Doncaster: Vulcan XH558 bomb-bay name appeal launched

The Vulcan to the Sky Trust (VTST) has launched the appeal to mark the 16th anniversary of the cold war bomber making its last flight

Supporters of the last airworthy Vulcan bomber are being given the chance to have their names added to the aircraft.

The Vulcan to the Sky Trust (VTST) has launched the appeal to mark the 16th anniversary of the cold war bomber making its last flight.

The trust has asked for donations of £35 per name to help maintain the aircraft, which is currently based at Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

The airport closed in 2022 after owners Peel said it was financially unviable.

Vulcan bombers carried Britain's nuclear deterrent during much of the Cold War. They were retired from RAF service in 1993.

Marc Walters, chief executive of VTST, said: "We know how much it means to supporters to have their name on XH558 and become part of her history.

"Thousands of people have already shown their support and had their name or that of a loved one placed under the wings of this iconic aircraft."

The bomber has been kept at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, the original home base for the aircraft when it was RAF Finningley

The latest offer for supporters to have their names under the bomb bay doors coincides with the anniversaries of the aircraft's first post-restoration flight on 18 October, 2007, and its final flight on 28 October, 2015.

"To mark these significant moments in XH558's flying career, we are offering supporters the opportunity to have their name on XH558, giving them a permanent connection to this remarkable and historically important aircraft," Mr Walters said.

He said the trust was working closely with the airport's owners on a plan to keep XH558 in Doncaster, with increased access for supporters via a series of open days in 2024.

However, he added: "Given the current uncertainty around the future ownership of the site we are conscious that any agreement may be temporary, but we remain hopeful that an agreement that is suitable for both parties can be agreed."