AVIATION enthusiasts will have an opportunity to get up close and personal with a retired RAF jet at an upcoming open day.
The Vulcan Restoration Trust is inviting the public to check out the XL426, a retired Avro Vulcan B2, which entered service with the RAF in 1962.
The first Visit the Vulcan Day of 2023 is scheduled for this Sunday.
Visitors will be able to see the jet up close in its hangar and even climb aboard for a guided tour of the cockpit.
The plane, which could be armed with the Blue Steel stand-off missile, was withdrawn from service in 1984 and has been preserved at Southend Airport since 1986.
In December 1962, Wing Commander John Slessor selected XL426 as his personal aircraft for his three-year tour.
The following year, he flew the jet from Goose Bay, Canada, to RAF Scampton in just over four hours.
The Vulcan Restoration Trust, which now owns the Vulcan on display at Southend Airport, took over the preservation of the aircraft in 1993 after many years of storage at the airport and has since restored and maintained XL426 in full ground running condition.
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The charity’s mission is simple – it seeks to retain XL426 as part of Britain’s aviation heritage and as a tribute to the men and women who flew and maintained the aircraft during the Cold War.
Another important element of the organisation’s work is to provide education to the public regarding items of historical interest, particularly in the field of aviation.
It does so by running days like these to educate the public on the history of the Vulcan and the important role it played in shaping the nation’s military history post-World War Two.
All the proceeds from the event will go towards the aircraft’s upkeep.
If planes aren’t your thing, you might enjoy viewing a display of military vehicles including tanks and Land Rovers.
The event opens at 10am on Sunday, with last admission at 4pm. Admission is £8 for adults and under-16s can attend the event for free, though cockpit visits come at an additional cost.
More information about the event can be found at avrovulcan.com.
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