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Update on the Vulcan Experience

For announcements, photographs and video's and general '558 related chat.
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moonstone_laura
Posts: 298
Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2019 2:09 pm

Update on the Vulcan Experience

Post by moonstone_laura » Thu Feb 03, 2022 11:03 am

It is with a heavy heart that we let you, our loyal supporters know that our plans for The Vulcan Experience will not be going ahead as we had hoped due to a fundraising shortfall.

We were unable to meet the fundraising deadline of December 31, 2021, to raise the money needed to build the hangar as a result we are unable to meet the terms of a lease for the land at Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

This is obviously a huge blow to The Vulcan to the Sky Trust, as a charity we have had big ambitions since XH558 was grounded to create the kind of inspirational home we believe this iconic aircraft deserves.

Our time in a hangar here at DSA proved that the appetite was there for people to visit XH558 in a visitor setting and when our lease expired in 2017, we set about plans to build our own space. Sadly, the £2.2m needed to enable us to progress a mortgage to build The Vulcan Experience was not reached as we had agreed, and we acknowledge the airport has been more than patient in holding the availability of land for many years on the premise funding would be secured to complete a lease.

We are obviously devastated to not be in a position to build the visitor attraction we dreamed of but we will continue with our education outreach work that is currently live across the region and will look for ways to continue to inspire future generations of engineers and STEM specialists. XH558 will continue to be looked after and be maintained to the high standards she has been kept at through her flying years and after. In keeping her at these high standards we are able to demonstrate her at events and tell her story to all who visit.

This is now a period of reflection for us as a charity as we consider how we continue to provide the best we can for our supporters working with Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

Supra
Posts: 2698
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2010 8:01 pm

Re: Update on the Vulcan Experience

Post by Supra » Fri Feb 04, 2022 10:10 am

Whilst this recent News Statement goes someway to explaining the current situation, it doesn't address the sheer amount of income pi##ed-away that could've been used to provide something more in the way of protection for XH558 from the UK. climate. Possibly more of an issue is the non-compliance with the terms of the HLF Grant which had multiple conditions & caveats attached? The situation appears to be devastatingly obvious to me & it will lead to an inevitable conclusion in the near future. :grr: :roll:
For more views & details you can visit this Topic on the 'darkside'...https://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=87003

elevationair
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2022 8:39 am

Re: Update on the Vulcan Experience

Post by elevationair » Thu Feb 10, 2022 1:44 pm

It's very sad news indeed. Makes everyone feel even more lucky that we were fortunate enough to see and hear that famous Vulcan howl before her grounding.

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StevenNFFC
Posts: 3005
Joined: Sun Jan 22, 2012 10:48 pm
Location: Nottingham & Porlock, Somerset

Re: Update on the Vulcan Experience

Post by StevenNFFC » Sun Feb 20, 2022 11:01 pm

Fully agree with Supra. Additionally, IMO, VTTST are an embarrassing organisation who threw away countless sums of money - the majority of which went straight to the top. Does anyone else remember when XH558 went tech in the early days a Transit van would turn up and then in the latter days a fleet of Audis and BMW's would instead?

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Hurn
Posts: 1224
Joined: Sun Jul 18, 2010 9:30 am

Re: Update on the Vulcan Experience

Post by Hurn » Thu Feb 24, 2022 12:38 pm

StevenNFFC wrote:
Sun Feb 20, 2022 11:01 pm
Fully agree with Supra. Additionally, IMO, VTTST are an embarrassing organisation who threw away countless sums of money - the majority of which went straight to the top. Does anyone else remember when XH558 went tech in the early days a Transit van would turn up and then in the latter days a fleet of Audis and BMW's would instead?
I thought the posh cars were from sponsorship deals rather than VttS going out and buying them. I'd imagine you'd be able to find out one way or another in the financial records though.

Don't think the elaborate hangar plans were ever a goer since the aircraft was grounded, especially given the amount they were asking for. :O

moonstone_laura
Posts: 298
Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2019 2:09 pm

Re: Update on the Vulcan Experience

Post by moonstone_laura » Fri Feb 25, 2022 6:02 pm

Latest update (25th February):
Last month we shared the devastating news that the new hangar home for XH558 - The Vulcan Experience - will not be going ahead as we had hoped due to a fundraising shortfall.

We were unable to meet the fundraising deadline of December 31, 2021, to raise the £2.2m needed to enable us to progress a mortgage to build the hangar. We raised approximately £500,000, so sadly way short of our target. As a result we are unable to meet the terms of a lease for the land at Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

Donations towards Operation Safeguard were for the specific purpose of building a new hangar and are ring-fenced for that goal. To comply with charity law we've been working hard to contact all donors to offer a refund of their donation.

Alternatively, Operation Safeguard donors can choose to complete a form which allows their valuable donation to remain in place to still help towards the continued care and protection of Vulcan XH558, keeping her well maintained for visitors to enjoy the sight, sound and smell of the iconic Avro Vulcan.

Supporters who have completed the form to leave their donation in place continue to enjoy the on-going benefits of their Guardian Membership until it expires. These donors will also have their chosen name permanently displayed under the wing of the iconic Vulcan XH558. We expect to be able to apply these names in the coming months when the weather improves.

Of those who have responded so far, 9 out of 10 people have left their donation in place. We are touched that so many people have chosen for their donation to remain in place to support XH558 and wished for their name to be associated with this famous aircraft, by being proudly displayed under her delta-wing.

We will update on the progress of fitting the name plaques for the Operation Safeguard campaign in future newsletters.
Vulcan XH558 Engineering Update

In the last couple of months, while XH558’s engines have been in winter hibernation, our team has continued to give the aircraft plenty of TLC.

Most of the work to prepare her for another year of events has been on the powered flying controls, checking the hydraulics and greasing the moving parts. The fuel tank access panels have been cleaned and painted too.

The ground equipment is also under constant maintenance review. The hydraulic rig has recently had some attention, with the carburetor needing a repair.

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