In 2015, tens of thousands of people gathered across Britain to watch a sight that will never be forgotten. The mighty Avro Vulcan XH558, the Spirit of Great Britain, took to the skies for its final flight. Its great delta wings cut a defiant silhouette against the sky, a reminder of when Britain’s engineering brilliance was at the forefront of global innovation and our aircraft stood as the guardians of national security. That day, the crowds knew they were witnessing history.
The Vulcan was a national symbol – the longest-serving of Britain’s Cold War bombers, part of our nuclear deterrent, and the last of its kind to fly. Yet just a decade later, this extraordinary piece of British history faces an uncertain future. Unless urgent action is taken, the Spirit of Great Britain could be lost – not to enemy action, but to government inaction.
The Vulcan to the Sky Trust, which has cared for XH558 since its retirement, is under considerable financial strain. Since 2017, it has been forced to bear the costly burden of relocating hangars, has seen its hugely popular public ground runs suspended, and has endured years of uncertainty following the closure of Doncaster Sheffield Airport, where the aircraft is housed.
Each of these challenges has drained resources and stretched the Trust’s resilience to breaking point. The situation is now critical. Without support, Britain risks losing both a national treasure, and the opportunity to turn the Vulcan’s legacy into something transformative for the future.
Because while this is a story about preserving the past, it is equally about seizing the future. The Trust’s vision for The Vulcan Experience is not a mere museum – it is a bold plan to build a world-class visitor and education centre, with XH558 as its centrepiece, that tells the story of the RAF, the Cold War, and the V-Force while also exploring aviation’s role in tackling the great challenges of today, from clean energy to climate change.
Most importantly, it would dramatically expand the Trust’s already impressive education programme, giving thousands of young people hands-on exposure to the disciplines our country needs most: advanced engineering, aerospace, clean energy and digital technologies.
This vision aligns directly with the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change, which commits to equipping young people with the skills of tomorrow.
The Government has set ambitious targets: two thirds of young people engaged in higher-level learning by the age of 25, and a near doubling of those pursuing technical education and apprenticeships by 2040.
If Britain is serious about delivering this, then inspirational, real-world engineering projects like The Vulcan Experience will be vital.
I know from my own life the power of such inspiration. As a young air training cadet and later chairman of my local ATC Civilian Committee, I saw how aviation can light a spark in young minds.
The Vulcan has that power in abundance. It has already inspired generations who witnessed its thunderous flights, and it can continue to do so for many years, if we act now. We should remember too that XH558 embodies the resilience, ingenuity and technological brilliance that defined Britain’s Cold War defence.
It carried our nuclear deterrent, flew longer than any of its counterparts and was the final Vulcan to retire from RAF service in 1993. When it flew again between 2008 and 2015, following one of the most remarkable restoration projects in aviation history, it captured the public imagination like few aircraft ever have.
To allow such an extraordinary legacy to slip away, for want of relatively modest support, would be an abdication of our duty to those who designed, built and flew this remarkable aircraft – and to those many young people whose futures it could yet shape.
That is why I have written to the Secretary of State for Defence John Healey urging the Ministry of Defence to consider how it might assist – through partnership, endorsement or direct support.
Government backing would send a powerful signal that Britain values not only its heritage but its future. It would also prove that we take great pride in the achievements of our engineers, and that we are committed to inspiring the next generation to follow in their footsteps.
The Vulcan XH558 was once a guardian of our nation. Now, it is our turn to guard its future and show we value our great engineering heritage.