Win a flight in an original Avro Lancaster or alongside Vulcan XH558 in a Spitfire
Astonishing prizes lead a new Winter Raffle to raise money for the world’s last flying Vulcan
A remarkable new raffle will take two lucky winners on a luxury trip to Canada where they will join the elite group of civilians that have climbed the ladder into an Avro Lancaster, ducked under the massive main spa and squeezed along the fuselage to the cockpit as the crew fire-up the Merlins ready for take-off. You can’t fly in the RAF’s historic Lancaster, so Vulcan to the Sky Trust has arranged a very special VIP visit to ‘VeRA’, the world’s only other airworthy example of the Vulcan’s famous predecessor.
Vulcan to the Sky Trust business development director Michael Trotter says the passion for XH558 amongst the historic aviation industry has allowed them to put together some remarkable events for her supporters to win: “These are experiences that are either far too expensive for most people, or which you simply cannot buy at any price,” he says. “Our first prize winners will fly in an historic Lancaster; a quite remarkable experience available to very few people each year.”
Second prize is a seat in a legendary Supermarine Spitfire, flying alongside the Vulcan as part of a VIP day with the Blades, the world’s only aerobatics team able to carry passengers. Third prize is to fly alongside the Vulcan in one of the Blades’ high-performance aerobatics aircraft with the option of some daring manoeuvres. Other prizes include ‘his and hers’ Tag Heuer watches flown in XH558 and presented with a certificate of authenticity, and a VIP guided tour of XH558 at her hangar just outside Doncaster combined with a stay at a luxury Spa hotel.
2014 has been Vulcan XH558’s most successful season ever. The Cold War aircraft performed perfectly, delighting around two million people at displays and other events across the country. She is now back in her hangar being prepared for her Winter Service, which will be funded by her supporters. “We receive no funds from government or from the RAF, so are very grateful to XH558’s generous supporters for allowing us to keep this magnificent historic aircraft alive,” concludes Michael Trotter.
Readers can buy tickets for the raffle, or request books for friends, family and colleagues, at www.vulcanxh558raffle.co.uk or by calling the office on 0845 5046 558. All tickets must be returned by March 30th 2015 and are just £2 each.
For those not lucky enough to win the raffle, the charity has introduced a new range of guided tours that will fascinate everyone interested in aviation, the Cold War, engineering and British heroism. Starting at just £12 (with concessions from £4), they can be booked from www.vulcantothesky.org.
For more information on Vulcan XH558, aircraft memorabilia and to sign-up for regular email news about Vulcan XH558 and where to see her, visit www.vulcantothesky.org. There is also a popular Facebook community at www.facebook.com/VulcanXH558 and a Twitter feed at @XH558.
Press enquiries
Richard Gotch at Market Engineering (further information and interviews)
+44 (0) 1295 277050 / +44 (0)7831 569732
richard.gotch@m-eng.com
Pictures
A wide selection of high-resolution images can be downloaded from www.autopresspoint.com or contact megan.davies@m-eng.com to have them emailed.
Why is the Vulcan Important?
The Avro Vulcan is an iconic 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 the Vulcan might have flown its 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 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. Two years later, the last Vulcans were withdrawn from service. Martin earned a Distinguished Flying Cross for his part in this action.
Today, only one Vulcan is left flying: XH558, owned by Vulcan To The Sky Trust, a registered charity. Returned to the air in 2007 following one of the world’s most challenging restoration programmes, she has become an airshow phenomenon. “People forget that airshows attract seven million people annually. As a spectator activity, that’s second only to football,” says Dr 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. “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, which we can build on using the extraordinary energy and expertise needed to restore and operate the UK’s only flying ‘complex’ heritage aircraft to world-class safety standards.” When the combination of age and complexity of the aircraft eventually prevents further renewal of her Permit to Fly, it is hoped that she will form the heart of a new type of engineering education initiative that will continue to inspire young people with a passion for science and technology.
