Andrew Turner the Island’s MP is supporting the campaign to save the last flying Vulcan bomber. The Vulcan XH588 will be grounded forever unless public funding of £1 million pounds is identified by March 6th. The sum would put the Vulcan project on a sound financial footing for the future. The plane is operated as a National Heritage Asset and so belongs to every man, woman and child in Britain. The Vulcan was built in 1960 and flew again for the first time last year following a £7million restoration project. Vulcan bombers were called into action during the Falklands war in 1982 after 20 years of inactivity, the Falklands missions were then the longest range combat flights ever undertaken involving 8,000 mile round trips.
Mr Turner will be supporting a ‘pledgathon’ in London tomorrow morning when the Vulcan to the Sky project team will be seeking pledges from members of the public to ensure the future of the plane. As well as maintaining a historic plane lauded as a feat of first class British engineering, the project seeks to educate people about the pivotal role that Britain played in the defence of the Western world during the Cold War and to inspire young people to take up a career in British design, engineering and scientific industries.
Mr Turner said:
“The Island is rightly proud of our aviation heritage. The Vulcan is an emotive part of the history of British aviation development and engineering excellence. I believe that future generations should know of its history and have the opportunity to be inspired by seeing it fly.”
The clock is ticking for the Vulcan, anyone wishing to pledge can do so via their website at www.vulcantothesky.org. Pledges will only be collected once the target has been achieved.
END Contact : Andrew Turner’s office 01983 530808
