Downturn 'may end Vulcan flights'

A technical fault prevented the Vulcan's flight home this week

The team behind the recently restored Vulcan Bomber fear it could become the latest victim of the economic downturn.

The aircraft, which used to be at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, took part in several displays in the summer but the project is now running out of cash.

A technical fault prevented XH558 flying to its base at Bruntingthorpe in Leicestershire on Tuesday.

A second attempt will be made to fly there on Wednesday, but there are fears this could be its last flight.

'Moth-balled'

The aircraft has been in Farnborough for several weeks.

Business development director Michael Trotter said: "She could be coming home for the final time, with echoes of her 'final flight' in March 1993.

"In real teams if we cannot sustain the sum of £135,000 which it costs to operate and maintain the Vulcan then there is a real danger that she will have to be mothballed, which will make it very difficult for her to fly again in the future."

In October the team behind it petitioned the prime minister to ensure funding to keep it in the sky.

Last year the Cold War aircraft flew for the first time since a 15-year, £7m restoration project in Leicestershire.

But the team has faced continued funding, weather and technical problems.

Some 20,000 people have contributed to the restoration fund for the bomber.