Vulcan Delivery 40th Anniversary
Update 02 - 16.12.22
11.12.22 - The uptake for this Vulcan cockpit opportunity has been much large than we expected. As a consequence we have now activated a Waiting List System, whereby people can still submit their request to participate but the availability of spaces will rely on other participants cancelling their planned attendance. Now this system has been implemented ALL emails will still be processed in order of their receipt.
On the weekend of 11th/12th February 2023 it will be forty (40) years since Avro Vulcan XM594 landed (actual landing date 07.02.83) on the former wartime runway at Winthorpe Showground to go on display at the museum; the year 2023 it is also the 60th anniversary of its entry into RAF service.
To mark the anniversary, the museum trustees will allow members of the museum’s Cockpit Opening Team to provide FREE cockpit access to the Vulcan on the weekend – this will be available for visitors who pay to come into the museum and who advise the museum in advance of their plan to participate.
The museum will be open from 1000 to 1600 hours, with last admissions to the site being at 1500 hours. Admission costs to the museum site will be: Adults £10.00, Over 60s £9.00 and Children £5.50.
The museum trustees anticipate that this will be a popular event, so to try and ensure that people have sufficient time inside the cockpit and that they are not waiting around outside, they are implementing a timed ticket system for going on board Vulcan XM594. These will be in fifteen minute time slots starting at 10.00 hours.
To help us formulate the timed ticket schedule we need to hear from people who plan to visit on the weekend and we would ask them to email in the following bits of information by 1600 hours on 1st February 2023:
Estimated arrival time e.g. 10.00; 10.15; 10.30 etc.
The likely number of people in your group & their approximate ages
Once this information has been submitted the museum will draw up the timed visit schedule for people to go on board XM594 and notify people of their allocated time. The museum does reserve the right to close the offer before the stated date if the uptake is so great that it cannot cope with the number of visitors requesting the free access to the Vulcan. Further details will be posted here on the News & Information page in due course
Please be aware that because of the restricted space in the cockpit the Vulcan can only take 3-4 people at a time; please also be aware that access to the Vulcan is also dependent on a height restriction and visitors to the aircraft will have to be at least 1.00m (one metre) in height.
If you would like to look inside the Vulcan for FREE during that weekend please send the museum an email with the requested information by following this email link to indicate your interest, and please state “FREE Vulcan 40th Anniversary Visit” in the subject / topic section of your email. Please note that we will aim to acknowledge your initial request within 24 hours; but this may be longer at the weekend - ALL emails will be processed in order of their receipt.
In addition, a series of talks by ex-Vulcan aircrew is planned to take place throughout the weekend – further details will follow.
Of course a donation towards museum funds would always be appreciated for anyone taking part in this activity!!