Vulcan Bomber part 2...

elizabetharon
Dec 27, 2015
2 min read

XH558 was the first Vulcan B.Mk2 to be delivered to the RAF in 1960 and she was the last to see service, leaving after 33 years service in 1993. Her restoration project and return to the skies was the vision of Dr Robert Pleming who gave up everything to see her fly again. The remarkable and wonderful story of XH558's history and restoration can be seen on her website: http://www.vulcantothesky.org When her farewell flight was announced it felt almost like a duty to go and see her off and say goodbye. The Vulcan had been a much loved aircraft by so many people the world over, and it's spectacular flying prowess at air displays was second to none. She made everyone feel proud to be British and in Lincolnshire in particular, would very much be missed. Nick and I chose to see her last flight on Sunday 11 October 2015 at the WAVE (Waddington Aircraft Viewing post) on the A15 at RAF Waddington, just opposite where the gate guardian Vulcan XM607 is sentinel. It was a very cold and damp day and we imagined that there would just be a score of viewers so parking the car would be easy. When we got there, several hundred people had turned up to watch this special event and the police were closing the busy A15 to traffic as the crowd had gathered on the arterial road to see the Vulcan. At exactly 13.05 right on schedule, she appeared on the horizon of the airfield and with its mighty and distinctive roar flew over the XM607 in final tribute to her sister and to the RAF base where she had spent her active service. It was a very moving moment for those people who had seen service with her or had memories of her and I did see a few tears shed. XH558 is now housed in her original hangar at Doncaster airport, formerly RAF Finningly. XH558 leaves RAF Waddington for the last time.