Avro Vulcan XM655
| Company type | Preservation society |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield , United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom |
| Products | Avro Vulcan XM655 (taxiable condition) |
| Owner | Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield |
| Website | xm655 |
Avro Vulcan XM655 ranks among the trio of surviving taxiable Avro Vulcan strategic bombers, alongside XH558 and XL426. Presently, XM655 is under the ownership of Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield and has been preserved in taxiable condition by the 655 Maintenance & Preservation Society since 1998,[1]: 205 who ensure the aircraft remains operational for ground movement.
History
Completed on 19 November 1964,[2][3]: 208 XM655 was the third-last Vulcan constructed.[4] It holds the distinction of being the most recent surviving model[4] and is uniquely equipped with the more powerful Bristol Olympus 301 engines among operable Avro Vulcans. After commissioning at RAF Cottesmore in 1964, XM655 served with Nos. 9, 12, and 35 Squadrons,[5] before transferring in 1967 to the Waddington Wing, where it joined Nos. 44, 50, and 101 Squadrons.[6]
Post-service history
In 1984, businessman Roy Jacobsen from Croydon acquired XM655 with the intention of maintaining its airworthiness. However, financial constraints and a runway too short for takeoff prevented this plan, resulting in the aircraft being left to decline.[4] Ownership of XM655 was later transferred to Radarmoor Ltd, the company managing Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield, with the aircraft registered under their name in January 1993.[7]
Following restoration efforts, XM655 performed its inaugural public taxi run at Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield on 16 February 1997, followed by two additional runs later that year. Thereafter, it participated in approximately annual public taxi demonstrations, predominantly held in June as part of the Wellesbourne Wings and Wheels event, continuing until 2016. These occasions often featured accompanying flypasts by the BBMF, the Red Arrows, and Avro Vulcan XH558. Planned events from 2017 onwards were hindered by airfield development challenges, and a scheduled event on 21 June 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]
Additionally, XM655 served as a resource for XH558 crews requiring currency and ground training.
Media appearances
XM655 has featured in multiple video documentaries focusing on the Vulcan, Falklands operations, and the Royal Air Force. It has frequently been utilized as a substitute to represent activities that could not be filmed on location or aboard other aircraft.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
| Programme | Production Company |
|---|---|
| Falklands War: Last Raid of the Nuclear Vulcans | BBC Military and War Documentary |
| Falklands' Most Daring Raid | Darlow Smithson Productions - Channel 4 |
| Guy Martin: The Last Flight of the Vulcan Bomber | North One Television - Channel 4 |
| RAF at 100 with Ewan and Colin McGregor | Lion Television - BBC |
| The Vulcan - RAF's 100 top Warplanes | Forces TV |
| Portillo's Hidden History of Britain - Countdown to WW3 | Transparent Television, Argonon, for Channel 5 Television |
Operators
- Royal Air Force
- XM655 Maintenance and Preservation Society
Accidents and incidents
On Friday, 16 September 2022, XM655 experienced a runway excursion at Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield during a ground run intended as preparation for the public display scheduled for the following Sunday. The cause was identified as a malfunctioning air speed indicator, which led to the engine remaining at full throttle for roughly two seconds longer than planned. This resulted in the aircraft reaching an excessive speed and having insufficient runway length to stop safely. Consequently, it overran the runway and came to rest just before the airfield boundary, embedded in mud adjacent to the B4086. Although the air speed indicator had been inspected and deemed functional six days prior, it resumed normal operation only towards the end of the run. The aircraft’s braking system was fully operational but could not halt the plane within the shortened stopping distance available.
See also
References
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