there were no problems found – there
were – but that is what testing is all about.
By October, XH558 was ready to move
again under her own power. Slow and fast
taxy tests followed, including deployment
of the brake parachute.
Finally, after 26 months, with over
100,000 man-hours and £7million spent,
Vulcan XH558 was ready to fly again.
Thursday 18 October 2007 was a perfect
day, and in front of the crowd of those
who had worked on the project, XH558
roared down the runway and soared
into the air. There were shouts, cheers
and tears of joy – so much effort by so
many people. I felt elated, but remember
thinking “I can’t relax until she’s back on
the ground”. After a 30-minute flight, our
test flight crew brought her back for a
perfect landing. We had done it. Safely.
The restoration of Vulcan XH558
has been hailed as the world’s most
challenging heritage aviation project
ever – the Everest of aircraft restoration. I
did wonder whether I was going to end up
as Mallory or Hillary….
Aircraft Operations
Following further test flights to resolve
problems with the avionics, XH558
was awarded her ‘Permit to Fly’ in July
2008. Two days later, she flew her first
display for an enthralled public at RAF
Waddington. Since then, XH558 has
flown more than 230 hours in front of
twelve million smiling and proud people
at events during over 160 flights around
the UK and Europe.
To keep the aircraft in top condition,
checks on the engines, landing gear and
critical structure are driven by flying
hour milestones. Every winter, the aircraft
undergoes a thorough inspection and
lubrication; critical components which
have a calendar life, such as the ejection
seats, are overhauled. This is not cheap: to
keep XH558 flying costs around £2million
per annum, for 40-50 flying hours.
Concordia
Merchant Taylors’ School
Every winter, the aircraft undergoes a
thorough inspection and lubrication; critical
components which have a calendar life, such
as the ejection seats, are overhauled
