page_title: Avro Vulcan XH558
section_title: Crew
hierarchical_section_title: Avro Vulcan XH558 / Crew
caption_attribution_description: English: G-VLCN is a private Avro Vulcan, painted to represent in the markings and with the serial number XH558 of former owner the Royal Air Force. Lining up for departure from the Royal International Air Tattoo 2010 at RAF Fairford, England.
context_page_description: Avro Vulcan XH558 The Spirit Of Great Britain was the last remaining airworthy example of the 134 Avro Vulcan jet powered delta winged strategic nuclear bomber aircraft operated by the Royal Air Force during the Cold War. It was the last Vulcan in military service, and the last to fly at all after 1986. It last flew on 28 October 2015.
  Vulcan XH558 first flew in 1960, and was one of the few examples converted for a maritime reconnaissance role in 1973, and then again as an air-to-air refuelling tanker in 1982. After withdrawal in 1984 it continued with the RAF's Vulcan Display Flight, performing until 1992. In 1993 it was sold to C Walton Ltd who used it for ground-based displays at their Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome in Leicestershire, until 1999. Through a combination of public donations and lottery funding, it was restored to airworthy condition by the Vulcan To The Sky Trust, who returned it to flight on 18 October 2007. The donations required to reach that point totalled £6.5m.
  It recommenced its display career in 2008, funded by continuing donations to assist the £2m a year running costs.
context_section_description: In civilian configuration XH558 only requires a crew of three to fly – two pilots and the air electronics officer (AEO). When visiting other airfields, a crew chief is added. Assistance with pre-flight training of the crew was provided by the owners of ground operational Vulcans XM655 and XL426. Pilots are said to find the restored XH558 a pleasure to fly. Ian Young, chief test pilot for Marshall Aerospace, oversaw the testing phase. David Thomas was pilot for the first public display at Waddington.
  XH558 was crewed by a team of former RAF personnel, headed by Martin Withers DFC, its then Chief Pilot and Operations Manager.
caption: Lining up for departure from RAF Fairford at the end of the 2010 Royal International Air Tattoo
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