I agree with you Mike, Spits and bits are smaller and easier to maintain/rebuild than the bigger birds. The Lanc has a good few hours to go since its last major a couple of years back.
But like everything the RAF at the time had tools and facilities to keep the Vulcan flying BUT AT A COST! they chose to pull out of flying it because of this cost of maintaining it. I myself have pumped thousands of gallons of fuel into 558 and 426 when they were still in RAF service in the 80,s. I take my hat off to the guys that restored XH558 but it is an impossible dream for a civvy outfit to keep it going. Im just saying what shame the RAF could not afford to keep her.
Christian