Avro Vulcan
The Avro Vulcan was the most iconic of Britain’s Cold War V-bombers, designed by A.V. Roe & Company to carry the nuclear deterrent under the RAF’s V-Force. With its distinctive delta wing and thunderous Olympus engines, the Vulcan combined futuristic design with formidable performance, capable of high-altitude strategic bombing and later adapted for low-level penetration missions.
First flown in 1952, the Vulcan entered service in 1956 and remained operational until 1984. It played a pivotal role in Britain’s nuclear strategy and gained lasting fame during the Falklands War of 1982, when Vulcans carried out the long-range Black Buck raids against Port Stanley airfield — some of the longest bombing missions in history at the time.
Today, surviving Vulcans are preserved in museums and collections across the UK, with XH558 remembered as the last airworthy example, thrilling crowds until its final flight in 2015. This category showcases rare photographs of the Vulcan in service and preservation, capturing its power, elegance, and enduring legacy.
