Vulcan to fly at RAF Cosford Air Show for Sir Jack Hayward

The former Wolves owner donated £500,000 to a project to restore the XH558 Vulcan bomber back to flying status.

And on Sunday - which would have been Sir Jack's 92nd birthday - the display at Cosford will be dedicated to the philanthropist as his close friends and family look on.

Referred to by its registration, XH558 is the only flying example of the Vulcan, which was returned to the skies in 2007 after a lengthy public fundraising campaign.

In 2006, Sir Jack stepped in when the project was on the brink of collapse because of spiralling costs, donating £500,000 to save the day.

Sunday's display will be the final time to see the aircraft at RAF Cosford before it is grounded later this year.

The charity which owns and operates XH558, the Vulcan to the Sky Trust (VTST), has said that without Sir Jack's support, there is no doubt that the Vulcan would not be still performing.

Spokesman Richard Clarke, said: "Sir Jack had the nickname 'Union Jack' because he was a great supporter of many British projects.

"He was one of the people we thought may be able to help us, so one of our trustees Sir Gerald Howarth called Sir Jack.

"We were on our knees and without that great donation from him we wouldn't have been able to carry that project through, it really did make a huge difference."

At the time of helping to save the project, Sir Jack, a former RAF pilot, said: "I always loved the Vulcan. I would certainly love to go in it again. I could be co-pilot."

Special guests attending the show will include members of Sir Jack's family and closest friends including Patti Bloom, Sir Jack's long-time companion, and her daughter Amy; his son Jonathan Hayward and his wife Fiona; Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey and his wife Babette; and one of his closest friends, Baroness Rachael Heyhoe Flint.

Baroness Heyhoe Flint, who knew Sir Jack for 45 years, said: "It will be one of the highlights of the show. To Sir Jack it would have been such an emotional moment.

"It was the most wonderful surprise for the Vulcan to the Sky Trust who were really battling to save the project and were it not for that we wouldn't be looking at it on Sunday. I know Sir Jack would be so proud."

The appearance at the air show will be the final chance to catch the Vulcan at Cosford as the aircraft is being retired this year.

Once grounded, the Vulcan will remain on show as part of an exhibition about the Cold War and British engineering at Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield.

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