An Apache attack helicopter (possibly more than one) has been operating over Leicester for quite some time today. If anyone has some information on what they are doing I would be interested to know! Thanks, Mark.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
A Plea For Vulcan XH558
It's been a remarkable achievement to return such a large, complex 4 engine ex-RAF aircraft to the air, and this has been the culmination of years of effort and in some cases, thousands of volunteer hours by air and ground crews and incredible goodwill on the part of some individuals and companies.
She had some final flight tests last week at RAF Coningsby and I believe still needs to get her display routine passed by a CAA examiner before being allowed to fly at airshows.
I for one cannot wait to see (and feel!) the incredible power of this great delta taking to the skies.
It's looking like Waddington air show might be XH558's first confirmed appearance this season but following the AGM of the Vulcan Operating committee/Vulcan To The Sky Trust it was confirmed that at this time, there are sufficient funds for 2 months general maintenance and enough fuel for 4 more flights!
Without some major sponsership coming forward very soon, her return to the skies may be very short-lived.
In any case, I would like to ask all my readers to consider contributing what you can. Anything is appreciated and vital to keeping her airborne at this time. I believe, once she has had the opportunity to display her grace and power at a public airshow and it is seen how she alone can 'pull in the crowds' that major sponsorship might be more forthcoming.
It is possible to make an e-donation on the website or, if you have not done so already, consider joining the Vulcan To The Sky Club and receive all the latest news and info on XH558 as I have already done.
Thanks in advance to all my readers, you can visit the Vulcan Operating Committee website
HERE
She had some final flight tests last week at RAF Coningsby and I believe still needs to get her display routine passed by a CAA examiner before being allowed to fly at airshows.
I for one cannot wait to see (and feel!) the incredible power of this great delta taking to the skies.
It's looking like Waddington air show might be XH558's first confirmed appearance this season but following the AGM of the Vulcan Operating committee/Vulcan To The Sky Trust it was confirmed that at this time, there are sufficient funds for 2 months general maintenance and enough fuel for 4 more flights!
Without some major sponsership coming forward very soon, her return to the skies may be very short-lived.
In any case, I would like to ask all my readers to consider contributing what you can. Anything is appreciated and vital to keeping her airborne at this time. I believe, once she has had the opportunity to display her grace and power at a public airshow and it is seen how she alone can 'pull in the crowds' that major sponsorship might be more forthcoming.
It is possible to make an e-donation on the website or, if you have not done so already, consider joining the Vulcan To The Sky Club and receive all the latest news and info on XH558 as I have already done.
Thanks in advance to all my readers, you can visit the Vulcan Operating Committee website
HERE
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
My Apologies & Some Vulcan Gossip!
Firstly, I must apologise for not posting much recently, I seem to go through periods where I am just too busy to sit down and post but I am committed to trying to rectify this and I would like your help!
Please do contribute your comments if you have anything you would like to inform fellow enthusiasts about.
I have had a few days off work and have had the chance to 'listen in' much more on my Uniden UBC3500XLT. While working on my pc yesterday I was listening to 'central sector' (252.875Mhz) for much of the day and heard (and saw) about 8 overflights either westbound or eastbound to the south of Leicester of USAF C17 overflights. Interestingly, one of them called Lakenheath weathar info service (284.425Mhz) for the Spangdahlem weather report. So it would seem perhaps most of these overflights I can see from my location in Leicester are probably operating between the US and Germany.
And now to the Vulcan XH558 based here in Leicestershire at Bruntingthorpe:
Yesterday, Tuesday 6th May, I believe I heard Vulcan XH558 leave Bruntingthorpe around 1500hrs and call Cottesmore radar (UHF) using the callsign 'marshall 1' - she was en route to Cambridge (the home of marshall aerospace) - that's the first time I have picked her up on the scanner since her restoration but I'm still waiting for my first sighting of her in the air!
Perhaps you would like to share your experience of seeing (or hearing!) her again by posting here.
Thanks all, Mark.
Please do contribute your comments if you have anything you would like to inform fellow enthusiasts about.
I have had a few days off work and have had the chance to 'listen in' much more on my Uniden UBC3500XLT. While working on my pc yesterday I was listening to 'central sector' (252.875Mhz) for much of the day and heard (and saw) about 8 overflights either westbound or eastbound to the south of Leicester of USAF C17 overflights. Interestingly, one of them called Lakenheath weathar info service (284.425Mhz) for the Spangdahlem weather report. So it would seem perhaps most of these overflights I can see from my location in Leicester are probably operating between the US and Germany.
And now to the Vulcan XH558 based here in Leicestershire at Bruntingthorpe:
Yesterday, Tuesday 6th May, I believe I heard Vulcan XH558 leave Bruntingthorpe around 1500hrs and call Cottesmore radar (UHF) using the callsign 'marshall 1' - she was en route to Cambridge (the home of marshall aerospace) - that's the first time I have picked her up on the scanner since her restoration but I'm still waiting for my first sighting of her in the air!
Perhaps you would like to share your experience of seeing (or hearing!) her again by posting here.
Thanks all, Mark.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Air Show Season Is Upon Us!
Well, it's that time of year again. I'm not a big airshow attender, I wish I had the time, but I do hope to attend the RAF Waddington airshow this year on 5-6th July.
The display lineup certainly looks better than last year according to their website and in particular it would be great to see Vulcan XH558 displaying once more (marked as provisional at the moment).
What airshows have you attended? perhaps you would like to leave a post and let us all know.
Thanks, Mark.
The display lineup certainly looks better than last year according to their website and in particular it would be great to see Vulcan XH558 displaying once more (marked as provisional at the moment).
What airshows have you attended? perhaps you would like to leave a post and let us all know.
Thanks, Mark.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Airband Frequencies To Monitor
Dare I say, spring will be upon us soon so I thought I would just re-publish some airband frequencies that can be interesting to listen out for when the better weather conditions are upon us (although having said that, today has been a mild and beautifully sunny day here in the midlands).
Anyway I have mentioned these airband frequencies in a past posting but here they are again just in case you can't be bothered to search through all the posts:
Gliders:
129.975
130.1
130.125
130.4
Balloons:
122.475
Microlights:
129.825
Paradropping sites:
129.9
P.s. I have managed to put together a small online store in partnership with Amazon listing airband radios and aviation books - so please take a look and see what you think. You can visit the store HERE.
Anyway I have mentioned these airband frequencies in a past posting but here they are again just in case you can't be bothered to search through all the posts:
Gliders:
129.975
130.1
130.125
130.4
Balloons:
122.475
Microlights:
129.825
Paradropping sites:
129.9
P.s. I have managed to put together a small online store in partnership with Amazon listing airband radios and aviation books - so please take a look and see what you think. You can visit the store HERE.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
BA Boeing 777 Incident At Heathrow
I'm amazed there were no enthusiasts that caught this event on film, Angus Walker from ITN news has posted here requesting anybody with some footage of the event to contact him.
Interestingly I tried the same failure myself on Microsoft Flight Simulator (cut power completely with 500ft to go on the approach to 27L at Heathrow) and the result for me was identical to the incident. Without enough power to control your descent to hit the touchdown zone you have to trade off height to maintain speed and inevitably land short skidding to a halt somewhere near the touchdown end of the runway. Of course, the reality of that situation and the ability to remain calm and 'fly' the aircraft is a little different but then, what else can you do at 500ft?
It reminded me of the Kegworth incident all those years ago. That was a 'landing short' incident with much more tragic consequences as it came to a very abrupt halt on the western side of the M1 motorway embankment. It made me wonder if this had been at another airport that perhaps didn't have the same 'undershoot' area available, this might have been a similar tragedy, what do you think?
Interestingly I tried the same failure myself on Microsoft Flight Simulator (cut power completely with 500ft to go on the approach to 27L at Heathrow) and the result for me was identical to the incident. Without enough power to control your descent to hit the touchdown zone you have to trade off height to maintain speed and inevitably land short skidding to a halt somewhere near the touchdown end of the runway. Of course, the reality of that situation and the ability to remain calm and 'fly' the aircraft is a little different but then, what else can you do at 500ft?
It reminded me of the Kegworth incident all those years ago. That was a 'landing short' incident with much more tragic consequences as it came to a very abrupt halt on the western side of the M1 motorway embankment. It made me wonder if this had been at another airport that perhaps didn't have the same 'undershoot' area available, this might have been a similar tragedy, what do you think?
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