The serial number or ‘registration’ XH558 was first reserved back in 1954 when a further order of 35 Vulcan B Mk. 1s was placed with Avro by the Ministry of Supply (MoS). This was before taking up the title of Ministry of Defence and the well-known acronym ‘MoD’.
Developments were happening quickly and change to the design mid-production cycle was quite common. Increasing engine power needed greater volumes of airflow, so an increased intake size in deeper wing roots were accommodated by way of the phase 2C wing re-design, whilst at the same time increasing the wingspan to 111 feet. This would offer great improvement in performance – particularly in allowing greater range and operating heights.
XH558 was actually the twelfth airframe on the B.2 production line, but by the time this improved modification arrived, all built aircraft to XH556 had already been made with a shallower intake, so it was XH557 that would receive the first modification of this type. That aircraft was immediately taken to Boscombe Down for engine and performance trials by Avro and Bristol Siddeley.
XH558 was therefore allocated to be the first B.2 aircraft ready for service delivery and made her maiden flight at Woodford on 25 May 1960. The following month saw a series of short test flights before Avro’s Chief Test Pilot Tony Blackman, climbed aboard to make a 1hr 40 minute delivery flight to RAF Waddington.
Delivery and early life at RAF Waddington
XH558 arrived on 1 July 1960 to join 230 Operational Conversion Unit (OCU), that would train the pilots of the day on the new aircraft type. Like the existing B Mk.1s operating with the OCU, the tail fin was decorated with the City of Lincoln coat of arms. On Saturday 17 September that year, she made what was undoubtedly the first ever full public display by a B Mk.2 at the Battle of Britain Open Day, held at its home base – RAF Waddington. As can be seen from the pictures, like the rest of the Vulcan fleet at that time, they were painted in ‘Anti-flash’ white, a scheme designed to help reflect the heat from a nuclear blast.
Over the next 12 months, XH558 would be used heavily in training three new squadrons, which were to be established as the Scampton Wing. Indeed, the aircraft was positioned at RAF Scampton to participate in a Bomber Command dispersal exercise ‘Mayflight’, giving an insight into how the aircraft could be quickly deployed to a number of other locations to protect from the perceived threats to their own operating base.
This was to prove the concept of rapid dispersal to see how the aircraft and their personnel could cope with remote operations and additional airfields were allocated to the crews as alternatives in the time of rising tension.
During June 1961, 230 OCU transferred to RAF Finningley in Yorkshire, so at this time XH558’s tail fin was decorated with a ‘Yorkshire Rose’ sitting in the centre of a light blue shield. On Saturday 16 September 1961, XH558 was placed on static display for the Battle of Britain Open Day held at the base. This would remain her home for the foreseeable future.
Cold War (1961):
Serving as a strategic bomber during the height of the Cold War, she participated in training exercises and strategic patrols, playing a crucial role in deterring aggression from the Soviet Union, before being withdrawn from service in September 1984.
Vulcan Display Flight (1985-1992):
In the mid-1980s, after Vulcan XH558’s retirement from active service, it found a new lease on life as part of the Vulcan Display Flight (VDF). XH558 performed at airshows up and down the UK with the RAF’s Vulcan Display Flight (VDF), but as a result of budget cuts the Ministry of Defence (MOD) decided to discontinue the VDF. It couldn’t justify the cost of maintaining a single aircraft type simply for display purposes. The MOD was planning to dispose of the last flying Vulcan B.2 aircraft – XH558.
Post-Retirement Preservation (1993-2007):
On 23 March 1993, Vulcan XH558 landed at Bruntingthorpe Airfield. She was saved from the scrap heap by the British public and the Walton family. Now in civilian ownership, many believed they had seen a Vulcan fly for the last time.
However, in 1997, with David Walton’s support, Dr Robert Pleming formed a team of specialists to investigate whether a return to airworthiness for XH558 was feasible.
Return to Flight (2007-2015):
In 2007 the mission to return Vulcan XH558 the sky was complete, thanks in large part to the generous support of thousands of Vulcan fans. Following the most complex and demanding heritage aviation restoration project, millions of people were able to enjoy the sight and sound of the Avro Vulcan again. XH558 went on to fly for eight years, performing a second display career that many people never expected to see, but sadly, 2015 would be XH558’s final display season.
Vulcan XH558 flew as a Complex category ex-military aircraft through a Permit to Fly (PtF) from the Civil Aviation Authority. A condition of the Complex category is that the aircraft’s original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are contracted to provide ongoing airworthiness design support. By 2015, their input was very limited as the engineering capability of the Trust had developed, however their support remained a legal requirement. The acknowledged reason for this is that in the case of a serious incident, the CAA wanted the OEMs to shoulder the airworthiness responsibility. Unfortunately, at the start of the 2015 display season the OEMs notified the Trust that this support was to be withdrawn at the end of that year, as they felt that they could not find people with sufficient expertise to help. Despite the best efforts of the Trust to address this, in the end it was reluctantly accepted that the OEM’s minds would not be changed, so concentration was focused on putting on the best farewell season possible.
Retirement and Preservation (2015-Present):
During 2015, XH558 flew tours across the north and south of the UK, so as many of her adoring supporters as possible could see her one final time. It was an emotionally packed year and on 28 October Avro Vulcan XH558 prepared to make her final flight and the last flight of an all-British four-engined jet.
Vulcan XH558 was a victim of her own success. Millions of people had watched her over the years but only a relatively small amount of people were able to be present for her final flight. Under guidance from South Yorkshire Police, the details of the final flypast had to be kept secret due to the risk to public safety with potentially thousands of spectators turning up at the airport.Earlier in the month South Yorkshire Police urged fans to avoid watching it at the airport in Doncaster, saying the airport could not “accommodate a large influx of people hoping to see the Vulcan”.
Low cloud on the day risked a cancellation, with plans being suspended for a weather check in the afternoon. Just after 2pm on Wednesday 28 October 2015, as a break in the clouds came, XH558 was readied and slowly taxied out to the hold of Runway 02 at Doncaster Sheffield Airport – previously RAF Finningley.
While majority of RAF Finningley has been transformed into a modern international airport, from 1915 to 1996 it was an operational station of significant importance to our nation’s defences. At the end of the 1950’s work was carried out to the base for it to operate as a V-bomber station. The airfield became known as the home of the V-bomber after Avro Vulcan, Handley Page Victor and Vickers Valiant aircraft had all been stationed at the base, with XH558 operating on this site between 1961 and early 1968.
XH558 took to the air keeping low across the runway. After a change in direction and a few circuits of the airfield, she carried out a low pass, then a touch and go. After 15 minutes in the air the stunning final display ended with the iconic aircraft landing for the final time on the long, ex-military runway, streaming her brake parachute.
As the aircraft taxied back to parking, the airport Fire Crews gave XH558 a traditional water cannon salute.
Although the event had to be kept secret for the safety of the public it was captured on film as a moment in history. In an excerpt from the Vulcan XH558 Farewell to Flight DVD broadcaster Seán Maffett, a former RAF Squadron leader and the voice of Vulcan XH558 as her official airshow commentator, narrates the emotional scenes.
Former RAF Finningley is now Avro Vulcan XH558’s final operational base.
