XH558's Final Flight (inc: onboard footage) 28th October 2015

[@mattsmedley.onehandedgamin9029]

I'm a child of the 70s. I remember seeing these in the sky regularly. I once asked my dad what they were doing and he replied. "Keeping us safe son" Yeah I miss my old man, and the Vulcan too.

[@averilwalker8131]

Me too, Matt, me too. My dad was a proud RAF man...he adored all aircraft, but "his" Vulcan always held a special place in his heart

[@modelairplanss]

Chorando aqui, man!

[@larswhitt1549]

@@averilwalker8131 My dad was in the Danish airforce, addored all amarican planes. But my mom loved the Vulcan and learned all about it and shared it with me. Can still remember as 6 or 7 year old visiting an airbase with my dad and a vulcan came by to show respect to some event there.

[@bagelking6364]

She was possibly one of the most beautiful iconic and graceful girls to ever take to the air,how we all Miss XH558. The skies are a lot quieter without that howl. 😢😢

[@ben5shuttle]

British brilliance, with a stunning name...that still makes the tears of British Engineering pride roll down the cheeks. Thank you team XH558 and supporters for keeping her flying as long as you did.

[@CanadairCL44]

From the Avro 504K to the Vulcan. Amazing leaps in technology from British engineers.

[@jonsenior7001]

Nice to see it was Martin Withers who captained the old lady on her final flight. What a bloke 👍

[@GJones462-2W1]

If you've ever seen it, you'll NEVER forget it.

[@alanmumford8806]

Absolutely correct. I saw one (maybe not XH558) at Shoreham Airday in 1997 or 8. The sight, sound and body-shuddering effect of when the pilot did a near-vertical tail stand climb after a low pass was incredible and will stay with me to my grave. Youngsters use the word so easily these days, but it was a truly awesome experience.

[@mcahill135]

What an amazing machine. The sound is so unique and spectacular. The sound of FREEDOM.

[@RahulSingh-im1xk]

, L😊

[@anthony2806]

anyone else feel like we have lost an old friend?

[@kyotokid4]

...yep.

[@ladytinkaharris6637]

Yeh we have lost an old friend I remember seeing the Vulcan XH558 at an airshow one year I can't exactly tell which year it was but the sound as it flew past was amazing a sound of like flying thunder with wings and the shape of the wing was amazing to delta wing I think they are called

[@porg7373]

Its still with us in coventry

[@anthony2806]

@@porg7373 yeah but she's grounded.

[@porg7373]

@@anthony2806 yep ik Xd

[@blacktiger955i]

Couldn't hold back the tears. Thanks guys.

[@IanLanc]

+blacktiger955i Me too! The nod at 8:34 did it for me.

[@Bruce-1956]

+ian8354 that was at 7:16

[@fatrichie]

+blacktiger955i You're in good company in the tear department!

[@Bruce-1956]

+Rich Adney strange that most wives think we're emotionless, but when something like this happens we're all emotion.:)

[@TheCormTube]

How can an old hunk of flying metal bring on tears? The Vulcan was a symbol of the greater United Kingdom, greater than we are today.....reading it's story through Operation Black Buck (hearing superfuse! on the radio recording) and the feeling you got when she howled past you at the airshow.....the bitter disappointment I felt at a later airshow when an announcement came that she couldn't make it due to mechanical troubles....THIS IS HOW.....

[@stellanewman4514]

Brings a tear to the eye. Thank you to everyone who made her flights possible.

[@danielbones3072]

It was lovely they Martin Withers took the controls for the last time. What a great bloke.

[@steveraynor2946]

I was there for the last three of her take off's and landings, absolutely stunning ! The best of British, The mighty Vulcan and Sir Edward Elgar.

[@avoidingtrees6692]

Hats off British people....what a beautiful legacy to the world of aviation . Humble respect from France.

[@52templar]

They maintain peace

[@IkinAaron]

@Oliver Eales You can't lie though, still a remarkable aircraft

[@airzulu2733]

Meri boucoup .

[@lenfirewood4089]

Thank you - it's best tribute was that it never had to be used for what it was designed. It was a major part of our deterrent force at a critical juncture and it deterred thank heavens:)

[@avoidingtrees560]

I knew in my old day a gentleman called , Steve Monaghan.he flew the Vulcan , then became the chef pilot of global supply system in London Stansted.do you know this person ?

[@alanmayes8310]

This is the RAF I joined and proudly served for 30 years, never got the opportunity to work on the Vulcans but was inspired by them and loved to see them fly..... Awesome aircraft.

[@TheSilvanElf]

Has the sky ever seen such grace as this beautiful girl flying? Not just a mere machine but something else, something intangible, something amazing. Born out of a need to deter the ultimate horror yet created with such form, beauty and finesse. Thank you XH558 - we will not forget you and I know I, like so many others, will visit you often. Thank you to all of you at VTTS for your sterling work in letting us all see her these past few years against all the odds. Thank you to all who have contributed and let us all continue to contribute so she will remain with us, albeit from the ground only. Raw power and aesthetic perfection will never be united like this again.

[@tortinwall]

Only Concorde.

[@lsabry]

Our dad was a crew chief on the Vulcan at RAF Waddington in the late 60s early 70s. This video was especially poignant for me as we lost him last year. He flew all over the world with it and watching this video has brought back so many lovely memories. Thank you.

[@biggedybiggedybong8032]

' i shed a tear' well i did too.. her last ever flight i was near Donny n had to pull over when i heard the final call on the RT...she had landed and it was the end of a magical era in Vulcan history... I still get emotional now seeing these videos... 48 yrs old n crying over the tin triangle... Dont cry cos its over..smile cos it happened!

[@boyfromblackstuff7859]

Wow,as a child of immigrant parents in this country of my birth, this truly blew my mind,my God I love England and all it stood for!

[@stephenpl]

What a great video, not only shows the plane flying and the view outside but it also shows the crew working to fly the the big bomber. You can even see the navigator down stairs at the "work table" in some shots. I was a B-52 pilot for 8 years and flew low level all the time. It's not that easy down in the weeds below 200 ft and moving between 360-400 kts in a big jet. Kudos to these guys for doing a great job over these last years......

[@BlackAce-zr2ms]

We shall never forget her beauty and power... We are the lucky ones to have seen her where she belongs. A real tribute to British aviation and what it achieved in such a short period, XH558 now becomes one of many Vulcan's that survive today but we shall forever keep her in our hearts.

[@content4now]

A fitting tribute to the machine and to the lads that maintained and flew them. Praying that a similar spirit reignites the youth of Great Britain to regain a sense of pride in that nation.

[@tywyncatholic]

I lived in Wilmslow. As a child I used to see the Vulcan regularly flying in and out of Avros at Woodford. Happy memories, though very noisy. My memory now plays tricks ... I am 76 ..... nearly as noisy as the first Sabina Caravelles flying out of Ringway very low over Wilmslow.

[@jimmillward3505]

when i was just a young lad back in the early 80's my family live in a town in Cumbria called Sedbergh, behind the town is a 2000 foot hill called Winder". I was climbing to the summit of the hill whne i heard the most bizarre and unearthly thundering screech, that's when i looked over my shoulder looking down into the valley where Sedbergh nestles and i suddenly saw it was a Vulcan flying over the town. I was actually looking down on the aircraft and i could even see the pilot as it flaw past. A childhood moment i will never forget, when you see and hear one of these mighty aircraft youre not likely to forget it.

[@sumojones1]

My dad used to ride me to farnborough air show on the back of his bike in the 70's down leafy surrey lanes to see the vulcan and many other historic jets. Happy memories. WE WILL MISS YOU VULCAN!

[@jackharrison6771]

I still like hearing tales of the chief test pilot rolling the Vulcan over the roof of the hanger, and smashing the glass. I've sat in the cockpit of two Vulcans, at RAF Cosford in early 1970s, and at Blackpool During late 90s-early 2000s.It's so sad to see them grounded and rotting, after thinking what a major role they played in our history.

[@mraccyd]

I live within 1/2 mile of the airport, Martin did a fantastic job on this last flight lots of aerobatics and multiple approaches. It was an amazing and dignified end to an old warship of the skies of old, when Britain was a major power. So sad that's over now.

[@alicewade-arnold9388]

I'm 28 now, I saw her this summer (2015) at the Bournemouth air show, I'd seen her fly at waddington a years before, she is absolutely amazing, I got a bit teary watching this. The jets get faster but nothing will live up to this beautiful thing. Nothing was going to stop me watching her last Bournemouth air show. Watching her do a wing over over the sea was so incredible, and the noise she made 😍😍😍

[@lizbeard9463]

OMG...that was one of the most moving videos I have ever watched, had me in tears (the music, although perfect!...didn't help with the grief! ) A true hero of the skies and so proud of British Engineering. Thank you for your service XH558 x

[@brianjackson7499]

She is pure brilliance in every aspect. Sad to see her retired but it's fair to say she's earned her rest, never forgotten. The best of British !

[@TuffBurnOutTeam]

brian jackson why has It been grounded the air frame Can't Be out of times surely

[@EthanThomson]

tuff ute its getting too expensive to maintain the vulcan as flight worthy

[@phillonsdale2952]

OMG! how incredibly moving, sat at work in tears. Fantastic film, an incredible aircraft, saw them fly in the 70's. Iconic & never to be forgotten. Thank you so much for posting.

[@davidpeters6536]

Very emotional, I grew up with these fabulous machines. When the last Lightning, Concord, Victor, VC10 and Vulcan make a last touch down it brings a tear to the eye. And Edward Elgar in accompaniment, Thank you.

[@craiglington]

I have a lump in my throat. Magnificent. Thank you to all. Goodbye XH558. It was a pleasure.

[@brockjennings]

The Vulcan was a harbinger of nuclear demise. And yet, its ethereal beauty was magnificent. Such a dichotomy of the creative hands of mankind.

[@garysangster3092]

Genuinely upsetting watching this now, 14th August 2022. The memories I have of this as a child visiting airshows with my parents... it honestly feels like I've lost an old friend. RIP Old girl.

[@Cynisca]

😢 Vulcan grit in my eyes and an aching heart. I felt so sorry for poor Martin, the sadness in his eyes..❤

[@americianflyer72]

I live in the US and just saw this video, I wish I could have seen this beautiful aircraft in person, the videos I've seen on the Vulcan while awesome to see, in my opinion don't convey the same feeling as seeing her in person

[@matthewbowles654]

I miss this old girl, I worked on xl426 always in my heart. My dad was based at waddington working in these, counter measures system and radar. Love you xh 558....

[@tectorama]

I hope to See XL426 do a fast taxi run this Saturday at Southend. 11th Sept 21

[@redvanman10]

beautiful film and music and actually seeing the people in the back made it a bit more special. we got eight more years of seeing this wonderful aeroplane so thanks to all who helped out!

[@Radio478]

That sound, if you've never heard it, more importantly felt it in you chest, then you will never understand.

[@glamill51]

The Vulcan is my favourite aircraft. In the 1950's, I used to stand at the bottom of my garden and watch the display at the local aerodrome. Wonderful memories......

[@boxingexpert9065]

How old are you my man?

[@12barmac]

Now that was emotional............ I wasn't this bad on the day....... million thanks to everybody involved.... xxx

[@Sillybit]

i was there with my whole family in Wales gosh what a sight and i saw it at the royal air display wow i can't believe it has retired it is the most beautiful plane i have ever seen drifting in the sky the howl its just to much to imagine but you don't have to its right there.Thanks to all the crew who kept her still going i have seen lots of planes but nothing like this one! Thank you everyone who helped her and thanks to Vulcan trust and the pilots who kept her going!

[@Crashed121]

That was emotional..

[@patthewoodboy]

I have a great picture of XH558 banking hard right over North weald , was very lucky to capture that image :-)

[@kevinleighuk]

Lovely to see her flying one last time. Whether on the ground or in the air she was a magnificent thing of beauty!

[@AriesStyreneBistro]

yes have to admit I am not holding the tears back either, what a beautiful lady

[@nsha2011]

Makes me cry! That beautiful plane should never retire. A piece of history and love now remains in our hearts.

[@binxbolling]

But now it will never crash but be preserved.

[@tomwestwood5318]

God I love the Vulcan and this made me cry

[@Fireenginesofsurrey]

The tap on Martins shoulder made me loose the plot. Tears streaming now

[@headshunter]

Sobbed, guys, thank you, this is just beautiful..

[@Wildrossendale]

Lucky enough to be there on the day. Thanks Neil for giving your time, patience, expertise, money etc all for free in installing and editing the footage. Lovely cockpit footage. Nice to see how it look from up there than down there.

[@christritschler9310]

Do you know how I would get in touch with Neil to ask for permission to use this footage in a film about a Vulcan ?

[@OldMtnGeezer]

What a magnificent bird/beast! Pure aerobatic poetry on a grand scale. Typically, I don't like music beds behind videos, but this one was fitting and absolutely appropriate. Kudos for a deeply moving tribute to this awe-inspiring thing of beauty.

[@barnsley1066]

Thank you for such loyal service and protecting us XH558/G-VLCN.

[@yeeehawgrandmaw908]

Spirit of Great Britain.... literally all we have left. The spirit of a dead and once proud past. We'll never see her like again.

[@joefroggatt3106]

Recall 1961 six Vulcans of 101 Sqn taking off simultaneously at RAF FINNINGLEY - what a sight!!!

[@suzanneheaton5563]

These Ladies were my life. My Dad started working with them at Scampton. 617 squadron. Then we traveled around with them until Dad retired. My earliest memory of them was when one went vertical and our windows cracked.

[@rossmum]

One of my greatest regrets is forever going to be the fact I couldn't get back to the UK in time to see her fly. Thanks for posting this, and thanks for all the hard work you've all put in over the years.

[@NJGTheGreat]

rossmum I saw it a few years ago at RAF Leuchars and it was brilliant. That and the Concorde are my favourites👍

[@sumojones1]

Brings back so many wonderful memories, of Dad and I cycling through the lanes to Farnborough airshow in the late seventies, early eighties, to see this beast of an aircraft!! Elgar Nimrod is the perfect track for this video. An English engineering masterpiece that brings so many memories to so many people. Will hopefully go and get a close up look at XH558 one day. :)

[@Willysmb44]

I can only imagine the crushing sense of loss these gentlemen felt as they rolled to a stop and shut down the engines for the last time

[@StuStafford83]

Only a Vulcan could make my wife ask why her 40 year old husband is shedding tears over a video of an aircrafts final flight. The skies will never be the same. Lucky enough to have seen these absolutely stunning marvels of British engineering fly. Absolutely amazing. Fantastic video. Thank you VTTS.

[@RGV250FORSALE]

Sitting watching this with eyes full of tears!. Absolutely amazing!.

[@NCrist100]

Please don't give up. This is sad, but she will be back, we shouldn't just sit back and accept this.

[@davidstorm8879]

im a child of the 50's i used to cycle to lincoln on a weekend to watch them take off and land back after a sortie and last year i got to sit in the cockpit what an honour for me but its so saddening this beautiful bird will never fly again in my life time so so sad

[@StuStafford83]

Truly is a massive, massive shame. So grateful to have seen them in the air.

[@davidstorm8879]

The Vulcan first flew a trial flight on my birthday 6/8/1952, and 558 finally retired on my 65th birthday, sadly two old soldiers that had a good working life together and retired in dignity together now we are both at the ripe old age of 71 yrs but alas she will out live me in one way or the other

[@craighawke5702]

to this day i still get a tear in my eyes seeing this last flight

[@anthonyelse5673]

Brought a tear to my eyes thanks for the memories.

[@andrewbeech2199]

So beautifully done guys , music works fine with that film.

[@ademartadeodelpoz]

YES. I feel all alone. I am Always realizing I STILL have too much to learn. I WILL LOVE THE VULCAN FOREVER. THANK YOU.

[@Speysider1962]

Sad to see this iconic aircraft go,that along with Concorde they were true greats to grace the skies of this country.

[@Dusty2feathers]

I had the privilege of watching this magnificent British aircraft in its final year over the skies of Cleethorpes. As I did then and as I'm writing this now I have a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. SIMPLY MAGNIFICENT.

[@kevinjohn725]

I miss this plane so much

[@Radio478]

Yes im getting old, and in tears.

[@johnlyons987]

Wonderful. Perfect music. As a (very old) radio Officer in the RCAF maritime command from time to time I would climb into the nose positions on The P2V 7 and later the Argus (not kosher) for ccts. This brought me back to the fifties and all that was going on at the time. Thanks

[@davehornby4859]

What a crying shame that untold amounts of money can be found to keep the BBMF in the air, but nothing for this wonderful piece of engineering.

[@cobbcows97]

40th anniversary of Black Buck. To all the crews, thank you.

[@esthet1k]

8:22 when it’s tail is perfectly in place with the light pole behind!! Sick

[@CaoimhinOMaol]

All the views of a placid English countryside combined with the chosen music….cant help but think of how many departed from similar bases never to return. Thank you for posting. Writing this on what would have been the 107th birthday of G.L. Cheshire, VC, OM, DSO and two bars, DFC. Take care.

[@natashathomas7252]

Goosebumps!

[@UniSeco]

Nicely done. Very sad that we'll never see this sight again.

[@PhilipBallGarry]

Ironically, whenever I hear Nimrod, I'll always think of the Vulcan every single time now 😢

[@TimMSUK]

7:16 , right in the feels

[@GRACEORT]

The Vulcan is the most iconic looking Bomber ever. It is what the Spitfire is when you talk about fighter planes.

[@manston94]

Will miss it alot i think air shows will never be the same again

[@steeeeve8676]

Beautiful aircraft. I have so many childhood photos of this and many more aircraft now no longer in the air. What a shame other children no longer get to watch in awe as the mighty delta winged bombers roar overhead.

[@zulu7441]

I told my grandson, grandad was never scared in his hole in Germany when we had this fantastic plane protecting us. That was history. X

[@jimstyles8938]

Tearing the sky apart one last time!

[@bruceboatwright7488]

Beautifully filmed, very emotional occasion. And the airplane!I was fascinated to see how tight the cockpit is.Wonderful machine, superbly filmed, outstanding organization behind the whole endeavor. Thank you for sharing.

[@Wildrossendale]

Three years on and I still can't watch it without welling up.

[@Radio478]

Look to the future, she can still live 🥺❤

[@Missglamrus1]

So beautiful and gracious in the skies, end of an era, brought a tear to my eye! xx.

[@Ryanair0011]

You can rest now XH558, you can rest... 😢

[@realMaverickBuckley]

Stunning. A beautiful aeroplane. Thank you.

[@michaelsmeltzer1105]

Very, very nice. What a beautiful aircraft. I would of loved to see her in flight. Thank you for sharing this video...

[@Radio478]

That sound, nothing better, vulcans win 🏆

[@Templar7832]

Thank you so much for posting this

[@mydronetravellog6299]

managed to see this final flight over Whitby, couldnt believe my luck to see an actual Vulcan ! will never forget the noise

[@agnostic47]

This aircraft flew right over my house on its way to appearing at the Scarborough Armed Forces Day during its farewell tour of Britain. My house was quite a recognisable isolated property in open countryside so I think they used it as a navigation point.A few years before that the Lancaster had flown over, also on the way to the SAFD. You could hear the Vulcan coming before you could see it. When the Lancaster flew over I was sitting in my kitchen with the door open and thought "that sounds like Merlins" and went outside. Yep, it was Merlins.

[@jeremylister89]

Thanks for the memories. No more howling thunder dancing in the sky from this graceful awesome machine. Very very sad, especially for those who never saw her. Roll on project Mosquito! (How about a Lightning later on?..one can wish!)

[@baldnutbaz]

I was lucky enough to see her at Elvington airfield on what was said to be its last flight,a couple of weeks later she flew over my head very very low as I was fishing Near Evington ,so low you could actually smell the exhaust .the powers that be decided to take her out again,thanks gentlemen.

[@Radio478]

I'm broken 💔 😮😢

[@Radio478]

I watched again, listen to that crunch of engine thrust

[@KeithRobinson-h9t]

We haven't lost her she still exists at Doncaster Airport,it's just her flying ability we miss,that huge wing casting her huge shadow over this earth......🙏❤️😢❤️🙏

[@nickedwards290562]

Some nice views of RAF Finningley there.