Jessie The Jeep Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 (edited) Despite efforts to clear the snow, the shear quantity has beaten the museum staff, and Vulcan XL319 is now taking off! http://www.sacarr.co.uk/warbirds/pics/vulcan17.jpg http://www.sacarr.co.uk/warbirds/pics/vulcan19.jpg Edited September 5, 2020 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recymech66 Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 Snigger, Could do with a lick of paint that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted January 9, 2010 Author Share Posted January 9, 2010 It's under restoration now, but there's not much you can do in this weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 It is odd that Vulcan is the god of fire, but this Vulcan has succumbed to the cold and snow.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 That is a a sad picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted January 9, 2010 Author Share Posted January 9, 2010 I'd rather think of it as it reaching for the sky again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
private mw Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 makes me even more worried about the weight on my garage roof :shocked: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 They are going on about the worst in thirty years. Well thirty years ago I was an Exmoor, one local farnmer, whose daughter I knew, had just had a barn built for winter lambing. this thisng was the ultimate, the MAFF as it then was hade confrences there to show it off. One Saturday, as now, the snow started. By Sunday morning where I was 1500 feet up Dunkery Beacon, it was twenty five feet deep. The roof of the barn fell in and the farmer lost three hundred ewes in lamb! So yes mate, might be a good idea to clear the roof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bodge Deep Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 How far off the deck are the front wheels? Looks about 7/8feet... could be exciting when it thaws...it'll need propping up sharpish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted January 9, 2010 Author Share Posted January 9, 2010 That's what they were discussing when I left. They have a load of old railway sleepers that could do the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 How far off the deck are the front wheels?Looks about 7/8feet... could be exciting when it thaws...it'll need propping up sharpish Yeah I wonder where the balance/tipping point would be if we were to walk along the fuselage towards the nose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VULCANFREAK Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 Nice/sad photos Jessiethejeep would you mind if i posted them on the vulcan to the sky forum? Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted January 9, 2010 Author Share Posted January 9, 2010 No problem at all, feel free. Let me know when they're posted. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VULCANFREAK Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 (edited) Thanks Steve but someone has already done it ! Kevin Edited January 9, 2010 by VULCANFREAK spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Elsdon Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 Surely putting some fixings into the ground and winching the nose gear down would be the ticket? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted January 9, 2010 Author Share Posted January 9, 2010 (edited) The Vulcan has a pile of railway sleepers under the wheel now, so it can't fall back. Winching it down may be a problem as where do you attach the winch to? The nose leg drag strut was damaged when the aircraft was moved after Nissan bought the original museum site, so they can't put any addition stresses on that part of the aircraft. It is currently standing on an old tennis court, which isn't substantial, so the wheels are also resting on some 1 inch steel plates. To concrete in an anchor to winch and hold the aircraft would need a substantial hole digging, and going through the tennis court with the aircraft hovering above wouldn't be easy, but not impossible. Do they spend a fortune on concrete for a once in 27 years occurance? That's the museums choice. I'm not directly involved, so I don't know the long term plans, other than at present, corrosion is being treated and a repaint is on the cards to protect it for the weather a bit longer until a permanent shelter can be made. There are plans to have a hangar built over the aircraft, but a large area of ground would need to be prepared with hardcore and concrete first to support the weight, so there has been talk of preparing the ground ahead of the Vulcan, and towing it forwards to the new hangar base, then building the hangar around it. But for now, the aircraft is safe from further damage, and future plans can be discussed once the snow has gone and it is back on its wheels. Edited January 9, 2010 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 Airbags would be the best solution to lifting it at the rear, with another at the front inflated to control the lowering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ford 369 Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 airbags seem like a good idea and undoubtedly offer the most controllable solution but who is going to have a spare airbag set up to use during the current adverse conditions? Nigel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted January 10, 2010 Author Share Posted January 10, 2010 Anyone around here got a bag big enough? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recymech66 Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 Not knowing much about this subject, silly old me thought it was in it's current display position, it looks like it has been put in that position so it looks like it's "taking off" I didn't realise the snow had caused that.:red: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 Is there no posibility of gently removing snow, bit by bit from the back of the a/c so that if falls back in a controlled manner? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
protruck Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 Maybe some one in the heavy vehicle recovery business could help out. they tend to have the larger air bags for lifting trailers. Clive .......................................... protruckservices.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted January 10, 2010 Author Share Posted January 10, 2010 Is there no posibility of gently removing snow, bit by bit from the back of the a/c so that if falls back in a controlled manner? I don't think so. Things are melting around here. Try and remove the snow, and chances are, a big chunk is gonna slide off in one go. Also with the aircrafts C of G high above the wheels, even gently removing the snow, it will get to a point where it will start to tip as the C of G passes ahead of the main landing gear, and then nothing it going to stop it from continuing to rotate. It needs the nose lowered in a carefully controlled manner. The museum are in contact with another Vulcan owner over the safest way to lower the aircraft again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 Can the nose be slung from a crane? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted January 10, 2010 Author Share Posted January 10, 2010 I don't know the strong points in the nose so couldn't say if this is a safe option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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