Filmed yesterday from the edge of the runway at Doncaster Finningley Airport.Just Amazing to be there to see such an historic event. Sit back and enjoy the final ever flying moments of one of the greatest aircraft ever to have flown,
Truly the most magnificent and majestic plane ever to have graced our skies. I sat in the cockpit of a Vulcan many years ago with my young son, he's nearly 50 now. Each time I saw her fly I was reduced to tears. I was at Doncaster airport on her last flight, fighting back the tears again. We will never see the likes of this brilliant plane ever again. I'm glad to say my name has been added to her under wing. I'm proud to have known her.🥰
@Digger Gardi I visited my son-in-law a few years ago when he was based at Lossie and then Kinloss (something to do with IT, hush-hush!) , not much going on there these days it seems.
I truly love how the pilot teases to land..then goes..."not yet..not yet"...."just a bit longer...". Finally..reluctantly bringing this beautiful aircraft to a final approach and landing. If I had the money and a way I would declare this peace of British history as a heritage like the battle of Britain memorial flight and keep at least one of these amazing aircraft...airworthy and to keep inspiring the younger generation of British aviation.
@@joejefferies6668 mainly because Rolls Royce decided to stop with the support that the aircraft need for ongoing operation as far as the engines were concerned. I suppose it was because of the retirement of engineers who knew these engines ( or knowing the way British bosses don't want to support things no longer profitable)
@@samrodian919 nah it was grounded mainly because there isn't a back up hydraulic system therefore if it fails your most likely dead so its a health and safety issue
The howl, engines spooling up, the crescent wing. Just beautiful. For those that don't have an interest they'll tell me 'it's just a plane.' To those of us that have that passion it most definitely isn't. Brings back memories of being sat on the roof of my late dad's metro watching 558 leap off the ground at Church Fenton and Finningley. I'm only an enthusiast but she meant something to me and has sentimental value. She wasn't just a plane.
That part when she was about to land and then the undercarriage went back inside and she howled as if to say I ain’t bloody done yet and don’t you forget this noise!!
I remember standing on the roof of the factory where I was working in the summer of 1968 and I watched a Vulcan a few miles away rehearsing over Lake Ontario for the CNE Airshow. This great airplane doing circles, rolls, climbs and I tend to recall half loops all out of earshot. Ghostly. A few days later at the Airshow I did hear the "howl." Like my youth and the UK's aeronautical predominance, the Vulcan is gone. Sad.
I feel especially fortunate as an American to see one live and in the flesh on U.S. soil when I lived at NAS Glenview, IL. We had them visit every year for the Chicago Air & Water Show. I had forgotten about the howl until I started YouTubing Vulcan videos. Ohhhh, that sound! In 1978, XL390 crashed near the base, killing the entire crew, RIP.
As loud as she was overhead when flying at height she was a ghostly almost silent apparition. Many were mistaken for UFO's while night flying. Privileged to have grown up with them flying overhead.
For the Size and age of that plane it is incredible Simple Aviation design combined with powerfull jet engines - that thing was a beast even though it was wayyy to expensive to run.. Basically for me the vulcan is no Bomber - it is just a very very Big fighter jet
Britain in a nutshell there. The howl, the tease landing.... my all time favourite aircraft. My eldest saw one of the last fly overs on the day her sister was welcomed to the world by friends. I took her out for a walk on the day of her sisters baby shower. I'm delighted my 5 year old daughter (at the time) got to see that and associates that with her little sister. She still talks about it now! Imagine standing on a hill about Highclere (Downton Abbey) and watching that fly over at full chat! Epic!
Even though I'm not from England, I revere the Vulcan as one of the best bombers anywhere in the world of its time. It left a lasting, untaintable impression on the RAF and it's sad to see this glorious beast was permanently grounded almost 5 years ago. RIP Tin Triangle, August 30th, 1952 to October 28th, 2015. You will be missed
I am so proud of my husband who flew this plane with such a great crew from Scampton. Lincoln.a lovely married life we all had.Thanks for showing all of us in connection with her Sights we all took,so much for granted. 21:20 I have just finished a lovely reading of all the letters from people who did appreciate her and maybe some even flew together. I could always hope so.
A Message to KIng Charles, The R.A.F has a flying Hurricane, A flying Spitfire, A flying Lancaster my question to you Sir is, Why Oh Why do we not have a Flying Vulcan? This is a Part of English History and we should have a flying example of this Magnificent aircraft for all the people of the UK and the world to enjoy, there is nothing like her and never will be anything like her again PLEASE get her back in the air where she belongs. Respectfully The English People.
The cost to keep it in the air would be prohibitive, not only that, the airframe of XH558 has flown more hours than any other Vulcan. Since it hasn't flown since 2015 it would need to be completely stripped down and every component inspected thoroughly. The cost would be astronomical.😢☹️
Dear 264, There cannot be any more spectacular view than a Vulcan leaping skywards from the runway and then rolling in more the manner of a fighter than a bomber. Excellent videography. Subbed. Regards, Z
Thank you Z for your kind comments. Having worked with VTTSC for 7 years it was a real honour to be there for that last flight. It was also a very difficult day but I am proud to have been there.
I was based at RAF Waddington in the 80’s and worked on all of the Vulcans back in the day. I was also part of the team that was based on Ascension Island, the Vulcan will always be my favourite of all aircraft ever and my favourite time of life thanks for the memories
I saw the Vulcan at an airshow at Finningley in 1992 and I think the following year if I remember correctly. The most amazing sight I ever seen at an airshow and that includes any modern jet fighters or bombers through out the UK in the last 40 years. Remember the sortie in the Falklands War, perfect example of what a great aircraft it was and still is. Currently on display at a museum about 10 miles from where I live, certainly worth a visit.
All these years later still feels like a crime that such a marvel of human ability and engineering isn't maintained and kept alive as a enduring lesson for everyone to the possibilities of the mind no matter the cost.
Well done to the camera person , you captured the historic but very sad last moments of this most wonderful and beautiful pieces of engineering that ever graced the skies . It always brought a tear to to my eye on the two occasions i was lucky enough to have seen it !
The sound of freedom. The elephant roar. I got to climb into one once . A vast aeroplane amazingly small and claustrophobic inside, the Vulcan and the Spitfire will be British icons and exemplars for engineering excellence forever.
Yes as a 14 yo schoolboy we visited the RAF apprentice school at RAF Halton and we were allowed to climb up into the cockpit of a Vulcan they had there for training the apprentices. This was in 1968 when the Vulcan squadrons were still a current operational nuclear bomber force along with the Valiants and Victors. Looking back now ( 2022 ) 54 years later, I realise it was an enormous privilege for us.
Nobody would ever expect to see her fly once more in the early 90's when the airframe was kind of ok and spare parts were sought all over the U.K , and the whole project to get her flying was just a long haul with only very limited budgets for too long. To have such a complicated machine fly once again, and for several Years is a huge tribute to all the volunteers, and retired personel that eventually made this happen, to hear her howling roar on takeoff once more!
She was never meant to howl but she was a banshee because she was built to fly. That’s exactly it. She screams her banshee roar as she takes to the sky. You either love that howl or its not your best day. I personally love her. Every quirk, every howl, every time she can just make your jaw drop with each vertical climb. She’s a proper lady and you’d be surprised how much she can swear.
Reminds me of the day when I was going to cycle from Lincoln from Gainsborough as a teenager. Never got there as I stopped at the viewing area at Scampton as the Vulcans were doing circuits and bumps. The sound produced as those four engines threw out everything they could to force that beautiful aircraft into the sky was enough to shake your soul loose. Even my mother misses them though she used to complain about having to stop conversations until the Vulcans had gone past. One of the flying greats.
I was at Finningley between 1961-63 and often saw her o/g & a/b with either 18SQN or 230OCU. I once observed her take-off roll in a rapid 2-minute scramble where all vulcans took off at full power, only to later learn the number of windows blown out in the mq's! We ancillary staff were loaded in to, I think, a comms Viscount (?) and flown to a god-forsaken alternate airfield I know not where staying for 12 hours then flown back to Finningley. Happy days. Just a brilliant a/c that is sorely missed.
I was privileged to see her fly at "Wings And Wheels" at Dunsfold about ten years ago, utterly awe inspiring, the roar and distinctive howl set car alarms off and made small children cry. I do hope she'll fly again.
The only Vulcan I ever saw was the one dangling its undercarriage after nearly crashing on Wellington Airport during an attempted touch and go. She really was a beautiful and graceful aircraft. The noise from those engines was unbelievable. ❤❤❤
What a magnificent aircraft!!! I didn't ever have the privilege to work on one, but I did work on the NBS (Navigation & Bombing System) fitted into Hastings (!!!)) aircraft, training the Nav. Radar aircrew. Bomber Command complained the reaction times of the newly trained Nav. Radars, were too slow, going from a 200Kt to 600Kt aircraft!!! Then for my last 4 years (of my 12) in the RAF, I was an instructor on the Radar, Analogue Computers, Display etc. that formed the NBS System. Wow!
I've been impressed with the Vulcan since first seeing it back in 1981 when I was on active duty. Sad to see it pass into the history books. It's still an amazing aircraft.
The Vulcan gets your heart pumping simply watching a video of it in 2020. Can you imagine the unrestrained thrill it must have been seeing it at an air show in the 1950s?? Jeebus H. Awesome.
I had the honour of seeing her at the Farnborough Air Show in 2014, her rate of climb from the ground at take off was simply breathtaking - and the sound was like an earthquake in my stomach.
Envy of the world ??? Laughable. Seriously. A nice antique with early 1950's technology but hardly the envy of the world ... took a fleet of tankers to get one airplane from Ascension to the Falklands with a few 500lbs bombs. Envy ??? Don't think so, mate
About 30 years ago I was working on RAF Marham. We were well used to planes taking off and landing all day but one morning I was standing on the scaffold and it began to shake, then there was this deep roar and the sky went dark directly above me. I looked up and a vulcan was flying right over my head really really low as it had just took off, it was like some sort of demonic Swan. Anyone who has ever seen one of these planes close up will never forget it, and that sound.
The good news is this plane will be kept in a museum where it will be maintained and updated so that future generations will be able to see and appreciate it. The bad news is that it will likely not be airworthy again. A plane of any type usually has a limited service life and from whatever I’ve read this plane has done that and beyond that.
Thank you to the British V-force, the designers, engineers who built them, all the service men, ground crew, logistics, pilots, navigators, weapons officers, electronic countermeasures, for keeping the peace.
I’ve watched this video many times and it never fails to make the hair stand up on the back of my neck, and bring a tear to my eye and a lump to my throat.
That was so good but so very sad. I saw her fly a few times and was always amazed at how could such a thing of beauty be so terrifying at the same time. Great vid, thank you.
Even now,a small child making the sound of a `jet` will make the sound of the one and only beautiful Avro Vulcan..I was lucky enough to see a group of three of them flying low over my grandparents farm on Offas Dyke regularly many years ago,the sight and sound was just fantastic.
I had the privilege of seeing a Vulcan at McGuire AFB in New Jersey in 1965 when I was nine years-old. Some years later I'm able to appreciate the effort involved bringing it to our shores so that I could gape at the immensity of it. I can't say that i ever saw this grand ship take to the air but its enough, now, to remember that once i stood in its presence,
Fantastic vid of a huge occasion. England is fortunate XH558 was given a second lease on life. For myself, I am so thankful for videos like these. Many thanks!
@@264flight Oh yes, it would’ve been hugely so. It was emotional for me, so I can only imagine how so for you! So much power & grace in those Vulcan’s. Incredible that they were designed so close to the Second World War. No computers or CAD. I read they had to keep XH558’s nose down during take off, as the wing produced so much lift she would start to rotate before the correct speed was reached. Incredible.
Great video. I was an aircraft electrician in the USAF, and in 1981 while TDY in Goose Bay Labrador, Canada, I got to see the Vulcan fly and go inside. I remember feeling how cramped it was for such a large aircraft. The mechanic who showed me the plane did a great job explaining how it worked. It stands as one of the highlights of my career. The Vulcan bomber was an amazing plane to see fly.
I was at It's previous 'last flight' at Cranwell where she flew her last display and they opened the bomb doors that showed the black lettering of 'Farewell'. I looked around and I never saw a dry eye, anywhere. She was so loved.
Wow yeah that was in 1992 I thought she would never fly again yet alone spend 13 years working with her. She will be much missed when moved from Doncaster.
Oh that “growl” gets me every time. The Vulcan is a hauntingly beautiful jet. I’ve had the privilege and pleasure of seeing her fly a few times. By far my very favourite military jet. Her vertical profile is beautiful. Thank you for sharing this video x
Didn't the pilots draw a white mark on the throttle for the maximum howl.But you wouldn't believe this VULCAN is nearly 75 years old its absolutely unbelievable *RIP VULCAN* WE SALUTE YOU 💂
I remember seeing the Vulcan perform at airshows at Offutt AFB in the 70s. If you haven't seen this bird do a hammer head stall, you ain't seen nothing.
Magmificent. Even the elements seemed to play their part in tribute, with the Vulcan dosappearing into and emerging from cloud, and mist deamatically streaming from the wings at one point. Note the final, defiant howl at around 17:00 as she flew low right in front of the spectators, though she went round twice more, and her final touchdown was gentle and graceful, seemed to be accepting the inevitable end.
You know after the early 1990's I didn't think any would ever fly again so fortunately by a miracle we were able to get 7 more years of it flying from 2008 to 2015.
Fuck the argies, nothing a GPMG wont fix. Pwoah, the Vulcans old!, Never read fucking letters from your family who were over there. Say shit like that and they will slap you. You miss what this plane represents. Its lost on you. It guarded you, and depending on your age. It. Seriously. Guarded. You! Dicks like you will be the doom of this country.
As a young child in the mid 1960s in New Zealand I attended an air show with the family. Not 100% sure it was a Vulcan, however the aircraft made a slow pass overhead and during the pass opened its bomb doors. The visual memory was imprinted for life.
I have been researching my late fathers RAF history, and he was stationed at Finningley and I believe he worked on XH558 and the BOB aircraft too, to say im proud is an understatement.
Probably the best video of 558 and certainly the last of her flying. What a shame.. But well done to all those who kept her in the air for so long. Thanks to all concerned as my grandsons are now fans of The Mighty Vulcan.
I was so privileged to see the last flying Vulcan. I watched it fly over goodwood and I heard that howling noise. I’m so sure that howling noise frightened the heck out of anyone on the wrong side of this amazing aircraft.
Such a dramatic but sad ending for this beautiful aircraft..Remembering my contribuitions that I gave to rebuild her and my experience during her renovation
I used to live near Finningly air field when the Vulcans where in service and used to go and stand at the fence at the end of the runway and watch them take off and land no way to put into words the feeling of Awe at the power they gave off I think in a war situation they would have been on a par with Spitfire
Thank you for sharing this great video of the legendry Avro Vulcan XH558. I was lucky enough to see this remarkable jet 3 times. It still saddens me to think it is now a static display but I still have the fond memories from the last 3 years. Thank you again for sharing.
That is totally awesome in 2023… It must have been incredible back in the 1950’s! 😮 Such a huge shame she couldn’t be maintained with a bottomless pit of money to keep flying..
I remember as a kid in 1974 my dad was based at RAF Honington home of the Buccaneers at the time. He took me into work to watch a Vulcan doing circuits and bumps one day. I was sat out side the fire section. Amazing noise.
I’ve loved the Vulcan since I saw it in Thunderball (007) when I was a boy, shame Australia never flew them but a truly beautiful aircraft, so majestic looking.
Well thank you for sticking with me over the years it's been a real pleasure going out there and filming XH558 and bringing her to those of you who can not get to see her. Hopefully not the end though as we look forward to XH558's return for fast taxis next year. Watch this space :-).
