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Although, sadly, no Vulcan is currently air-worthy, a number of organisations are attempting to preserve these great aircraft with full taxi running capabilities. One organisation, The Vulcan Operating Company, hopes to return a Vulcan into the sky.
The Vulcan operating company was created to attempt to ensure Vulcan XH558 returns to the sky. Over the last decade XH558 has been resting in a hanger close to Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire. Providing sufficient funding (around £2.5 million) can be secured, it will be possible to return this magnificent aircraft to flight.
Click
here to visit the
All monies raised through the VRT go towards maintaining XL426. Annual
membership is currently £18 (Europe £19, rest of world £20) per year. Members privileges include access to the cockpit of
XL426, Trust meetings, visits to other airbases, talks & slide shows from
Vulcan related experts and Christmas lunch at Southend. As well as this,
members receive a copy of "Vulcan News", the magazine of the VRT
which is printed three times a year. This contains articles and progress
reports on XL426 as well as memoirs of other Vulcan enthusiasts.
The VRT have worked very hard on
restoring and preserving their Vulcan. They have been able to
taxi her (both at low and high speeds) along the runway.
Currently the VRT are attempting to raise enough money to
construct a visitor centre at Southend airport. It is hoped that the
centre will also
be able to provide visitors with information about XL426, and allow the public
to observe the work in progress. Obviously, this is a major undertaking, and all
donations, be they of money or expertise, would be greatly appreciated. Watch
this space for future developments....
After visiting my Vulcan tribute pages why not look at the official Vulcan
Restoration Trust pages? Click below to access them.
Click here to visit the The Vulcan Restoration Trust can be contacted at : The aim of the Vulcan 558 Club is to promote XH558 and assist with her
upkeep, as well as being an effective organisation supporting the project to
getting a Vulcan flying again. XH558 is in the unique position of being the
most current and viable example of the type in the world.
The club works closely in association with British Aviation Heritage to
support C Walton Ltd with the current and future preservation prospects for
Avro Vulcan XH558.
Membership Fees are currently £15 per year for Adults, either as
individuals, joint or family members, and £12 per year for As well as belonging to the VRT, I am also Click
here to visit the Vulcan 558 Club can be contacted at : The 655 Maintenance and Preservation Society (MaPS) is dedicated to
keeping Vulcan B2 XM655 in working order. Unlike the VRT or 558 Club
MaPS have no plans to return their aircraft to the skies. Instead they
hope to preserve her, and make the occasional taxi run.
Of the 136 Vulcans built only 16 now remain
intact in the UK. XM655
is the youngest survivor, and one of only three which are still capable of
ground running and fast taxi runs, and of these, the only Vulcan to be
powered by the more powerful Olympus 301 engines.
The engineering team are at Wellesbourne on most Saturdays to work on
the aircraft. Visitors are welcome to come along; have a look around, take
pictures, take a look in the cockpit and have a chat with the volunteers.
All that is required is a small donation, as this is the only income the
aircraft has.
Wellesbourne Mountford airfield is located near the village of
Wellesbourne, which is east of Stratford-upon-Avon, and south of Warwick.
To contact the club please write to : Click here to visit the It is advisable to visit each of
the above web sites to ensure all the membership details are correct. I cannot
be held responsible for any errors or omissions regarding membership fees to the
above organisations. |
