Cold War bomber can help deliver the skills of tomorrow

IN 2015, tens of thousands of people gathered across Britain to watch a sight that will never be forgotten. The mighty Avro Vulcan XH558, the Spirit of Great Britain, took to the skies for its final flight.

- Duke of Rutland

WONDER: Crowds came to see the Avro Vulcan XH558 in Yeovil, Somerset, in 2011

Its great delta wings cut a defiant silhouette against the sky, a reminder of when Britain’s engineering brilliance was at the forefront of global innovation and our aircraft stood as the guardians of national security.

That day, the crowds knew they were witnessing history. ‘The Vulcan was a national symbol — the longest-serving of Britain’s Cold War bombers, part of our nuclear deterrent, and the last of its kind to fly.

Yet just a decade later, this extraordinary piece of British history faces an uncertain future. Unless urgent action is taken, the Spirit of Great Britain could be lost — not to enemy action, but to Government inaction.

The Vulcan to the Sky Trust, which has cared for XH558 since its retirement, is under considerable financial strain. Since 2017, it has been forced to bear the costly burden of relocating hangars, has seen its hugely popular public ground runs suspended, and has endured years of uncertainty following the closure of Doncaster Sheffield Airport, where the aircraft is housed.