In
Support of Vulcan XH558
 The
RML AD Group’s Lola HPD will be carrying
a poignant and significant additional logo this
season in support of AVRO Vulcan XH558, the last
surviving airworthy V-bomber from Britain’s
Cold War defence force. To mark the 50th birthday
of XH558 in May 2010, the crest of the Vulcan
to the Sky Trust will appear on the side of the
racecar, with the official Vulcan silhouette on
the engine cover.
While
the period in Britain’s history that the
Vulcan represents is a distant memory for most
people, XH558 remains an impressive reminder of
Britain’s cutting-edge technological achievements
of the past, and is one of the major attractions
on the hugely popular air show calendar. Since
she returned to the skies in late 2007 after a
£7 million rebuild, more than 2.5 million
enthusiasts are calculated to have travelled in
pilgrimage across the length and breadth of the
country to catch a glimpse of her iconic delta-winged
shape, and to experience the famous stomach-churning
“howl” of her four Rolls-Royce Olympus
202 jet engines.
But those many spectators do more than just gaze
in awe, for Vulcan XH588 is simply unique, not
only in being the last of her breed, but also
in the way she can make grown men weep and young
children jump up and down in frenzied excitement.
The so-called “Vulcan Effect” touches
hearts and can significantly increase visitor
numbers at events where she’s scheduled
to appear.
Crucially, however, Vulcan XH558 is supported
almost entirely by private donations and corporate
sponsorship. If she is to remain airborne this
year, the Vulcan to the Sky Trust needs to raise
a total of £800,000 this spring, with a
target of £300,000 set for the end of February.
By announcing this new addition to the team’s
livery for 2010, RML AD Group hopes to help publicise
the Trust’s challenge, and to encourage
supporters to sign the on-line birthday card and,
if they can afford it, pledge their support. (If
the embedded video item above does not display
correctly, please click this link.)
 Mike
Newton, CEO of AD Group and co-driver of the team’s
Lola HPD, has become a keen supporter of the Trust’s
work. He and his wife Ann stepped forward to fund
the original test flight programme that enabled
XH558 to achieve the vital certification that
permitted the Vulcan to participate in her first
season of displays in 2008. The two have remained
closely involved ever since.
 "Ann's
father was in the RAF, and I am an experienced
pilot, so we both have an interest in aircraft
and flying, but there's something very special
about the Vulcan," said Mike Newton. "When
the Trust needed help in 2008, Ann and I were
delighted to be able to offer our support. Now
we're in a position to take that relationship
forwards with AD Group, not only by carrying the
Trust's logo on the race car, but also by fitting
FlightVu on-board cameras to XH588 for this season's
displays, so that her flights can be recorded
for posterity."
Robert
Pleming, CEO of the Vulcan to the Sky Trust says:
"On behalf of Vulcan XH558 and all her supporters,
a huge thank-you to Mike and Ann, and to all at
AD Group. It's true to say that without their
help in 2008 and since, millions of people would
not have had the opportunity to see the spectacular
sight of XH558 in air displays around the country.
We're all delighted that we're able to bring such
an iconic example of the best of British engineering
back to where she belongs - in the air, entertaining
and inspiring the public. The addition of the
Vulcan logo to the Lola HPD's livery this year
gives us a great opportunity to take the Vulcan
story to a new audience in this her 50th Birthday
year. Very many thanks once again."
The
team at RML AD Group is proud to be associated
with Vulcan XH558, and urges anyone with an interest
in this fabulous aircraft to visit the Trust’s
website and sign the on-line birthday card. If
there are any teams, sponsors or corporate groups
reading this that might be in a position to offer
more than mere moral support, please contact the
Trust urgently.
 Click
on photos for an enlargement.
Please credit Vulcan photos to Marcus Potts/CMC
Further
information please contact:
Vulcan to the Sky Trust: www.vulcantothesky.org
RML: Rupert
Manwaring, Sponsorship & Marketing Director
Telephone: +44 (0)1933 402440
AD Group: Pauline
Norstrom, Director of Worldwide Marketing.
Telephone: +44 (0)1928 706 449
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