Returning XH55B to flight

Citation

(2002), "Returning XH55B to flight", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 74 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2002.12774aaf.006

Returning XH55B to flight

Keywords: Aircraft, flight

Exhaustive work and discussion have taken place over recent months with regard to Avro Vulcan XH558. Since Vulcan to the Sky was launched in January last year, funds have been coming in from thousands of supporters and have enabled the work to return her to the sky to begin. The months have passed by and each one has brought the engineering team nearer their goal.

Recently the first phase of the project that prepares the aircraft for the major overhaul is complete. This is both significant and real progress.

XH558 looks considerably depleted as she sits in the hangar at Bruntingthorpe, UK, as all the parts have been removed, identified, bagged and catalogued ready for dispatch to appropriate OEMs (Plate 2).

Plate 2

Whilst this actual work has been going on the team director, Dr. Robert Pleming has been working with Marshall of Cambridge, the prime contractor and BAE Systems, the design authority to ensure the engineering programme is fully in place so that the major can begin. That is very nearly secure and the VOC engineering team have just been seconded to Marshall at Cambridge to work with Marshall's in their military hangar to gain experience until it is time to press the 'major overhaul' start button.

This means that the whole programme is now a third of its way to completion.

'This is very positive", says Dr Pleming "We really feel that we are making significant progress. The restoration of an aircraft of the age and type of XH558 that has never been undertaken before, is both unique and complex, and therefore takes time. It is very exciting to see the results of the past months and to begin to feel the prospect of real progress for the future."

Campaign director of Vulcan to the Sky, Felicity Irwin says 'This is a truly significant moment in the project to return XH558 to flight. We have received tremendous financial support which has enabled this initial process but we need so much more!"

Avro Vulcan XH558 is the last remaining example of the V Force bombers that can be returned to flight. 134 were built and provided the nuclear deterrent through the cold war in the 50's and 60's until superseded by Polaris. Her 1l1 ft wingspan, ability to fly at 61,000 ft and complete manoeuvrability at low level combined with the grace and style has won millions of hearts makes her unique as well as still being of interest in global research circles.

Details & donation details available from: Vulcan to the Sky, Tel: +44 (0) 1258 841; Website: www.tvoc.co.uk