Vulcan bomber takes to the skies - 2007

Up, up and away: The Avro Vulcan XH558 takes to the skies, 14 years after its last flight and following a £6m refit

The plane, which can reach speeds of up to 645mph, was expected to scale heights of around 3,000 feet during the 20-minute test flight and burn in excess of £1,000 of fuel.

Project organisers were describing it as a "historic day for aviation".

It is the first time an aircraft of the Vulcan's complexity has been given an extended overhaul on such a scale and then returned to flight, meeting all current aviation standards, said the Vulcan to the Sky Trust.

With a characteristic screeching roar, the plane rose majestically into the sky to a cheer from watching supporters, sponsors and engineers before banking to the left.

Just over 20 minutes later, to widespread relief, co-pilots Al McDicken and David Thomas landed it back on a Leicestershire airstrip.

Speaking immediately after the flight, Squadron Leader McDicken said: "She was an absolute delight, every bit as good as I can remember. It was a tremendous privilege to fly it again. We were suitably aroused.

"What a statement for those people who made that aircraft all those years ago.

"It's 25 years almost to the day that I last flew one. It was just wonderful."

Engineers had failed to restore the Vulcan in time for a flypast over London earlier this year to commemorate the Falklands War.

Witnessing today's test flight, Dr Robert Pleming, chief executive of the Vulcan to the Sky Trust, said he felt a "huge sense of achievement" at finally getting the plane off the ground.

"We finally did it after so many ups and downs," he said. "It's the British bulldog spirit."

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[iloveGTA123]

cut out that bollacks music i want to hear those engines burn baby

[LordFlasheart575]

@FireIran

Funnily enough thats the case with most aircraft. They don't tend to fair very well when they get hit by high explosive warhead traveling at 2000mph.

[pedriinho2ko]

simply amazing

[kingbleah]

fireiran want to be mummified in glass? keep pushing jerk

[alex471996]

@FireIran

One missile to any plane and it will crash mate :D thats why you take out air defences with fighters before sending in your bombers to take out airfields e.c.t.

Is the Vulcan still in service with the Royal Air Force? Or do we have a new heavy bomber (knowing the shit the M.o.D gets upto we probably don't have anything and will have to go blubbering over to the US to get some bombers when we next go to war)

[IMINYOURWIFE2]

@FireIran set fire to yourself SCUM

[tonydmakintea]

its about 30 text messages or the equivalent of

[JerryLawMartin]

at least this is way cooler than some American B2 bomber. Long live the British Vulcan bomber!

[JerryLawMartin]

is that alot of money? I don't know I only use Yen.

[d4v1dh]

realy, do you think you could make a better plane? if not stop being a f***ing prick.

that vulcan is a work of art