BBC Look North - Vulcan leaves Waddington

[Leading Observer]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-28276162

[eatthis]

needed less talking and more noise!

[PR19_Kit]

But it hasn't been there THAT long, and it's based at Finningley, or whatever daft name they've called it now, and that's hardly a million miles from Waddo!

They'd make 'news' out of anything, given the chance.....

[rickshaw]

I take that if the engines are reaching end of life, that means the end of flying for the Vulcan? 

[PR19_Kit]

IIRC it's the wing structure hours that are the problem. They have a number of spare engines but not enough money to update the wing. I think this year will be the last that '558 will be flying, yes.

[sandiego89]

I do not think the 558 team has any spare engines in the can right now, after eating up the 2 engines in 2012.  Large bags of desiccant silica jell (big versions of the "do not eat" packets in some foodstuffs like beef jerky) were accidentally left in the engine intakes and were swallowed up, destoying 2 perfectly good engines.  Other engines the team has are not currently certified for flight. 

This link indicates the wing leading edge repairs were done.  It does seem money and engines will dictate 2014 being the final year- she can't fly forever and I say it was a good run.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Vulcan_XH558   

[pyro-manic]

Yup, wing reinforcement was done over the winter. The project was named "Operation 2015" and intended to allow flights into the 2015 season. There are no spare engines left.

[Captain Canada]

Glad we wnet to see her last summer ! What a sight. A privelage and and honour.

But I agree, the piece would have been better with less zuccerman and more Vulcan !