Dr Robert Pleming - the 2007 Award Winner!
The Preservationist of the Year award goes to a person who has achieved something exceptional in a particular year, but, in this case, one might argue that the period covered is closer to ten years.

Exceptional achievement...
Receiving the 2007 Preservationist of the Year Award from Prince Michael was Dr Robert Pleming, CEO of the Vulcan to the Sky Trust "for leading the Vulcan to the Sky Trust in its efforts to return the last potentially airworthy Vulcan to the air".

Robert's commitment
Having gained his Doctorate at Oxford and pursued a very successful career in IT, a fateful conversation in the mid-1990s with the then owner of the Vulcan sparked Robert's resolve to return this iconic Cold War warrior to flight. XH558 was the first Vulcan B2 to be delivered to the RAF (earlier aircraft being used for intensive trials) when it was delivered to No 230 OCU at RAF Waddington in July 1960. It was also the last Vulcan to serve with the RAF, being used by the Vulcan Display Flight until March 1992.

Moving towards flight status
In April 2000, with technical feasibility proved and the decision from British Aerospace to support the project behind him, Robert moved on voluntarily from his Cisco career to the full-time unpaid role of Project Director for what was then the Avro Vulcan XH558 Plan-to-Flight Project. Since that time Robert has worked to bring the engineering project to the position in which it stands today, and his experience and lifelong enthusiasm for aviation contribute to ensuring a successful return-to-flight for this historic aircraft.

The usual money problems!
It has always been an uphill battle; the first Heritage Lottery Fund application was refused before a successful grant was secured in June 2004. However, twelve months ago the unbelievable complexity of returning Roy Chadwick's world-beating aircraft design to flight status looked like it would sink the project through lack of funds.

Help from Sir Jack Hayward
With the engineering staff having received their advanced dismissal notices, amongst the innumerable benefactors who came forward at this last moment to keep the project afloat was one of the Transport Trust’s Vice Presidents, Sir Jack Hayward OBE. His significant cash injection served to bring the aircraft tantalisingly close to the roll out and first flight although sadly the target of leading the Falklands Conflict 25th anniversary flypast was missed.

The most challenging and complex project ever undertaken anywhere
Returning the Vulcan to the Sky has been the most challenging and complex project ever undertaken anywhere. Asked why he took on the task, Robert's answer was direct. “At the end of the day a Vulcan overhead is a truly magnificent sight - once you see it, you'll never forget it. And we should never forget those brave men and women who never returned from the South Atlantic, so I want to bring that sense of awe, inspiration and history to new audiences, particularly the younger generation.”

To read the full citation for Robert's Award, look here

As a salute to Robert and his team, look here for our photo gallery of Avro Vulcan XH558 and sister aircraft in service; and here for videos of XH558 and other Vulcans in flight.

To read further about the return of Vulcan XH558 to flight status, look here

To read further about engineering progress with Vulcan XH558, look here

The Transport Trust
Young Preservationist of the
Year Award




The Transport Trust also salutes younger members of the transport preservation movement who, despite their age, have already made a notable contribution.

So who received the 2007 Young Preservationist of the Year Award from Prince Michael?