July Update from Vulcan to the Sky Trust

Events

Our volunteer team have been very busy during July. On Saturday 1 July some of the team attended Tickhill Gala to tell people about the work of the Trust, along with selling a few of our merchandise items which are available from our online shop.

The team were busy on 4 July carrying out regular maintenance on XH558. They also carried out the task of changing a powered flying control unit. On 16 July, we welcomed visitors to two sessions of Vulcan XH558 Tours where our volunteers proudly showed of ‘558 to her supporters.

While later in the month, some of the team packed a very full van and trailer to spend four days at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT).

You can read full reports on RIAT and the Maintenance Day later in the newsletter.

Master Cutler’s Challenge 2023

Our volunteer team were back in action again this week. Each year, the Master Cutler of Hallamshire chooses a charity to be supported through the Master Cutler’s Challenge. The new Master Cutler for 2022/23, Dame Julie Ann Kenny DBE DL, chose Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust. On Tuesday 25 July, the Vulcan to the Sky team were pleased to host an event with our education partner, The Work-wise Foundation.

Many thanks to young aspiring photographer Ben Collins for taking the photos. You can find Ben on Facebook at Benno Photography.

We welcomed visitors at 9am for breakfast in unique surroundings with the Master Cutler, followed by at outline of the day by John Barber, CEO of The Work-wise Foundation, and a presentation by VTST CEO, Marc Walters, on the Avro Vulcan’s history, including XH558’s remarkable story.

Our guests were then taken out to XH558 to spend some time with the aircraft where our team shared their vast knowledge of the Vulcan with them and told them about the engineering capabilities of the last all-British four-engine jet aircraft to fly. The visitors were also treated to a visit to the cockpit and a look inside the bomb-bay.

The High Sheriff of South Yorkshire, Professor Jaydip Ray DL, joined us and spent some time in the cockpit hearing about the flying capability of the aircraft from retired Wing Commander Adrian Sumner, who spent many years as a Vulcan pilot.