[Sternjaeger II]

Originally Posted by BPickles

ALL the story, i doubt that mate unless you worked on it yourself, rumors are rumors, when you say based in Brunters do you mean worked in Brunters as a civ?

Without going into too much detail, we were offered the possibility of collaborating with them as a hack plane, using our twin engined plane for ferry flights to move personnel etc.. but then they changed their minds and actually wanted to charge us for it (!!!).

Mate you are answering your own questions about the Vulcan with answers that you use for other restoration projects, its the same principle and the same passion. Why shouldn't they ask for donations?

All famous aircraft have a trust fund if its one of a kind and the only airworthy example. The government helps pay for unique things in this country but they only pay so much, as they do with the BBMF, the rest relys on public funding.

it's more of an exception to the rule than a standard thing. Most warbird operators do it only with their own means, they don't go around begging for money. Many airshow organisers don't even cover fuel costs anymore, and God knows how expensive an hour on a Mustang is.. still, they do it out of passion and with their own means, not begging around for money.

The people who pay to help keep this bird in the air do so because it defines a generation and not only that it is a unique aircraft that does define UK aviation and its ingenuity through the 60's, that's also the reason why they may be using it to open the London Olympics (not heard that though) but personally I couldn't think of anything more fitting to open the Olympics in England than the Avro Vulcan.

yeah, I'm sure that the Argentinians will be chuffed to bits about it
Besides, what's better to promote the spirit of sport as an event that unites people from all over the world in a healthy competition than a former nuclear bomber?!

I'm finding it crazy that I would have to explain all this to an aviation enthusiast. There's plenty of crap flying around that I don't like but if i have the money spare at a show to make a donation I do so to preserve the history and the happiness of the people who do love that aircraft.

I guess the main reason why your argument is invalid is because its not your money your arguing over, also why do moral aspects even come into it? Surely if that were true you'd object to the Lancaster flying.

Wait wait wait. There's a HUGE difference between a Lancaster flying and a Vulcan flying.
Lancasters contributed to the end of WW2, and albeit involved in the questionable trategic bombing of Germany, the sacrifice of so many young British airmen needs to be celebrated somehow.

I dunno if it's about the shape, the dark colour or the solemnity of the thing, but whenever the BBMF Lancaster flies at an airshow, there's silence and there's always a feeling of insight and respect, not excitement.