Where to see the Vulcan

Photo (c) Vulcan to the Sky Trust

Bear with me… this is going to be a slight departure from the usual focus of this site on airports and commercial aviation. I hope you will still read it!

I’ve always had a soft spot for the Avro Vulcan heavy bomber. I remember seeing them flying a lot in the 1980s, and have loved the fact that a last airworthy example has remained in flight for the past few years, performing at airshows all over the UK.

But the inevitable is now happening – the type is being retired from flight forever this month.

Surprisingly there are a number of Vulcans that you can still visit and see, and some of them are even kept in ‘working’ condition, if not actually flyable. So I thought I’d put together a list of where to see the Vulcan if you happen to be missing seeing it in the skies.

XH558 (G-VLCN)
Doncaster Sheffield Airport

The last airworthy example will retire to its base at Doncaster Sheffield Airport in northern England. Its hangar is being turned into a visitor experience and a working trust that will train young engineers to work on aircraft. Vulcan to the Sky Trust website,where you can donate to their excellent work.

This Vulcan will remain in ‘live’ condition and still taxi on occasion. But it will sadly be grounded.

XM655
Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield

Another complete example which has been restored into fantastic condition over the past couple of decades by the 655 Maintenance & Preservation Society. She is now capable of fast taxis. Unfortunately the future of Wellesbourne Mountford airfield is in doubt, so the future of this Vulcan is not entirely certain.

XL319 at Sunderland

XL319
North East Land, Sea and Air Museum, Sunderland

As a regular volunteer at this museum, I see XL319 a lot. It flew into what was once Sunderland Airport in 1983 and took up residence in the new museum. It is still there, complete, and you can often go inside the cockpit. Museum website.

XL318
Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon, London

A significant part of the collection at the RAF Museum in Hendon is XL318. It is complete, but has been reassembled following delivery to the museum. Museum website.

XL426
London Southend Airport

This is another Vulcan that was kept in working order following retirement. It was fully decommissioned for a time, but has recently been returned to power by the Vulcan Restoration Trust and it is often opened to the public.

XM603
BAE Woodford

The airfield at Woodford, near Manchester, has recently been demolished for redevelopment. But a huge white Vulcan still sits on the site. There is a proposal to build a new museum around this aircraft, which is the only Vulcan to wear the original all-white colour scheme.

XM607
RAF Waddington

One of the Vulcans which took part in the bombing of the Falkland Islands, XM607 sits as a gate guard at its former home of RAF Waddington. It is situated next to the public viewing area and in pretty good condition.

XM594
Newark Air Museum

Another complete Vulcan in great condition, and on display at the Newark Air Museum in Lincolnshire, England. It is occasionally opened to the public. Museum website.

XM597 at Museum of Flight, East Fortune

XM597
National Museum of Flight, Scotland

The only Vulcan to reside in Scotland is XM597, which is at the National Museum of Flight at East Fortune, not too far from Edinburgh. Museum website.

XM598
Royal Air Force Museum, Cosford

The other RAF Museum in the UK is at Cosford, close to Birmingham. Their Vulcan is XM598, which is displayed inside a hangar. Museum website.

This museum also holds the cockpit section of Vulcan XA893.

XM612 at Norwich

XM612
City of Norwich Aviation Museum

Displayed outside at this museum on the perimeter of Norwich Airport. Museum website.

Vulcan at Goose Bay

XL361
Goose Bay Airport, Canada

The only Vulcan in Canada. This one flew across the Atlantic and had a technical problem which grounded it. As a result, it was decided to turn XL361 into a gate guard display to commemorate the RAF’s involvement with Goose Bay Airport.

XM573
Strategic Air and Space Museum, Ashland, NE

One of three Vulcans preserved in the USA. XM573 is complete and can be seen by visitors to the museum. She arrived here in 1982. Museum website.

XM605
Castle Air Museum, Atwater, CA

This museum is at the Castle AFB in California. Its Vulcan, XM605, arrived in 1981. Museum website.

XJ824 at Duxford

XJ824
Imperial War Museum, Duxford

Displayed indoors at this famous British aviation museum in Cambridgeshire. Museum website.

XM606
Global Power Museum, Barksdale, LA

The third Vulcan in America. XM606 is displayed outside at this museum at Barksdale AFB. Museum website.

XL360
Midland Air Museum, Coventry

One of three Vulcans in the English Midlands, XL360 is displayed outside. It is usually open to the public. Museum website.

XM575
East Midlands Aeropark

On display in this compact open-air museum next to the runway at East Midlands Airport, close to Nottingham and Leicester. Museum website.

XJ823
Solway Aviation Museum, Carlisle

Finally, XJ823 is tucked away in north-west England, a few miles from the border with Scotland, at Carlisle Airport. Museum website.

In addition to these complete airframes, you can also see part fuselages of Vulcans in the following locations:

• Aeroventure Museum, Doncaster
• Jet Age Museum, Gloucester Staverton Airport
• Bournemouth Aviation Museum
• Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum

Plus a few cockpit sections in private hands.

I hope this has given you some good insight about where to see the Vulcan bomber in all its glory, even though it is now grounded. Go and visit some of these magnificent aircraft and inspect them at close quarters.