Vulcan Cash flow

[Filonian]

Hi All,

Apparently there is a serious cash flow problem which is endagering the flying of the Vulcan.
I have just come across thei from the MOD newslwtter.

"When Avro Vulcan XH558 returned to the skies on 18th October 2007, it was widely expected that a major sponsor would come forward to support her return to the Air Display circuit this summer.

Unfortunately, potential sponsors have drawn in their purse-strings and the chances of seeing this iconic & truly awesome ‘V’ bomber fly through the Summer of 2008 are in jeopardy. With a fixed overhead of three month’s work required to ready the aircraft and its crew for air displays, the lack of funding is now critical if she is to be ready for the display season.

Dr Robert Pleming, Chief Executive of the Vulcan to the Sky Trust explains:

“We plan to restart the test-flight programme at the beginning of March, but we will need £150,000 in our hands beforehand, plus confidence that we will continue to raise at least £50,000 per month after that.”

“For each week that these proving flights are delayed through lack of funding, the first display appearance is also pushed back by another week. What we are asking the public for now is a fraction of what we have raised already, but it is needed very urgently.”

“We are determined that this unique & iconic delta-winged bomber will thrill crowds across the UK during the Summer of 2008. By returning XH558 to flight after years of painstaking restoration, negotiation & fund-raising, we have already achieved what was widely considered impossible. For the project to falter due to lack of funding at this late stage would be agonising.”

Over £6million has been spent on returning Vulcan XH558 to flight, of which £2.7million has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The rest – the majority – has come from public donations, making XH558 truly the public’s aircraft.

Keith Mans, Chairman of the Vulcan to the Sky Trust agrees:

“Once again, we are dependent on the goodwill of others to ensure that XH558, the people’s aircraft, continues to fly. In August 2006, the public responded magnificently to our plea for support, and as the result of the £1.3million donated, XH558 took to the air last October. We are praying that the public will rise to the somewhat smaller challenge we now face, and help us by making a donation today, to ensure that we are able to keep our promise to give XH558 back to the Nation this summer”

Donations may be sent to VTST, Bruntingthorpe Airfield, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 5QS, or by ‘phone to 0116 247 8145

Companies who want to take advantage of the very real corporate sponsorship opportunities should contact Michael Trotter on 07803 141483.

More information on the project can be found at http://www.VulcanToTheSky.com.

Plus below

E-Petition at No10 The on-line petition with Number 10 is gaining momentum, with over 340 signatures in under a week. Please help us raise awareness here: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/VulcanToTheSky/ Hurry, closing date is 21st March.

I have alread stuck my name down.

Graham

[Jon.M]

Petition signed.

Jon

[Chris558]

Unfortunately I think there are more important things for Gordon to worry about. Very sad if it does all collapse though. :-(

[Hot_Charlie]

It will be a real shame if it fails at this stage. One wonders how different the outcome would have been had the project got rolling 2 or 3 years earlier. Sadly I believe the long period between grounding in 2003 and the "green light" from the CAA, the implementation of the engineering contract with Marshalls and eventual approval to award money from the HLF were the downfall.

[Nigel H-J]

I think that the chances of Gordon Brown giving any form of aid to assisting with the cost of operating the Vulcan would be, to put it in a nutshell, like him promising to reduce tax on petrol, though I would like to think I'm wrong!!

To have got the Vulcan flying once again was a great achievement in itself but unfortunately I consider that the future of any displays lay squarely on donations from the public domain and sponsorship from companies.

Sorry for sounding negative on this issue but I don't hold out much hope for its' future unless they are able to secure enough interest from 3rd parties who-ever and where-ever they may be. :-(

Nigel.

[Vulcan_to_the_Sky!]

After waiting for so long for it to become airborne again Its saddening to see the project hit financial difficulties again, especially having now gone airborne.

This is something I had half expected, but had hoped would not turn into reality. I hope they can manage at least one season before it goes "landborne" again, as I would really like to see it in the air, but who knows?

Sorry to sound disheartening but Im not sure that the petition would do something, so I have not signed it, I think it needs something more along the lines of what its got so far, public donations and corporate support, for example BAe.

As you'll see from my user name, I really, really like this plane and hope to see it at at least one airshow this year,

James.