Restored Vulcan bomber approved for maiden flight

14 years after it’s last flight, a restored Vulcan bomber is ready to take to the air again.

Engineers claim to have achieved the unachievable by restoring the plane. The restoration involved stripping the plane, cleaning it part-by-part and then reassembling it, with all of this costing a total of £6.5m. The money was raised by over 20,000 people worldwide through the Vulcan to the Sky Trust.

Ground tests on September 28 showed that the plane was in full working order and The Civil Aviation Authority has cleared XH558 for take-off -weather permitting - from from Bruntingthorpe airfield in Leicestershire.

Pilot, Al McDicken , told the BBC that the plane was “absolutely magnificent and visually a very attractive aeroplane. 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 Vulcan was originally supposed to be unveiled at the 25th anniversary of of the Falklands war flypast in London earlier in the year, however it had to be postponed because of funding issues. The Vulcan to the Sky Trust has assured supporters that they have lifted the £5 fine on the word “when ?” being posted on their website.