Avro Vulcan B.2 – XM594 NAHR - Noteworthy

Having written books about his Vulcan flying experiences, XM594 was also the choice of dedicated Open Cockpit team member, John LeBrun, AFC, as his aircraft of the week, visitors could sometimes meet him and be told more about his time serving on this impressive iconic aircraft. (Sadly, John passed away on 7^th November 2025).

Vulcan XM594’s last flight from RAF Waddington and landing at the museum on 7^th February 1983 features in several online clips. A huge effort by the museum members, made it possible for XM594 to land and deploy its parachute for the last time, before being engulfed in a snow storm. A littler known fact is that in autumn 1982, it was John LeBrun who approved the possibility of the RAF landing a Vulcan at Winthorpe. At that time this was without the museum’s knowledge.
 
In 1960 the second Vulcan prototype VX777 the B.2 was a later development of the B.1 with larger, thinner wings, fitted with more powerful either Olympus 201-202 engines or Olympus 301 engines and the terrain following radar (TFR) in the mid 60’s and radar warning receiver aerials on the tail fin from the mid-1970s and modified to accept the Blue Steel missile.

The first B.2 XH533 flew in September 1958 using Olympus 200 engines, the second B.2, XH534 in January 1959 with Olympus 201s fitted with an in-flight refuelling probe and a bulged ECM tail cone. Typically, Vulcan XM594 had a crew of 5 (pilot, co-pilot, air electronics operator, navigator radar, navigator plotter) – had a wingspan of 111 feet and length of 99 feet 11 inches powered by four engines with maximum speed of 645 mph and range of  4,750 miles to a height of  65,000 feet.

Whilst in service, the B.2 was continuously modified, Vulcan’s playing a major part as the countries airborne nuclear deterrent during the Cold War and just months from being scrapped, held the record for the world's longest distance raid, deployed in a vital operation to destroy Port Stanley landing strip during the Falklands War in 1982.

Two Vulcan’s, XM607 piloted by Flight Lieutenant Martin Withers (XM607 now at RAF Waddington) and XM598 (now at RAF Museum Cosford) by Squadron Leader John Reeve ably assisted by in-flight refuelling Victor tankers flying four thousand miles each way, Operation Black Buck which Rowland White writes about in his book Vulcan 607.

XM594 was the 58^th Vulcan produced at Woodford and first flown on 29^th May 1963. Allocated to 27 Squadron in July 1963 XM594 joined the Blue Steel armed independent British Nuclear Deterrents Force at RAF Scampton before being transferred to the Waddington Vulcan Wing until May 1968 when it once again returned to 27 Squadron at RAF Scampton.

In March 1972 XM594 was flown to HSA Bitteswell for refurbishment before returning to 101 squadron at RAF Waddington September 1972 and in February 1975 fitted with E.C.M. (Electronic Counter Measures) equipment. In May 1977 XM594 returned to RAF Waddington after a brief return to HSA Bitteswell, allocated to 44 Squadron before taking part in its last RAF flypast over ex Vulcan bases and Group Headquarters 17^th December 1982.

XM594 was earmarked for preservation at Newark and was purchased by Stuart Stephenson. XM594 was flown from RAF Waddington to the museum on 7^th February 1983 ahead of a blizzard. It remained on loan under the ownership of the Lincolnshire’s Lancaster Association.

The ownership of the Vulcan was transferred to the museum in December 2021, after which it underwent a total repaint in 2022. Thanks to the long-term dedication of the volunteers, the well-loved XM594 is in a reasonably good condition, despite having been displayed outside at Winthorpe for more than forty-two years. However, it does require a constant programme of work to try and keep it so.

Of the 134 production Vulcan’s built, 19 survive today, sadly none are airworthy.

Photo credit: Jan McGeachie