Vulcan XM575

We moved from the old Aeropark due to Airport future expansions.

James B

wait a sec… could she not be repositioned 90 degrees to her stbd when seated in the cockpit so that the engines could be run?

I suppose the cost of the louvred blast deflectors would be prohibitive to install so she could be run up?

“Is it the only Vulcan (so far) to actually have worn its civil registration?”

XL426 has a civil registration painted on it, I like your photo’s Moondance

Slightly off topic, but as there are so many knowledgeable Vulcan/Falklands people I thought I would ask:

On my Airman Aircrew Ground Training at Finningley in ’88, there was an instructor who was previously an AEOp on Vulcans, we nick-named him ‘Thud’ as rumour had it that he was posted onto training because he forgot to fuse the bombs on a raid on Port Stanley, and that’s the noise the bombs would have made as they hit the runway….Is there any truth behind this rumour?

answers on a postcard please……

If the location of the aircraft now means that the engines can’t be run anymore, why was it moved to this location from its previous one in the first place?

wow talk about close proximity to housing! I dont think the neighbors would appreciate the tiles being blown off of their roofs during a run up!

Is it the only Vulcan (so far) to actually have worn its civil registration?

First one taken about 1985, plus some recent ones.

I got to have a very good look round XM575 last summer and it seems in good condtion, its just a shame that the engines wont ever be started, the photo below was taken last summer, dont be worried about the faded paint its in good sturctural condtion.

Is there any chance she can have her rover power unit run up in the future?

Thanks for the info

The same source says for B2 XM575:
Delivered 21-5-63. Service: 617 Sqn, 27/83/617 Sqns, Scamton (1970) 27/617 Sqns, 44/50/101 Sqns, 9/44/101 Sqns, 44 Sqn
Flown to EMA 25-1-83 for display with Leicester Air Museum.

I’ve just skimmed through the fairly detailed “Black Buck” chapter in “Avro Vulcan” by Robert Jackson and there is no mention of XM575 at all. All the serials of the participating Vulcans are given there, including all five that were equipped with the Delco Carousel Intertial Navigation System, for long range navigation over the South Atlantic.

The civil serial for XM575 is G-BLMC. I work with XM575 at East Midlands Aeropark (I am a volunteer), she is in a really healthy condition. 3/4 engines are in working order (although we can’t test them due to houses behind). 575 looks to have a happy future here at the Airport. It’s highly unlikely 575 will fly again. I’m just happy its on display.

James B

XM575 is the last surviving vulcan of the very last ‘public’ QRA at Raf Finningley on the 19th september 1981. She was retired to east midlands airport. Then in 1985 ther wer plans afoot to fly her to Bruntinghorpe with help from Bae who came and started to restore her to flying contition for this one off flight,

she was given a civil reg G-blmc i think and the plan was approved by the CAA but alas the money ran out and she remained at EMA till this day.

Just think if 575 had gone to brunty maybe 558 would be a pile of scrap now.

If I remember correctly XM575 didn’t participate in Operation Black Buck but was prepared for use. You probably already know it’s part of the East Midlands Aeropark collection. Before it the aeropark was relocated the APU was run regularly (most weekends) and many systems were live. I understand that since the relocation this isn’t possible to due to the new site’s proximity to the houses.

Cheers,

Bruce