Vulcan XH558 takes off today for her final flight
When she touches down, a very special era in British aviation will be over
Watch her final flight live, online here: http://planestv.com/live
Just a few minutes from now, the world’s only flying Avro Vulcan, the giant delta-winged Cold War bomber that has captured hearts and imaginations since the prototype first climbed into the skies in 1952, will take off for her final flight. When she touches down at her home in Doncaster around 15 minutes later, a remarkable chapter in British aviation will have closed.
Operated by charity Vulcan to the Sky Trust, Vulcan XH558 is one of the world’s most popular aircraft and a powerful reminder of a remarkable era in both politics and technical innovation. Designed to a brief issued in 1947 for a new type of high-altitude, long-range peace keeper, Avro Vulcans come from a time when British aircraft engineering led the world. On the opposite side of the continent, the Soviet Union was drawing the iron curtain, dragging us into an astonishing period of global tension that became known as the Cold War. XH558 joined Britain’s V-Force in 1960 and served in a wide range of roles until 1984, followed by a period in the RAF’s Vulcan Display Flight until being sold to a private collector in 1993.
Since she was returned to the skies in 2007 following what is believed to be the most ambitious engineering heritage restoration programme ever undertaken, Vulcan XH558 has flown for 346 hours on 228 flights, to thrill two-to- three million people every year. When she touches-down for the last time, it will be to extend her role at the heart of a new type of education and heritage centre designed to inspire future generations of engineers.
“XH558 is an iconic example of that remarkable period of intense post-war innovation that made British aviation technology the envy of the world,” says Dr Robert Pleming, who initiated and led the return-to-flight programme and is now chief executive of Vulcan to the Sky Trust. “In her new life, still able to accelerate dramatically along the runway, XH558 will build on this exciting provenance to inspire and educate new generations of young people, helping to deliver the technical and aviation skills that Britain so badly needs.”
Talking to supporters of the aircraft whose generosity has made the project possible, Pleming said the aircraft would not have flown for eight more seasons without their commitment: “I can’t thank enough all those who have donated and volunteered because they shared one remarkable vision.” He also paid complements to the professional team working for the charity, and to the many companies who have provided support, often without any commercial return. “The breadth of expertise applied to this challenge has been staggering, from the more public skills of engineering and aviation to the backroom skills of marketing, fundraising and sensitive negotiation, to name just a few.”
Far from retiring, Pleming intends to find new challenges to engage this remarkable team. “It has taken almost two decades to learn how to do this really well, both technically and commercially. Those skills are now available to other aviation heritage projects,” he explains.
In a cruel twist of fate, Robert Pleming is not at Doncaster today as having devoted close to twenty years to ensuring there is a Vulcan in our skies, he could no longer put-off a vital heart operation and was admitted for surgery the day before the final flight. Chairman of the Vulcan to the Sky Trustees, John Sharman paid tribute to Robert’s remarkable energy and vision; “On behalf of everyone who has enjoyed seeing XH558 fly, I wish Robert the very best of luck and thank him and his team, and all those who generously supported the project, for giving us eight more years with this beautiful, powerful, agile flying machine.”
The remarkable story of Vulcan XH558 will be covered in a fascinating new book to be published by the Trust in time for delivery before Christmas. This and other Vulcan items can be ordered from the Trust’s website with all profits helping to maintain the aircraft in superb, ground-running condition so she can continue to thrill visitors to the award-winning Vulcan Experience tours (details at www.vulcantothesky.org, entry by pre-booked ticket only).
The crew for today’s flight is Bill Ramsey, Martin Withers, Johnathan Lazzari and Phil Davies.
New role helping to solve the engineering skills challenge
Based in a purpose-built, multi-million pound building at Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield, adjacent to her current home in an original Cold War hangar, the ETNA Programme will cover four activities: an Aviation Skills Academy to train young people for careers in aviation; a Heritage Centre to bring enthusiasts close to XH558 and other aircraft in an environment that can also be used for wedding and conferences; a world-leading centre of expertise in the operation and maintenance of vintage aircraft; and the ETNA Centre – a new national technology centre that will engage with schools, families and other groups to help address the shortage of young people entering engineering careers at all levels.
There will also be a heritage centre so that enthusiasts can continue to visit the aircraft and learn about the engineering innovation and Cold War politics that brought her into existence. XH558 will be maintained to a high standard and will regularly thrill audiences with her famous Vulcan howl as she accelerates along the runway.
Learn More
Sign-up for the latest news at www.vulcantothesky.org, join the Vulcan XH558 Facebook community or follow @XH558 on Twitter.
Find out why this will be XH558’s last flying season:
www.vulcantothesky.org/history/post-flight/end-of-flight-2.html
Why is the Vulcan Important?
The Avro Vulcan is a powerful example of British aerospace engineering at its world-beating best. The design brief was issued by the MoD in 1946 and the aircraft flew for the first time on August 30th1952, just eleven years after the first flight of its predecessor, the Avro Lancaster. Its impressive list of technical achievements includes being the first successful large delta wing aircraft (leading directly to Concorde), innovations such as electrically-powered flying controls, one of the first applications of anti-lock brakes (similar to those on the Jensen FF) and a speed and agility that was so close to a jet fighter’s that it was given a fighter-style control column in place of the traditional bomber pilot’s yoke.
Success as a Cold War peacekeeper meant that Vulcans might have flown their entire service life without ever entering combat if it hadn’t been for the Falklands Conflict in 1982. During a marathon 8,000 mile flight in Vulcan XM607, supported by eleven Victor tankers, Martin Withers and his crew released the bombs over Port Stanley Airport that prevented Argentina operating its Mirage III fighters from the island and initiated the campaign that recaptured the Falklands. Martin was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross and two years later, the last Vulcans were withdrawn from service.
Until October 28th2015, XH558 was the only surviving Vulcan with full airworthiness, owned by Vulcan to the Sky Trust, a registered charity. Returned to the air in 2007 following one of the world’s most challenging technical restoration programmes, she quickly became an airshow phenomenon. “People forget that airshows attract seven million people annually. As a spectator activity, that’s second only to football,” says Trust chief executive Dr Robert Pleming.
Martin Withers DFC, now Vulcan to the Sky Trust’s operations director and chief pilot, is a passionate supporter of the educational role of the aircraft. “Part of our mission is to ensure that young people learn about the knife-edge fear of the Cold War,” he explains. “If I had been ordered to press the button that releases the nuclear payload over our enemy, there would almost certainly have been no Britain left to fly home to. The Vulcan is the most powerful symbol of a remarkable period in global history that we must never forget.”
Withers is also highlights the aircraft’s growing role in technical education, a field that will become her focus when she can no longer fly. “The Vulcan is one of the most significant steps forward in aerospace technology, and it is thoroughly British. She fires young people with a passion for engineering and innovation. We intend to build on those qualities to inspire the new generations of engineers that Britain needs so badly.”
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Richard Gotch
+44 (0) 1295 277050
+44 (0)7831 569732
richard.gotch@m-eng.com
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