Portrush Air Show 6th & 7th September - Vulcan Display

[Paul McA]

The Vulcan is NOT appearing at Portrush this year.........same old story.........lack of sponsor.

I think it is VERY wrong to advertise the aircraft was coming when it had not been confirmed,but I`m afraid that Coleraine Council have done that in the past.

The Vulcan display date was on the VTTS website briefly but it is now gone and has also been removed from the Portrush site.

[Baldonnel-boy]

I believe the reason the Vulcan appeared on the Portrush site was that a fee had been aggreed by both partys for the Vulcan to appear...    .and also appear at the Southport airshow at the same time...but due to the rise in fuel and mantaince costs the Vulcan team decided to up their fee.....     so the Southport show decided to pull out because it was too high for them....    and then the Vulcan team raised their fee to appear at Portrush even further and then it was decided to drop it from the show there too....   so it seems that the Vulcan team has priced themselfs out of most small and medium sized shows this year and some of the shows that have booked them are having second thoughts about doing it again....

[Paul McA]

That`s pretty much what I had heard-I still feel it is wrong to list an aircraft as appearing until all the arrangements have been made and contracts signed.
It is highly likely that many people would have travelled considerable distances just to see the Vulcan as it is a very special aircraft.

Regarding VTTS that operate her it would seem they always have their hand out-in my own opinion the public money that was spent on her could have been put to better use on restoring other rare types to flying condition.

One that springs to mind is the Mosquito or another Lancaster (Just Jane for example) or indeed the mighty Buccaneer.

[Paul McA]

The Vulcan is now displaying at Duxford Sept 6th and 7th Seems it goes where the big money is and the smaller shows can go and whistle-bad buisness ethics methinks Grrrrrr!!!!

[Frank]

In fairness to the Vulcan operators it cost a lot of money to get the aircraft back in the air and it costs a lot of money to keep it there, why should they send it to a show that can't pay for some or all of it's costs and therefore operate at a loss?

[Paul McA]

Frank -you are quite correct that it cost a great deal of money to return the Vulcan to an airworthy state.The thing is a great deal of the money came from the National Lottery with the previzo (no spell check sorry) that the aircraft be displayed right across the UK.Yet again the big shows get the big acts and the smaller shows are left out
Much of the money also came from donations from aviation societies and also the general public( I donated over £100 pounds from auctions on Ebay)

The thing that makes me angry is a fee had been agreed with both the Southport and Portrush show organisers and then VTTS(Vulcan To The Sky) wanted more.I understand City of Derry airport had waived all landing and handling fees and BP had agreed to fuel the aircraft at a very heavily discounted rate.
Portrush is a free show so the organisers don`t have much chance to re-coup what they pay for displays-it brings people into the area but with no ticket sales they have to have a limited budget.
A great deal of hard work and effort went in to try and bring the Vulcan to Portrush,I think the way VTTS have handled the situation has been very poor.

[Stanly]

Well said Paul. If the appearance and fee are agreed the show should go on. It appears from what you say that Gazzumping is alive and well in the air show organising area. A lot of the money that went to putting the Vulcan into the air came from the "ordinary joe" who, like myself, would like to see the machine perform where it is advertised.

[pilatus]

Quite a shame the Vulcan will not make an appearance, it would look amazing watching it coming in over the tops of those cliffs!What AC participation this year?im annoyed because il not be able to make it to this airshow because im heading to santa ponsa on the 6th, though il try to get some shots of the Spainish Hornets that fly from there

[Tony Kearns]

I am sure that "noisy, fuel guzzling thing" could have been brought over if the merchants/businessmen had contributed and who in turn benefit enormously from the crowds who attend. Is this not what happened to the Galway Air Show, lack of support from the business community?   

[Irish251]

Quite a shame the Vulcan will not make an appearance, it would look amazing watching it coming in over the tops of those cliffs!What AC participation this year?im annoyed because il not be able to make it to this airshow because im heading to santa ponsa on the 6th, though il try to get some shots of the Spainish Hornets that fly from there

There are no EF-18s based at Santa Ponsa (Mallorca) or at Palma Airport.  There are some SAR Pumas and CASA 212s which you may see flying along the coast.  Other military types may visit but they are fairly few and far between.

[pilatus]

I heard the hornets are regualar visitors to the island!?
il pack the olympus  just in case!

[joey1]

Hi All
This is what’s in store for anyone going to the Portrush Airshow.
Whether half of the acts appear is debatable,
 some only appearing for one of the days (Saturday seem to be the best of the two days if you had to Choose)


RAF Red Arrows Display Team (Saturday 12noon, Sunday 5pm)

The Blades Display Team
RAF Tucano
BBMF Douglas C-47 Dakota
BBMF Spitfire (Saturday only)
RAF Nimrod MR2 flypast – (Saturday only]
Sea Hawk
Hawker Hunter (Blue Diamonds)
RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team with RAF Chinook jump platform. (Saturday only
Royal Navy Sea King Search & Rescue
Royal Navy Black Cats Helicopter Display Team
Royal Navy Merlin
 Royal Navy Lynx
Team Guinot Wing Walkers
de Havilland Devon
Antanov AN2 (to drop 4 million poppies on Sunday)
BAC 187 Strikemaster
Piper Arrow
Bird Dog L19
Starduster Too Bi plane
Skybolt
Ulster Gliding Club - formation display and solo ballet
Wild Geese Parachute Display Team
Vans RV-7.
Yak 52
Yak 50
Husky Float Plane

I see no IAC Participation! Has any member any reason for the non attendance/representation
of any Air Corps Aircraft?

[Irish251]

I wouldn't be surprised if the tightening Government finances are responsible.  Most arms of Government and State services have been directed to find savings in the current year and I imagine that Air Corps attendance at airshows would have to be reviewed if they have also got such an instruction.

[joey1]

Maybe if the casa was to be on a sortie on the day it could "slightly" deviate from it's route for a quick flyby while nobody was looking !!!

[Baldonnel-boy]

I see the Vulcan is back on the southport airshow list because they goy a new sponser for it.... pity portrush didnt get one too.. .. but im still looking forward to the show....    hope the weather isnt going to ruin what will be the only airshow in Ireland this year......