Last Vulcan Bomber still grounded
as funding battle goes on...
A CAMPAIGN to save the last Vulcan nuclear bomber XH558
capable of flying still needs £1.5m to rescue it - despite a promise
of $700,000 from the US government to pay for flight tests and
an offer by Smiths Industries to carry out work for free on the
cockpit systems it originally supplied.
For 30 years, the Vulcan was the backbone of the RAF's bomber fleet
and carried Britain's nuclear deterrent until it was replaced by the Polaris
submarine-launched missile.
If the money is not raised by the end of the year, aircraft XH558 will be
left to rot, the Vulcan Restoration Trust has warned.
The campaign to save the aircraft the only one of the 17 remaining Vulcans
that could fly has the support of a cross-party group of MPs and Lords led by
Hereford Liberal Democrat MP, Paul Keetch. Prince Charles, who flew
Vulcans in the 1970s, has also asked about the project.
The National Heritage Lottery Fund has designated the bomber a national
heritage asset, but has refused to fund its restoration because by law it can
only fund static aircraft displays.
A campaign event held at Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome, Leicester last week
raised some interest, but there is still a long way to go to raise all the funds
needed, said the trust.
Andrew Edmondson, the trust's project engineering manager, said:
'We want the aircraft flying by 2002, to commemorate the 50th anniversary
of the first flight of a Vulcan, and have a fly-past over the Commonwealth
games that year, which are being held in the aircraft's home city, Manchester.'
Companies can claim 100% tax relief on charitable donations.
Individuals or Companies can donate any amount. For companies,
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The campaign can be contacted at... Telephone: +44(0) 1162 478145,
or visit their Website at www.tvoc.co.uk
September 2001