XH558 - back where she belongs
After being in store or under under restoration since 1992, Avro Vulcan B2 XH558 returned to the air on 18 October 2007 after years of hard work and over £6.5 million of expenditure. Returning the Vulcan to the sky has been described as the most challenging and complex restoration project ever undertaken anywhere.
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This magnificent team effort has returned this iconic Cold War warrior to flight. XH558 was the first Vulcan B2 to be delivered to the RAF 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.
The transport Trust 2007 Preservationist of the Year was Dr Robert Pleming, CEO of the Vulcan to the Sky Trust. His citation read "for leading the Vulcan to the Sky Trust in its efforts to return the last potentially airworthy Vulcan to the air".
Squadron Leader Al McDicken, one of the plane's pilots, added: "She's absolutely magnificent and visually a very attractive aeroplane. It's 25 years almost to the day that I last flew one. It was just wonderful.
"All of us who have flown her have enjoyed her handling qualities but she really flies like a big fighter in some ways. It's a thrill to be involved with it."
The plane rose into the sky to a cheer from watching supporters, sponsors and engineers before banking to the left. Just over 20 minutes later, to widespread relief, co-pilots McDicken and David Thomas landed it back on a Leicestershire airstrip.
Engineers had failed to restore the Vulcan in time for a flypast over London earlier this year to commemorate the Falklands War.
Dr Pleming said he felt a "huge sense of achievement" at finally getting the plane off the ground. "We finally did it after so many ups and downs," he said. "It's the British bulldog spirit."
Video footage courtesy of BBC News