concern is that our efforts to fly will now be stymied by the weather. If you, or anyone you know, has any influence over the weather, please do what you can to improve it!
Latest newsletter here. I'm pretty sure that next season will be her last sadly as the air frame comes to it's natural end of life and also the lack of replacement engines. -
Whilst we plan to keep XH558 flying for as long as possible, we have for a while thought it prudent to think about what will happen when, inevitably, she is no longer able to fly. We have been developing an initial consultation document on XH558's future, and the important news for the Trust at Farnborough is that we have been able to present the document to industry leaders this week.
The Ve3 (Pronounced V E Three) proposal contains our initial thoughts on what XH558's legacy might be, as we begin to consider building a new future for this icon of Britain's engineering heritage, capitalising on the time, effort and resources it has taken to restore XH558 to flight and display her around the country.
We see Ve3 as a new type of educational experience: not an academic institution, not a museum, not a tourist attraction, but combining the most relevant elements of all three to inspire and educate a new generation of British engineers - The Vulcan Engineering Education & Experience Centre – and we enclose below a link to the document printed and presented at Farnborough this week to aviation industry leaders, which seeks to stimulate thought and feedback.
Initial response has been very enthusiastic and we have a number of meetings already arranged to begin the process of refining our plans. We welcome all ideas, so please do get in touch if you have views on how Ve3 should be shaped, or if you have expertise or resources that could help make it happen.
We would value all comments. Write to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We use cookies to improve our website and your experience when using it. Cookies used for the essential operation of this site have already been set. By continuing to use this site you are agreeing to this. To find out more about the cookies we use and how to delete them, see our privacy policy.
or 
