14 November 1984 – XH558 Chosen to be the RAF’s Display Vulcan

For more than a quarter of a century air show crowds were used to seeing an RAF Vulcan as a star attraction. Towards the end of the V-bomber’s service life a designated aircraft was operated by the Vulcan Display Flight (VDF). When the big delta was finally retired by the RAF in 1984, the Ministry of Defence decided to keep one aircraft airworthy for air display purposes with the VDF at RAF Waddington.

The following extract from 50 Years of Vulcan XH558 tells the story that led to XH558 being saved from the fire dump.

On Saturday 31st March 1984 No. 50 Sqn was unfortunately disbanded, therefore finally concluding the Vulcan’s distinguished and remarkable frontline service life throughout the ‘Cold War’ years whilst serving with the Royal Air Force. Although seen as just one individual aircraft, XH558, the RAF’s first Vulcan B Mk.2, had played an important role in maintaining global peace and had adapted to the forever-changing circumstances throughout her twenty-four years in service.

The following day, on Monday 1st April 1984, XH558 was then allocated to the Waddington Station Flight pending disposal. The aircraft remained at Waddington until 17th September 1984 when she was then flown to RAF Marham, with the prospect of being stripped down for spares before taking up position on the station’s fire dump! Meanwhile at RAF Waddington, XH560 had initially been selected as the reserve aircraft for the Vulcan Display Flight, until an examination of paperwork showed only 160 hours remained before a Major service was due. XH558 had 600 hours remaining, so the decision was taken to make her airworthy and return her to Waddington to substitute XH560 and eventually become the main Vulcan Display Flight aircraft. Therefore on Wednesday 14th November 1984 XH558 made the return flight to RAF Waddington, with further maintenance and servicing work being undertaken over the coming weeks.

On 30th November 1984 a Service Engineered Modification (SEM) conversion commenced in order to return XH558 back to B Mk.2 standard. The HDU and associated fuel pipes and wiring was removed, but as the ECM equipment could not be replaced in the tail (due to structural modifications made in the tanker conversion) one of the bomb-bay fuel tanks was left in place to counter-balance the missing ECM. The aircraft was then maintained as a ‘reserve’ in a fully serviceable condition by a team of volunteer service personnel throughout the 1985 display season whilst XL426 continued to perform the flying displays, which concluded during October 1985. Therefore during September – November 1985 XH558 was flown to RAF Kinloss in Scotland where she was stripped and repainted in the wrap-round camouflage scheme, although differing to service aircraft a protective glossy polyurethane coating was also provided.

Unfortunately following the aircraft’s return to Waddington the Vulcan Display Flight was at a critical point during the months of December 1985 and January 1986. The VDF consisted at that point in time of two aircraft whilst having only ‘three’ groundcrew members to maintain them, the NCO in charge, Crew Chief and one airframe mechanic. With dedication, determination and guts this small team of volunteers had to beg and borrow additional manpower and thankfully completed the necessary pre-flight servicing, allowing both aircraft to be flown during those two months. The NCO in charge then grounded both aircraft due to the severe shortage of manpower, which brought the situation to a head. Additional resources were allocated, increasing the full-time maintenance crew, with occasional specialist engineers being called in as volunteers when required.

During May 1986, XH558 gave her display debut at the TVS Airshow, Bournemouth, whilst XL426 concluded her display flying the following month when displaying at RAF Coningsby on 14th June 1986. The remainder of the 1986 display season was then completed by XH558. After the final flight of XL426, which took place on 19th December 1986, XH558 was then the sole surviving airworthy Vulcan in the world.

DID YOU KNOW? The display Vulcan was the representative of all Vulcan squadrons and it was painted with the insignia of No.1 Group (a black panther’s head). After her restoration and return to flight in 2007, XH558 flew her second display career continuing to sport the panther’s head. The panther’s head remains in place on XH558 today, along with The Spirit of Great Britain text – a description that was applied to XH558 on her 50th anniversary in 2010.

The Vulcan Display Flight continued to perform, with XH558 thrilling the crowds for a further six display seasons. By the end of the 1991 season XH558 had amassed the highest flying time of any Vulcan, at 7,300 hours. The remaining fatigue life of the airframe was down to less than 10FI, with an annual usage of approximately 7FI. A review of fatigue calculation figures was carried out with BAE, resulting in an increased allowance to take her through the 1992 season with a safe margin. With an expensive Major service due at 7,400 hours, and a rear spar modification needed to extend fatigue life, it was decided continuing to fly her was not economically viable, and by June the MoD was inviting contact from interested parties with a view to disposing of the aircraft. Her final display appearance took place on Sunday 20th September 1992 at the Cranfield Dreamflight show, the aircraft returning to Waddington the following day, and on January 27th 1993 the MoD confirmed their intention to offer her for sale.

On Tuesday 23rd March 1993 XH558 made her final flight whilst being operated by the RAF. Captained by Sqn Ldr David Thomas and co-piloted by Paul Millikin (with Nav Radar Dave Moore, Nav Plotter Dave Bradford, AEO Barry Masefield, Crew Chief Dave Thorpe and Flt Lt Al Slack also on board), the Vulcan performed a farewell tour over Woodford and various RAF bases, concluding with landing at Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire and being handed over to her new private owner, C.Walton Ltd.

XH558 had therefore been the first Vulcan B Mk.2 to enter service with the Royal Air Force and after nearly 33 years became the very last of the type to remain in service with them, a truly remarkable achievement.