Vulcan XH558
Posted By Judith on 29th September 2015
I’m scared of flying, and I’ve never been on an aeroplane in my life, but I do like an air show. We’re very lucky here in Lincolnshire to have lots of RAF bases, one of which, RAF Waddington, has been the host to a spectacular annual air show. Sadly these have recently been cancelled, amid heightened security fears.
It was at one of these shows a few years ago that I first saw the Avro Vulcan XH558. The sight and sound of this iconic aircraft taking off is breathtaking and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand to attention.
How anything that size and shape gets off the ground is beyond my comprehension, but it does, and as it does, the ground beneath your feet shakes and rumbles.
So it was with great sadness that I learned this will be the Vulcan’s final flying season and as the XH558 is the last airworthy plane there will be no more.
I feel lucky to have seen it fly several times and stood in awe beneath it’s huge wings. I realise it was designed as a nuclear bomber, a product of the ‘cold war’, and I’m no war monger, however, what is done is done, and you can’t help but marvel at the size, the shape, the sound, the sheer power of this amazing aircraft.
One of it’s final displays was with the Red Arrows, another of my favourites, here they are together in a clear blue sky, exactly as I like to remember them.
However, this is probably my favourite photo.
Farewell Vulcan XH558.
P.S.
On the afternoon of Friday October 2nd, we were sat in the garden enjoying the warm sunshine when in the near distance we saw the Vulcan.
We later learned it had been attending the inauguration of the International Bomber Command Centre just outside Lincoln.
It was a lovely and unexpected surprise to see this magnificent aircraft in flight and hear the roar of the engines for one last time.
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