New Vulcan Trail leaflet focuses on North Kesteven base

A new trail leaflet dedicated to the Vulcan Bomber's local significance will help aviation enthusiasts get the most out of the area.
Pictured with Phil Bonner, right is North Kesteven District Councillor Lance Pennell, a Vulcan pilot from late 1978 to August 1981  who was in the 101 Squadron Vulcan display crew which flew across Britain, Europe, the US and Canada. EMN-160726-170719001Pictured with Phil Bonner, right is North Kesteven District Councillor Lance Pennell, a Vulcan pilot from late 1978 to August 1981  who was in the 101 Squadron Vulcan display crew which flew across Britain, Europe, the US and Canada. EMN-160726-170719001
Pictured with Phil Bonner, right is North Kesteven District Councillor Lance Pennell, a Vulcan pilot from late 1978 to August 1981 who was in the 101 Squadron Vulcan display crew which flew across Britain, Europe, the US and Canada. EMN-160726-170719001

Now available at Cranwell Aviation Heritage Centre and other North Kesteven visitor attractions as well as aviation heritage sites across the county, Lincolnshire’s Vulcan Trail details 60 years of association.

It was launched on the 60th anniversary of the first Vulcan arriving at RAF Waddington – at the Waddington Aviation Viewing Experience, the WAVE, on the A15 and in the shadow of a victorious Falklands War Vulcan.

Present were four former Vulcan pilots and crew spanning its decades of service.

One of them was North Kesteven District Councillor Lance Pennell who piloted the legendary craft over four years up to 1981 with 101 Squadron.

“Like the Lancaster, the Vulcan is iconic to Lincolnshire and a great draw to many aviation enthusiasts. It is really great to celebrate the Vulcan’s association with Lincolnshire and its legacy in this way and I encourage anyone to pick up a leaflet and step out on a journey of discovery,” he said.

Vulcan XM607 that famously bombed Port Stanley in the Falklands War, stretching its capacity for long distance flight to the limits, is highly visible as RAF Waddington’s Gate Guardian.

RAF Waddington was the UK’s first and last Vulcan base and joins RAF Scampton, where a Roman road was diverted to allow for runway extension to accommodate the supercraft, and RAF Coningsby as sites of particular interest on the trail.

Phil Bonner, Aviation Development Officer with Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire, said the Vulcan’s impact on the physical and cultural landscape of Lincolnshire was just as great as that of the more widely-regarded Second World War planes.

Aviation enthusiasts and locals proud of their heritage account for a significant proportion of the 2.23million people who visit the district and its district attractions each year, generating around £115million for the local economy.