Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
- VRT Southend Vulcan
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Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
Just a reminder that the VRT is holding its first Visit the Vulcan Day of 2018 this Sunday, 22 April, at London Southend Airport. Please come along and see Vulcan XL426 if you can and help us with our fund raising efforts. Full details of the day are below - we look forward to seeing you.
Our Visit the Vulcan Days are great days out for aircraft enthusiasts and the general public alike. With the RAF celebrating its centenary, our April Visit the Vulcan Day will feature a strong 'RAF 100' theme in which XL426 will take centre stage. We will be giving guided tours of XL426 and for an additional fee you can climb inside the Vulcan’s cockpit. We will also have a rare WE177B nuclear bomb on display as well as two examples of the 1,000 lb HE bombs of the type the Vulcan dropped on Port Stanley during the 1982 Falklands Conflict.
To help us celebrate the RAF centenary, we are delighted that XL426 will be joined by a full-size replica Spitfire complete with WW2 RAF re-enactors as well as a full-size replica DH2, this complete with accompanying WW1 RFC re-enactors. We couldn't fit in any more full-size aircraft to help tell the RAF story but Southend Radio Control Model Flying Club is instead bringing along 10 of its large models of different RAF types to fill-in the gaps.
To keep you refreshed we have a burger and hotdog stall and a doughnut and ice cream kiosk. There will also be a micro brewery stall to help you wash it all down! The local Thundersley Brass Concert Band will be keeping everyone entertained throughout the day.
The Visit the Vulcan Day is being held on the apron outside Hangar 5 at London Southend Airport, which is XL426's place of residence until we confirm a new, permanent site for the Vulcan with the airport's management. There is free car parking available - please follow the direction signs on the day. For those using SatNav, please enter post code SS2 6YF.
Gates open at 10.00 am and last admission is at 4.00 pm. Entry is just £5.00 for adults with under-16s admitted free. There is an additional charge of £4.50 for cockpit visits which applies to all. Cockpit visits take place every 15 minutes with timed tickets available. This means you can buy your ticket but don't need to stand in a queue. You can look at the other exhibits, or sit down and relax, until your cockpit visit time comes round. The small size of the Vulcan's cockpit means we're limited on the numbers we can get into it during the course of a day, so we recommend you arrive before 2.00 pm to be sure of getting in the cockpit and before 11.30 am if you don't want to wait too long.
If you just want to come to come along and see XL426 and take photos, please arrive at any time.
All tickets are available on the day - there are no advance ticket sales for our Visit the Vulcan Days.
If you can't make 22 April, we will be holding three further Visit the Vulcan Days in 2018 on 17 June (Fathers' Day), 19 August and 16 September.
Rich
Richard Clarkson
Trustee
Our Visit the Vulcan Days are great days out for aircraft enthusiasts and the general public alike. With the RAF celebrating its centenary, our April Visit the Vulcan Day will feature a strong 'RAF 100' theme in which XL426 will take centre stage. We will be giving guided tours of XL426 and for an additional fee you can climb inside the Vulcan’s cockpit. We will also have a rare WE177B nuclear bomb on display as well as two examples of the 1,000 lb HE bombs of the type the Vulcan dropped on Port Stanley during the 1982 Falklands Conflict.
To help us celebrate the RAF centenary, we are delighted that XL426 will be joined by a full-size replica Spitfire complete with WW2 RAF re-enactors as well as a full-size replica DH2, this complete with accompanying WW1 RFC re-enactors. We couldn't fit in any more full-size aircraft to help tell the RAF story but Southend Radio Control Model Flying Club is instead bringing along 10 of its large models of different RAF types to fill-in the gaps.
To keep you refreshed we have a burger and hotdog stall and a doughnut and ice cream kiosk. There will also be a micro brewery stall to help you wash it all down! The local Thundersley Brass Concert Band will be keeping everyone entertained throughout the day.
The Visit the Vulcan Day is being held on the apron outside Hangar 5 at London Southend Airport, which is XL426's place of residence until we confirm a new, permanent site for the Vulcan with the airport's management. There is free car parking available - please follow the direction signs on the day. For those using SatNav, please enter post code SS2 6YF.
Gates open at 10.00 am and last admission is at 4.00 pm. Entry is just £5.00 for adults with under-16s admitted free. There is an additional charge of £4.50 for cockpit visits which applies to all. Cockpit visits take place every 15 minutes with timed tickets available. This means you can buy your ticket but don't need to stand in a queue. You can look at the other exhibits, or sit down and relax, until your cockpit visit time comes round. The small size of the Vulcan's cockpit means we're limited on the numbers we can get into it during the course of a day, so we recommend you arrive before 2.00 pm to be sure of getting in the cockpit and before 11.30 am if you don't want to wait too long.
If you just want to come to come along and see XL426 and take photos, please arrive at any time.
All tickets are available on the day - there are no advance ticket sales for our Visit the Vulcan Days.
If you can't make 22 April, we will be holding three further Visit the Vulcan Days in 2018 on 17 June (Fathers' Day), 19 August and 16 September.
Rich
Richard Clarkson
Trustee
Last edited by VRT Southend Vulcan on Tue 17 Apr 2018, 6:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Vulcan Restoration Trust
Preserving Vulcan XL426 at London Southend Airport
Registered Charity No 1058111
Preserving Vulcan XL426 at London Southend Airport
Registered Charity No 1058111
Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
No inflated admission fees, no sewage works view, no VIP marquee, no gravy train, no staff to pay. Just a band of fantastic volunteers doing unsung work week in week out. Just the way it should be.
- Dan O'Hagan
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Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
Yeah, but just think where they'd be if only they had the foresight to hire a CEO on £70,000pa.
Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
Hello Richard.
This sounds like a tempting day out. Do you have any ambitions to allow potential paying enthusiasts the chance to see XL426 taxiing? I don't expect for a moment this would be straight forward, but I believe there was a secret taxi run December last year?
I understand the reason it wasn't public was because VRT didn't want to potentially disappoint punters with an unexpected cancellation? I know plenty of people who would pay substantially more than five pounds, for a small chance to see XL426 moving under its own power.
Simon
This sounds like a tempting day out. Do you have any ambitions to allow potential paying enthusiasts the chance to see XL426 taxiing? I don't expect for a moment this would be straight forward, but I believe there was a secret taxi run December last year?
I understand the reason it wasn't public was because VRT didn't want to potentially disappoint punters with an unexpected cancellation? I know plenty of people who would pay substantially more than five pounds, for a small chance to see XL426 moving under its own power.
Simon
I don't know everything there is to know about our hobby.
Kids, aviation, missus then responsibilities, (in that order)
Kids, aviation, missus then responsibilities, (in that order)
Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
So XL426 can't taxi in public and XM655 taxi days seems to be a thing of the past, so it may be reasonably argued that the best chance of seeing a fast taxi in the near future might be at Doncaster!
Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
106500 wrote:So XL426 can't taxi in public and XM655 taxi days seems to be a thing of the past, so it may be reasonably argued that the best chance of seeing a fast taxi in the near future might be at Doncaster!
No, XL426 is in the best position for fast taxi runs, they have done it in the past and will do it again in the near future, 558 as not and will find it very hard to do
, if when if she does it will be only a small crowd i can bet you.
Only place for fast taxi runs are at Elvington or Bruntingthorpes.
- MicrolightDriver
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Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
vulcan558 wrote:106500 wrote:So XL426 can't taxi in public and XM655 taxi days seems to be a thing of the past, so it may be reasonably argued that the best chance of seeing a fast taxi in the near future might be at Doncaster!
No, XL426 is in the best position for fast taxi runs, they have done it in the past and will do it again in the near future, 558 as not and will find it very hard to do
, if when if she does it will be only a small crowd i can bet you.
Only place for fast taxi runs are at Elvington or Bruntingthorpes.
Making perfect sense as usual....
- VRT Southend Vulcan
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Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
sithrity wrote:Hello Richard.
This sounds like a tempting day out. Do you have any ambitions to allow potential paying enthusiasts the chance to see XL426 taxiing? I don't expect for a moment this would be straight forward, but I believe there was a secret taxi run December last year?
I understand the reason it wasn't public was because VRT didn't want to potentially disappoint punters with an unexpected cancellation? I know plenty of people who would pay substantially more than five pounds, for a small chance to see XL426 moving under its own power.
Simon
We certainly have ambitions to do public taxying events plus public engine ground running events. We can't give any exact timescales just now but we'd be disappointed if we didn't do at least the latter this year. As soon as anything is confirmed, we will let UKAR know.
The taxy run on 3 December was 'behind closed doors' as it was the first taxy we'd done for a considerable time and so was very much a training exercise for our team. We needed to be as flexible as possible with engine start-up times etc. and it would have been improper to have the added pressure of a public audience feeding into the mix. The run went well and proved that XL426 taxying at the airport is viable and can be incorporated within the airport's normal operations.
We are now is working with the airport on such things as viewing areas and car parking arrangements so they are comfortable we can run taxying and engine running events that are open to the public.
Rich
Vulcan Restoration Trust
Preserving Vulcan XL426 at London Southend Airport
Registered Charity No 1058111
Preserving Vulcan XL426 at London Southend Airport
Registered Charity No 1058111
- NAM Updater
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Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
Great news Rich and keep plugging away!
Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
Thanks for the feed back Richard. I'm looking forward to that!
I don't know everything there is to know about our hobby.
Kids, aviation, missus then responsibilities, (in that order)
Kids, aviation, missus then responsibilities, (in that order)
Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
As we have read today that VTTST are again selling XH558 engine runs for £100 per person, is there any chance the VRT could do something similar with XL426? I'd be prepared to pay a premium amount to watch an engine run up close, but would rather give my money to the VRT where it will be used for something constructive than to VTTST. I'm also 20 miles away from Southend and don't fancy the long drive to Doncaster! I've been to several visit the Vulcan days but have never heard 426's engines, I'm sure there are other who would pay for a premium event like this if you held one.
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Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
Thats right push the price up of such a wonderfull thing, perhaps what should be said is can you push the price up to keep the riff raff out? Why would you want that to happen? Could it be ego? Hey look at me I'm one of 30 to see this Vulcan taxi! well big deal, or as some would say "woopy doo" One fabulous day a few years ago I traveled to see the Southend Vulcan.
Now the thing is I live up the East coast near the wash, a bit further than Norfolk, but not so far as Yorkshire, now in one day I traveled down to Southend, got to meet the Vulcan, toured the cockpit, met Bruce Dickinson, watched them start the Vulcan up, fast taxi it and generally give her a good airing, all in the rain! then drove home again. Thouroughly satisfied with a very good day out, at a very very reasonable price!
So somebody 20 miles away that cant be bothered or whatever wants the price to go up because of ego or some such? come off it, pathetic. Not only will putting the price up to a huge amount not encourage future visits in the long run it will reduce the amount of revenue generated! 30 people paying £100 each or 500 people paying £10 quid each? I know which one I'd go for. Something that stupid makes my blood boil!
Thats it, putting my dummy back in and getting my coat!
Now the thing is I live up the East coast near the wash, a bit further than Norfolk, but not so far as Yorkshire, now in one day I traveled down to Southend, got to meet the Vulcan, toured the cockpit, met Bruce Dickinson, watched them start the Vulcan up, fast taxi it and generally give her a good airing, all in the rain! then drove home again. Thouroughly satisfied with a very good day out, at a very very reasonable price!
So somebody 20 miles away that cant be bothered or whatever wants the price to go up because of ego or some such? come off it, pathetic. Not only will putting the price up to a huge amount not encourage future visits in the long run it will reduce the amount of revenue generated! 30 people paying £100 each or 500 people paying £10 quid each? I know which one I'd go for. Something that stupid makes my blood boil!
Thats it, putting my dummy back in and getting my coat!
Those that matter, don't mind. Those that mind, don't matter
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Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
Marathon Milkshake wrote:Thats right push the price up of such a wonderfull thing, perhaps what should be said is can you push the price up to keep the riff raff out? Why would you want that to happen? Could it be ego? Hey look at me I'm one of 30 to see this Vulcan taxi! well big deal, or as some would say "woopy doo" One fabulous day a few years ago I traveled to see the Southend Vulcan.
Now the thing is I live up the East coast near the wash, a bit further than Norfolk, but not so far as Yorkshire, now in one day I traveled down to Southend, got to meet the Vulcan, toured the cockpit, met Bruce Dickinson, watched them start the Vulcan up, fast taxi it and generally give her a good airing, all in the rain! then drove home again. Thouroughly satisfied with a very good day out, at a very very reasonable price!
So somebody 20 miles away that cant be bothered or whatever wants the price to go up because of ego or some such? come off it, pathetic. Not only will putting the price up to a huge amount not encourage future visits in the long run it will reduce the amount of revenue generated! 30 people paying £100 each or 500 people paying £10 quid each? I know which one I'd go for. Something that stupid makes my blood boil!
Thats it, putting my dummy back in and getting my coat!
Quite apart from the simple economics, perhaps VRT feel there is a moral question of keeping faith with all their supporters.
Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
Wow I don't WANT the price to go up! But if the VRT were able to raise more money by holding a small event which might be easier to get the airport to agree to what is the harm in that? Of course I'd much rather 1000 people paid a £5 each to fund the event but if that can't be arranged with the airport why couldn't 30 people pay £100 if they want to and it was easier to set up at Southend?
I would love to hear a Vulcan again up close. I'm never going to be able to do that again because Pleming took 558 to Doncaster rather than Bruntingthorpe unless I pay £100. 655 is not running this year. So I'd rather not pay Mr Pleming £100 probably most of which will never see 558. Just suggesting perhaps the VRT could hold a smaller event and charge more if that helps.
I would love to hear a Vulcan again up close. I'm never going to be able to do that again because Pleming took 558 to Doncaster rather than Bruntingthorpe unless I pay £100. 655 is not running this year. So I'd rather not pay Mr Pleming £100 probably most of which will never see 558. Just suggesting perhaps the VRT could hold a smaller event and charge more if that helps.
- VRT Southend Vulcan
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Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
Whilst nothing is confirmed yet, it's quite possible we will go down both routes for our engine running and taxying events.
Our ethos has always been to give as many people as possible the chance to see XL426 and this is reflected by the very affordable entry fees at our Visit the Vulcan Days. We're aware, though, that many enthusiasts and members of the public are prepared to pay a premium for more 'exclusive' types of visit. There's no reason we can't cater for both. Events with smaller audiences are easier to organise in terms of logistics but that won't stop us doing everything we can to put on events that give larger numbers the chance to see XL426 go 'live'.
Rich
Our ethos has always been to give as many people as possible the chance to see XL426 and this is reflected by the very affordable entry fees at our Visit the Vulcan Days. We're aware, though, that many enthusiasts and members of the public are prepared to pay a premium for more 'exclusive' types of visit. There's no reason we can't cater for both. Events with smaller audiences are easier to organise in terms of logistics but that won't stop us doing everything we can to put on events that give larger numbers the chance to see XL426 go 'live'.
Rich
Vulcan Restoration Trust
Preserving Vulcan XL426 at London Southend Airport
Registered Charity No 1058111
Preserving Vulcan XL426 at London Southend Airport
Registered Charity No 1058111
Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
Xm657 wrote:Wow I don't WANT the price to go up! But if the VRT were able to raise more money by holding a small event which might be easier to get the airport to agree to what is the harm in that? Of course I'd much rather 1000 people paid a £5 each to fund the event but if that can't be arranged with the airport why couldn't 30 people pay £100 if they want to and it was easier to set up at Southend?
I would love to hear a Vulcan again up close. I'm never going to be able to do that again because Pleming took 558 to Doncaster rather than Bruntingthorpe unless I pay £100. 655 is not running this year. So I'd rather not pay Mr Pleming £100 probably most of which will never see 558. Just suggesting perhaps the VRT could hold a smaller event and charge more if that helps.
Would be better if you go along to Southend, pay the going rate and then put your £100 in the donations box.
Simple really.
Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
It looked a popular event today. Good work by the friendly VRT team.
I don't know everything there is to know about our hobby.
Kids, aviation, missus then responsibilities, (in that order)
Kids, aviation, missus then responsibilities, (in that order)
Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
vulcan558 wrote:Would be better if you go along to Southend, pay the going rate and then put your £100 in the donations box.
Simple really.
Thanks for the advise vulcan558! I've donated plenty to the VRT over the last 30 years and visited her countless times too. The VRT are also a major beneficiary in my will.
- ericbee123
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Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
Marathon Milkshake wrote: 30 people paying £100 each or 500 people paying £10 quid each? I know which one I'd go for. Something that stupid makes my blood boil!
I know which one I would go for too, the one that made me the most amount of profit, not revenue.
One’s going to bring me £3,000 revenue , the other. £5,000.
If it costs me less than £2,000 to host an additional 470 people then the second option, if not then I would stick with the first option.
If it costs me £5 a head to put the event on. I will make more with option 1 than option 2 and be a lot less hassle to organise.
If it costs me £1 a head then I would make more with option 2.
If it costs me £15 a head then it’s a no brainier as I would lose a lot of money if 500 people turned up and gave me £10 each.
Is the really simplistic view, as you will have fixed and variable costs. The fixed will reduce per head as your numbers increase, but your variable costs ( toilets per number of people / stewards /policing ) will increase per head.
It’s why Blackburn Rovers (for instance) don’t try to sell 35,000 seats at £10 a pop but choose to sell 10,000 at £25. They wouldn’t miraculously make £100,000 more, the stewarding, policing, extra sales, extra bar staff, extra food staff, doesn’t make it viable ( especially if only the 10,000 die hards turn up and pay £10 each and you’ve catered for 35,000 )
[oh and I know they are selling tickets at £10 for the last game of the season against Oxford !! Before anyone says it ]
Disclaimer-I have spell/grammar checked this post, it may still contain mistakes that might cause offence.
- VRT Southend Vulcan
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Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
Thanks to sithrithy and any other UKAR regulars who came along to support us yesterday. We hope you had a good day and enjoyed yourselves.
We had a very decent turnout and the weather played ball. A decent amount of cash went into the coffers which will help pay the bills (for a while anyway)! Our next Visit the Vulcan Day is on Fathers' Day, 17 June.
Rich
We had a very decent turnout and the weather played ball. A decent amount of cash went into the coffers which will help pay the bills (for a while anyway)! Our next Visit the Vulcan Day is on Fathers' Day, 17 June.
Rich
Vulcan Restoration Trust
Preserving Vulcan XL426 at London Southend Airport
Registered Charity No 1058111
Preserving Vulcan XL426 at London Southend Airport
Registered Charity No 1058111
Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
VRT Southend Vulcan wrote:Thanks to sithrithy and any other UKAR regulars who came along to support us yesterday. We hope you had a good day and enjoyed yourselves.
We had a very decent turnout and the weather played ball. A decent amount of cash went into the coffers which will help pay the bills (for a while anyway)! Our next Visit the Vulcan Day is on Fathers' Day, 17 June.
Rich
It was worth travelling further than the two miles I had to travel for it.
I don't know everything there is to know about our hobby.
Kids, aviation, missus then responsibilities, (in that order)
Kids, aviation, missus then responsibilities, (in that order)
Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
VRT are holding a screening of Thunderball at Southend with 426 looking on. What a great idea. Details here:
https://avrovulcan.com/events/secret-ci ... the-vulcan
https://avrovulcan.com/events/secret-ci ... the-vulcan
- Pat Murphy
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Re: Visit the Vulcan Day - Southend this Sunday
MicrolightDriver wrote:vulcan558 wrote:106500 wrote:So XL426 can't taxi in public and XM655 taxi days seems to be a thing of the past, so it may be reasonably argued that the best chance of seeing a fast taxi in the near future might be at Doncaster!
No, XL426 is in the best position for fast taxi runs, they have done it in the past and will do it again in the near future, 558 as not and will find it very hard to do
, if when if she does it will be only a small crowd i can bet you.
Only place for fast taxi runs are at Elvington or Bruntingthorpes.
Making perfect sense as usual....
About as much sense as the current situation at Doncaster eh Micro? Lets face it if you want a close up look at a Vulcan, you either have to leave the contents of your wallet/bank account at the gate with 558 or part with less than a tenner to get in the cockpit of 426...now let me think about that for a second....
The set up at Doncaster makes my blood boil, or rather it used to. Now it just makes me sad that it's like this. People's Aircraft my arse.