November Update from Vulcan to the Sky Trust

What a rollercoaster of a year! At the very beginning of this year we were working on plans to exit Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA).

In August 2022 we were informed that our agreement to keep XH558 at the airport would end in June 2023 and we were required to leave the airfield by that time. Shortly after this, the announcement was made that the airport would be closing.

In March this year we were thankful of the opportunity to open discussions with Peel L&P to explore options to remain in Doncaster for the longer term, with the obvious benefit of keeping XH558 intact. As we are not legally allowed to fly XH558 a move to another location would mean that we would have to sympathetically dismantle XH558, move her by road, and rebuild her at her new home.

Our discussions with Peel L&P were productive and our lease was extended so we could continue to explore our options. Alongside our conversations, the City of Doncaster Council (CDC) have been working on a plan to reopen the airport and have been in detailed negotiations with Peel. The plan involves negotiating a lease for the land with Peel and contracting an operator for the airport.

CDC’s most recent update from Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones, was that, “positive progress is being made on a potential lease”. This month, the mayor in an up-date confirmed, “We have launched a procurement exercise to obtain an airport operator. The first stage has now closed. I can report that eight bidders submitted an interest which have been carefully considered and assessed and we are now in a position where four have been invited to the next stage of the procurement process which is the Invitation to Tender stages. We are currently on track to have an operator finalised for Spring 2024. Obviously details of these four cannot be divulged due to confidentiality of the procurement process.”

CDC are also protecting the airspace while they work towards completing the lease for the land. Mayor Jones said: “Whilst we are at this critical juncture with negotiations, we will continue to engage with UK government and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in relation to protecting our airspace to aid efforts to reopen our airport.”

We are confident that our stay at Doncaster is welcomed. Mayor Ros Jones has posted on Facebook, “Work continues to secure the future of Doncaster Sheffield Airport and I would hope to see Vulcan XH558 remain in Doncaster for years to come if we are successful in our efforts to #saveDSA SAVE Doncaster Sheffield Airport.” And, Nick Fletcher, Member of Parliament (MP) for Don Valley, commented on one of our posts “Long may the Vulcan stay in Doncaster!”

Like all Vulcan fans, everyone at Vulcan to the Sky Trust has huge affection for ‘558. Rest-assured, the care and protection of Vulcan XH558 is at the forefront of our decision making. We want to be able to show her off to her fans for many years to come and we want this iconic aircraft to be a catalyst to inspire young people into careers in engineering and other STEM-related roles.

As the situation at ex RAF Finningley develops, we will continue to keep you updated with the news and what that means for Vulcan XH558.

Education activity

Speaking before XH558 took her first flight after restoration in 2007, Dr Robert Pleming said: “The Vulcan is an awesome sight – once seen, never forgotten. One of our main objectives is to take the aircraft to a new generation of the young who have never seen the aircraft fly before. We’re a big part of the efforts to stimulate the young into thinking about design and engineering as a career.

“This project is absolutely original, unique! What we’re doing here has never been done anywhere in the world. Such a great example of British engineering. It’s also incredibly visible and I hope it will motivate young people.

“The Vulcan is one of the best British designs of all times. Our aim of flying the aircraft is to inspire the young with the best of British engineering.”

While XH558 isn’t allowed to fly anymore, the mission to show her to as many young people as possible to inspire them with the sight of this masterpiece of British engineering remains core to the aims of the charity.

This month we were proud to be part of the North Star Science School Event, which brings young people, educators, scientists and businesses together to explore the future of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) in the South Yorkshire Region.

Working with Doncaster UTC, a team of their students designed and delivered a workshop that demonstrated the effectiveness of three different designs of a brake parachute. Three runways were set up with three different chute designs attached to three Vulcans. Each Vulcan was propelled down the runway with the speed/drag being digitally recorded at intervals along the runway. The workshop effectively showed the difference that design makes in the stopping ability of each of the brake parachutes attached to the Vulcans.

The UTC students also produced a wind tunnel display. This contained a Vulcan with a brake parachute attached and when air was pumped into the tunnel it showed the flow and how much ended up in the chute, so demonstrating how the brake parachute works in slowing down the aircraft.

The next phase is to develop the workshop into an activity that, with the support of Doncaster UTC students, can be taken into schools in the region to inspire more young people into STEAM roles.

The ambition of our education programme is to deliver Robert’s legacy. With Vulcan XH558 as the centerpiece of our work, we will keep XH558’s story alive for future generations. Photos by Ben Collins

The Vulcan558 Lottery/Flying Fund Draw

If you have contributed to the Flying Fund Draw over the years, thank you. We will be making the final draw on 30 November 2023, at which point it will cease to operate in its current format.

After the 30 November we will no longer collect Direct Debit payments towards this draw. If you have a Standing Order payment in place for the Flying Fund Draw you will need to cancel this with your bank.

In the coming months we will update supporters on how you can enter the new 558 Monthly Draw. Entry will be online, which will give you more control. You will be able to increase the number of entries into the 558 Monthly Draw, or reduce them if you wish, from a ‘my account’ page on our website.

Even if you didn’t have the chance to enter the old draw, please keep an eye on emails for the launch of new 558 Monthly Draw. We hope you can enter. Best of luck!