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Vulcan needs £400,000 before taking to sky for last time

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The last flying Vulcan plane is to take to the skies for a final time next year – but needs £400,000 to make its last flights possible.

The Cold War bomber returned to the air in October, 2007, after being restored at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground, near Lutterworth.

But the Vulcan to the Sky Trust, the charity which operates the plane, said next year will be its last flying season because it has almost run out of the flying hours it was permitted after the restoration, and would need expensive repairs to extend its operational life.

Trust chief executive Dr Robert Pleming said: "We are sure you are aware that all Vulcans have a finite safe flying life and that XH558 is already well beyond the hours flown by any other aircraft of her type."

Engineering director Andrew Edmondson said: "From the start of the 2014 season, it is unlikely that we could accommodate any engine failures and that even without any technical problems, soon our set of engines would be out of life."

"There are no more airworthy engines available and refurbishment would be so difficult and costly that there is no possibility that it will happen."

The trust said it was planning a final flying season, but needed to raise £400,000 before the end of the year to give the plane a winter service to make the last flights possible.

Since the restoration in 2007, the Vulcan, which is now based at Robin Hood Airport, in Doncaster, has been seen by more than 10 million people at more than 60 locations.

Following her final flight, the trust hopes she will become the centrepiece of a project which encourages youngsters to take up technical and engineering careers.

To donate, or for more information, visit:

www.vulcantothesky.org


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