On Saturday 12 June, the Vulcan Restoration Trust's engineering team towed Vulcan XL426 to the north side of London Southend Airport, Essex, for a successful maintenance engine run.
Two of the V-bomber's engines were run to full power, whilst power on the other two was restricted due to the removal of their jet pipe end caps for renovation as part of the Trust's 426 Return to Power programme.
At the controls for the engine run was former Vulcan Display Team captain, Group Captain Bill Burnett.
Sitting alongside Bill was the winner of an eBay auction who had the privilege of experiencing what it's like to hear the 'howl' of the Vulcan's Olympus engines at full power from inside the cockpit. Under Bill's supervison, he also got to handle the Vulcan's throttles during a number of the slam checks carried out as part of the engine run programme.
Outside were five enthusiasts who had purchased special photgrapher's passes for the event and got to enjoy unrestricted access to XL426 whilst she was prepared for the engine run and, of course, a close-up view of the engine run itself.
Please keep an eye of the Vulcan Restoration Trust website for details of further opportunities to experience an Vulcan engine run at close quarters.
