This is Vulcan XH558, flying over Cliffe, near Rochester, Kent a couple of weekends ago, on one of its final flights before being permanently grounded. This is the only airworthy Vulcan left, so this really marks the end of an era.

A magnificent aircraft, one of the three “V Bombers” used in the Cold War (the other two being the Valiant and the Victor) as the UK’s strategic nuclear strike force, it’s delta wing design was certainly very distinctive, indeed beautiful I would say.

The very last flight is due to be in a few days time - details still to be announced - so it was good to be able to drive to Cliffe to catch a final glimpse, with my son and my friend Terence (now 93) - who had worked on Vulcans in the 1960s (see this earlier post to read more about Terence).