PRESS RELEASE – 9 NOVEMBER 2011
Celebrating ‘Delta Diamonds’
Jet Age Museum has joined forces with the Vulcan To The Sky Club to celebrate two iconic delta winged British aircraft.
The Gloster Javelin first took to the air on 26 November 1951 followed some nine months later in August 1952 by the Avro Vulcan. Thanks to the dedication of enthusiasts and the generosity of supporters and the general public, a handful of these classic aircraft are still preserved sixty years on.
A special fundraising celebration will be held on Saturday 10 December at the Flying Shack, Gloucestershire Airport, Staverton from 11am until 4pm. Visitors to the admission free event will be able to tour the cockpit of an Avro Vulcan, which forms part of the Jet Age Museum ’s collection, and buy merchandise, raffle tickets and gifts to help support both charities. Weather permitting, the Flying Shack will also be offering trial flying lessons and vintage pleasure flights.
Jet Age Museum is fundraising to build a permanent home for its collection, which includes a Javelin at Gloucestershire Airport, and the Vulcan To The Sky Club is hoping to add to the thousands of pounds already raised towards the charity that has restored the world’s only airworthy example of the Avro Vulcan.
Chairman of the Jet Age Museum, John Lewer, said: “We’re very much looking forward to fundraising with the Vulcan To The Sky Club. We share a passion for preserving Britain’s aviation heritage.
"The museum has planning permission, the support of the Airport management team and £250 000 towards our goal. We need a further £20 000 to be able to complete the project. The final legal arrangements are being made and we expect to be able to tender the building project shortly. It’s vital that the momentum behind our fundraising is kept up to make the dream a reality.”
Ian Homer, on behalf of the Vulcan to the Sky Trust, commented, “We have always been blessed with terrific public interest and support. That continues today with the growing strength of a dedicated supporters’ club who actively promote our aims and contribute greatly through their endeavors with vital fundraising year on year.”
In 2012, the Vulcan will make a spectacular Diamond Jubilee tour. With the blessing of Buckingham Palace, XH558 ‘The Spirit of Great Britain’ will celebrate sixty years of British achievement in the year that is also the Diamond Jubilee of the Vulcan aircraft type. Throughout the Diamond Jubilee tour of at least 30 destinations, XH558 will carry a bespoke, leather-bound Book of Good Wishes containing names and messages from individuals, families and businesses who have subscribed to the Salute. At the end of the season, the book will be presented at Buckingham Palace.
The Vulcan to the Sky Club will be on hand to promote this initiative and to explain how members of the public can become involved in this unique way of taking the Jubilee celebrations all over the United Kingdom.
Sarah Abbott, Vice Chair of the Club said: “The Vulcan has many links with Gloucestershire so it is great that we are able to work with the Jet Age Museum on this day of celebration of two Diamond Jubilees. It is also a great opportunity to raise much needed funds for both Avro Vulcan XH558 as we promote 'A Salute to her Majesty' and the Jet Age Museum as they move towards the exciting stage of construction of the new museum building for their important collection - preserving and promoting Gloucestershire’s rich aviation history.
For more details visit:
http://www.flyingshack.com
http://www.gloucestershireairport.co.uk
http://www.vulcantothesky.org
http://www.twitter.com/GlosAirport
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Jet-Age-Museum/100374323379961