The Aerodynamics of the V-bombers – Part 1

Part of the The Aerodynamics of the V-bombers series

28th July 2022 - in Articles

Dr Steve Liddle CEng FRAeS, is a Vulcan to the Sky Trustee and Principal Aerodynamicist at SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team. The articles here are republished from Steve’s occasional series on ‘the aerodynamics of the V-bombers’, that he writes on the Vulcan to the Sky Trust LinkedIn page.  The V-bombers…

Ramblings from the AEO’s Panel – Part 10

Part of the Ramblings from the AEO's Panel series

28th July 2022 - in Articles

Hi folks. Here we go again. With the uncertainties of the financial situation of the winter servicing costs now virtually resolved, the likelihood of 558 making it to the start of the 2013 display season seems a little more positive. As I write this, there is a Trustees meeting taking…

1993 – 2007 – The Road to Restoration – Part 2

Part of the Vulcan - A Time In History series

28th July 2022 - in Articles

A fresh appeal was launched in March 2004 to reach the Trust’s commitment of 29% of the funding total, required before the HLF would issue a ‘Stage 2 Pass’ and release the grant. Finally, Dr Pleming and Felicity Irwin were able to announce that “this is indeed history in the…

The Vulcan Enters RAF Service

27th July 2022 - in Articles

On Saturday 30 August 1952, history was made as Avro Type 698, VX770, took to the sky for the first time. It was the prototype for the Avro Vulcan and the birth of this iconic aircraft. Vulcan VX770 wasn’t the finished article which would eventually enter RAF service. With its…

Skybolt Programme Cancellation – 22 December 1962

28th June 2022 - in Articles

The UK was the third country, after the United States and the Soviet Union, to develop and test nuclear weapons. The research and development of such weapons began during World War II, with participation from Canada, in the classified ‘Tube Alloys’ programme. The programme eventually merged with the United States’…

1993 – 2007 – The Road to Restoration – Part 1

Part of the Vulcan - A Time In History series

23rd June 2022 - in Articles

In 1993 XH558 became the last Vulcan to leave RAF service, after a career of 33 years. At around 10am on the 23rd March she took off from RAF Waddington for her final flight with the RAF, and embarked on a tour of old haunts, including St. Athan, BAE Woodford,…