The last airworthy Avro Vulcan will be putting on a powerful display as she returns to Wings & Wheels on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th August this summer.
She won’t be alone though as on Saturday the Show has another special formation planned with the Vulcan and three Gnats of the Red Gnat Display Team performing a flypast.
The Vulcan to the Sky’s Avro Vulcan XH558 is the only flying example of the country’s powerful V-Force. Painted in “anti-flash” white, XH558 was delivered on 1st July 1960, from the factory at Woodford, near Manchester, to RAF Waddington near Lincoln. XH558 was the first Vulcan B.Mk2 to be delivered to the RAF, and she is now the oldest complete Vulcan in the world.
XH558 was also the last Vulcan to leave RAF service, flying on from 1986 to 1993 as the single RAF Display Vulcan, a career spanning 33 years. Her final flight was on 23rd March 1993 to Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome in Leicestershire, having been sold off by the Ministry of Defence to C Walton Ltd, a family firm which purchased and maintained her. In 1997, a small team, headed by Dr Robert Plemming, put together an audacious plan to return her to flight which took place in October 2007.
The Red Gnat Display Team is part of The Heritage Aircraft Trust (a UK registered Charity), dedicated to the restoration and conservation of classic historic aircraft. Its home base is at North Weald Airfield near London in Essex. The team currently consists of three Folland Gnat T. Mk1 aircraft expertly maintained and displayed and is the only civilian supersonic jet aerobatic display team on the air show circuit.
Jamie McAllister, Events Director comments: “As well as solo displays, the Vulcan and Red Gnat Display Team will be performing a one off fly past on Saturday, the second unique formation to take place over the weekend. We are very excited to have these aircraft join the line-up at Wings & Wheels, which is shaping up to be a 10th celebration to remember.”
The 10th annual Wings & Wheels will be held over the August Bank holiday weekend; Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th August 2014, at Dunsfold Park near Guildford, Surrey, and is open to spectators from 09:00 until 21:00.
Tickets start from £20 for adults, £45 for a family (2 adults and 3 children aged 5 – 15yrs), £6 for children aged between 5 and 15yrs and under 5s are free. Hospitality packages start from £150 per person, weekend passes, grandstand tickets and camping are also available. For more information visit www.wingsandwheels.net or to book standard tickets call 08712 305 572.
Wings & Wheels is promoted by Dunsfold Park Limited and in 2014 will be assisting the fundraising efforts of Brooklands Museum Trust and Help for Heroes.
