PRESS RELEASE – An iconic and instantly recognisable piece of British heritage, the last flying Vulcan, XH558, continues its final flying season with a spectacular two-day V-Force Tour of the UK on June 27-28. As one of the last opportunities to witness the delta wing silhouette overhead, XH558 bids farewell to the 17 locations where the remaining complete V-Force aircraft now reside. The last flying example of the V-Force, which protected Britain’s shores throughout the Cold War, will dip her wings for a final time in salute to the men and women who were prepared to give their lives for their country during a period of remarkable tension, inspiring courage and technical innovation. “A few months ago, the Secretary of the British Aviation Preservation Council (BAPC), Brian Dixon, approached me with an idea,” says Vulcan to the Sky chief executive Dr. Robert Pleming. “He proposed that XH558 should visit all the surviving V-Force aircraft in the UK and if possible perform a short display during our final year of flying as a special ‘goodbye’. He also suggested that each of these Museums could also get involved by holding special events or talks in the week leading up to this final tribute.”
(Image Credit: James Humphreys, CC 3.0)
XH558’s final season has already begun, with around 15,000 people selling-out the Throckmorton Airshow on June 6th and some 55,000 at RAF Cosford on June 14th, demonstrating that the aircraft continues to inspire. These spectacular early season curtain raisers kicked off a packed final year, during which the Vulcan will help celebrate great British engineering, salute the country’s legendary V-Force heroes and be viewed by more supporters than ever before.“When she lands towards the end of the year, the opportunity to experience the visceral roar of an overhead Vulcan will be lost forever: the V-Force Tour provides an opportunity to maximise its exposure to loyal supporters who have helped keep her flying since 2007, and acts as a fitting salute to those involved in the Cold War,” says Robert. “We will also be flying selected items in the aircraft so that as many of her supporters as possible can purchase something that has taken part in this incredible adventure, with proceeds going to help look after her during the next stage of her life, when she will continue to thrill and inspire audiences on the ground.”
(Image Credit: GregdeTours)
The V-Force name comes from the three aircraft that carried Britain’s first nuclear deterrent – Vulcan, Victor and Valiant – and the tour spans the length and breadth of the UK across the two days. Simply because it’s the right thing to do, no fees for this tour will be levied by the Vulcan to the Sky Trust, which supports the aircraft, however £50,000 needs to be raised to cover costs. The Vulcan V-Force Share entitles up to only 1000 supporters a unique, limited edition commemorative route map and a Share certificate in return for a £30 donation. Alternatively, a £5 donation is a welcome contribution towards the substantial costs involved with the V-Force Tour, and can be made via designated mobile phone text codes depending on the area in which you are viewing. The free Vulcan newsletter provides updates on where to see XH558 fly during the Tour, details of the rest of her final season and information regarding donations and the relevant JustGiving pages. New readers can sign up at www.vulcantothesky.org. “We are enormously thankful to the loyal supporters of XH558, and inspired by the growing number of people of all generations who are enthused by this legendary piece of British engineering,” continues Robert. “This is one of the many reasons that we are committed to making XH558’s final season one to remember, and are excited by the next steps in her career.”
Click on VTST V-FORCE SALUTE ROUTE TIMES to have indication of when the Vulcan will be flying over your area.
A Valuable Future for XH558
When XH558 lands for the last time at the end of a spectacular Farewell to Flight season, she will be to become the centre of a new type of education initiative. “XH558 is an iconic example of that remarkable period of intense post-war innovation that made British aviation technology the envy of the world,” concludes Pleming. “In her new life, still able to accelerate dramatically along the runway, XH558 will build on this exciting provenance to inspire and educate new generations of young people, helping to deliver the technical and aviation skills that Britain so badly needs.”
Alongside the Vulcan Aviation Academy, there will also be a heritage centre so that enthusiasts can continue to visit the aircraft and learn about the engineering innovation and Cold War politics that brought her into existence. XH558 will be maintained to a high standard and will regularly thrill audiences with her famous Vulcan howl as she accelerates along the runway.
Already around 15,000 people a year visit XH558 at her hangar. The award-winning tours must be booked in advance (for security reasons there is no access without pre-booking) and can be chosen by visiting www.vulcantothesky.org and clicking on displays/tours. Regular updates and other news is provided by a popular free email newsletter and the Trust also has an active Facebook community (Vulcan XH558) and Twitter feed @XH558.
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Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
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