Whether you love it, or hate it, keeping this fifty year old beast in the air is an incredible feat of engineering and perseverence. The bureacracy and paperwork alone would have put the less tenacious off years ago. It comes as no surprise to me that it’s a money pit.
I’ve put a few quid (probably not more than £50) in the kitty over the years and standing underneath her today as she went around from about 100ft at Brize, I was fully repaid.
The Vulcan is an iconic machine; it can stop traffic. It did today. I’d estimate there were about 50-60 people gathered at the end of the runway of all ages. There were as many, if not more, members of ‘Joe Public’ as there were dedicated aviation enthusiasts and photographers. Men, women and children, of all ages who were all simply captured by this awesome aeroplane.
As much as the ‘purists’ amongst us would like to see a fraction of the millions poured into the Vulcan spent on our favourite pet projects, they could never have the same effect. A hangar full of bits and pieces or a muddy field full of rotting hulks, no matter how historically significant they are, just doesn’t cut the mustard with the public.
Having witnessed the ‘Vulcan effect’ at RIAT last year; seeing thousands of people stop what they were doing, stand up and even applaud after the howl had subsided, I am somewhat surprised a ‘major sponsor’ is yet to come forward. Until they do, the project will undoubtedly rely on further donations.
As an enthusiast, I’m delighted that the Vulcan is airworthy; long may it continue to be so. It will continue to attract punters to airshows and, whatever your point of view on the Vulcan, that can only be a good thing for the industry and our aviation heritage.
Sign In
