There is a chance to sit in the cockpit of a nuclear bomber next month as part of a new tour option at the RAF Museum in north London.

The Avro Vulcan was the UK’s cold war bomber and apart from the US spy planes, probably the most distinctive aircraft of its era with its massive delta wing design.

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Although designed as a nuclear bomber, its sole combat role was the famous flight down to the Falklands to bomb the airport.

Incidentally, the Argentinean government nearly bought a Vulcan bomber, but the government was hesitant about approving a deal without an agreement on the Falklands first, in case the plane was used to bomb Port Stanley. Three months after the refusal, Vulcan bombers did indeed bomb Port Stanley, although it was the Brits doing the attacking.

While of militarily dubious practical use, the attack demonstrated UK resolve in retaking the islands, so had enormous propaganda benefits.

Also, the sheer difficulty of flying half way across the planet has rightly gone down as one of the great aeronautic accomplishments.

The planes were mothballed following the end of the cold war, and while one is still flying, and another might be restored to flight, the rest are in museums, including one in London.

The bomber in the RAF Museum is now open for access on the last Wednesday of the month, although June has already sold out, and there are only a few slots left for July.

Clamber up the two ladders, through the cabin and into the cockpit where one of the museum aircraft team will talk you through every nook and cranny of the flight deck.

Book tickets here

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16 comments
  1. Andrew says:

    Hmm. £20. I am torn between thinking that is (a) far too much, and (b) a bargain…

    I think your last link should go to http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/whats-going-on/events/acces-the-avro-vulcan/

  2. Des says:

    It only costs 50p to go in the vulcans cockpit at Newark (if it’s open) . £20 is far too much .

  3. Martin Walker says:

    I go to airshows each year to watch XH558 fly. Would love to get an opportunity to get to go inside. But being nowhere near London, guess I’ll keep dreaming. 😉 And the price isn’t too bad to keep a piece of history for future generations.

  4. John Broadfoot says:

    Fantastic Aircraft. Do not worry. The Cockpit Price is there
    To keep it SAFE. JB.

  5. Chris Bates says:

    £20 is a complete rip off. As stated above Newark, and for that matter Midland Air Museum at Coventry charge 50p or £1,

  6. Jim says:

    Just a word – Midland Air Museum have a Vulcan on static display – cockpit access is only permitted now under supervision – this was due to some low life stealing a piece from the cockpit. I would suggest with the supervised visits that you deploy smart water. This unique coding would allow tracing anyone suspected of vandalism or theft. It is a sad world in which we live but replacement pieces are getting rarer and I would think expensive.

  7. Ab says:

    Mmmm, £20
    Is overnight stay and breakfast included?

  8. Graeme Mount says:

    You can sit in the cockpit of Vulcan XL426 at Southend Airport for £3 on open days. Forthcoming dates 15 June (Fathers’ Day), 24 August and 21 September.

  9. jim gilroy says:

    People saying it’s only 50p/£1 at the Midland Aircraft Museam should remember you also have to pay an admission price there of £6.50, so have constant funds coming in from this, Hendon is free to get in all year round, and the extra fund raising from this will help keep the Museam free

  10. Steve says:

    East fortune airfield outside Edinburgh has one too. Thats free to explore all the A/C after you pay the entry fee (around 5 or 6 quid i think)

  11. Sean says:

    You can see the Vulcan cockpit at Southend on selected days for just a fiver.

    http://www.loveplanes.co.uk/avro-vulcan/see-vulcan-2014/

  12. Gary Denness says:

    There’s also a Vulcan cockpit at the Bournemouth Aviation museum that you can climb up into.

    The attack on the runway in the Falklands did have some practical use though, The Argentines concluded that they could not base strike aircraft on the islands and withdrew them to the mainland.

  13. Jamie says:

    £1 to get a tour of XL319 cockpit near Sunderland at the North East Land, Sea& Air museums. After £5 entry, but there’s plenty of other stuff.

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