Vulcan Petition Update

You may remember that I previously posted a link to the Number 10 petition website in connection with Vulcan XH558. If you don’t then you can find the post here.

The petition said;

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to ensure the Vulcan XH558 project receives sufficient funding to enable it to continue “Honouring the past and inspiring the future.

Details of Petition:

After many years of hard work and £7 million, Vulcan bomber XH558 finally flew again on 18 October 2007. It was a mammoth effort that overcame a number of major setbacks. A truly extraordinary and inspirational project. It has delighted onlookers at airshows throughout the year and serves to educate future generations about the Cold and Falklands Wars. However, the outlook is grim. The downturn in economic conditions now puts the future of the only flying Vulcan bomber in the world in doubt. With tightening budgets, companies that previously may have been willing to support XH558 now find they do not have the finances to do so. This unique plane must be saved in its current airworthy state for the nation. We petition the Prime Minister to step in to ensure XH558 reveives sufficient funding to continue flying – whether from public or private sources. She not only serves as a ‘living museum’ to educate a generation lucky enough not to be experience the Cold War, but also as a flying memorial to the servicemen who lost their lives during the Falklands conflict. XH558 requires a mere £1.75 million to continue its important work.

The Government have (finally) issued a response to the petition which had been signed by 19,860 people. There response is as follows;

Thank you for your e-petition.

The Government welcomes the preservation of the decommissioned Avro Vulcan G-VLCN and applauds the commitment by the Trust that has brought about its return flight.

In June 2004, the Vulcan to the Sky Trust was awarded £2,734,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to assist in its aims of a return to flight and air display flying. However, as one of many warbird operations flying former military aircraft on the air display circuit in the UK, the operation of the Vulcan G-VLCN does not fall within the Ministry of Defence’s core business and further funding of this project would not be an appropriate use of defence resources.

The Ministry of Defence has provided support to the Vulcan Trust where possible, and has always been willing to consider abating charges for this support, whenever the circumstances are of mutual benefit to the Trust and the department. The RAF is committed to the long-term preservation of other non-flying Vulcan aircraft as examples of the type that are on display at both of the RAF Museum’s sites in Hendon and Cosford.

I’m sorry, but to me that just sounds like a lot of mumbo-jumbo (if that term really does exist). Exactly what does that statement mean? So the MOD won’t give any money because it’s not their core business. Maybe the MP’s who are at the centre of the expenses row should contribute, after all, they’ve fleeced us all out of several thousands of pounds (allegedly) when maybe that money could’ve been put to better use funding an important part of our history.

More to the point, why don’t they ever give an honest answer. A simple “Thank you for your support….but no” would’ve sufficed.

Let’s hope that XH558 is not left to rot away somewhere, especially as things seem to be bubbling away in far off places.