Monday 13th May 2013

PistonHeads and Vulcan XH558

Over £3000 raised at our very special Sunday Service at Hangar 3, Robin Hood Airport

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Yesterday saw 140 PHers and 70 PHers' cars pointing towards Robin Hood airport in Doncaster to get up close and personal with XH558, the only flying Vulcan bomber in existence. PH arrived a couple of hours earlier than our guests and, thanks to the amazing efforts of the Vulcan team, managed to get ‘our’ Jaguar F-Type V6S alongside the Vulcan to capture the two British icons together. The Jaguar was amazing, but how can it compete with a legend towering over it in the background?

An hour or two later the PHers arrived and for once the cars weren’t the stars. That didn’t stop a fantastic array of cars assembling outside of Hangar 3 with everything from a BMW 2002 to a TVR Cerbera, which we heard approaching a long time before we saw it, but what made this meet special was a shared love for the Vulcan, and as soon as the hangar was opened the cars were left alone.

Some guests had personal or family connections to the aircraft; some had fond memories of seeing them fly at airshows and others were fans getting their first glimpse, but as we all sat transfixed by not only the sheer size of XH558 but also from the passionate enthusiasm shown by the team and crew, it was fair to say that a silence descended on the room and we all came away feeling very humbled indeed.

We raised more than £3,000 on the day thanks to a combination of ticket sales, merchandise, donations and refreshments. To put that into perspective, that’s enough to pay for the fuel for the second check flight (the first one is already funded by supporters) taking place over the next few weeks as they prepare for the airshow season. It is a hugely important contribution towards keeping her in the sky and with the project relying soley on public generosity every £1 is received with immense gratitude.

PistonHeads will return to Hangar 3 for another meet in the future, but in the meantime we would like to thank all of you who were there and donated to help keep the plane in the air. We would also like to extend our thanks to Richard and Toni for making the day possible and to Taff and Andrew for answering all of our questions throughout the day along with their host of amazing volunteers.

A great day for a great cause. We look forward to seeing Vulcan in the skies later this year.

Thanks to PHer HoHoHo for allowing us to use his photographs of XH558

Fans of Vulcan XH558 can keep in touch with updates or donate in a variety of ways

By visiting the Vulcan XH558 Facebook page
By signing up to their email newsletter
By making a donation
By purchasing official merchandise

[lxtwin]

A great looking plane made when we used to make all kinds of stuff.

[Garlick]

Great work on the charity total, thanks everyone

[RossP]

Can't wait to see XH558 flying over CarFest again this summer!

[griffdude]

See it flying whilst you can, might not be permitted to fly soon due to lifed components.

[Foggy748]

A big thanks to the PH team for organising this. It was great to get up close to the big bird. A real shame Martin Withers couldn't be there but I thought the presentation was top notch anyway. Please pass on my thanks to the Vulcan guys and gals for putting this on.

[hebangsthedrums]

Excellent day, great talk, everyone was very friendly & the F Type was what I hoped (if pricey, not that its remotely in my scope). Haynes manual book is pretty good too.
I didn't know it was the very same one that I remember shaking the ground at Cranfield when I was very small...
Cheers all concerned!

Edited by hebangsthedrums on Monday 13th May 19:20

[HoHoHo]

Excellent day and I'm quite chuffed my photo's were used - not often that happens!

Thanks guys, one of the best SS days I've been to.

[quavey]

Great day, glad they managed to raise enough for the fuelling for next testing session. I'd have thought they would have raised a bit more than that though!

Pictures look great, I can't say mine are that good but I'll pop them in the other topic when I get a minute.

Chris with the Silver M5

[HoHoHo]

This M5


Sunday Service - XH558 by Martin_Bennett, on Flickr

Liked that

[quavey]

Thanks mate!

Actually looks very smart there!

[CambsBill]

Dear PH, would it be possible to give a bit more notice next time (or did I miss something the first time round). Would have loved to go but had already arranged an overseas visit on this occasion.

I'd probably bring my dad along to see XH558 as well - he used to fly Vulcans out of Waddington and I know he's still got a soft spot for them.

[base-1]

Pic of the week HAS to be XH558 and the F-Type!

[Vieste]

[MonkeySpanker]

• solely, Shirley

[Skyedriver]

HoHoHo said:

This M5

Liked that

Yes, spotted that, very understated and extremely tidy. What age is that?
Loved the 02 too, had an Inca Orange tii for a lot of years.
Strangely (?) showed pics to wife she liked it too, wouldn't have thought it her type of car.

Loved the 3 AMs the Tusc, Sagaris, Cerb. My passenger Jim, a long time toymota fan loved the GT86. Off to persuade his wife to trade in the RAV 4....

[Garlick]

CambsBill said:

Dear PH, would it be possible to give a bit more notice next time (or did I miss something the first time round). Would have loved to go but had already arranged an overseas visit on this occasion.

I'd probably bring my dad along to see XH558 as well - he used to fly Vulcans out of Waddington and I know he's still got a soft spot for them.

We did do an announcement as early as we were able to, and gave 48hrs notice within this thread before the article went live. Appreciate that not everyone is here every day though.

We'll return sometime this year

[mackay45]

Garlick said:

We did do an announcement as early as we were able to, and gave 48hrs notice within this thread before the article went live. Appreciate that not everyone is here every day though.

We'll return sometime this year

Garlick - any clues as to when the next Sunday Service might be announced? Currently waking up with cold sweats during the night for fear of missing another one, I need my car fix!

[garypotter]

Looked like a great day and well done to all involved raising the monies.

Come on you mp's stop claiming for floating huts for ducks and put some of the coffers into organisations that keep things like the Vulcan flying for younger generations to appreciate.

[Garlick]

mackay45 said:

Garlick - any clues as to when the next Sunday Service might be announced? Currently waking up with cold sweats during the night for fear of missing another one, I need my car fix!

Next PHSS will be announced later today, next Vulcan SS to be announced in the next couple of months.

[mackay45]

Garlick said:

mackay45 said:

Garlick - any clues as to when the next Sunday Service might be announced? Currently waking up with cold sweats during the night for fear of missing another one, I need my car fix!

Next PHSS will be announced later today, next Vulcan SS to be announced in the next couple of months.

Great, thank you, will keep my eyes open!