Fight to raise £220,000 to keep iconic Vulcan flying

Earlier this year the Vulcan took up residence at Doncaster’s Robin Hood Airport after executives struck a deal with the Vulcan to the Sky charity.

It is hoped that the plane, which is the last of its kind still capable of flight, will start its airshow season in May, but that will not be possible without donations.

Charity bosses set a fund raising target of £350,000 for the end of May, but chief executive Dr Robert Pleming said donations to the fund had only hit £120,000.

In a bid to raise more cash, the Vulcan has been put on temporary display at the airport, which was developed on the site of the Vulcan’s former home base, RAF Finningley.

Dr Pleming said: “We hope that by the beginning of next month, we will be in a position to announce a more permanent arrangement for public viewing.

“For now, visitors are able to view the aircraft from a balcony and there is a shop where people can buy merchandise which will all contribute to the fund.”

Dr Pleming described the Vulcan as a “unique piece of aviation heritage” and said it would be a tragedy if the aircraft, which costs around £2m a year to run, was grounded.