News

We are delighted to announce the winners of our Vulcan XL426 60th Anniversary Prize Draw 2022.

The winning tickets were drawn by Squadron Leader Bob Tuxford AFC at our Christmas Event on Saturday 3 December.

See full article for details.
 

Everyone at the Vulcan Restoration Trust is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
 
Her Majesty served the United Kingdom as its head of state for 70 years. Her devotion to her duty was an example to us all.
 
We send our condolences to the Royal Family and the Royal Household at this incredibly sad time.
 

23 August 2022

Our Vulcan XL426 reaches the grand age of 60 today. We hope you will join us in wishing her a very happy birthday!
 
XL426 first flew from the A V Roe & Co. airfield at Woodford, Cheshire, on Thursday 23 August 1962. According to her Form 4817, the flight lasted one hour and 35 minutes. A further four test flights followed before XL426 flew to RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, to join 83 Squadron.

11 June 2022

We are very pleased to report that, following discussions with London Southend Airport, XL426 will be moving back inside Hangar 6 this summer.

An appeal has been launched to raise the £30,000 needed and our aim is to have XL426 back in Hangar 6 in time for her 60th Birthday in August.

Vulcan XL426 streamed a brake parachute at the Vulcan Restoration Trust's Summer Taxi-Run Event at London Southend Airport on 26 June 2021.

It was the first time XL426 had streamed a 'chute since 2008 and it was a surprise bonus for the hundreds of enthusiasts at the event.

See full article for details.

1 December 2019

Our 2019 Legends of the Air Prize Draw was made at our Christmas Event and Buffet on 30 November, with the winning tickets drawn by our guest speaker on the day, Squadron Leader Joe Marsden.

First prize was a seat on board Vulcan XL426 on a taxi-run at London Southend Airport.

See full article for details.

2 April 2019

The Mayor of Southend-on-Sea, Derek Jarvis, and Mayoress, Valerie Jarvis, together with other Southend Council dignitaries visited XL426 on 2 April.

They spent time viewing the iconic bomber and toured the Trust's workshops, where a replacement engine is in the final stages of being readied to be installed in the Vulcan.

8 December 2018

XL426 carried out two successful taxi-runs at London Southend Airport on the afternoon of 8 December 2018.

The runs were part of an engineering exercise and the event was not open to the public, although some lucky enthusiasts in the airport car parks got a good view of XL426 as she taxied towards Southend's runway follwoing start-up on the airport's main apron.

1 December 2018

Our 2018 Icons of Flight Prize Draw was made at our Christmas Event and Buffet on 1 December, with the winning tickets drawn by our guest speaker on the day, Rod Dean.

First prize was a seat on board Vulcan XL426 on a taxi-run at London Southend Airport.

See full article for details.

14 January 2018

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Squadron Leader Joe L’Estrange, Vulcan pilot extraordinaire and VRT Honorary Member, on 14 January 2018 following illness.

Joe was a vastly experienced Vulcan pilot, with 6,102 hours on type. He was renowned as a display pilot, something which put him in demand for air displays and other ceremonies (see photo).

16 December 2017

On 26 November 2017 the Vulcan Restoration Trust and StobartGroup announced that it might be necessary for Vulcan XL426 to relocate from Hangar 6 at London Southend Airport.

Both parties are now agreed that, due to a number of redevelopment needs arising from the recent hangar fire at the airport, the Vulcan will be relocated.

3 December 2017

XL426 carried out a successful slow speed taxy test at London Southend Airport on 3 December 2017.

Two power runs were carried out on the runway to a slow speed before XL426 returned the apron outside Hangar 6.

2 December 2017

The winning tickets in the Vulcan Restoration Trust's 2017 Prize Draw were drawn at our Christmas Enthusiasts' Event & Buffet at Hawkwell Village Hall, Essex, on Saturday 2 December.

The tickets were drawn by our guest speaker at the event, Kevin 'Taff' Stone from the Vulcan to the Sky Trust. 

2 December 2017

A wonderful and interesting afternoon was spent listening to our guest speaker Kevin ‘Taff’ Stone from the Vulcan to the Sky Trust.

Taff talked about his role in the XH558 return to flight programme work and the engineering work needed to keep XH558 in the air during her eight seasons of display flying.

28 November 2017

The hangar fire on 16 August 2017 at London Southend Airport has meant the airport’s owner, StobartGroup, is having to look at a number of options for relocating businesses on the site.

One of the options being considered would involve moving Vulcan XL426 from its home in Hangar 6 to another site on the airport.

Click 'Read Article' below to read the full statement.

20 August 2017

What an excellent day! Our August Visit the Vulcan Day at London Southend Airport was a huge sucess.

Alongside XL426 were the cockpit nose sections of aircraft that served with the Vulcan during its time with the RAF, including a Buccaneer, Jaguar and Hunter.

1 August 2017

XL426 and the Vulcan Restoration Trust are the subjects of a four page feature in the September 2017 issue of FlyPast which went on sale on 1 August.

Titled “Queen of the South” the piece was penned by FlyPast Deputy Editor Steve Beebee who visited XL426 in her new home in London Southend Airport’s Hangar 6 on 5 July.

26 May 2017

XL426 moved into Hangar 6 at London Southend Airport on Friday 26 May to begin a new life under cover after spending more than 30 years outdoors at the Essex airport.

Our volunteers, supported by the airport's staff, have spent almost a month getting the hangar ready for XL426's arrival.

13 May 2017

We are very delighted to announce that Vulcan XL426 is moving to a new home under cover at London Southend Airport.

XL426 is relocating to the airport’s Hangar 6 for an initial five-year period. The hangar will become our engineering and visitor base. XL426 has been moved off her parking pan on the airport’s eastern perimeter to a temporary location until the hangar is ready.

9 April 2016

We were delighted to welcome renowned air display pilot Rod Dean as guest speaker at our Annual General Meeting and Enthusiasts’ Event on Saturday 9 April.

His talk was illustrated with photos from his own collection as well as a number of short videos, and he went through the technical details of the various aircraft in his usual entertaining and easy-to-understand style.

It has been a constant source of amusement for anyone involved with the Engineering Team over the years that the operating manual for the Vulcan tow bar states that it can be attached to the aircraft by two people.

We have never done it with less than four, most usually with five or six!

It's not that it's difficult but it is heavy to move and attaching it to XL426 needs several pairs of hands to carry out a number of functions, some of them simultaneously.

Our mobile work top is a simple piece of kit but we couldnt do without it.

Over the years we replaced its wood top which had either rotted away or become broken so we put a good steel sheet in place and sprayed it with NATO green paint to match the rest of our ground equipment.

2015

We are delighted to be able to show you a unique, behind the scenes, video of an engine run and systems test.

2015

During 2015, Jamie Keene (Engineer) carried out a survey of all eight of Vulcan XL426's Powered Flying Control Units (PFCUs) to check critical adjustments.

Paul Hartrup (Trustee and Lead Engineer) has spent time stripping down the PFCUs and renovating them where necessary over the past years, frequently replacing leaky oil seals.

21 August 2014

Vulcan XL426 was joined by the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Avro Lancaster PA474 and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum's Avro Lancaster FM213 at London Southend Airport on a Thursday 21 August 2104.

The three Avro aircraft were lined-up on the Southend main apron for what was likely to be in a once in a lifetime photo opportunity.

2014

With the top of XL426's fin being some 27 feet above ground, getting access to the Vulcan's fin and rudder has always been a challenge.

Up until now we have used our set of giraffe steps but things can now change following our acquiring this year of a cherry picker.

The cherry picker is now in service making it easier for our engineering team to get to those 'hard to reach' places.