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Operation
Safeguard

A new home for Avro Vulcan XH558
THE VULCAN EXPERIENCE

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It started with a wink...

After years of watching Vulcan XH558’s airshow displays with the RAF Vulcan Display Flight (VDF), on 19 September 1992 Dr Robert Pleming was at the Wroughton Airshow watching XH558 make her penultimate public display with the VDF. Raising his camera to photograph the iconic aircraft as the sunlight poured across her, the light glinted sharply on the cockpit window, sending Robert a signal that would change both his and XH558’s life forever.

She had winked at him, he would later say, sparking a lifelong determination to preserve her legacy for generations to come.

On 23 March 1993, Robert watched Vulcan XH558’s last flight in RAF Service. XH558 landed at Bruntingthorpe airfield, saved from the scrap heap by the Walton family, and Robert vowed to his family ‘to do his damndest to ensure that she flew again’.

Robert’s determination, enthusiasm and drive was rewarded on Thursday 18 October 2007, as he and his team saw XH558 take to the air for her first flight after restoration and for the first time in 14 years.

Vulcan XH558 wowed and entertained millions of people at UK airshows for eight years.

But Robert’s mission to preserve XH558’s legacy didn’t end there. Robert’s determination to keep XH558’s spirit alive continued with plans to build her a new and exciting home where she will be shown off to her supporters.

Robert wanted generations from all walks of life to be engaged by the sight and sound of the Vulcan, just as he was years ago at Wroughton.

He was passionate about creating a place to inspire young people into a career in engineering and to celebrate XH558’s legacy for all to see.

In 2020, the Vulcan to the Sky Trust launched the Operation Safeguard campaign, spearheaded by Robert, to realise this ambition.

However, in February 2021, Robert sadly passed away, meaning he will never get to see his vision and decades of work and devotion become reality

You can help to complete Robert’s vision. Donate now and receive rewards as a thank you for your support.

Your donation will help us to build a new home for Vulcan XH558 and tell the story of the famous Avro Vulcan XH558 and the V-Force, the RAF and its people, the Cold War, and to inspire future generations to help maintain the UK’s historic role at the forefront of innovation in aviation.

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What is Operation Safeguard?

From the earliest days of the Vulcan to the Sky Trust’s work, the charity has always had two guiding principles, to honour those who served us in the past and to inspire future generations to help maintain the United Kingdom’s historic role at the forefront of innovation in aviation.

We are proud to announce a major fundraising campaign to build The Vulcan Experience, a dedicated new home at Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) that will embody those guiding principles in a unique and memorable centre.

Operation Safeguard Hangar Interior

The Vulcan Experience​

A return of the “Vulcan Experience” with full access to the iconic Avro Vulcan XH558, where visitors will be able to hear and see the story of her history, her restoration to flight in 2007 and the part played by the RAF’s V-Force aircraft in preserving the peace during the Cold War.

The Green Technology Hub

The Green Technology Hub initiative where youngsters, already energised by climate changes urgencies, are inspired to become engineers, essential in tackling the problems we face.
Green Technology Hub
Operation Safeguard Hangar

The V-Force Memorial

To honour the men and women who lost their lives keeping us safe during the Cold War, a “V-Force Memorial Wall” will be erected.

Events

Events venue in a truly unique setting.
Operation Safeguard Events Hangar

Canberra WK163

Fully carbon neutral live restoration project in WK163
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You can help to build Vulcan XH558’s new home, honour those who served us in the past and to inspire future generations.

You can gift your reward package to a friend or loved one

At checkout, after entering your billing details, you can enter the delivery details of the person to receive the gift and we will send them their certificate, rewards and details of their XH558 Guardian membership.

You can donate as many times as you like for yourself or as a gift.

Donate Now

Rewards Package

For a donation of £30 or £50 you, or a nominated person will become an XH558 Guardian Member for 12 months, and your benefits will include:

• Regular e-mail newsletters with Vulcan news and members only articles on the VTST web site including up-to-the-minute new build up-dates from the site of the new hangar, news on XH558 including maintenance up-dates plus progress on the development of the Vulcan Experience and the Green Technology Hub.

• A certificate for you to frame to show your support.

• A bi-annual full colour Guardians’ magazine.

• Advanced access to Vulcan XH558 events when released.

Operation Safeguard Certificate
“I greatly look forward to my Guardians’ Magazine arriving in the post; it’s packed with interesting features on the V-Bomber Force, the Cold War and classic aviation at its best. And, of course, it has all of the latest news on my favourite aircraft – Vulcan XH558. I recommend this high quality magazine to anyone with a passion for aviation – you won’t be disappointed!”
Nigel Price
Editor, Britain at War Magazine
Operation Safeguard Guardian Magazine

PLUS: Included with a donation

Operation Safeguard Bomb Bay Fuel Tank
Your name in perpetuity on a new hangar Safeguard exhibit. Your chosen name will be placed on the bomb bay fuel tank removed from XH558 after she flew into Bruntingthorpe Airfield on the 23 March 1993, her last flight in RAF Service.
A reproduction of Vulcan XH558’s Aircraft Identification Plate displaying the unique details of this remarkable aircraft.
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Operation Safeguard Identification Plate

PLUS: Included with a donation

Operation Safeguard Wing Tips

Your name in perpetuity on a new hangar Safeguard exhibit, honouring all those who will have made the new home possible. Your chosen name will be placed on one of the two Vulcan wing tips that will form the exhibit. 

The two specially-mounted original Vulcan port and starboard wing tips are major items from the spares purchased from the MoD when XH558 left RAF service and are from the mid 1960s era.

A sample set of genuine Avro/ Hawker Siddeley Aviation fasteners from the
RAF stock purchased with XH558.

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Operation Safeguard Rivets

How to get Involved

Choose the amount you would like to donate, to receive either of the below reward packages

Select
'In my own name',
'As a gift',
or 'In Memoriam'

in the drop-down box.

Enter the chosen name to be placed on the commemorative exhibit next to Vulcan XH558 in the newly built hangar. This should be entered as you would like it to read on the exhibit.

Donate below to receive your rewards package

Operation Safeguard

SKU: OSG-1 Category:

Description

Donation Opportunities

For a donation of £30 or £50 you, or a nominated person will become an XH558 Guardian Member for 12 months, and your benefits will include:

 

  • Regular e-mail newsletters with Vulcan news and members only articles on the VTST web site including up-to-the-minute new build up-dates from the site of the new hangar, news on XH558 including maintenance up-dates plus progress on the development of the Vulcan Experience and the Green Technology Hub.
  • A certificate for you to frame to show your support.
  • A bi-annual full colour Guardians’ magazine.
  • Advanced access to Vulcan XH558 events when released.

 

“I greatly look forward to my Guardians’ Magazine arriving in the post; it’s packed with interesting features on the V-Bomber Force, the Cold War and classic aviation at its best. And, of course, it has all of the latest news on my favourite aircraft – Vulcan XH558. I recommend this high quality magazine to anyone with a passion for aviation – you won’t be disappointed!”
Nigel Price
Editor, Britain at War Magazine
Operation Safeguard Guardian Magazine

PLUS: Included with a £50 donation

 

Operation Safeguard Bomb Bay Fuel Tank
Your name in perpetuity on a new hangar Safeguard exhibit. Your chosen name will be placed on the bomb bay fuel tank removed from XH558 after she flew into Bruntingthorpe Airfield on the 23 March 1993, her last flight in RAF Service.
Operation Safeguard Identification Plate
A reproduction of Vulcan XH558’s Aircraft Identification Plate displaying the unique details of this remarkable aircraft.

PLUS: Included with a £30 donation

Operation Safeguard Wing Tips

Your name in perpetuity on a new hangar Safeguard exhibit, honouring all those who will have made the new home possible. Your chosen name will be placed on one of the two Vulcan wing tips that will form the exhibit.

The two specially-mounted original Vulcan port and starboard wing tips are major items from the spares purchased from the MoD when XH558 left RAF service and are from the mid 1960s era.

Operation Safeguard Rivets
A sample set of genuine Avro/ Hawker Siddeley Aviation rivets from the RAF stock purchased with XH558.

What is Operation Safeguard?

From the earliest days of the Vulcan to the Sky Trust’s work, the charity has always had two guiding principles, to honour those who served us in the past and to inspire future generations to make meaningful change in the world. We are proud to announce a major fundraising campaign to build The Vulcan Experience, a dedicated new home at Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) that will embody those guiding principles in a unique and memorable centre.

Operation Safeguard Hangar Interior

The Vulcan Experience​

A return of the “Vulcan Experience” with full access to XH558 and her story

A National Centre

A national centre that genuinely tells the story of the Cold War and commemorates the men and women who kept us safe
Operation Safeguard Vulcan Experience
Operation Safeguard Hangar

The V-Force Memorial

To honour the men and women who lost their lives keeping us safe during the Cold War, a “V-Force Memorial Wall” will be erected.

Events

Events venue in a truly unique setting.
Operation Safeguard Events Hangar

Canberra WK163

Fully carbon neutral live restoration project in WK163

The Green Technology Hub

The Green Technology Hub initiative where youngsters, already energised by climate changes urgencies, are inspired to become engineers, essential in tackling the problems we face.
Green Technology Hub

You can gift your reward package to a friend or loved one

At checkout, after entering your billing details, you can enter the delivery details of the person to receive the gift and we will send them their certificate, rewards and details of their XH558 Guardian membership.

You can donate as many times as you like for yourself or as a gift.

Your donation will be ring-fenced as a contribution towards the cost of the hangar build and fit-out, which will safeguard XH558 and promote all for which she stands.

Operation Safeguard Certificate
  • Your kind support will also be recognised with a personalised certificate, which will be posted to you.

Support Operation Safeguard, Your Donation Will Really Count.

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Vulcan to the Sky swoosh

The Vulcan to the Sky Trust is registered with the Fundraising Regulator.

Registered address: Vulcan to the Sky Trust, Unit 4 Delta Court, Third Avenue, Doncaster Sheffield Airport, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN9 3GN Company No. 4478686. Charity Reg No. 1101948