When the news of the closure of Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) broke earlier this year, the future of the Avro Vulcan XH558 currently stored there became uncertain. Fans of the aircraft are hoping that it can be successfully relocated now that the airport has ceased operations, although the deadline for doing so of June 2023 is fast approaching.
The military aircraft, named The Spirit of Great Britain, made its final ground engine run on November 20th. According to local newspaper The Yorkshire Post, hundreds of spectators gathered to witness the event, during which the plane was honored with a water cannon salute.
Sunday’s engine run may well have been the last opportunity for enthusiasts to hear the aircraft's distinctive high-pitched roar, although the Vulcan to the Sky Trust, which restored the Avro Vulcan XH558 to its former glory in 2007, is still hopeful that there will be at least one further engine run before June 2023.
When contacted by Simple Flying, the Trust declared that since February, it has been working on finding a potential site for the aircraft to be stored and displayed for decades to come, keeping true to its motto of “honoring the past, inspiring the future.” In a statement, the Trust said,
"We now have two potential locations in negotiation and we are in conversation with The National Heritage Lottery Fund on an options appraisal to ensure we ultimately deliver the best future for this important heritage asset aligning our aims with the original Heritage Fund contract. In both cases we will once again be able to offer the opportunity to be close to XH558 in an exciting, undercover facility that her thousands of supporters can enjoy."
While the new location is yet to be confirmed, it had been hoped that wherever the vintage aircraft’s new home may be, it would receive a one-off license from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to fly there. However, according to the Trust, this now appears unlikely. It will therefore have to be dismantled before it is transported.
Chairman of the Vulcan to the Sky Trust, John Sharman, said,
“While we acknowledge that it would be extremely sad to dismantle XH558, it would mean that ultimately, she will be preserved and will still be able to inform, educate and inspire future generations of engineers."
The Avro Vulcan XH558 – a brief history
The Avro Vulcan XH558 entered service with the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1960 and featured prominently in the country’s Cold War military activity. The aircraft was retired in 1984. Following a public campaign that raised over £6.5 million ($7.7 million), it was lovingly restored by the Vulcan to the Sky Trust in 2007.
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After short stints at both RAF Brize Norton and RAF Lyneham, the aircraft was moved to its home on the grounds of Doncaster Sheffield Airport in 2011. It was hoped that being housed at a commercial airport would help to drum up public interest in the vintage aircraft, and the Trust had even planned to open a Vulcan Aviation Academy & Heritage Centre there too. Those plans, however, have since been canceled.
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The Vulcan to the Sky Trust is also currently focusing on the level of access its supporters will have to the aircraft until June 2023. Last month, the Trust said,
"Between now and the end of June 2023, we are investigating what access we can offer to supporters. Many supporters have their names or those of their loved ones under the wing of XH558 and clearly want to see them in place."
Doncaster Sheffield Airport
Doncaster Sheffield Airport began operations in April 2005 and closed its doors for the final time 17 years later, on November 4th, 2022, with Wizz Air operating the final scheduled departure to Katowice (KTW) a few days earlier.
At its peak in 2019, the airport saw over 1.4 million passengers, and was home to TUI Airways and Wizz Air, among other domestic and regional carriers. TUI Airways operated long-haul charter flights using its Boeing 787 aircraft.
Have you seen the Avro Vulcan XH558 in action? Where would you like to see it stored in the future? Share your thoughts and experiences by commenting below.