This is definitely the last year that the Vulcan will fly as the technical companies on which it depends will not support it beyond this year. At the heart of their decision are two factors. First, although XH558 is currently as safe as any aircraft flying today, her structure and systems are already more than ten percent beyond the flying hours of any other Vulcan, so knowing where to look for any possible failure will become more difficult. Second, maintaining her superb safety record requires expertise that is increasingly difficult to find. So this was the final appearance at Bournemouth Air Show - seen here arriving over the Isle of Wight and finally disappearing up into the clouds.
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