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RAF Waddington International Airshow 2008 and Vulcan XH558 Part 1 - Howard Heeley

Airshow Photographs

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2 XH558 at RAF Waddington - Celebrating Permit to Fly & Display Authorisation

RAF Waddington Air Show 2008
By Nick Heeley, with background information prepared by Howard Heeley, Down To Earth Promotions

The RAF Waddington Air Show 2008 was the stage for many spectacular displays by aircraft old and new. But, the wonders that the pilots pull off in the air are all done to guarantee that the team behind the air show achieve their aims and continue to support the RAF.

The show aims to:
    . Raise public interest in the RAF,
    . Display unique assets of air power,
    . Generate enthusiasm for history, RAF careers and their current capabilities and
    . To raise funds for many deserving charities.

Photo by Howard Heeley.
USAF E-3C Sentry
0560

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Sentinel R1
ZJ693

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Hawk T1
XX325

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Typhoon F2
ZJ911

Each year, the show raises between £100,000 and £250,000, 35% of which goes to the RAF Association, another 35% to the RAF Benevolent Fund and 30% to other local charities of the stations choice. The station makes no profit from the air show and the money goes to help many people, such as Carl Harding who addressed those present at the Thursday press briefing. He was involved in a major road traffic accident and is now confined to a wheel chair, yet through the bad times that he and his family went through the RAF Benevolent Fund was there to support them and help them come to terms with their changed circumstances.

The RAF Benevolent Fund has been working to help current and ex members of the service since the start of the RAF, in 1918, and one of the key themes this year is the 90th Anniversary of the service, as well as looking at the RAF Today and Youth in the Community.

The Vulcan Coming Home

This was the final air show themes that related to an aircraft that was formally based at Waddington for many years and is one of the iconic parts of its history and so it is fitting that in this 90th year this was a major part of the air show. On Thursday 3rd July, it was announced at the early morning press briefing that 'the Vulcan Coming Home!' was another of the key themes to this year's Air show and that as the briefing was taking place, the Civil Aviation Authority [CAA} were at Bruntingthorpe undertaking the final audit for the certification process. The media were also advised of a corporate arrangement with the Blades Aerobatic Team.

Throughout the day the assembled media were regularly updated on the news from Bruntingthorpe by Andrew Edmondson the Project Engineering Director from the Vulcan to the Sky Trust.

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
XM607

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
XH558

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
XH558

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
XH558

The most critical information was announced just after 1600 hours, when everyone was advised of the following via a press statement, 'I am absolutely delighted to announce that Avro Vulcan B.Mk2 XH558 has today been granted her Permit to Fly on the UK Civil Register by the Civil Aviation Authority, and has subsequently landed safely at RAF Waddington to be present for this weekend's Air show'

A short while later the media were told of the anticipated departure time from Bruntingthorpe. At the same time, the Blades departed the Lincolnshire airfield for a photo call with the Vulcan over RAF Cottesmore.

Eventually everyone's patience and excitement was rewarded when XH558 came into distant view over southern Lincolnshire and finally making an approach over the airfield. Everyone at the base was then treated to nearly thirty minutes of 'display flying' by XH558, which later transpired to be the Display Authorisation [DA] for the aircraft.

Having gained its DA on Thursday, the 'delta lady' was able to make her first display to the public for nearly 15 years on Saturday leaving members of the crowd emotional as the she soared through the Lincolnshire skies with the equally iconic Lancaster bomber. The Avro Formation was the highlight of many people's air show as the two aircraft flew together for the first time in many years, and although she only performed a fast taxi run on the Sunday due to an alternator problem, her mere presence at the air show evokes memories of years ago. It is a credit to the hard work that TVOC have put in to get her back in the air and the public eye, in the hope that it will educate people about the Cold War and encourage children and teenagers to join the service.


All photograph copyright / credits:
Howard Heeley - Down To Earth Promotions, and Nick Heeley.



Click Here to continue to part 2 of this article.






Photographs

Photo by Howard Heeley.
CASA 295
23562

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Chilean C-130H
995

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Chilean C-130H
995

Photo by Howard Heeley.
USAF E-3C Sentry
0560

Photo by Howard Heeley.
USAF E-3C Sentry
0560

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Los Halcones
Chilean Air Force

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Los Halcones
Chilean Air Force

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Los Halcones
Chilean Air Force

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Los Halcones
Chilean Air Force

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Hawk T1
XX325

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Typhoon F2
XJ911

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Patrulla Aguila
Spanish Air Force

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Patrulla Aguila
Spanish Air Force

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Indian Sarang
Indian Air Force

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Indian Sarang
Indian Air Force

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Sentinel R1
ZJ693

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Los Halcones
Chilean Air Force

Photo by Howard Heeley.
RAF E-3D Sentry
ZH107


Vulcan coming home
Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
XH558

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
XH558

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
XH558

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
XH558

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
XH558

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
XH558

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
XH558

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
XH558

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
XH558

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
XH558

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
XH558

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
XH558

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
XH558

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
XH558

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
XH558

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
& Blades

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
& Patrulla Aguila

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
& Patrulla Aguila

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
& Patrulla Aguila

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
& Blades

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
& Blades

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
Celebration

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
Celebration

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
Celebration

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
Celebration

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
Celebration

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
Celebration

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
Celebration

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
Celebration

Photo by Howard Heeley.
Vulcan B2
Celebration