Classic cars all parked down with the action. I hadn't pre-booked but was directed there anyway, and at half-price.
Spectator area very close to the Vulcan
The blue VW van is the starter. It has it's own jet-powered compressor to supply enough volume (not pressure) of air to spin the engines until they can become self-sustaining
In the meantime a pretty Dragon Rapide arrives to give pleasure flights later in the day ...
... also an Avro Anson
Spooling up, and an impressive amount of noise
All engines running ...
... another light aircraft arrives to park behind the Vulcan, not too close behind one trusts.
Chocks away ...
... clear to go ...
... and rolling.
Turns onto the main runway, unfortunately this was the only rain of the morning
Pilot stops to give us a wave out of the tiny cockpit windows ...
... and at various places down the runway. The crosswind meant the exhaust was blowing onto us, which was nice and warm but making my Granddaughter cough. I said "You have choices - be warm or breathe". She preferred breathing.
Then there is a burst of noise from the far end of the runway and it travels back at about 60 knots ...
... and turns back into the cross-runway.
That was just the slow taxi, have to wait another year to see the fast.
Engines off ...
... and the ground crew get ready to pull it round into its parking position with the tug.
Had a chat with this marshal and he used to work on them when he was in the RAF in the 50s. I notices a line of spikes along the top of the tail fin which look like the ones used by public buildings to keep the pigeons off. That's what they are for, but he said they still get on there. They have to net the wheel apertures to stop birds nesting inside, one year they had to delay engine testing until after some blackbirds had fledged. Small holes all over the plane have to be stuffed with pan scourers. Another time a bird nested up inside the exhaust of one of the engines, wouldn't come out with banging on the side, so that for a scheduled event they had no option (RSPB look away now) but to run the engines anyway!
Cover of the 2011 year-book signed by all the 2012 flight crew
