Sunday August 26th at Laverstoke Park Farm, Hampshire Sunday September 9th at Cholmondeley Castle, Cheshire
The charity that operates the last flying Vulcan has donated two appearances to help raise money for Children in Need. The famous delta-winged aircraft will make spectacular appearances at CarFest South (Laverstock Park Farm, Hampshire) on Sunday August 26th and at CarFest North (Sunday September 9th at Cholmondeley Castle, Cheshire).
CarFest is the idea of Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, whose passion for amazing music, fabulous food and fast cars has driven the development of these two family events. There’ll be lots of action, with new and classic supercars roaring up the driveways of both venues, a collection of £1 million plus hypercars, huge car club arenas, astonishing classic race and rally cars and exciting displays on the ground and in the air -all accompanied by gourmet food and great music.
On both Sundays, the biggest noise of all will be the famous howl of the Vulcan’s four Olympus jets. The pilot for the first event, CarFest South, will be South Atlantic Conflict hero Martin Withers who earned a DFC for leading the 8,000 mile Vulcan mission that initiated the liberation of the Falkland Islands 30 years ago this year. Martin and Vulcan XH558 hit the headlines again this year when they delivered a display in formation with The Red Arrows to open the world-famous Farnborough Airshow, quickly followed by a flight for Her Majesty The Queen as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
“Vulcan to the Sky Trust is a long-term supporter of Children in Need as part of our commitment to education and improved opportunities for everyone,” says Trust chief executive officer Dr. Robert Pleming. “We are delighted that young people seeing Vulcan XH558 fly are often inspired to study the technical subjects that make such incredible machines possible, or to join the elite teams that fly and maintain them to exacting standards.”
Visitors to CarFest will be able to meet members of the Vulcan team at the Vulcan to the Sky marquee where they can also purchase Vulcan memorabilia. The Trust is about to launch an urgent fund-raising campaign to pay for XH558’s winter service which, following a summer supported by commercial revenues, is expected to be funded largely by public donations.
Fans of Vulcan XH558 can join the aircraft’s active Facebook community, where the Trust posts pictures, videos and news on where to see her fly and how to visit her at her hangar in Doncaster. There is also a Vulcan XH558 YouTube channel and lots of information on the Trust’s website,
including information on where to see XH558’s spectacular displays across the country, with 13 appearances currently booked between now and the end of the season.
For more information on CarFest, visit
Vulcan Autumn Display Schedule
Subject to weather, technical availability and other factors, XH558 will deliver displays at the following events this autumn:
| Clacton | 23rd August |
| Dunsfold | 26th August |
| CarFest (South) | 26th August |
| Dunsfold | 27th August |
| Bournemouth | 1st September |
| Shoreham | 1st September |
| Bournemouth | 2nd September |
| Shoreham | 2nd September |
| Duxford | 8th September |
| Cosby (Leics) | 9th September |
| CarFest (North) | 9th September |
| Southport | 9th September |
| RAF Leuchars | 15th September |
