Hangar 3 at Robin Hood Airport in Doncaster rather grandly refers to itself in its marketing as the Vulcan Experience. After a visit to view its growing collection of aircraft, it’s easy to see why.
Located around the back of the airport, about 20 minutes’ drive from the centre of town, Hangar 3 is home to the recently restored then retired Vulcan XH558 – the iconic delta-wing jet aircraft that served as the UK’s airborne nuclear “peacekeeper” in the Cold War.
XH558 was transported to Hangar 3 in 2015 after it proved too costly to operate. The innovative aircraft is no less the engineering marvel for being viewed on the ground. Indeed, its stationary status gives the knowledgeable tour guides more opportunity to discuss in detail the engrossing technical aspects and history of the Vulcan.
But a new addition to the Vulcan Experience is tucked away in the corner of the hangar. The WK163 Canberra (pictured) looks almost diminutive compared to the hulking Vulcan, but is nonetheless compelling to view and hear about and is of equal heritage value.
Built in 1954, WK163 was used as a research aircraft and achieved the world altitude record in 1957 – propelled to 70,310ft with the aid of a Napier Double Scorpion rocket motor.
The Canberra is being restored to its former glory so it can be displayed at air shows in a £1 million project. The Vulcan to the Sky Trust is fundraising for the restoration. More can be learned about donating, and buying week-long courses, where you work on the aircraft for a fee, at the website below.
The Canberra is the Vulcan’s predecessor – as the nuclear bombs got bigger the aircraft that carried them had to grow in size. The Avon engines that propelled the Canberra are also a key milestone in the journey of the jet engine’s development, from Whittle’s axial-flow turbine to the single-spool design used in the Avon, to the two-spool design used in the Vulcan’s Olympus engine, which is still the basis for modern aviation engine design .
It’s utterly compelling to be able to climb aboard the Canberra and learn up close about its design and materials and manufacturing techniques, many of which are still in use today, more than 60 years later.
This hands-on aspect is how the the Vulcan Experience earns its name. Whereas other aviation museums may offer a collection of aircraft to view, the Vulcan Experience provides an interactive, in-depth, engineering-orientated look at the two aircraft.
It’s not a museum, it’s a workshop with ongoing restoration, operation and maintenance of aircraft. There is an amazing depth of expertise on hand and passion in its volunteers. Although some parts of the Experience are still in development, anyone with a slight interest in aviation will leave better educated and enthused.
Tours are held three times a day, seven days a week. They have to be pre-booked online and last in excess of two hours, although you can stay as long as you like.
The tours can be tailored to suit the technical depth or area you require. The largest groups are of 60 people and the VIP groups take around six, with the price ranging from £12 to £35.
The hangar is also available for corporate events of all types, and even weddings, and has a suite of offices and rooms for meetings or use as classrooms.
For more details, see: www.vulcantothesky.org
Look and learn: Five things to see
1. Back to the past:
The collection of Cold War artefacts and memorabilia aims to recreate the atmosphere at the time of the aircraft’s operation.
2. Eye in the sky:
See the collection of Vulcan parts and subsystems, including its first piece of electronics, the red steer radar fitted in 1966.
3. Ground force:
The Commer Turbo Starter truck used to power up the Vulcan, which provides some context to the era when it entered service.
4. Service log:
See the fault-finding book for the Vulcan aircraft, which is pocket-sized and includes simple yes/no flow charts.
5. Stay informed: Sign up for the Vulcan Experience newsletter to find out about special events at www.vulcantothesky.org/newsletter-sign-up.html