Vulcan makes a long awaited return to Goodwood – but her future remains shrouded in uncertainty
When Vulcan XH558 carries out a spectacular display during the Goodwood Revival event on Sunday 21st September it will be the first time that a Vulcan has appeared over this famous location for some 30 years. The rest of the UK has already been feeling the full force of the 'Vulcan Effect' this summer, with the British public flocking to witness the return of one of its greatest heroes. Since she was awarded her Permit to Fly, the newly restored Avro Vulcan bomber has made flying appearances at a number of major airshows, with each one subsequently boasting a record number of attendees as the result. With a combined viewing audience now up to over one million people, it is very clear that the Vulcan is breathing new life into the air show circuit – already the second largest spectator event in the UK after football.
“It has been absolutely terrific to see the reaction of the crowds watching the Vulcan flying at airshows”, says Vulcan to the Sky Chief Executive Dr Robert Pleming. “The sheer numbers of people who have turned up to see this much-loved and admired aircraft just shows how much XH558 is valued and remembered as a true icon of British aviation. The public seems to be taking the Vulcan to their hearts in the same way as Concorde was. Without the generosity of the public, and support from sponsors and the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Vulcan would have remained in early retirement. “
However, the dream of the Vulcan to the Sky team of continuing to showcase XH558 for the next decade is in real danger. Dr Pleming explains:
“I just hope that now we will be able to continue to bring the aircraft to many more shows and enable the younger generation to see not only a superb example of British engineering but a living part of our history. XH558 is the only Vulcan in the world that can fly. But there is a big barrier that may prevent us from achieving our objective: without commercial sponsorship, this display may be one of her last, and millions of people will be denied the experience of seeing this awesome aircraft in the air again!”
“After all of the hard work, dedication, commitment and effort that has been put in by all of the team, this would be devastating. By returning XH558 to flight after years of painstaking restoration, negotiation and fundraising, we have already achieved what was widely considered to be impossible and we have proved that we can fly and operate XH558 successfully. For this amazing project to falter due to a lack of funding would be agonising for all the team and our supporters”
The Vulcan is also at the centre of an educational programme, explaining not only the history of the last half of the 20th Century and its relevance to today, but also the amazing design and engineering achievements that this 1950s-era aircraft represents. However, the only way to keep the Vulcan flying in public in future years will be to attract commercial sponsorship, in addition to continuing public donations.
However the future of the Vulcan, beyond her final appearance of the Airshow season at Duxford on 5th October, is very much in doubt. Although the Vulcan has helped to revitalise the Airshow circuit and has been the key attraction for many people eager to see her back in flight, following her successful £7m overhaul spanning the last three years; it now appears that lack of funding may be the factor that causes her to be grounded.