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Final flights XH558

For announcements, photographs and video's and general '558 related chat.
kph100
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Final flights XH558

Post by kph100 » Mon Oct 12, 2015 11:42 am

So with the farewell tour over and VTTS saying a couple more flights in the offering,
when will the last flight likely to be date wise ?

POL
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Re: Final flights XH558

Post by POL » Mon Oct 12, 2015 11:43 am

On or before 31 October.

kph100
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Re: Final flights XH558

Post by kph100 » Mon Oct 12, 2015 12:56 pm

EGVP wrote:On or before 31 October.
Be great if then as I am weekend off :)

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TankBuster
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Re: Final flights XH558

Post by TankBuster » Mon Oct 12, 2015 3:26 pm

I do wonder if VTTS are holding out in the hope that the BBMF Lancaster will be back up in the air in the next couple of weeks?
It would be lovely to see the two Avro greats saying XH558's final goodbye in the air together. Especially if the two aircraft were together over Doncaster with the 558 breaking away to land, with the Lanc then going round for one last flypast as 558 comes to rest on the pan for engine shut down.


TankBuster.
And there's plenty more where that came from!

kph100
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Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2015 6:25 pm

Re: Final flights XH558

Post by kph100 » Mon Oct 12, 2015 3:35 pm

TankBuster wrote:I do wonder if VTTS are holding out in the hope that the BBMF Lancaster will be back up in the air in the next couple of weeks?
It would be lovely to see the two Avro greats saying XH558's final goodbye in the air together. Especially if the two aircraft were together over Doncaster with the 558 breaking away to land, with the Lanc then going round for one last flypast as 558 comes to rest on the pan for engine shut down.


TankBuster.

Thumper was up today watched her on flight radar doing circuits

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Richard B
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Re: Final flights XH558

Post by Richard B » Mon Oct 12, 2015 3:40 pm

Get all the Avro's up together, not just the Lanc.

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GhostFlight91
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Re: Final flights XH558

Post by GhostFlight91 » Mon Oct 12, 2015 5:06 pm

lancs 100% to go, fingers crossed now on the vulcan

kph100
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Re: Final flights XH558

Post by kph100 » Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:46 pm

is she flying tomorrow ? heard a rumour

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Lowfly11
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Re: Final flights XH558

Post by Lowfly11 » Mon Oct 12, 2015 8:03 pm

XH558 was parked outside this morning..still there at 5.30pm..i was wondering the same for another flight soon.

martmpf
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Location: Grimsby

Re: Final flights XH558

Post by martmpf » Mon Oct 12, 2015 8:24 pm

I read about week ago somewhere that there was a gathering VIP's for XH558 on Tuesday. It was not at Doncaster and thought at the time that without the aircraft it did not make much sense.

A private event?

kph100
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Re: Final flights XH558

Post by kph100 » Mon Oct 12, 2015 8:40 pm

martmpf wrote:I read about week ago somewhere that there was a gathering VIP's for XH558 on Tuesday. It was not at Doncaster and thought at the time that without the aircraft it did not make much sense.

A private event?
Maybe the fast taxi run for the lottery winner, then its rumoured she is going to do the blades trip for the other lottery winner.

Was it syewell ?

martmpf
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Re: Final flights XH558

Post by martmpf » Mon Oct 12, 2015 8:49 pm

kph100 wrote:
martmpf wrote:I read about week ago somewhere that there was a gathering VIP's for XH558 on Tuesday. It was not at Doncaster and thought at the time that without the aircraft it did not make much sense.

A private event?
Maybe the fast taxi run for the lottery winner, then its rumoured she is going to do the blades trip for the other lottery winner.

Was it syewell ?
Sywell does ring a bell in my memory, but not sure.

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plmc135
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Re: Final flights XH558

Post by plmc135 » Tue Oct 13, 2015 7:13 am

There has just been an item on BBC Breakfast from Finningley. The aircraft is outside and a fuel tanker was shown arriving to pump gas aboard. From the number of personnel also checking out the airframe it looks remarkably like she is going to fly today.

Paul

martmpf
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Re: Final flights XH558

Post by martmpf » Tue Oct 13, 2015 7:31 am

For those unable to see the BBC Breakfast item, the red engine intake covers were out with somebody brushing the intakes out (remember the bags of desiccant left in the intake incident?). The rear engine covers were being taken off.
A yellow "Jet" fuel tanker was hooked up to the underside of the left wing

Looked like preparation for flight to me!.

TS010
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Re: Final flights XH558

Post by TS010 » Tue Oct 13, 2015 8:25 am

Looked very much like a B/F, power set plugged in aswell.

martmpf
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Re: Final flights XH558

Post by martmpf » Tue Oct 13, 2015 8:30 am

In the final live visit by BBC Breakfast to Finningley, all personnel and fuel tanker gone. Crew door open. Covers removed. Two, power/auxiliary units visible, one under to the rear of each wing. For engine start?

Commentary/interviews stating two private event flights to come, but appeared careful not to state when. Does anybody who is more familiar with the configuration for flight than I am, know if this looks pre-flight?

I am not sure what a B/F is!

POL
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Re: Final flights XH558

Post by POL » Tue Oct 13, 2015 8:37 am

B/F means before flight I'd imagine.

Seriously though, are you all that desperate for it to fly you're analysing the fact that - at an active, international airport, there is a fuel tanker near the aircraft and the covers have been removed? Christ.

slinky1989
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Re: Final flights XH558

Post by slinky1989 » Tue Oct 13, 2015 9:31 am

Just got a status update on the iOS app that it has crewed in, so could well be something?

TS010
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Re: Final flights XH558

Post by TS010 » Tue Oct 13, 2015 9:33 am

I am not sure what a B/F is!
Apologies, I reverted to RAF speak for a moment.
B/F is short for Before Flight Servicing.
Seriously though, are you all that desperate for it to fly you're analysing the fact that - at an active, international airport, there is a fuel tanker near the aircraft and the covers have been removed? Christ.
Be no benefit to me if it flies today, being in North Wales and stuck in a factory with no windows. Just commenting on what I saw on the telly.

TS010
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Re: Final flights XH558

Post by TS010 » Tue Oct 13, 2015 9:52 am

Just confirmed on their Facebook page, todays flight is for the raffle winners.

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