A great weekend for the Vulcan!

It was of course the Waddington Airshow this weekend, and I think its fair to say that the Vulcan thrilled all those who watched her display - the crowdlines suddenly tightened up as far as vacant space was concerned, and eyes all gazed over to the left for the take off following the towing out of XH558 from its Vulcan Village home.

The weekend had started with great news in that the Vulcan Appeal had passed the £250k milestone, and in fact had reached £265k, so with that, all that was needed was a great display on the saturday - and the Delta Lady did not disappoint.

XH558 - looking good in the sun!

Saturday morning started for me based in Lincoln having stayed overnight following the journey from Chester, and at 7am it was time to leave for the base, and nestling up alongside the entrance gate where the other static Vulcan was sitting - looking on as if to say "You're in for a hell of a day Vulcan fans" - and when the gates were open, it was perhaps fate that we were directed to park very close to the Vulcan Village!

A quick look at the programme confirmed that the Vulcan would take to the skies at around 3.30pm - thanks Twitter - and then the usual morning walkaround (complete with overpriced bacon butty) around the static stuff, and breathing in the fresh Lincolnshire air, you know the airshow type where the anticipation generates its own kind of atmosphere.

I visited the Vulcan team to see the Summer Plaque which features both my name and also Chester FC's name - more about that in a later blog - and had a good chat with the team, who were so desperate to show her off around the country, and confirmed that it costs as much to keep the Vulcan on the ground as it does to get her in the air, and around the airshow circuit.

In that conversation was the discussion about XH558 taking part in the Leuchars Airshow, and the fact that the team had left several messages to the organisers in a bid to see the Vulcan up there to allow the Scottish supporters the chance to see her in action.

There is of course the discussion about finance, but with the costs required for the Vulcan - nowhere is going to get a free show, and indeed many will get the display sponsored and that should be the hope for the Leuchars fans.

Anyway, for the morning in the searing heat, there were plenty of tours of the aircraft, and fairdo's to the team, as they must have been roasting do those, and also the volunteers in the tent, who were doing very good business throughout the day it seemed.

Ready for action

As soon as the Lancaster set off it left a space for it's older brother the Vulcan, to slot into, and so it was that XH558 was towed over to be fuelled up for its display.

The Red Arrows were performing, but thousands of eyes were concentrating on XH558, and as soon as the reds had departed, it wasn't long before she moved on to the runway ready for take off - and that didn't take long either!

The Vulcan roar (and howl) followed, and we were all treated to a very good (and loud) display - many voices claiming that was the best they'd seen since the oden days (and the new cork screw manouvre seemed to boost those claims) - a big display was needed I felt to give everyone else the Vulcan effect, and I think it worked a treat.

Not sure if any awards were given out for the display, but surely she would have been a candidate, and hopefully she'll do just that at the Air Tattoo in a couple of weeks time.

So, a great day, and I'm sure a great Sunday too given the weather, and hopefully everyone at Waddo & Goodwood enjoyed the appearances.

Next movement sees XH558 go from Waddington to Yeovilton, for the display down there, and hopefully weather permitting, they are all in for the same treat!

Remember that you can help keep the Vulcan in the air by texting VULCAN to 70558 - it costs a fiver but think about the display you've just seen at Waddo, and help try and keep it going through to next year!