The Vulcan Restoration Trust maintains their Avro Vulcan B.2 (XL426) in ground-runnable condition at London Southend Airport in Southend-on-Sea, England. Periodically, the organization gives public taxiing demonstrations of the venerable delta-winged bomber. Given their airframe’s history with the RAF’s No.617 Squadron (in the post-war period), it should come as no surprise that the Vulcan Restoration Trust has chosen to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the legendary ‘Dam Busters’ raid of May 16th/17th 1943 with a twilight taxi run. The following press release describes the details for those interested in attending…
Join us on Saturday 20 May for a special twilight taxi-run when we commemorate the 80th Anniversary of 617 Squadron and its famous World War 2 ‘Dam Busters’ raid against the Mohne, Edersee and Sorpe dams.
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Our Vulcan, XL426, has strong links with the ‘Dam Busters’. It comes from the same Avro ‘stable’ as the Lancasters used on the raid and served with 617 Squadron in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s. XL426 wears 617 Squadron’s famous diamond-shaped emblem, featuring a breached dam, on the port side of its fin.
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The Dambusters Twilight Taxi-Run event at London Southend Airport will begin with a big-screen Secret Cinema showing of the 1955 feature film, The Dam Busters. Shown in association with the 2023 Southend Film Festival.
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The sun would have been setting when 617 Squadron’s Lancasters took off in May 1943, and so will it be when visitors move outside to witness Vulcan XL426 taxi in the twilight. There will superb opportunities to watch and photograph XL426 as she starts her engines as the sun sets.
XL426 will then move off and carry out two taxi-runs on the Southend Airport runway. The second run will be a high-speed pass.
Viewing will be from the Trust’s exclusive visitor area in front of its hangar. This will give an uninterrupted view across the airport and unrivaled photographic opportunities. Visitors will then have a close-up view as the Vulcan taxies back to her parking spot and her engines spool down.
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Attendance is limited and tickets are now on sale.
Why not join the VRT now and take advantage of the discounted Member price as well as receiving the benefits of VRT membership?
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For more information, and to book tickets please click the link below:
Photos: Barry Williams
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