The Vulcan to the Sky Trust, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, has previously announced plans for the first Engine Ground Run Experience of 2026, featuring the Avro Vulcan XH558 on March 28–29 and on April 18–19. You can read more about the experience in detail HERE. However, the Trust has also announced an opportunity for one supporter to take part in the experience for free! If you want to participate, click HERE to fill out the form. The winner will be announced on March 1, 2026.
The Engine Ground Run Experience is designed to give visitors a closer look at how XH558 is operated and maintained today. The supporters will be alongside the team responsible for the aircraft’s care, and will get an insight into the procedures involved in preparing and running one of Britain’s most complex and recognisable aircraft. The day will begin with supporters arriving at the meeting point, where they complete security processing before being taken by coach to the engine running area. After a safety briefing, they can observe the ground crew preparing the aircraft for power-on. The sequence will include checks of the control surfaces, operation of the bomb bay doors and airbrakes, and the starting of the Olympus engines. Selected engines will then be brought up to power, allowing visitors to hear the distinctive sound for which the Vulcan is known, before the aircraft is shut down under controlled procedures.
The experience also includes time spent beneath the Vulcan’s delta wing, giving a sense of the aircraft’s scale, along with a short visit to the cockpit for photographs. At the conclusion of the session, visitors return to the meeting point. According to the Trust, the experience is intended to show what is involved in keeping XH558 operational today, while offering supporters a rare opportunity to see the aircraft running in a live environment. For more information and to support the Vulcan to the Sky Trust, visit this link: vulcantothesky.org.
