Vulcan XH558 takes to the skies over Shropshire in farewell flypast
One of the final flights to be made by Vulcan XH558 saw it pass over Shropshire today as part of a tour of England before being retired.
The former RAF bomber this afternoon flew a circuit across northern England and Scotland, a second circuit around southern England and Wales will take place on Sunday.
Today's three and a half hour flight saw the Vulcan take off from Doncaster at 1pm before passing over Gainsborough, Brough, Menwith Hill, Leeming, Durham Tees Airport, Newcastle Airport, Eshott Airfield, Alnwick, East Fortune, Carlisle Airport, Bowness on Windermere, Warton, Barton, Manchester Airport, Woodford, RAF Cosford and Derby.
Those in north Shropshire got the first glimpse of the cold war bomber as it entered the county's airspace just north of Whitchurch before passing over Grindley Brook, Iscoyd Park and Welshampton. It then turned close to Springs Brook before flying over Baschurch, past Montford Bridge and turning just south of Shrewsbury before heading over Cressage and onto Madeley and RAF Cosford before heading towards Cannock and continuing the rest of its tour.
Hundreds of people headed to Lyth Hill to take advantage of clear views of the sky, they saw the plane make one of its designated turns just south of Shrewsbury. Many people also gathered at the Wrekin and RAF Cosford to see the plane flying for one last time.
The former RAF bomber, returned to the skies in October 2007, and is the last flying example anywhere in the World of the Avro Vulcan.
The V-Bomber became a symbol of British strength in the deterrent years following World War II and was also used to great effect during the Falklands conflict until it retired from service in 1984.
This weekend isn't XH558's final landing as they intend at least two more flights in late October before it retires from flying.
