May 15, 2015 4.42 pm This story is over 105 months old

Vulcan XH558 to be retired after last display season

Vulcan to the Sky: The Vulcan XH558, the last flying airplane of its kind, will be retired after its final display season this summer.

The Vulcan XH558, the last flying airplane of its kind, will be retired after its final display season this summer, the trust operating the aircraft announced.

Eight years after her first post restoration flight, the Vulcan XH558 will no longer be a flying aircraft after her last flight this autumn.

The Vulcan over RAF Scampton. Photo: Sean Strange

The Vulcan over RAF Scampton. Photo: Sean Strange

The Vulcan to the Sky Trust, who operate the craft, said: “This is going to be a spectacular summer for Vulcan XH558 but also a very emotional one. It is with considerable sadness that we have to confirm that we are about to enter the final flying season.

“After she has landed from her last flight this autumn, there will no longer be a flying Vulcan. We are therefore going to work especially hard to make summer 2015 a memorable flying season for every Vulcan enthusiast across the country.

The Avro Vulcan performing at the Waddington Air Show. Photo Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The Avro Vulcan performing at the Waddington Air Show. Photo Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

“We intend to use every flying hour available, taking her to more people than ever before, celebrating other iconic British engineering achievements and saluting the heroes of Britain’s legendary V-Force in which she played a vital role during the knife-edge tension of the Cold War.”

You can find a list of the scheduled Vulcan XH558 displays here.

The Avro Vulcan XH558 is the only airworthy example of the 134 Avro Vulcan V bombers that were operated by the Royal Air Force from 1953 until 1985. Vulcan XH558 served with the RAF between 1960 and 1985 in the bomber, maritime reconnaissance and air-to-air refuelling roles. The RAF operated XH558 as a display aircraft from 1986 until 1992, when budget cuts forced its retirement.