(This is an appeal post, I asked for and received C K Dexter Haven’s permission before posting.)
As a followup to these threads last year: Vulcan Flies again and Avro Vulcan flies again - video
Avro Vulcan XH558, the only flying Avro Vulcan, has hit some difficult times. Due to poor weather conditions they lost significant sponsorship opportunities last year and now the economic climate is making it difficult for them to secure a major corporate sponsor. The engineering team has been given four week’s notice, and on the 6th of March the trust will be wound up, which will effectively ground XH558 permanently.
In order for her to fly in the 2009 season, the Vulcan to the Sky charity need to raise £500,000 in pledges by 6th March. They have already raised at least £330,000 - click for live figures.
Save our Vulcan - A video appeal by Vulcan to the Sky
(an exerpt from the email appeal by Dr Robert Pleming at the start of February, which launched the current push to raise £500,000)
[QUOTE=Dr Robert Pleming]
I’m able to let you know that the running total of money identified in our current campaign stands at nearly £500,000. But none of this has yet been converted into cash, because we are still significantly short of our £1million goal for keeping XH558 flying though 2009. We are therefore broadening and intensifying our campaign, which will continue to run through the month of February.
For example, we are seeking out new supporters in other interest groups: VTST was sponsored to attend the recent AutoSport International show at the NEC, Birmingham, where we made new friends amongst thousands of autosport enthusiasts.
To raise the visibility of our campaign, members of the Vulcan to the Sky Club are organizing a “Vulcan Scramble” starting on Sunday 22nd February, in which a small team will endeavour to visit all fifteen remaining Vulcans around the UK in just 24 hours. This promises to be an exciting, but hopefully incident-free, event!
February is the critical month for us, because we need to commit to the engineering work required to ensure XH558 is flying again by the end of April. This is primarily the 8-week Winter Service under the supervision of Marshall Aerospace, but also includes other mandatory Permit-to-Fly activities such as the Structural Sampling Programme.
I’ll let everyone know further news as the month proceeds, but in the meantime we all need to urgently focus on ensuring that XH558 has a future.
Robert Pleming
[/QUOTE]
If anyone wants to help there are several ways including, but not limited to Pledging, signing the 10 Downing Street petition (UK residents only) or searching through Everyclick to help to keep her flying. Something as simple as displaying posters or helping to get the word out could make the difference. Merchandise is available ranging from the cookbook (PDF order form) including recipes from Gordon Ramsey and Bruce Dickinson, to a range of memorabilia through their shop.
To promote the aircraft they have a whole set of events going on, including the Vulcan Scramble tomorrow, visiting all 15 Vulcan airframes in the UK to collect pledges and donations. There are a number of other events planned.
Please help if possible. As a piece of aviation history it would be a shame to lose her now, and with so much raised already the target is in reach.
