Avro Vulcan

Wednesday 12th November 2008 saw the return of Avro Vulcan XH558 to her current home at Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire. PlanesTV were at Bruntingthorpe and Farnborough, which has been the aircrafts temporary base for the last 4 weeks, to record what was potentially the aircraft's last flight.

Each year RAF Waddington plays host to one of the biggest airshows in the UK. The undoubted highlight in 2008 was the return to the airshow scene of Avro Vulcan XH558. This program includes the Vulcan’s emotional return to Waddington and practise display before the event, as well as the aircraft’s main display and formation flypast with the Avro Lancaster.

The RAF Role Demonstration also provided a thrilling spectacle and material from onboard the E3D, Tornado F3s, Chinook and Apache add to the excitement.

Historic Airshow presents ten highlights from 6 of the UK's premier events in 190 minute feast of spectacular action spanning the whole spectrum and history of powered flight from priceless biplane great to retired military jets.

The all action style will bring hours of pleasure to any aircraft enthusiast.

Narrated by Jerry Mead and Sean Maffett.

In March 1993 the last airworthy Vulcan XH558 was retired to Bruntingthorpe joining a brace of Lightnings from the same era. Though these aircraft are unable to fly, the prospect of simply hearing them start up and make high speed runs was enough to attract a huge crowd

The airfield, once the home of the giant B47 Stratojet bombers again echoed to the sound of "Big Thunder".

Part 1

Vulcan, Lightning, Jet Provost, Vampire, Orion, Nimrod, Hawk, Tornado, Jaguar, Harrier, Buccaneer

Humberside Airport was formally RAF Kirmington in Lincolnshire from which Lancasters operated in WWII. Indeed Lincolnshire is known as "Bomber County" due to the large number of RAF bases sited there and several still exist today, providing some of the stars of the show.

The "Red Arrows" were from Scampton, the Vulcan from Waddington, the BBMF from Coningsby. The show had a rare gathering of vintage jets, and the exceptional weather provided a beautiful backdrop for the displays

"Woodford Airshow is one of the best in the UK. It is organised by the Royal Airforces Association and hosted by British Aerospace who build the ATP airliner at Woodford. BAe types therefore feature but so do the Vulcan and Lancaster, with Woodford being the site of the former AVRO company. Other historic types included locally owned and flown Cirrus Moth, BAe's Mosquito and a Lightning F6 (for static display) on a rare outing from BAe Warton. This years stars though were heavy metal.

The British Aerospace airfield at Woodford in Greater Manchester is the legendary home of Avro and their June airshow always presents an exciting line up. This year, Avro's history was well presented and included the Avro 504 - the first aircraft ever to make a planned bombing mission. Avro's most famous bombers are also included - the Vulcan (its 25th Birthday display at Woodford in 1990) and the Lancaster, featuring the event surrounding its emotional poppy-drop for the V.J. celebrations.

1992 saw the 50th Anniversary of the UK arrival of the US 8th Air Force and the show featured a strong warbird presence. The Douglas A26 Invader is a rare sight at UK airshows. The Vulcan and RAF Phantom were here in their last ever display at Mildenhall. American air power excelled with Starlifter, Galaxy, F15E and the F14 Tomcat. But the star of the show (on static display) was the F117A "Stealth Fighter". Our cameras were there to record its arrival.

This DVD features Scampton's July airshow with the Red Arrows, Vulcan, Lancaster and CFS types taking pride of place but with a wide variety of other aircraft too including a privately owned and beautifully restored Gnat as flown by the Red Arrows when they formed over 25 years ago. To many though, the highlight will be the 'Russian Knights' at Scampton in September. Our cameras caught all the action on the ground and, in the clear blue skies, their spectacular display.