Vulcan to star at air show
The Vulcan bomber restored in Leicestershire is to stage a re-enactment of a Falklands War bombing run at an air show in the county.
The Vulcan – a Cold War veteran – will be the main attraction at Cosby Victory Show on Saturday.
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The restored Vulcan bomber will return to Leicestershire to make a star appearance at the Victory Show in Cosby.
It will be the latest in a series of appearances watched by an estimated two-and-a-half million people this summer.
The Vulcan XH558 returned to the skies nearly two years ago after a £7 million, 15-year restoration project in Bruntingthorpe, near Lutterworth.
It has now moved to its summer base at RAF Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire.
Saturday's appearance will be its first at an air show in the county.
Vulcan spokesman Richard Clarke said: "For the first time in this country, she will be performing a simulated bombing run.
"It will re-enact the bombing mission that was carried out by the Vulcan in the Falklands War on May 1, 1982.
"At that time, the Vulcan dropped 21 1,000 bombs on the runway at Port Stanley and succeeded in preventing its use by the fast jets of the Argentine Air Force."
Mr Clarke added: "So now, some 27 years later, this event will be re-enacted and the Vulcan will be flown once again by the same pilot who flew her on the first 'Black Buck' mission to the Falklands, Martin Withers DFC."
The aircraft will fly over the event at around 300ft with its bomb bay doors open.
A series of explosive charges will be set off in a neighbouring field.
Martin Withers said: "This is the first time in over 27 years that this event has occurred and it will be a reminder for me of the Vulcan's bombing of the Falklands, which was a great tribute to both the Vulcan and the Victor tanker aircraft and which made an important contribution to the successful outcome of the conflict."
Victory Show organiser and landowner Steve Pepper said: "The Vulcan is an iconic aircraft and it is a real privilege to be able to bring her to the show, for what will be her first public appearance in Leicestershire."
A professional pyrotechnics crew will be synchronising the explosions.
The Cosby Victory Show started as a one-off event to commemorate the 60th anniversary of VE Day in 2005, but has now become an annual event and the UK's largest Second World War show.
Thousands of people are expected to attend the two-day extravaganza that features military re-enactments, vehicle displays and air displays by a Spitfire, a Hurricane and a Lancaster.
It takes place this weekend at Foxlands Farm, in Croft Road, with gates opening at 9am each day and closing at 5pm.
Money raised goes to the Leicestershire hospice Loros.
Admission is £10 for adults and £5 for five to 16-year-olds.
2 Comments
by Neil Hadley, Sutton Coldfield
Thursday, September 03 2009, 10:29AM
“Bob, you clearly have no idea what your talking about. There was one direct hit on the runway, and one edge hit, and plenty of photo evidence!
What you probably don't understand is that these were un-guided 'dumb' bombs, and the skill demonstrated by not only the pilots, but also the navigation crew without any GPS and in the middle of the night, to get anywhere near the runway after completing the out-leg of what was the worlds longest bombing raid in history at 4,000 nautical miles over open sea, is incredible. I would suggest you research the Black Buck raids before trying to be clever with off the cuff comments.”
by Bob Azhobh, Leicester
Wednesday, September 02 2009, 1:07PM
“If it's an accurate representation, it'll miss Cosby by a fair distance”