Would you donate to keep the Vulcan flying in the USA

[Mark_Pilkington]

The Vulcan project is in financial trouble in the UK, with some suggesting it be flown to the US to be supported by rich Americans, American companys and donations from US enthusiasts wanting to see it on the airshow circuit.

What is the level of interest in the Vulcan in the USA, could it be operated viably in the USA with operating costs of $86k per month. could it generate the corporate, private and enthusiasts donations to operate for 12 months?


(Perhaps the Vulcan can stand in line behind Chrysler/GM and get a bailout?)


Regards
Mark Pilkington


Regards

Mark Pilkington

[tom d. friedman]

it's a sad commentary, that poll speaks volumes as to the economy

[rlank]

it's a sad commentary, that poll speaks volumes as to the economy

I think its that people think the money is better spent elsewhere. Not that the economy helps, but I don't think its the majority of the cause.

[Steve Nelson]

Not to be insensitive, but I think there are plenty of American warbirds that need domestic support (Fifi comes to mind.) Much as it's cool to have a flying Vulcan, it's a very expensive proposition in tight economic times.

Being on unemployment, I can't afford to contribute to any warbird activities, other than the occaisional museum visit.

SN

[Ztex]

How many people spend $10 a month for a Warbird magazine? or WIX for that matter?

Membership in the Vintage Flying Museum in Ft. Worth is $36 a year. Basic CAF membership is $55 per year, plus $25-55 Wing dues...cheaper than $10 a month for the Vulcan...

How much is a Starbucks coffee? (I don't drink coffee but I spend more than $10 a month for Dr. Pepper )


Join something and help out!


http://commemorativeairforce.org/?page= ... _page=1275

http://www.vintageflyingmuseum.org/docs/mbrshipapp.pdf

http://www.lsfm.org/membership.html

http://www.cavanaughflightmuseum.com/membership.htm

http://www.collingsfoundation.org/cf_sponsors.htm

https://secure.eaa.org/warbirds/securejoin.html

[jet1]

...its a really interesting plane just like FIFI...but its folly to try to keep either one in the air....there is simply way too much cost involved...unless you are Bill Gates that is.

[richkolasa]

As long as there is not a plan to seize one's money to put it towards any "pet project" (like our government would never do!), why are people so zealous in being "anti" something in aviation when it doesn't affect them?

Rich

[Lynn Allen]

Yeah besides when its flying in South Texas as Mr. Lewis needs another jet....

Lynn

[warbirdcrew]

While it is a good cause and I would really love to see it fly in person, the university takes 120% of what I make, the government 30%, and whatever is left over is my own gas money so no there will be no donations from me.





funny how in times of recession the university seems to think that people still have disposable income and can thus afford arbitrary tuition increases

[RyanShort1]

It all comes down to what motivates people and gets their attention. I choose to pay membership dues and help maintain the L-birds here in town, which I also get to fly occasionally. I think they're important, and worthy of the effort (I believe that I put more time into the L-birds than any (fun) benefit I get out of it in flying - though that is the nice part). It's also good if the folks who help sponsor such an effort feel that their efforts are worthwhile. I know that my $100 towards the L-5 goes a LOT further towards keeping it airworthy. I suspect that the Vulcan is more likely to be appreciated by the folks there in England, because it more directly relates to their heritage.

Ryan

[Nathan]

I don't have the money to do that. Sorry. Wish I did though.

[old iron]

The amount of money that it would take to keep a Vulcan flying for a few years could also sustain or even build a small museum that could house a Vulcan and several other aircraft. There are some rare and important planes - B-24s and such - that remain in the open, which significantly endangers their longterm survival.

Yes, we want to see aircraft flying, but there is only so much money. This means that we have to pick-and-choose and set priorities.

There are a lot of messages on WIX about putting rare or exotic aircraft back into the air but much of this is just talk, and talk like this is really cheap. In the future I think we will be hard-pressed to support the established flyers, the Collins Foundation or things like the MAAM P-61.

If we dilute our energies and monies on Vulcans and B-23s that likely will be of less interest to the average airshow audience member, we might see some of the really important flyers be grounded. We are likely already seeing some of this, as evidenced by FIFI and many other recent but not present flyers.

My guess is that this view is something like a concensus opinion, as reflected by this poll. When 75% of WIXers - a pretty hardcore group of "put-them-in-the-air advocates - cannot personally justify donations to a flyable Vulcan, that is a good sign that the plane is just a bit too ritzy.

I am frankly glad to see that so many of us are willing to "Just say no" in a poll like this. It means that a lot of us are pragmatic about the resources that it takes to put exotic airplanes into the air.

Let us remember this the next time there is a plea on WIX to, taking from other recent threads, build a B-32 or restore a crashed B-36 to see one in the air again.

[Mudge]

Mod edit. JDK
I voted..."not interested". The question was:
"Do you want to spend money to keep the Vulcan flying."

NOT

"Do you want to spend money to keep the Vulcan flying or do you want to spend it on other warbirds?"
No options as to what you do want spend your money on. Those options were volunteered by the posters.

I didn't read anything here that indicated anyone was for keeping the Vulcan grounded. Most of the opinions seemed to be that the author was opposed to investing mega-bucks into one airplane when those same mega-bucks could be spent to keep 2 or 3 other warbirds in the air.

Mudge

[John Cotter]

Do I get to be one of the pilots that flys it?

[Nathan]

Whats wrong with wanting to see a B-36 fly or any other warbird that is not flying?

Beleive it or not I would love to see the Vulcon kept flying. But it has been grounded several times. Do you really think putting money into it again is going to work?