I believe the crew qualifications were stipulated by the CAA. Al McDicken - a TP - is an entirely appropriate man for the job, as is DT - the most recent display pilot. I would say that Vulcan/display experience is more relevant than currency on a commercial transport aircraft. I don't think that MW flew with the Vulcan Display Flight when in the RAF and it does rather seem that, amongst all the other former Vulcan pilots, his name adds the Black Buck authenticity to the project. Not that there is anything wrong with that. I wonder if all the pilots will hold a display authorization, or will it be a Captain (display pilot) plus Co-pilot arrangement, as with VDF?
There a still a few former Vulcan pilots still serving in the RAF, one of whom was the display pilot of another 4-jet type. Another one still maintains that if he hadn't been posted to CFS 2-weeks before the invasion then his crew would've been on Black Buck instead. Maybe that's 25 years of bar-talk though!
Congrats to all involved. A massive party tonight I trust?