The only remaining flying example of the Avro Vulcan has been grounded due to a technical problem with one of its fuel tanks.
The UK’s Vulcan to the Sky Trust (VTST), the charity that operates Avro Vulcan XH558, has regrettably announced the cancellation of the XH558’s scheduled air display appearances at three forthcoming airshows due to the fuel tank problem. The aircraft was scheduled to appear tomorrow at Dawlish; Saturday August 20 at Bournemouth Air Festival and Shoreham; and Sunday August 21 at Bournemouth, Shoreham and Fly To The Past, Oxford.
VTST Engineering Director Andrew Edmondson said XH558 had developed a fuel leak that was only discovered after the aircraft was refuelled in preparation for this week’s flights.
“The leak is now being investigated to establish the cause and extent of the problem, and the necessary repairs will need to be carried out before she will be able to fly again,” Edmondson says. “We have every confidence that the problem is temporary, and we are working with Fire Proof Tanks of Portsmouth, the manufacturer of the fuel tank, with the aim of completing the repair as soon as practically possible.”
With a technical team of just six, VTST operates XH558, which is over 50-years-old and is very popular with airshow attendees, to exacting safety standards. Edmondson says the charity can pay for the repairs from its contingency budget, but that the loss of revenue from the missed airshows may have to be made-up from fundraising.
“It costs around £2 million a year to fly XH558 to the world’s highest safety standards and we receive no funding from Government or the RAF,” he explains. “The income from these shows was an important part of our revenue and it will be missed.”
But VTST Chief Pilot Martin Withers is in no doubt that XH558 will be back in the air shortly.
“The aircraft is otherwise in very good condition, with an outstanding reliability record, and we are looking forward to flying her again as soon as we can,” he says. “It is very unfortunate that this problem should occur just prior to when the aircraft is due to undertake a series of displays over a relatively short period of time.”
To read more on the VTST’s Avro Vulcan XH558 click here.
XH558, the last remaining airworthy Avro Vulcan.
