New chapter in Vulcan story

A NEW book telling the story of the famous Chadderton-built Vulcan bomber XH558 could help to keep it in the sky.

Built in Chadderton 51 years ago, it is the last flying Vulcan bomber.

But the team behind the restoration faces an unending battle to raise funds to keep it airworthy.

The lavishly illustrated new book celebrates half a century of XH558, and all profits go to support it in its biggest flying season ever.

It tells its history from construction, through its many roles, retirement from RAF service, and eventual restoration to flight.

The tale culminates in the insight into the challenges of returning one of Britain’s greatest aircraft to the skies.

The plane was built at the former Avro factory in Chadderton in 1960, and although most Vulcans were retired by the mid-1980s, the XH558 Vulcan carried on with airshow duties.

Its first flight after restoration was in October, 2007, after eight years’ work by the Vulcan to The Sky Trust, which owns the Avro Vulcan XH558.

In its Cold War heyday, the Vulcan was on 24-hour standby to drop nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union.

During the Falklands War, five Vulcans took part in record-breaking 8,000-mile flights from Ascension Island to bomb the runway at Port Stanley.

To purchase the book, go to the website at www.vulcantotheskystore.co.uk.