Just a short one here.

I think I’ve mentioned XH558 before. It’s the last flying Avro Vulcan bomber, one of the classic aircraft designs made and built in Britain. XH558 is 50 years old this year and run by a charitable trust. It’s an awesome sight, managed and maintained by a charitable trust. Problem is, with the current economic climate they’re a funding shortfall to the end of the year. Over the last month, the charity has been trying to raise £400,000 to cover the gap and ensure that the Vulcan isn’t permanently grounded.

It’s important to me in a lot of ways; it’s a sign of British engineering and also harks back to a different world where the UK had a vision of itself very different to the slightly grubby one of today. I also think that it’s important that so much hard work would be lost if the trust has to shut up shop. It’s something that inspires people when they see it.

They need to raise just under £150,000 in the next 4 days to guarantee XH558’s future as a flying aircraft.

If you feel you can, please consider making a donation at http://www.vulcantothesky.org/ or buying some of their merchandise at http://www.vulcantotheskystore.co.uk/ which has stuff for all ages.

Thanks for listening.