Vulcan Restoration Trust

The Vulcan Restoration Trust (Registered Charity: 1058111) is responsible for the XL426, one of three surviving live Avro Vulcans. Based at Southend Airport, it performed taxi displays until 2006 when the aircraft was withdrawn for engineering works.

XL426

XL426 is a B2 Avro Vulcan, originally designed and modified to carry the Blue Steel missile. She briefly performed as the official display Vulcan in a period when XH558 was on hiatus. She was one of the last Vulcans in service, but performed as a crew trainer rather than a tanker and was not modified to a K2 build.

She was sold to Roy Jacobson in 1986 and moved to Southend Airport where she received a civil registration of G-VJET. After unsuccessfuly attempts were made to raise the funds to return her to flight she was sold to the Vulcan Restoration Trust in 1993 and operated as a taxiing display aircraft.

Return to Power

XL426 was withdrawn from taxi runs in 2006 for an extensive program of engineering works. Prior to this the aircraft was maintained in 'live' condition, receiving running maintenance.

The target of this program is to perform engineering work that will keep XL426 running for another 20 years. It is estimated the cost of this program will be about £54,000. Of this approximately £10540 has been raised.

Operators

;UK [cite web|url=http://www.avrovulcan.com/mambo/content/view/9/1/|title=XL426 in the RAF|accessdate=2008-09-03]
*Royal Air Force
**No. 83 Squadron RAF
**No. 617 Squadron RAF
**No. 230 Operational Conversion Unit RAF
**No. 50 Squadron RAF
**No. 27 Squadron RAF
*Vulcan Restoration Trust

Visit the Vulcan

After withdrawing the aircraft from taxiing, the Vulcan Restoration trust now operate Open Days at Southend Airport. These Open Days include cockpit visits and guided talks around the aircraft, as well as a chance to speak to the crew.

Vulcan News Magazine

The Trust also publishes Vulcan News, a 28 page glossy published three times a year. It covers news including the restoration of XH558 and interviews with crew members and engineers.

Celebrity Links

For one of XL426's high speed runs Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden was the co-pilot.

ee also

Avro Vulcan XH558, the only airworthy Vulcan
Avro Vulcan XM655, the only other taxiable Vulcan.

External links

* [http://www.avrovulcan.com The Vulcan Restoration Trust]
* [http://www.avrovulcan.com/mambo/content/view/4/26/ Return to Power Campaign Homepage]
* [http://www.avrovulcan.com/mambo/content/view/9/1/ History of XL426]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4r0Kk-xX4o Barrel Rolling the Avro Vulcan]
* [http://www.airshows.co.uk/feature-reports/2006/vulcan-restoration-trust-open-day.html Airshow review of Co-pilot Bruce Dickinson's run]