Provisional dates/venues for Vulcan in 2009 (updated 15th June 2009):14 Jun - Cosford (Confirmed)19 Jun 21 Jun - Vokel - Netherlands (Confirmed) 21 Jun - Kemble Air Show (Confirmed) 27 Jun 28 Jun - Biggin Hill (Confirmed) 04 Jul 05 Jul - Waddington (Confirmed) 11 Jul Yeovilton/Lasham - (Confirmed) 11 Jul Lasham - flypast (Confirmed) 18 Jul 19 Jul Fairford - RIAT (Confirmed) 23 Jul 24 Jul Lowestoft - (Confirmed) 25 Jul Windermere - (Confirmed) 25 Jul - Sunderland - (Confirmed) 25 Jul - East Fortune - (Confirmed) 07 Aug - Cowes 09 Aug - Whitehaven - (Confirmed) 22 Aug 23 Aug - Bournemouth / Shoreham 22 Aug 23 Aug - Shoreham 27 Aug 28 Aug - Clacton 29 Aug - Silverstone (Confirmed) 30 Aug - Dunsfold (Confirmed) 05 Sep - Cosby - Leicestershire 05 Sep - Duxford 05 Sep - Cosby - Leicestershire 10 Sep - Jersey / Guernsey 12 Sep - Leuchars 20 Sep - Sanicole - Belgium (Confirmed) 20 Sep - Goodwood Revival - (Confirmed) 20 Sep - Cambridge (private event) (Confirmed) 21 Sep - Doncaster 26 Sep - Woodford 26 Sep 27 Sep - Southport Vulcan '09 Pledge CampaignTIME IS RUNNING OUTVulcan XH558 will be grounded forever, unless further funding of £1million is identified by early March. This funding will allow the project to pay its monthly expenses, clear debt and provide a stable financial footing for the future.
But why is your Vulcan so important? In line with our motto "Honouring the Past, Inspiring the Future", we returned XH558 to display status for two educational reasons: To teach Britain's youth about the pivotal role that Britain played in the Western World's defence at a time of political uncertainty and instability To inspire our children and grandchildren to choose a career in Britain's design, engineering and scientific industries Vulcan XH558 is not privately owned, but operated as a National Heritage Asset. She belongs to every man, woman and child in Britain and is an iconic and emotive example of Britain's pivotal position in World technology and foreign affairs. 'The Vulcan Effect' is a unique and powerful tool - without your immediate help it will be gone forever. The Vulcan '09 Pledge Campaign will raise those funds so please sign up now (via the Pledge button) and play your part in securing the future of the world's only flying Vulcan. Your pledge will only be called upon when we are confident of reaching the target. Please help us weather this economic Perfect Storm; we are working on a new business model aimed at avoiding this situation arising again next year. Please remember that even a relatively small monthly pledge is a significant help - supporters have already pledged in excess of £410,000, with a significant proportion coming from the intensive efforts of members of the Vulcan to the Sky Club. Thanks to all who are intent on keeping XH558 flying and thrilling through 2009. Robert Pleming To make a pledge then click here.
Vulcan now truly "The People's Aircraft"Thousands of pledges provide a future for the VulcanOne month ago, the Vulcan to the Sky Trust (VTST) had to announce that the prospects of seeing Vulcan XH558, the world's only flying Vulcan, ever flying again were looking very poor as the result of the lack of cash, and that notices had had to be given to its employees that their jobs would end on Friday 6th MarchWith the launch of a Pledge Campaign to raise £1million, VTST based its future on the public's affection for the Vulcan and their desire to see it fly. As the deadline of the end of today approaches, the Pledge Campaign has this morning (11.00am) passed £956,835, pledged by over 9,821 supporters, and so has excellent prospects of passing its goal of £1million imminently. This is the third time in seven years that the future of the Vulcan in flight has been saved by the support of thousands of members of the public, making XH558 "The People's Aircraft". Never has one historic aircraft owed so much to so many!
Sponsors provide breathing spaceOn their own, pledges can't solve the Trust's immediate cash problem, because they each need now to be converted into cash donations. The Trust is therefore very grateful to its sponsors, Aerobytes Ltd and Judd Power, who have today committed sufficient cash to keep the Trust going for another month, allowing time for the pledges to be redeemed.As the result, VTST is delighted to announce that it is able to continue its activities on a more secure financial footing, and that the prospects of seeing the Vulcan fly in 2009 are now good.
Supporters led the way forwardFor the past month, supporters of the Vulcan have been tireless in their fundraising activities, ranging from the cross-country Vulcan Scramble, to "Pledgathon" events across the UK. VTST is enormously grateful to all the members of the Vulcan to the Sky Club for their help.
Inspiring the YoungThere are well over 10 million young people who have never seen the Vulcan in flight. Following the success of the Pledge Campaign, these youngsters now have an opportunity to experience this inspirational "once seen, never forgotten" sight.Because we cannot assume that all the pledges will be honoured, we are asking the the public to continue to pledge financial support, either through our website www.vulcantothesky.org or by phone to our office on 0116 247 8145. We have demonstrated that even the smallest pledge helps, because it is people in their thousands who make the difference.
Robert Pleming
Royal Air Force Displays in 2009:The RAF will be displaying the Tutor, Hawk, King Air and Typhoon as solo displays in 2009 with a similar number of appearances as last year except the King Air which after last years successful debut season will increase its appearances.The Red Arrows, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and RAF Falcons will all be displaying in 2009. The Falcons will be using a range of jump-platforms including civilian aircraft due to the pressure on the C-130 Hercules fleet. It has been decided, for a variety of reasons including resource availability, that there will not be a Role Demo this year. There may be one-off highlights such as Tornado F3 in formation with a Hunter at Kemble etc. The Chinook will be displaying in 2009 but the Merlin has been withdrawn from the airshow circuit again for 2009 but will still appear in the static display at various airshows possibly with the new Merlin Mk3A helicopter.
The new colour scheme for the RAF Tucano display aircraft can be seen here. Click here to see the new paint scheme for the 2009 Display Hawk T1. The 2009 Harrier Demo has been cancelled.
Provisional 2009 Typhoon venues/dates Click here for the RAF Display Aircraft page. RAF Family Days 2009:Please note that RAF Family Days are not open to the general public.Sat 13 June - RAF Brize Norton Families Day
Fri 03 July - RAF Wittering Families Day
Sat 08th August - RAF Lyneham Families Day
Sat 12 September - RAF Leeming Station Families Day
Tucano crashAccording to the BBC, an RAF Tucano T1 that was performing aerobatics, crashed into the perimeter of the airfield at RAF Linton-on-Ouse near York at about 1230 GMT on 12th March 2009.Flt Lt Mike Rutland, the 2009 display Tucano T1 pilot, ejected and was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham but was not thought to have been seriously injured. Linton-on-Ouse is one of the RAF's busiest airfields, providing training with the Tucano T1. In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said: "We can confirm that a two-seater Tucano training aircraft has crashed at RAF Linton-on-Ouse. "The pilot, who was the only person on board, ejected successfully. "It would be inappropriate to comment any further at this stage as an investigation is under way." Group Captain Mike Longstaff, Station Commander at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, said Mr Rutland was in a stable condition. He said: "The pilot ejected safely just before impact. The parachute did deploy. "He has been airlifted to hospital. His next of kin have been informed." The Air Accident Investigation Branch has begun an investigation.
RNLAF F-16 new colour schemeThe Royal Netherlands Air Force solo display F-16 MLU has been given a stunning new paint scheme for 2009. See photos on the official F-16 Demo Team RNLAF website by clicking here.Captain Ralph (Sheik) Aarts is this year’s display pilot, it is his third season. Sheik works on 313 Sqn. He has gained approximately 1500+ hours on the F-16, since starting his flying career in 1997. UK displays include the following:
RAF Cosford Air Show TBC - 14th June 2009
B-17 'Sally B' problemsSince October 2007, Sally B, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, based at Duxford, has been grounded and had to miss the 2008 air show season with engine problems. A replacement number 1 engine was finally overhauled and fitted in preparation for the 2009 air show season.Sally B took part in the Duxford Spring Air Show on 14th May 2009 but has now developed another engine problem, the failure of the crankshaft bearing on the no 1 engine, meaning that the newly overhauled engine has also failed. A statement from the Sally B website is included below:
A Message from B-17 Operator Elly Sallingboe 'On Sunday 21 June, we had the result of the latest engine problem on Sally B and it was what we had all feared but desperately hoped could not possibly happen - the failue of the crankshaft bearing on the no 1 egine, meaning that the newly overhauled engine has also failed. How this happened no one can explain. We are at this moment in total disbelief, totally perplexed and utterly devastated. Where do we go from here? At this moment we are scouring the world's warbird fraternity in the search of a reliable replacement engine, but in the meantime Biggin Hill, Flying Legends and Waddington are cancelled. A full investigation into all aspects of the recent engine failures is being done and no stone will be left unturned. I do so hope that we will be up and running by the middle/end of July, but only time and finding another engine will make this possible. Believe me no one is more devastated about this than I am. Our Sally B will be flying again as soon as humanly possible.'
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