MIGHTY VULCAN IS BACK IN THE AIR WITH A £6M ROAR

[Vulture]

Please excuse this post if it has already been posted. But I have to say when I read the notice in the paper I was so proud of these guys when they could finaly say we did it ..... I am sure there were a number of tears shed when she flew CONGRATS

The Vulcan bomber, relic of the Cold War and one of the most awe-inspiring aircraft ever to grace the skies, took to the air for the first time in 14 years yesterday.The Avro Vulcan XH558, powered by Bristol Olympus engines, was the last of the aircraft to fly in 1993 when it was retired from RAF displays and bought by millionaire David Walton.

Mr Walton passed the delta winged "V" bomber to the Vulcan to the Sky Trust which battled against rising costs and technical setbacks to return it to flight.

Yesterday, after a £6 million restoration project, thousands of Trust supporters saw their dream come true when the aircraft took off with its characteristic ground-trembling roar from its base at Duxfield airfield in Leicestershire.



The plane, which can reach 645 mph, swallowed £1,000 worth of fuel on the 20-minute flight.

West Country aviation enthusiasts have been among the plane's strongest supporters. Former deputy lieutenant of Dorset, Felicity Irwin, was director of the fund-raising campaign for some time. In the early 1990s, retired Swindon sports company director Harry Bromley, raised a petition with 240,000 signatures to save the aircraft, and Doug Lugo, of Shirehampton, Bristol, has been a tireless publicist and fund-raiser.

http://www.westpress.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=150712&command=displayContent&sourceNode=150710&contentPK=18719614&folderPk=75885&pNodeId=150714

[vernicator]

Cool!!!!

[Ryan Keough]

All I can say is WOW... what an accomplishment! Kudos to all those involved! Can't wait to see more photos!

[Mudge]

OUTSTANDING

Mudge the awed

[Vulture]

anyone have a video ? Was there a special made on this historic day?

All we need now is the Victor to be fast taxied as the Vulcan flies by.. Now that a real emotive sight just waiting to recall the days of ye ole England?

And throw in some Hunters and Lightining at the airfield also for a photo shoot in all their correct RAF colours and you would have a TIME WARP happening.

[Jerry O'Neill]

Maybe now they can re-make "Thunderball"!!!!

Very exciting to see it in the air again!
Great job and hat's off to all those involved!
Jerry

[Joe Scheil]

A tremendous acheivement....Long may she continue to fly and be maintained!

[dhfan]

anyone have a video ? Was there a special made on this historic day?

A special I don't know but this is the best video I've seen.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/a ... ge_id=1770

According to the press clipping, Duxford's in Leicestershire. The Vulcan is but somebody must have moved Duxford in the last few weeks since I was last there.

More on "The Vulcan Lives" thread.

[K5DH]

I just watched the video. Wow! Instead of the classic rotation for takeoff, the Vulcan just leaps into the air, and what a rate of climb! For a huge airplane, the Vulcan is truly graceful in flight. Fantastic! I sure hope they can find the necessary sponsorship to bring her on a tour of the USA. That would be a treat!

Congratulations to everyone involved in XH558's triumphant return to the sky! Well done!

Cheers!

[airnutz]

This is great news! I had the good fortune to see a Vulcan fly at Dulles in 1970 or '71,
I hope XH558 gets to come across the pond so I can refresh my memory...
An impressive machine! I wonder which Vulcan I saw then? I believe a Victor was there
as well.

An E.E. Lightning was also there...a positively blistering performance!

[bdk]

Has there ever been a Vulcan at Oshkosh?

[6trn4brn]

With all of the horrible, crappy news in the world today, what a splendid breath of fresh air to see what a group of people can do when they really put their mind to it! Fantastic job!!!

Now, how can we here in the US get a B-47 or maybe even better a B-58 back in the air where they belong? PLEASE don't remind me of the policy of de-milling all of the 47s and 58s left

What a dream/fantasy flight it would be to see the Vulcan along with a Lightning, B-58 and an F-106! Yeah, yeah, dream on Darrell

[Mudge]

WAHOO...What a beautiful sight.

Mudge the