655 Maintenance & Preservation Society

08/06/2013 A New Sponsor for XM655

Morgan Fire Services Ltd. have generously offered to provide XM655 with both fire extinguishers and extinguisher servicing.

Morgan Fire Services Ltd
Image Copyright© David Bryant

Their local representative, David Bryant, who negotiated the sponsorship, arrived on Saturday and promptly serviced two of our foam extinguishers and delivered replacement CO2, dry powder and water extinguishers providing us with even better fire protection for our aircraft, ground equipment and workshop/office accommodation.

David Bryant of Morgan Fire Services Ltd delivers new and replcement extinguishers
Image Copyright© David Bryant

01/06/2013 A Very Busy Weekend!

The weekend started with moving XM655 off the pan so we could run the engines.

XM655 prep prior to engine run

Engineers make final checks before the engine run
Copyright© Av Magill.

Ready for start-up
Copyright© Av Magill.

With our regular pilot Wg Cdr Mike Pollitt RAF (Retd.) at the controls, 655 had a shakedown engine run to ensure everything was tip-top for Wings & Wheels on June 16th. and came through with flying colours.

Coleman protects the runway marker

The Coleman takes the full blast of the jet efflux, protecting the Runway Marker
Copyright© Av Magill.

Once we had the aircraft back in its usual position, we prepared for our 1st. visit of the weekend in the afternoon.

Chipping Norton Amateur Astronomy Group Visit

This was the 3rd. visit by the astronomers, and being a small group this time it allowed the engineering volunteers to continue with some vital pre-Wings & Wheels tasks to the ground equipment while Bry, Bob and Damaris showed the visitors round the aircraft.

The Chipping Norton Amateur Astronomy Group
Copyright© Av Magill.

The group will also be attending Wings & Wheels and doing some Solar astronomy, clouds permitting. They will be visiting us again later in the year and bringing their telescopes with them for a very different photo in front of XM655.

Calne Lions Club Visit

Sunday saw a visit by the Calne Lions club who travelled up from Wiltshire for the day.

Health and Safety briefing

Charles gives his usual 'elf and safety' briefing
Copyright© Av Magill.

We had a group of 24 from the Calne, Wiltshire, Lions Club, arriving by coach. The six of the volunteers collectively thought that the 24 visitors were the nicest, most enthusiastic bunch of people that it has ever been our pleasure to show around the Vulcan, and that the people of Calne are very lucky to have such a group doing good work and deeds in their community!

John awaits to give one group a cockpit tour
Copyright© Av Magill.

Calne Lions Club and the volunteers pose before XM655
Copyright© Av Magill.

Altogether a very busy and successful weekend!

25/05/2013 An Unexpected Visitor!

We had an unexpected and very welcome visitor literally drop-in on us on Saturday afternoon - Ben Lovering with his tiny and very pretty Christen Eagle 2.

Raging Bull Christen Eagle 2
Ben Lovering's cherished Christen Eagle 2
Image Copyright© Av Magill

The Christen Eagle is very similar to the Pitts Special aerobatic bi-plane but is a kit-built aircraft.

After having received a cockpit tour of XM655 (and being somewhat amazed at her having 14 fuel tanks!) he said he would do a fly-over of XM655 on his departure, Air Traffic permitting - what we weren't expecting was the loop and roll-off the top with full smoke!

Raging Bull Christen Eagle 2
First we climb..
Image Copyright© Av Magill

Raging Bull Christen Eagle 2
And now we're inverted...
Image Copyright© Av Magill

Raging Bull Christen Eagle 2
Will he loop, roll or stall turn from here?
Image Copyright© Av Magill

We have every hope that Ben will be bringing his aircraft to Wings and Wheels so maybe all of you will be able to see and appreciate this little aerobatic wonder.

11/05/2013 The Spice of Life

The Spice group have become regular visitors to XM655, and on Saturday 11th. May, 8 of their members came along to what the group have christened "The Vulcan Experience".

Spice Group Visitors

Our visitors pose before XM655
Copyright© Av Magill.

Unfortunately they were denied the usual full systems demo due to a serviceability problem with the rudder powered flying control unit, which saw Len busy in the power bay and therefore no 200V supply on the aircraft for safety reasons.

However they were treated to an extended cockpit tour as a result, and as always were impressed by what they saw.

27/04/2013 Kawasaki Vulcan Club Visit XM655

Saturday afternoon saw the arrival of a lot of horse power in the shape of the Kawasaki Vulcan Club with 32 of their powerful motorcycles, seen here as they were preparing to bring their steeds over to XM655 for a photo shoot.

The Vulcan motorbikes prepare for their photo shoot
Copyright© Avril Magill.

The visit was part of the club's AGM weekend and they arrived in pleasant sunshine for a change from many recent visits!

Before bringing their machines over to XM655, they were treated to a full systems demonstration, our recent problems with XM655's electrical system having been sorted out only an hour before they arrived. Finalising our fault rectification had been delayed in the morning by a problem with the Houchin ground power supply, eventually traced to a corroded actuator and quickly rectified once traced.

Kawasaki Vulcan Club members get their close up view of XM655
Copyright© Avril Magill.

Our visitors then brought their machines over to the aircraft for their picture session.

Timing was everything, as no sooner were the photos taken than the weather changed with hail, wind and rain, and everyone huddled under XM655's huge wings until the worst of the weather passed.

13/04/2013 XM558 Crew Pre-Season Training

On a wet and windy Saturday, 558's crew and a couple of guests arrived for their pre-season training session on XM655, happy and smiling despite the weather.

558 Crew and guests

left to right are Bill Perrins, Phil O'Dell, Martin Withers, Tony Blackman (guest),
Bill Ramsey, Mike Pollitt, Andy Marson, Nick Dennis (guest) and Barry Masefield.
Copyright© Av Magill.

Of course, the 655MaPS volunteers had to get into the act too!

Following one drills session including engine runs, a simulated aborted take-off (which included "streaming" XM655's non-existent parachute) and an aircraft emergency landing and abandonment, an electrical problem at the commencement of the second session prevented further engine runs, and the remaining drills had to be simulated rather than live.

On Sunday we had a working party and started to investigate the electrics problem that we had been left with, and are quietly confident that we will be able to fix the problem next Saturday.

24/02/2013 The Bugatti Club Visit XM655 (again!)

On a bitterly cold Sunday the hardy members of the Bugatti Car Club came to see us again at XM655, and this time brought a 1925 Brescia Bugatti, a 1935 Aston Martin Ulster, a 1939 Rover 14-P2.6 and a rather newer - but very nice - Morgan.

Of course we couldn't let the drivers get away without a photo of them by their gorgeous vehicles!

For a little reflected glory our volunteers had to get into the act too! (along with our visitors of course).

It was so cold (but thankfully dry - unlike the last time the Bugatti club visited us!) that viewing our video in the warm proved even more popular than usual. The coffee and teas were also well received, as much as hand-warmers as thirst quenchers.