Vulcan to the Sky Trust, Doncaster, UK, has announced two new dates for its Vulcan XH558 Airside Tours, with visitors able to get close to the iconic bomber on October 11 and 18. The tours offer access to areas of XH558 that are not normally open to the public, including time beneath the aircraft’s huge delta wing, a look inside the bomb bay, and a visit to the cockpit. Visitors can also speak directly with members of the Trust’s volunteer engineering team about the work currently being carried out on the aircraft.
Two sessions will be available on each date. The morning session runs from 10 a.m. to noon, while the afternoon session runs from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tickets cost £25 per person. The visit begins at the Trust’s office, a short distance from XH558’s location at Doncaster Sheffield Airport. After a meet-and-greet briefing and security check, visitors will board a coach to the area where the Vulcan is parked. Around 90 minutes will be spent at the aircraft. The tour includes an opportunity to walk beneath XH558’s wing and view the names displayed underneath, where applicable, before speaking with the volunteer engineering team about the maintenance work being carried out. The engineering team can discuss work including oil changes, inspections, testing, and minor repairs. Visitors will also spend time in the cockpit for a short talk from a volunteer and will be able to look into XH558’s cavernous bomb bay.
Depending on the maintenance schedule, visitors may also see some of the aircraft’s systems being tested, including the bomb bay doors, landing lights, and flight control surfaces. At the end of the tour, visitors will return by coach to the original meeting point. For more information and to support the Vulcan to the Sky Trust, click on this link: vulcantothesky.org.
