@ Atwater, CA
April 2021
For some, a Cold War classic, for others an iconic James Bond 007 sequence. This is the Avro Vulcan, a delta winged high-altitude strategic bomber was operated by the Royal Air Force from 1956 until 1984. Over the type’s service life, many other roles were assumed, in the final years of service six Vulcans were converted to the K.2 tanker configuration for aerial refuelling. This example, XM605, entered service with the RAF on 30th December 1963. XM605 was earmarked for preservation and upon her retirement was flown to Castle AFB in September 1981, and presented to the Castle Air Museum six days later after being demilled. Of the 134 Vulcans produced, nineteen survive and only three are in the United States. After retirement by the RAF, one example, B.2 XH558, named The Spirit of Great Britain, was restored for use in display flights and air shows, while two other B.2s have been kept in taxiable condition for ground runs and demonstrations. B.2 XH558 flew for the last time in October 2015, and is also being kept in taxiable condition.
