Vulcan XH558 - Air Tattoo 2011

[Aidi]

Went to the Air Tattoo at Fairford yesterday... After an hour or so delay, things "got off the ground" and turned out to be far beyond anyones expectations a very good days flying considering the weather.

Decided not to on the showground this year, but to a small campsite on the other side of the airfield. Glad we did.. we had almost everything coming directly over the top of us including a Tornado which must have been in excess of 500kts! Wont be going on the showground again anytime soon i'm afraid.

Star of the show for me... Vulcan XH558.

[video=youtube;XoHmiU6fL8w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoHmiU6fL8w&feature=mh_lolz&list=HL1310921861[/video]

If you have never seen it live, then make a point of doing so. Even though they have many hours left on the airframe, engines are their main concern with only 4 spares left available. The commentator from VTS was saying that it could only a couple of years left before she leaves the skies forever.

Rgds
Aidi

[don_kiddik]

It's a beautiful aircraft, my company have been helping out refurbing wing parts, it's about time it was part of the memorial flight association.

[nightstalker]

They replaced a engine the other week so only 3 left now. She's a stunner

[muscleflex]

care to give us more details of that field? did you have to pay? i suspect some farmers who own fields close by would be charging people a small sum and i wouldn't mind checking them out for next year.

[Aidi]

Its a farm which the farmer converts into a campsite/park&view for the Air Tattoo. Its called Totterdown Farm.

[URL="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=51.692837,-1.780418&daddr=&geocode=&hl=en&mra=dme&mrsp=0&sz=17&sll=51.693562,-1.7803&sspn=0.004901,0.009645&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=16"]View Larger Map[/URL]

It cost us £10 for the Car and 2 adults, but i think it might be a flat rate of £10 per car. Burger van, ice cream truck, portaloo's, water etc, so its a good setup.

I meant to ask as we were leaving if they make any donation from their profits to charity... I would feel a bit more comfortable if they did as its a fraction of the price you pay to get on the showground which does donate to charity.

It wasnt the fact that it was a lot cheaper, more the fact its more comfortable to be where your car is in the event of bad weather (which it was) and able to have a BBQ!!

The only things displaying which you would get more benefit from being on the showground was the helicopter displays and being able to view the static line up

[bolders]

Ah totterdown farm. I have been going there for years with the exception of this year and last. We used to walk down to the quarry and watch from there - awsome location where the planes display over your head as they are not allowed to fly over the crowd. One of the most memorable occasions was looking straight down the jet pipe of an F104 as it was put into a climb and then hit the afterburner. It was one of the loudest things I have ever heard. Me and my mate just looked at each other and laughed.

Unfortunately I have heard they have stopped people going down to the quarry now :(

Back on topic - yes the Vulcan is a beautiful aircraft. I would love to see a lightening as well though :)

[Aidi]

[QUOTE=bolders;688770]I would love to see a lightening as well though :)[/QUOTE]

Off to South Africa - Thunder City for you!

[bolders]

[QUOTE=Aidi;688773]Off to South Africa - Thunder City for you![/QUOTE]

How cool would that be :D. One day maybe when I have the funds lol

[don_kiddik]

I can remember the TSR2, now that was well ahead of it's time.

[chris jones2.4]

did you see the embraer 195, one of the members on here :D Pikestir! i will tell him to do some proper flying next time, maybe a tic toc lol

[NosingIn]

I went to the air tattoo last year and saw the vulcan, awesome to see live, but pity it was a total heap / useless (see falklands!).

[stuskimac]

About 2 weeks ago, i was stood in a field flying my Trex500, when i became aware of a large dark looming aircraft creeping up behind me, i had the presence of mind to reel my heli in & land, shut it down, looked up to see the Vulcan flypast me, cruising steadly past at low level. It was cool ! just me, my heli & the Vulcan, what magic moment ! ;)

[Boggy]

Myself and Dan went over to the threshold of Yeovilton runway on friday to watch it depart for fairford. Absolutley earth stopping noise as it climbs away then as it levels off silence! it did a five minute practice display and wing rock over the tower,Stunning very special.

[Aidi]

I think the most impressive thing it can do is the "Howl" About 10 seconds after she throttles up and starts to roll, it gives of this unique howl. Go find some of the videos on YouTube..

[chris jones2.4]

saw the avro at dawlish air show bloody awesome sight, better than any avant lol