RAF Lyneham's Vulcan Cold War bomber is saved

RAF Lyneham's Vulcan Cold War bomber is saved

I wrote recently about the Avro Vulcan bomber and in particular XH558, the last airworthy example. There has been much concern in aeronautical circles recently that a lack of funding for the volunteer trust would lead to it being grounded indefinitely but I am overjoyed to see that a supremely generous philanthropist has stepped into the breach and donated the money necessary to keep this amazing machine flying. Well done to you sir, whoever you may be!

It is important that these fantastic technological achievements are kept functioning and not just relegated to the corner of a dusty museum. They are so much more exciting when seen doing what they were designed to do, rather than sitting impotently on an airfield apron. A whole new generation of pilots, engineers and designers can now be inspired to create and fly ever more wondrous machinery, should they ever be lucky enough to see this incredible machine in the air.

Snow tips North East Air Museum's Vulcan bomber skyward

Snow tips North East Air Museum's Vulcan bomber skyward

The perils of parking a delta-winged aeroplane outside in the snow are made apparent in this amusing little piece. It serves as an interesting reminder as to just how heavy snow can be in large quantities, that there was enough of it to cause this 83,500lb bomber to tilt upwards. With luck this particular example will have sustained no lasting damage; the real danger, as mentioned, is when the snow melts and it returns to its normal position. They look to have it well in hand, though, and I'm sure everything is tickety-boo now.


A fantastic aircraft, the Vulcan, and I was lucky enough to see one flying as a child (there is now only one airworthy example - XH558 - probably the same one I saw all those years ago, as it was the sole flying display aircraft until 1993. Mothballed after this date, it only returned to the skies in 2007 courtesy of the Vulcan To The Sky Trust). My abiding memories of it were the way it seemed to block out the sky and the almighty noise it made! I can still remember my chest seemingly vibrating as it flew over us. An iconic machine.