Cold War bomber coming to Newcastle

Cold War bomber coming to Newcastle

7 August 2013

VISITORS to the B/E Aerospace Festival of Flight in Newcastle on Saturday should expect to experience one of the most powerful and dramatic sights in British aviation — a display by XH558, the world’s last flying Vulcan bomber.

This iconic and greatly loved aircraft is making a much-anticipated debut at the festival. The Avro Vulcan was designed in the late 1940’s by the same team that built the Avro Lancaster, to carry the British atomic bomb.

The Vulcan is now expected to attract huge crowds and steal the show with the famous howl of her four Rolls-Royce Olympus jet engines, her startling manoeuverability and the sight of her magnificent delta wings climbing almost vertically into the sky.

Dr Robert Pleming, Vulcan to the Sky Trust (VTST) Chief Executive, said: “I am absolutely delighted that all of the hard work undertaken by the VTST team in ensuring that the winter service was completed successfully and on time has come to fruition. It is particularly gratifying that the aircraft is now making her debut at the festival and in the beautiful setting of Newcastle where I am sure she will be very well received.

“This is a great opportunity for us to say a very big thank you to all of our loyal supporters who have stayed with us through thick and thin. We are incredibly grateful that the Vulcan is appearing at such a superb location as the County Down coastline and making her first appearance in Northern Ireland since 1985, giving people, particularly those who may not have seen her before, the chance to experience this iconic and unique aircraft.”

VTST have now launched a very exciting initiative called ‘Operation 2015’, a highly innovative engineering programme which is designed to keep the Vulcan airworthy until the end of 2015. However, the engineering work cannot be started without reasonable confidence that it can be completed and return her to the air. A decision will need to be taken about this at the end of October when VTST will decide whether there is enough funding in place to continue Operation 2015 or, if sadly, XH558 should be prepared for her final flight.

To help make that decision, XH558’s supporters are being asked to pledge donations to Operation 2015 now. If the target of £400,000 is met, the charity will collect the pledged amounts early in November.

To thank those making two additional flying years possible, redeemed pledges will be rewarded with a wide range of incentives, from badges and collector’s certificates to names on a wall of honour and special VIP events at XH558’s hangar.

By the end of 2015, the aircraft will have flown for some 80 hours more than was anticipated during the award-winning restoration in 2007 and VTST will have beaten all its original targets by a significant margin.

XH558 is now enjoyed by around three million people every year — 50 per cent more than two years ago — including children and young people who are inspired to learn more about engineering and aviation.

When XH558 does finally touch down for the last time it is hoped that she will form the heart of a new type of engineering education and experience centre so that she can continue to inspire new generations.

The VTST’s Vulcan Village will be in place at the festival within the Aviation Village and there will be opportunities to purchase Vulcan merchandise, including themed ‘Operation 2015’ items.

To find out more information about the many ways that you can help to support the Vulcan, please visit vulcantothesky.org.